b-sides turned singles

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"ice ice baby" is one example, where (as legend dictates) a DJ somewhere plays a b-side that instead becomes the runaway hit. what are other examples?

― notfazed (notfazed), Sunday, 7 September 2003 15:26 (twenty-three years ago)

"Dear God" by XTC

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 7 September 2003 15:28 (twenty-three years ago)

I want to say "Beth" by Kiss, but is that correct?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 7 September 2003 15:29 (twenty-three years ago)

"Touch Me, I'm Sick" by Mudhoney

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 7 September 2003 15:32 (twenty-three years ago)

arguably "Sugar Mountain" by Neil Young qualifies. It wasn't a chart hit but it's a b-side that has always been one of his most requested acoustic songs.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 7 September 2003 15:33 (twenty-three years ago)

"Rock Around The Clock" is probably the most famous example.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 7 September 2003 15:38 (twenty-three years ago)

'the model' was the b-side to 'computer love'

― joni, Sunday, 7 September 2003 15:46 (twenty-three years ago)

The Strokes had 'Last Nite' as the b-side to 'The Modern Age'.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Sunday, 7 September 2003 15:48 (twenty-three years ago)

How Soon Is Now!

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 7 September 2003 16:27 (twenty-three years ago)

"I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself" by the White Stripes was first a b-side to a song off their last album. Now it's a single with a nudie Kate Moss video.

― Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Sunday, 7 September 2003 16:28 (twenty-three years ago)

Sandie Shaw's 'Girl Don't Come'

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 7 September 2003 16:29 (twenty-three years ago)

Maggie May - Rod Stewart
My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder
Rock and Roll Part Two - Gary Glitter

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 7 September 2003 16:30 (twenty-three years ago)

Push "Universal Nation" was originally meant as a B-side of a The Blackmaster 12". Apparently M.I.K.E. got a call from the Bonzai offices asking "you're kidding, right?" and it went on to become one of the best selling 12"s ever.

― Siegbran (eofor), Sunday, 7 September 2003 16:31 (twenty-three years ago)

I Say A Little Prayer (the Dionne Warwick original) started out as a b-side, amazingly.

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 7 September 2003 16:33 (twenty-three years ago)

Born Slippy - Underworld

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 7 September 2003 16:35 (twenty-three years ago)

I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 7 September 2003 16:37 (twenty-three years ago)

I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Sunday, 7 September 2003 16:38 (twenty-three years ago)

yikes!

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 7 September 2003 16:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Sunday, 7 September 2003 16:40 (twenty-three years ago)

In The Mood - Glen Miller

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 7 September 2003 16:42 (twenty-three years ago)

white horse - laid back

― simon 803 (simon 803), Sunday, 7 September 2003 16:51 (twenty-three years ago)

fool's gold

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Sunday, 7 September 2003 17:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Led Zeppelin's "Hey Hey What Can I Do" (the b-side to "Immigrant Song") got a ton of Klassikrokk airplay the last time I listened to that particular format on a regular basis (i.e. the early '90s), though I'm unsure if it charted when it was actually released or if was even played regularly before that Zeppelin box set was released.

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Sunday, 7 September 2003 17:51 (twenty-three years ago)

fool's gold

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 7 September 2003 18:05 (twenty-three years ago)

The Stone Roses, right?

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Sunday, 7 September 2003 18:18 (twenty-three years ago)

i think that Boney M's "Brown Girl in the Ring" was originally the b-side to "Mary's Boy Child", and it became a hit in it's own right a while later. but i may be wrong.

"1963" was the b-side to "True Faith" in 1987, and it was remixed and butchered (not edited, but butchered) and put out as a single in the mid-90's.

― Neil FC, Sunday, 7 September 2003 18:18 (twenty-three years ago)

I'll Be Around - The Spinners
Limbo Rock - Chubby Checker
Don't Worry Baby - The Beach Boys
Revolution - The Beatles

― megan, Sunday, 7 September 2003 18:19 (twenty-three years ago)

"Fool's gold" was originally to be the B-side, with "What the World is Waiting" for as the A-side; however, I believe this was changed to a double A-side just before its release.

