B-sides that are better-known than their A-sides

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?hInto The Groove" was very much an A side in the UK at least and spent a month or so at number one in summer 85.

― darren (darren), Monday, 3 January 2005 00:28 (nineteen years ago) link

I'm no great fan of the Fuzz, but I always thought the Police's "Once Upon A Daydream" was more well-remembered than "Synchronicity II".

― darren (darren), Monday, 3 January 2005 00:33 (nineteen years ago) link

Buzzcocks: "Why Can't I Touch It?", arguably better-known than "Everybody's Happy Nowadays"

This is a pregnant hippopotamus-sized fib.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 3 January 2005 00:41 (nineteen years ago) link

It's not arguable?

― Carl Winslow is WHAT!?!? (deangulberry), Monday, 3 January 2005 00:44 (nineteen years ago) link

It's arguable since the former was used in a VH1 commercial.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Monday, 3 January 2005 00:49 (nineteen years ago) link

It's not arguable because "Why Can't I Touch It?" is more well-known.

― Carl Winslow is WHAT!?!? (deangulberry), Monday, 3 January 2005 01:01 (nineteen years ago) link

Never argue with a man who claims he can tell if a hippotamus is pregnant.

― assseenontv (j22433), Monday, 3 January 2005 01:02 (nineteen years ago) link

"i feel love"

― Turkey versus Eagle, McCauley is my Beagle (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 3 January 2005 01:03 (nineteen years ago) link

Let's not argue.

― Carl Winslow is WHAT!?!? (deangulberry), Monday, 3 January 2005 01:05 (nineteen years ago) link

The Beatles "Rain" - the b-side to "Paperback Writer"

Surely not, especially as "Paperback Writer" is on all the compilations?

― Ben Dot (1977), Monday, 3 January 2005 01:19 (nineteen years ago) link

Synchronicity II establishes Sting's greenie qualifications and is probably the best Police song (well i don't really know the police, but i love that song) -- OK, a deserved a-side that shows how low-brow most police songs had to be to sell

wasn't "i am the walrus" a b-side, or was it a double a-side ? "you know my name (look up the number)" last beatles b-side, last brian jones session, surely more important than "let it be", "long winding road" whatever

generally i have preferred b-sides by the fall (where the other members and brix get more of a go)

― george gosset (gegoss), Monday, 3 January 2005 08:56 (nineteen years ago) link

"There's no way that "Erotic City" is more well-known than "Let's Go Crazy". "
-- MindInRewind (brune...), January 2nd, 2005.

Depends on who you talk to/how old they are/have they seen "Purple Rain" Most people I know who are my age (between 20 - 30) would know Erotic City better than Let's Go Crazy (including 1 dj who boasted he had never listened to the a side of his 7" (fists still itching at thought)).

Above crappy paragraph explains why included (maybe) in parantheses.

― Jedmond (Jedmond), Monday, 3 January 2005 13:16 (nineteen years ago) link

I'm afraid I can't say I'm convinced. Are your friends all Prince fans? I mean, Let's go Crazy was all over the radio and the telly; To have seen Purple Rain, you'd have to have been a fairly serious Prince fan willing to go to the cinema or have bought it/rented it later on. My cousin is the only person I can think of in that category; however, I bet my Dad knows Let's go Crazy.

― KeithW (kmw), Monday, 3 January 2005 13:40 (nineteen years ago) link

I was actually arguing that it's the people who have seen Purple Rain who would view "Let's Go Crazy" as better known, as well as people older than my friends (hopefully this includes your dad).

― Jedmond (Jedmond), Monday, 3 January 2005 13:53 (nineteen years ago) link

Oh well... Still don't follow. Never Mind.

I think my Dad's probably older than your friends :)

― KeithW (kmw), Monday, 3 January 2005 13:59 (nineteen years ago) link

Sorry if I'm writing badly, it's late and I'm tired. I was just trying to argue that (at the moment) skeletal quirky funk is more popular than flashy pop metal, and because of this Erotic City is better known than Let's Go Crazy. Unless of course you are old enough to remember a time when flashy pop metal was more popular (importance of age/ having seen Purple Rain).

Don't know if this was a better or worse explanation (it is at least longer).

― Jedmond (Jedmond), Monday, 3 January 2005 14:16 (nineteen years ago) link

"Erotic City" got tons of airplay back in the day, least where I stayed, but I still think "Let's Go Crazy" is better known. Number One single, lead cut on a zillion-selling album, etc.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 3 January 2005 14:18 (nineteen years ago) link

"10:15 Saturday Night"

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 3 January 2005 15:48 (nineteen years ago) link

"Detroit Rock City" b/w "Beth"

DJs flipped the record and played "Beth" and it became a smash etc.

― Kent Burt (lingereffect), Monday, 3 January 2005 18:52 (nineteen years ago) link

Jacob Miller 'Baby I love You So' b/w 'King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown'

― bham, Tuesday, 4 January 2005 10:08 (nineteen years ago) link

"ICE ICE BABY"

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 10:19 (nineteen years ago) link

Suede - Killing of a Flash Boy (B-Side to We Are The Pigs)

― thomas, Tuesday, 4 January 2005 13:03 (nineteen years ago) link

Re: Prince. This is maybe a US/UK thing. I'm in the UK and I've never ever heard or even heard of Erotic city, so I guess that's my problem, so fair enough. I had no idea it got lots of airplay in (I assume) the US.

― KeithW (kmw), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 13:07 (nineteen years ago) link

I'm listening to "Erotic City" now though; it's certainly lots better!

― KeithW (kmw), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 13:09 (nineteen years ago) link

Depeche Mode's "Somebody" was originally the b-side to "Blashpemous Rumours"

wasn't this a double-A-side? as was TVOD/warm leatherette? i've got 'em both at home somewhere ...

apparently the initial pressings of "blue monday" were mispressed so "the beach" got all the club airplay. some people were very disappointed when they eventually heard the vocals.

(x-posts: hello keith, happy new year matey)

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 13:11 (nineteen years ago) link

Gloria Gaynor - "I will survive", obviously. B-side to "Substitute".

― Essdot, Tuesday, 4 January 2005 13:19 (nineteen years ago) link

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