''B Sides and Rarities'' is a

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

by the American pop singer

Andy Williams Howard Andrew Williams (December 3, 1927 – September 25, 2012) was an American singer. He recorded 43 albums in his career, of which 15 have been gold certified and three platinum certified. He was also nominated for six Grammy Awards. He hos ...

that was released by Collectables Records on May 27, 2003. Although the collection starts with two 1947 recordings by Kay Thompson and The Williams Brothers, the rest of the material comes from his time at

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

and includes covers of contemporary hits (" Cherish", " If You Could Read My Mind", " He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother") as well as lesser-known material from the songwriters of " Can't Get Used to Losing You", "Home Lovin' Man" and "

Moon River "Moon River" is a song composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It was originally performed by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 movie ''Breakfast at Tiffany's (film), Breakfast at Tiffany's'', winning an Academy Award for Best Original ...

". One of the rarities included here actually did reach the charts of ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' magazine. Released as the

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

of the number 13 hit "Hopeless", Williams's recording of "The Peking Theme (So Little Time)" was included in the 1963 film ''

55 Days at Peking ''55 Days at Peking'' is a 1963 American epic historical war film dramatizing the siege of the foreign legations' compounds in Peking (now known as Beijing) during the Boxer Rebellion, which took place in China from 1899 to 1901. It was produc ...

'' and reached number 115 during the three weeks that it " bubbled under" the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in June of that year.. It was nominated for an

Academy Award for Best Original Song The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is presented to the ''songwriters'' who have composed th ...

in early 1964,. and Williams was asked and did appear to perform at the Oscar ceremony that April but not to sing that song.. Instead he sang his number 100 hit from January, "Charade", as well as the song included in the title of his new album that was soon to be released, '' The Academy Award-Winning "Call Me Irresponsible" and Other Hit Songs from the Movies''.

Harve Presnell George Harvey Presnell (September 14, 1933 – June 30, 2009) was an American actor and singer. He began his career in the mid-1950s as a classical baritone, singing with orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States. His career re ...

performed "The Peking Theme" that evening, but the winner was "

Call Me Irresponsible "Call Me Irresponsible" is a 1962 song composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics written by Sammy Cahn which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1963. According to the Mel Tormé book ''The Other Side of the Rainbow with Judy Garland o ...

Track listing

# "Louisiana Purchase" by Kay Thompson and The Williams Brothers ( Irving Berlin) – 2:56 #*recorded on 12/19/47; first released on 10-inch 78 on 4/12/48 # "Jubilee" by Kay Thompson and The Williams Brothers (Kay Thompson) – 3:17 #* rec. 12/19/47; first released on 10-inch 78 on 2/9/48 # "Help Me" (

Carole King Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been active since 1958, initially as one of the staff songwriters at 1650 Broadway and later as a solo artist. Regarded as one ...

Cynthia Weil Cynthia Weil (born October 18, 1940) is an American songwriter who wrote many songs together with her husband Barry Mann. Life and career Weil was born in New York City, and was raised in a Conservative Jewish family. Her father was Morris Wei ...

) – 2:21 #* rec. 1/12/62;

of "The Wonderful World of the Young" (1962) # "The Peking Theme (So Little Time)" ( Dimitri Tiomkin,

Paul Francis Webster Paul Francis Webster (December 20, 1907 – March 18, 1984) was an American lyricist who won three Academy Awards for Best Original Song, and was nominated sixteen times for the award. Life and career Webster was born in New York City, United St ...

) – 2:48 #* rec. 2/18/63;

of "Hopeless" (1963) # "Autumn" ( Richard Maltby, Jr., David Shire) – 2:19 #* rec. 2/10/65; previously unreleased in the US # "Here's to My Lady" (

Rube Bloom Reuben Bloom (April 24, 1902 – March 30, 1976) was an American songwriter, pianist, arranger, band leader, recording artist, vocalist, and author. Life and career Bloom was born and died in New York City. He was Jewish. During his career, he wo ...

