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

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

The "500 Greatest B-sides" thread got me thinking about this, and then I immediately thought of Primal Scream's immortal "Velocity Girl"(aka Vomity Girl or The Song That The Stone Roses Ripped Off For Made Of Stone) I mean, how many people realise that it was actually the B-side of "Crystal Crescent" ?

Which other flip sides can you categorically say have outstripped their A-sides, in terms of being remembered, loved, or just being known by the punters at large ?

(nb: remixes and stuff ok, haha!)

― darren (darren), Sunday, 2 January 2005 18:06 (nineteen years ago) link

Orbital's "Belfast" has probably out-repped "Satan".

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Sunday, 2 January 2005 18:09 (nineteen years ago) link

A couple of similarly eighties indie-ish come to mind: Aztec Camera's "We Could Send Letters" has long been one of Roddy's standards and was the B to "Just Like Gold". Also, I reckon it's fair to say that Half Man Half Biscuit are generally best known in the UK for "All I Want For Xmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit", B side of "Trumpton Riots".

― darren (darren), Sunday, 2 January 2005 18:09 (nineteen years ago) link

the a side was gr8 and moody but this bside is uptempo
michael hutchence - golfcourse (rooms for the memory bside)

― nique needles, Sunday, 2 January 2005 18:14 (nineteen years ago) link

The Armand Van Helden mix of Tori Amos's "Professional Widow" was originally a b-side to "Hey Jupiter".

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 2 January 2005 18:14 (nineteen years ago) link

I suppose the obvious would be Underworld's "Born Slippy", the famous one of which is the B side to the "original" version.

― KeithW (kmw), Sunday, 2 January 2005 18:16 (nineteen years ago) link

Prince - Erotic City (maybe)
XTC - Dear God

― Jedmond (Jedmond), Sunday, 2 January 2005 18:18 (nineteen years ago) link

codeine - broken hearted wine

― Ian John50n (orion), Sunday, 2 January 2005 18:25 (nineteen years ago) link

Ian wins. (I do love that song.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 2 January 2005 18:27 (nineteen years ago) link

"How Soon Is Now"

― Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix, Sunday, 2 January 2005 18:38 (nineteen years ago) link

Orbital's "Belfast" has probably out-repped "Satan"
Pre-1996, yes, but arguably not once the song was resurrected for their live sets and re-released as a single.

Depeche Mode's "Somebody" was originally the b-side to "Blashpemous Rumours". There's also "It's Called a Heart"/"Fly on the Windscreen".

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 2 January 2005 18:50 (nineteen years ago) link

"White Horse" by Laid Back (originally B-side to "Sunshine Reggae") wins easily.

― donut christ (donut), Sunday, 2 January 2005 18:52 (nineteen years ago) link

The Divine Comedy - My Lovely Horse, B-side to Gin Soaked Boy

― lupine lupin (lupinelupin), Sunday, 2 January 2005 18:58 (nineteen years ago) link

Pre-1996, yes, but arguably not once the song was resurrected for their live sets and re-released as a single.

Fucking Kirk Hammett.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Sunday, 2 January 2005 19:15 (nineteen years ago) link

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

― W. Earl Piglet, Sunday, 2 January 2005 19:29 (nineteen years ago) link

donut christ wins easily.

― jed_ (jed), Sunday, 2 January 2005 19:30 (nineteen years ago) link

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

Kinks: "Where Have All the Good Times Gone?" over "Till the End of the Day", and "I Need You", arguably, over "Set Me Free"

Then of course, there are all the legends of songs released as B-side that were flipped: "Maggie May", "To Sir With Love", etc.

― assseenontv (j22433), Sunday, 2 January 2005 19:40 (nineteen years ago) link

The Normal: "Warm Leatherette" over "T.V.O.D."

― assseenontv (j22433), Sunday, 2 January 2005 19:50 (nineteen years ago) link

Jasper Carrott's 'Magic Roundabout', the fabulous flip to 'Funky Moped'. I think it might have been rude.

― Puddin'Head Miller (PJ Miller), Sunday, 2 January 2005 20:29 (nineteen years ago) link

Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby

― christopher (WHO), Sunday, 2 January 2005 20:35 (nineteen years ago) link

The Sex Pistols "Friggin' In the Riggin'", flip to "Somethin' Else", also qualifies under the Jasper Carrott rule.

― darren (darren), Sunday, 2 January 2005 20:36 (nineteen years ago) link

i thght this was about the solex track. alas no.

― stevie nixed (stevie nixed), Sunday, 2 January 2005 20:59 (nineteen years ago) link

"Erotic City" owns this thread.

― maria b (maria b), Sunday, 2 January 2005 21:32 (nineteen years ago) link

Madonna's "Into the Groove". B-side of "Angel".

― You blow, Sunday, 2 January 2005 23:19 (nineteen years ago) link

There's no way that "Erotic City" is more well-known than "Let's Go Crazy".

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 2 January 2005 23:22 (nineteen years ago) link

The Music Machine - "Come on in" b/w "Talk Talk" ("Come on in" was the original A-side)

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Sunday, 2 January 2005 23:24 (nineteen years ago) link

?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

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.