― Keith Watson (kmw), Sunday, 7 September 2003 18:24 (twenty-three years ago)

erotic city

― chaki (chaki), Sunday, 7 September 2003 18:25 (twenty-three years ago)

I interpreted the question as songs that were actually released as B-sides. Didn't know that about Fool's Gold.

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 7 September 2003 19:03 (twenty-three years ago)

Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side (am I imagining this?)

― JS Williams (js williams), Sunday, 7 September 2003 19:27 (twenty-three years ago)

I think so. 'Perfect Day' was the B-side though.

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 7 September 2003 19:31 (twenty-three years ago)

I believe "Rumble" by Link Wray was originally a B. "Runaway" by Del Shannon, too, I think.

― M Matos (M Matos), Sunday, 7 September 2003 20:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Them - "Gloria"

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Sunday, 7 September 2003 22:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Doug E. Fresh and MC Ricky D. - "La-Di-Da-Di"

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Sunday, 7 September 2003 22:48 (twenty-three years ago)

underground lovers - lick the boot
paula abdul - cold hearted

― the surface noise (electricsound), Sunday, 7 September 2003 22:50 (twenty-three years ago)

"Kung Fu Fighting" - Carl Douglas. yeow.

― brock (brock), Monday, 8 September 2003 02:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Yellow Ledbetter.

― Leee (Leee), Monday, 8 September 2003 04:45 (twenty-three years ago)

where does the concept of the "double A side" fit in here?

― gabbo giftington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 8 September 2003 04:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Like Glue was b-side to Gimme the Light

― autovac (autovac), Monday, 8 September 2003 07:37 (twenty-three years ago)

"Pump up the Volume" = MARRS. Though strictly speaking I believe it was a double A, but I'm sure I've read somewhere the ARKane song on the other side was intended to be the focus. Which of course it wasn't.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 8 September 2003 07:58 (twenty-three years ago)

"Fool's gold" was originally to be the B-side, with "What the World is Waiting" for as the A-side; however, I believe this was changed to a double A-side just before its release.

I've got that single and it's not a double A 7", "What the world is waiting for" is A, "Fools gold" is B. But yes, they did indeed swap them pretty hastily. Sloppy job, too. IIRC I once saw the 7" where FG was the A-side and it said "fool's gold 4:15" (big lettering) on the frontcover, I assume they just copy-pasted it from the backcover.

― willem (willem), Monday, 8 September 2003 07:58 (twenty-three years ago)

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" - The Tokens

― H (Heruy), Monday, 8 September 2003 11:15 (twenty-three years ago)

have we done a b sides that shoulda been the a side thread ?
what with the search facility being up the spout who can tell ?

― piscesboy, Monday, 8 September 2003 11:28 (twenty-three years ago)

"Maggie May" by Rod Stewart
"Everything She Wants" by Wham!

Btw "Revolution", from my impression, was never turned into an a-side. The only reason for it appearing in the Billboard listings is Billboard listing airplay, and thus, giving b-sides a chance to enter the Top 40.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 8 September 2003 11:32 (twenty-three years ago)

piscesboy: yep

― willem (willem), Monday, 8 September 2003 11:47 (twenty-three years ago)

Also - B

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 8 September 2003 11:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Wow, "Everything She Wants" was a b-side? I always thought that was their strongest track.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 8 September 2003 11:58 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought 'Everything She Wants' was always a double A with 'Last Christmas'. It's just followed the common pattern of the record company promoting one side first then the other when interest started to wane. In this case, it was especially appropriate, given the seasonal nature of one of the songs (I always wanted to meet the people who bought Christmas singles in January).

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 8 September 2003 12:08 (twenty-three years ago)

Push It - Salt 'n' Peppa

― fletrejet, Monday, 8 September 2003 14:40 (twenty-three years ago)

In the case of "Last Christmas" being turned into "Everything She Wants", the single was given a new cover just after 1985 started, with "Everything She Wants" credited as the a-side. It was even remixed, to possibly lure more people into buying the same single again for the second time in two months.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 8 September 2003 23:22 (twenty-three years ago)

"We Will Rock You" b/w "We Are the Champions (Queen)

Or was that a double A? I have the 45rpm somewhere.

― don weiner, Tuesday, 9 September 2003 01:38 (twenty-three years ago)

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