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 He tries to make a comeback, but his style is out of date.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]
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]Bear Family included the album in the 2008 Rick Nelson's For You: The Decca Years box set.[10]