Johnny Mercer John Herndon Mercer (November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) was an American lyricist, songwriter, and singer, as well as a record label executive who co-founded Capitol Records with music industry businessmen Buddy DeSylva and Glenn E. Wallich ...

) – 2:57 #* rec. 2/13/65; first released on the 1991 compilation ''The Great American Composers: Johnny Mercer'' # " I'll See You in My Dreams" (

Isham Jones Isham Edgar Jones (January 31, 1894 – October 19, 1956) was an American bandleader, saxophonist, bassist and songwriter. Career Jones was born in Coalton, Ohio, United States, to a musical and mining family. His father, Richard Isham Jones ...

, Gus Kahn) – 2:39 #* rec. 5/11/65; first released on the 1969 compilation ''Andy and Company'' # "Loved One" (

Carolyn Leigh Carolyn Leigh (August 21, 1926 – November 19, 1983) was an American lyricist for Broadway, film, and popular songs. She is best known as the writer with partner Cy Coleman of the pop standards "Witchcraft" and "The Best Is Yet to Come". With ...

Jack Segal Jack Segal (October 19, 1918 – February 10, 2005) was a pianist and composer of popular American songs, known for writing the lyrics to '' Scarlet Ribbons''. His composition '' May I Come In?'' was the title track for a Blossom Dearie album. ...

) – 2:49 #* rec. 6/30/65;

of "Ain't It True" (1965) # "The Many Faces of Love" ( Jerome "Doc" Pomus, Mort Shuman) – 2:17 #*rec. 6/2266; B-side of "

In the Arms of Love "In the Arms of Love" is a song featured in the 1966 film, '' What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?'' The song's music was composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans and was performed by Andy Williams. "In the Arms of L ...

" (1966) # " Ave Maria" ( Franz Schubert) – 4:55 #* rec. 7/17/68; B-side of " Battle Hymn of the Republic" (1968) # " The Sound of Music" (

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in the musical theater for almost 40 years. He won eight Ton ...

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American Musical composition, composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most ...

) – 2:25 #* rec. 10/3/68; first released on the 1969 2-LP compilation '' The Andy Williams Sound of Music'' # " What Am I Living For" (Art Harris, Fred Jay) – 3:06 #* rec. 9/17/69;

of "A Woman's Way" (1969) # " Cherish" (

Terry Kirkman Terry Robert Kirkman (born December 12, 1939) is an American musician, who was the lead vocalist for the folk rock group the Association and writer of their hit songs " Cherish", " Everything That Touches You", and "Six Man Band" among many ot ...

) – 3:40 #* rec. 4/6/70; recorded for (but not included on) the 1970 album '' The Andy Williams Show'' # "Whistling Away The Dark" ( Henry Mancini,

) – 3:19 #* rec. 7/28/70;

of "Home Lovin' Man" (1970) # "Free to Go" ( Paul Anka, Bert Kaempfert) – 3:23 #* rec. 7/28/70; previously unreleased # "Someone Who Cares" ( Alex Harvey) – 3:15 #* rec. 12/17/70; first released in 1971 in the UK on ''

Love Story Love Story or A Love Story may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Genres * Romance (love) ** Romance film ** Romance novel Films * ''Love Story'' (1925 film), German silent film * ''Love Story'' (1942 film), Italian drama film * ''Love ...

'' and in the US on the 2-LP compilation '' The Impossible Dream'' # " The Last Time I Saw Her" ( Gordon Lightfoot) – 3:25 #* rec. 4/22/71; first released in 1971 in the UK on ''

'' and in the US on the 2-LP compilation '' The Impossible Dream'' # " Long, Long Time" (Gary White) – 3:37 #* rec. 4/22/71–4/26/71; first released in 1971 in the UK on ''

'' and in the US on the 2-LP compilation '' The Impossible Dream'' # " If You Could Read My Mind" ( Gordon Lightfoot) – 3:52 #* rec. 4/22/71–4/26/71; only released on the 1971 UK album ''

