Last Updated on January 16, 2026
If you’ve ever flipped a vinyl and thought, “well that was a limp finish,” then this episode is your new religion. Andrew and Dr. Sam dive into the fine art of ending Side A—the lost craft of crafting a sonic cliffhanger that makes you want to flip that record like your nan flips a Digestive into her cuppa.
We’ve got:
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The Clash’s perfectly measured chaos
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An R.E.M. song even the R.E.M. boys can’t remember
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Richard Dawson punching you in the feelings
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A mystery smackhead guitar hero who wandered into a Funkadelic session and laid down one of the greatest solos of all time
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And very strong feelings about Brett Anderson’s 12″ misadventure with Suede’s “Stay Together” (hint: the band hate it, and Andrew can’t stop hearing horn sections)
Throw in some serious digressions about class consciousness, cat whiskers, baked beans in mouths, and Gregg’s colonisation of the high street, and you’ve got yourself a full-fat Beat Motel stew.
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Dave Rowntree of Blur sues PRS over ‘black box’ royalties
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All creatures will evolve into crabs
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Cats’ whiskers = biological gap gauges
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Stripper Vicars: helping painters and decorators since 1995
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Midori – “Yukiko-san”
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Gorillaz ft. Sparks – “The Happy Dictator”
Grab a pint, slap on your headphones, and ask yourself – how does YOUR favourite album end Side A?
Stuff that might be true (but we didn’t check):
### Riffs of the week
#### Dr Sam’s Riff
– Midori – Yukikosan (0:19)
#### Andrew’s Riff
– Gorillaz Ft. Sparks – The Happy Dictator
### Dr Sam’s track choices
1. The Clash – Straight to Hell (4.30)
2. Funkadelic – Get Off Your Ass and Jam (1.33)
3. Armstrong & Ellington – Do Nothing ‘Til You Hear From Me (opening)
4. Richard Dawson – Two Halves (0.29)
### Andrew’s track choices
1. The Stone Roses – Bye Bye Badman
2. Mansun – Stripper Vicar
3. REM – Can’t get there from here
4. Suede – Stay Together
Email us – beatmotel@lawsie.com
