On the Flip Side is an hour long television musical with music by Burt Bacharach, lyrics by Hal David, and a book by Robert Emmett.[1] The story concerns rock 'n' roll star Carlos O'Conner, whose career is on the skids after early success at age 20. He tries to make a comeback, but his style is out of date. He prays for a miracle, and gets one, when Angie and the Celestials, four angels, join his act.[2]

On the Flip Side was made for the anthology series ABC Stage 67, and it was originally broadcast on ABC television on December 7, 1966.[2] It was the first musical written by Bacharach and David, who later co-created the 1968 Broadway musical Promises, Promises.[3] The production was directed by Joe Layton and starred Rick Nelson as O'Conner and Joanie Summers as Angie, with Tyrone Cooper, Steven Perry, and Jeff Siggins as the Celestials, Will Mackenzie as Jerome, Donna Jean Young as Juanita, Murray Roman as Hairy Eddie Popkin and James Coco as Zuckerman.[4][5] Peter Matz served as the arranger and conducted the orchestra.[6]

Original cast album

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On the Flip Side – Original Cast Album
 
Soundtrack album by
Released1966
GenreCast recording
Length26:12
LabelDecca
ProducerCharles "Bud" Dant
Rick Nelson chronology
Bright Lights and Country Music
(1966)
On the Flip Side – Original Cast Album
(1966)
Country Fever
(1967)
Joanie Sommers chronology
Come Alive!
(1966)
On The Flip Side – Original Cast Album
(1966)
Dream - Live At The Backlot Studio
(1983)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [7]

An original cast album of On the Flip Side was released in December 1966 with Rick Nelson and Joanie Sommers.[8] It was released on the Decca Records label, and was selected as a "Special Merit Pick" in Billboard magazine whose review gave particular praise to the arrangements by Peter Matz, Nelson's performance on the song "They Don't Give Medals", and Sommers' vocals on the song "Try to See It My Way".[9]

Track listing

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Side one

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No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."It Doesn't Matter Anymore"Ricky Nelson2:19
2."Fender Mender"Joanie Sommers, & The Celestials2:27
3."They Don't Give Medals (To Yesterday's Heroes)"Ricky Nelson2:02
4."Try to See It My Way"Joanie Sommers2:29
5."Juanita's Place Montage"Peter Matz Orchestra4:50

Side two

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No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Take a Broken Heart"Ricky Nelson2:39
2."They're Gonna Love It"Donna Jean Young2:06
3."Try to See It My Way"Ricky Nelson & Joanie Sommers2:28
4."Juanita's Place"The Celestials2:12
5."They Don't Give Medals (To Yesterday's Heroes)"Peter Matz Orchestra2:49

References

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  1. ^ Vincent Terrace. "On the Flip Side". Television Specials: 5,336 Entertainment Programs, 1936-2012, 2d Ed. McFarland & Company. p. 286. ISBN 9780786474448.
  2. ^ a b Joan Baxter (2020). "On the Flip Side". Television Musicals: Plots, Critiques, Casts and Credits for 222 Shows Written for and Presented on Television, 1944-1996. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9781476641898.
  3. ^ Ken Bloom (1996). "Hal David". American Song: The Complete Musical Theatre Companion. Vol. 3. Schirmer. p. 236.
  4. ^ T. Mike Childs (2014). "O'Conner, Carlos". The Rocklopedia Fakebandica. St. Martin's Publishing Group. p. 156. ISBN 9781466873018.
  5. ^ "ABC Stage 67: On the Fllip Side (TV)", Paley Center for Media, accessed October 23, 2023
  6. ^ Robin Platts (2003). Burt Bacharach & Hal David: What the World Needs Now. Collector's Guide Publishing. pp. 51–52. ISBN 9781896522777.
  7. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 1020. ISBN 9781846098567. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  8. ^ Sheree Homer (2012). Rick Nelson, Rock 'n' Roll Pioneer. McFarland & Company. p. 155. ISBN 9780786460601.
  9. ^ "Special Merit Picks: On the Flip Side". Billboard. December 31, 1966. p. 31.
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