Somethin' Else (song)



"Somethin' Else" is a song by the rockabilly musician Eddie Cochran, co-written by his girlfriend Sharon Sheeley and his elder brother Bob Cochran, and released in 1959. It has been covered by a wide range of artists, including the Sex Pistols, who scored a number 3 hit with it in the UK Singles Chart in 1979.

Eddie Cochran version
The first-person lyrics describe how Cochran wants a convertible he can not afford and a girl who he fears will not go out with him. But in the end, by saving money, he is able to buy an older car, and works up the confidence to ask the girl out. The song was written on the back of a match book. The song peaked at No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart, but only reached No. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

Known personnel

 * Eddie Cochran: vocal, guitar, electric bass overdub
 * Earl Palmer: drums

Songwriting credit
The songwriting credit shows Bob, not Bobby, Cochran. Eddie's brother Bob co-wrote the song. Bobby Cochran is Eddie's nephew.

Johnny Hallyday version (in French)
The song was covered in French by Johnny Hallyday. His version (titled "Elle est terrible") was first released in a live rendition (recorded at the Olympia Hall in Paris). The single appeared in 1962 and spent one week at no. 1 on the singles sales chart in France (from December 15 to 21). In Wallonia (French Belgium) his single spent 28 weeks on the chart, peaking at number 4.

Sex Pistols version
The Sex Pistols recorded a version of "Something Else" for the album The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle. The double A-sided single was credited to "Sex Pistols : vocals Sid Vicious" [sic] and was released three weeks after Vicious died. The single peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. The other side of the single was "Friggin' in the Riggin'" credited to "Sex Pistols : vocals Steve Jones".

There are a few (slight) changes to the lyrics, for example the opening verse is changed from, "Here comes that girl again/Wanted to date her since I don't know when" to "Here comes that girl again/One of the cutest since I don't know when" and in the third verse, the lines are changed from "Worked hard and saved my dough/I'll buy that car that I've been wanting so" to "Worked hard and saved my dough/I buy that car and I load up with Joe".