'' # " He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" ( Bob Russell, Bobby Scott) – 2:59 #* rec. 4/22/71–4/26/71; first released in 1971 in the UK on ''

'' and in the US on the 2-LP compilation '' The Impossible Dream'' # " Help Me Make It Through the Night" ( Kris Kristofferson) – 2:36 #* rec. 6/10/71; first released on the quadraphonic version of the 1971 album '' You've Got a Friend'' # "Home For Thee" (Paul T. Parrish) – 3:04 #* rec. 2/19/72–2/24/72;

of " Speak Softly Love (Love Theme from 'The Godfather')" (1972) # "You Chose a Fine Time" ( Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway, Tony Macaulay) – 2:46 #* rec. 4/14/72; only released as a UK single # "Who Was It?" ( Gilbert O'Sullivan) - 2:50 #* rec. 9/16/72;

of "Marmalade, Molasses & Honey" (1972) # " I'll Never Be The Same" ( June Millington) – 3:41 #* rec. 2/19/73;

of "Last Tango in Paris"

Song information

As was typical of Williams's early albums at

Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...

, this collection includes selections from stage and screen. "Louisiana Purchase" is the title song from Irving Berlin's 1940 Broadway musical. "Autumn" originated in the 1958 musical ''Cyrano'', and " The Sound of Music" was first performed by Mary Martin as the title song of the 1959 Broadway musical. "Whistling Away The Dark" was first sung by

Julie Andrews Dame Julie Andrews (born Julia Elizabeth Wells; 1 October 1935) is an English actress, singer, and author. She has garnered numerous accolades throughout her career spanning over seven decades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Fi ...

for the 1970 film '' Darling Lili'' and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. "Someone Who Cares" by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition was included in the 1970 film '' Fools'' and had its highest chart ranking as a number four hit on ''

'' magazine's weekly list of the most popular Easy Listening songs. Several of Williams's other selections covered here also had their best showings as Easy Listening hits. "The Last Time I Saw Her" by Glen Campbell reached number 12 on that chart, while "Long, Long Time" by Linda Ronstadt got as high as number 20. "Who Was It?" was a number 12 Easy Listening hit for Hurricane Smith, and Gordon Lightfoot's " If You Could Read My Mind" went all the way to number one. " Cherish" was initially a number one

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * ''Pop'' (G ...

hit for The Association and later reached the top of the Easy Listening chart thanks to David Cassidy. Williams covers number-one hits from a variety of other charts as well. Of the five recordings of " I'll See You in My Dreams" that made the pop charts in 1925, the most successful rendition came from

& the Ray Miller Orchestra, who spent seven weeks with the song at number one. Chuck Willis took " What Am I Living For" to number one on the ''Billboard'' R&B chart. " Help Me Make It Through the Night" gave

Sammi Smith Jewel Fay Smith (August 5, 1943 – February 12, 2005), known professionally as Sammi Smith, was an American country music singer and songwriter. She is best known for her 1971 country-pop crossover hit "Help Me Make It Through the Night", whi ...

a number one Country hit. And as of the time of Williams's recording of " He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", The Hollies had already peaked at number three with it in the UK, but they later reached number one there when the song was reissued. Other selections from the more distant past are also included on this collection. One of the earliest recordings of "Here's to My Lady" was done by

Perry Como Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (; May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an Italian-American singer, actor and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, after signing ...

in 1951. And Richard Erikson writes in the liner notes to the collection that Williams recorded the Latin Catholic Prayer version of Franz Schubert's " Ave Maria" "days after the funeral of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy as a memorial to the slain leader".

Personnel

– vocalist

Collectables Records reissue

From the liner notes: Compiled by Richard Erikson *Dan Rivard – producer *Ken Robertson – producer; reissue engineer *Richard Erikson – associate producer; liner notes

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * {{Andy Williams 2003 compilation albums Andy Williams compilation albums B-side compilation albums