"Somethin' Else" is a song by the rockabilly musician Eddie Cochran, co-written with his girlfriend Sharon Sheeley, released in 1959. The first-person lyrics, like those of many early rock songs, lack substantial content.
They describe how Cochran wants a convertible he can't 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 a slightly older and even better car, giving him the confidence to ask the girl out.
The song has been covered by numerous bands, such as Led Zeppelin (appeared on both their 1997 compilation BBC Sessions, and their 2003 DVD), Slade, the New York Dolls, The Flamin Groovies,UFO, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (appeared on his box set Playback), The Beatles, Teenage Head and notably Sid Vicious, who made it his second single as a solo artist. It was released on February 23, 1979, shortly after Vicious' death. It made it to number 3 on the UK singles chart and was Sid's biggest success. Vicious also recorded another Eddie Cochran song, "C'mon Everybody", which was released as his third solo single on June 22, 1979.
The Casio MT-40 home keyboard had a built-in pattern based on "Something Else". Because of this, a synthesizer version of the song's bassline ended up as the basis of one of the most popular Dancehall riddims of Jamaican music - the Sleng Teng riddim which started the "Digital Reggae" revolution in 1985.
