The inevitable best Beatles B-sides poll

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It had to happen...
Confined to original 1962-70 run of singles and omitting double A-sides, thus no We Can Work It Out/Day Tripper, Eleanor Rigby/Yellow Submarine, Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane or Something/Come Together, but the list should still provoke some interesting debate.

Poll Results

Option	Votes
Rain	17
I Am the Walrus	10
Things We Said Today	8
You Know My Name (Look up the Number)	5
Old Brown Shoe	3
Baby You're a Rich Man	3
Yes It Is	3
She's a Woman	3
You Can't Do That	2
I'm Down	2
The Inner Light	2
Ask Me Why	2
Revolution	1
This Boy	0
I'll Get You	0
Thank You Girl	0
P.S. I Love You	0

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 09:58 (eighteen years ago)

Oh yes, and UK single releases only.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 09:59 (eighteen years ago)

"Baby You're A Rich Man" is not only their best b-side, but their best song. Well, my favourite.

― Scik Mouthy, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:00 (eighteen years ago)

Although "Rain" and "Walrus" are both pretty awesome too, obv.

― Scik Mouthy, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:00 (eighteen years ago)

"You Know My Name" - brilliant, smashing. I can't bring myself to count I Am The Walrus as a b-side though.

― the next grozart, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:01 (eighteen years ago)

I'm not saying it deserves to win, but I voted for "The Inner Light", because I played it to bits last summer holiday: it was a magnificent anthem to laziness as I sat on the porch of our rented Greek beachside cottage and got mistaken for Peter Jackson by passing Dutch girls.

― Groke, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:02 (eighteen years ago)

Check the ska version on Anthology (You know my name, obv xpost)

― Mark G, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:03 (eighteen years ago)

My feeling is that "I Am The Walrus" probably should have been a double-A with "Hello Goodbye" but the BBC banned it at the time on account of the word "knickers."

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:04 (eighteen years ago)

"Rain" for me.

― Kevin John Bozelka, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:05 (eighteen years ago)

Aargh I left out "Don't Let Me Down" the B-side of "Get Back" *bangs head against steel wall*...feel free to mention it in dispatches...

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:06 (eighteen years ago)

"I Am The Walrus" will win this, but I threw in a vote for "Rain" instead.

― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:21 (eighteen years ago)

I voted for one that should have been an a-side, but is largely unsung...

― Mark G, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:23 (eighteen years ago)

Flying?

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:23 (eighteen years ago)

"Flying" was an EP track, an album track in the US.

― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:32 (eighteen years ago)

"Things We Said Today."

"Walrus" and "Rain" don't feel like b-sides to me, and the only other ones I considered from this list are "Yes It Is," "She's a Woman," "You Can't Do That," and "I'll Get You." I'm surprised how many from this list I don't care for.

― sw00ds, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:33 (eighteen years ago)

"Walrus" I am a bit in doubt about, as "Hello Goodbye"/"I Am The Walrus" was very much perceived as a double a-side by the band.

In the case of "Rain", however, there is no doubt. The song was a b-side, although obviously a very good one.

― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:37 (eighteen years ago)

Flying was my "largely unsung" Beatles instrumental joke, Geir.

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:44 (eighteen years ago)

when you see them all broken down this way, you realise the best
b sides band of all time wasn't the fabs at all but the smiths.

― pisces, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:49 (eighteen years ago)

This Boy is such lovely proto-Fieldmice drip.

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:52 (eighteen years ago)

I'm very fond of Old Brown Shoe, esp the Dylanesque throwaway paradoxes of its lyrics.

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:54 (eighteen years ago)

Things We Said Today's uncanny air gets me every time.

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:54 (eighteen years ago)

Rain invented alt-rock (of course)

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:55 (eighteen years ago)

But I Am the Walrus is my favourite Beatles song of all.

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:56 (eighteen years ago)

I love "Flying". "Rain" is dreary Oasis shite.

― the next grozart, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:56 (eighteen years ago)

I voted for "You Can't Do That". Killer track.

― Frogman Henry, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:58 (eighteen years ago)

It rocks in a way the Beatles don't often pull off.

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 10:59 (eighteen years ago)

yes, eg Helter Skelter.

― Frogman Henry, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 11:06 (eighteen years ago)

I am also quite fond of PS I Love You but then I am a sap. I like the melody when it goes "keep all my love forever".

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 11:09 (eighteen years ago)

i like it too. i also like Thank You Girl and I'll Get you. Great typical early Beatles sound.

― Frogman Henry, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 11:36 (eighteen years ago)

when you see them all broken down this way, you realise the best
b sides band of all time wasn't the fabs at all but the smiths.

The correct answer is Depeche Mode, followed by Pet Shop Boys. :)

― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 11:57 (eighteen years ago)

I'll vote for "Walrus", but "Rain" is just so good.
Am I the only one who likes "The Inner Light"?

― Marco Damiani, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 11:59 (eighteen years ago)

No, Groke does (see above). I sort of like it to, although I think its "the further one travels the less one really knows" put me off going on holiday once.

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 12:01 (eighteen years ago)

Although not quite up there with "Rain" and "I Am The Walrus", "Thank You Girl" and "This Boy" are two great early b-sides.

― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 12:03 (eighteen years ago)

"Yes It Is"

― President Evil, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 12:08 (eighteen years ago)

Yes It Is is a bit dreary, yes it is.

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 12:12 (eighteen years ago)

It's Old Brown Shoe.

― Keith, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 12:21 (eighteen years ago)

"Yes It Is" x 2

― christoff, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 12:23 (eighteen years ago)

'Things you said today', the perfect yin to 'A hard day's night's' yang.

― Billy Dods, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 12:25 (eighteen years ago)

1. Rain
2. Things You Said Today
3. I Am The Walrus
4. Yes It Is
5. I'm Down

i want more votes

― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 12:44 (eighteen years ago)

'this boy' is permanently ruined if you hear the out-take version from the b side of FREE AS A BIRD, where the boys have trouble getting their 'this's and their 'that's in the right order and the right way round. hillarious too.

― pisces, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 12:46 (eighteen years ago)

"Hang on, is it me or the other guy who'll slap you about?"

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 12:55 (eighteen years ago)

things we said today for me, but only because it's hard for me to think of 'walrus' and 'revolution' (and even 'rain' in a way) as b-sides....

― akm, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 13:25 (eighteen years ago)

It's hard for me to think of "Things We Said Today" as a single. It was an album track too, after all.

― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 13:26 (eighteen years ago)

Thinking is hard.

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 13:39 (eighteen years ago)

ooer missus

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 13:40 (eighteen years ago)

"Ask Me Why"

― Tim Ellison, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 16:43 (eighteen years ago)

I am really pissed I can't vote for "We Can Work It Out"

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 16:49 (eighteen years ago)

I voted for "You Know My Name" cuz its the most fun song in the list. plus Brian Jones sax solo!

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 16:51 (eighteen years ago)

"Baby You're A Rich Man" STILL their best song despite lack of love here.

― Scik Mouthy, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 17:12 (eighteen years ago)

Wasn't Dizzy Miss Lizzy a B-side?

― BlackIronPrison, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 17:20 (eighteen years ago)

"She's a Woman" is one of their finest tracks I think. It's unique sounding.

― DavidM, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 17:20 (eighteen years ago)

keith otm

― RJG, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 17:23 (eighteen years ago)

"Don't Let Me Down."

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 17:36 (eighteen years ago)

I used to really love Don't Let Me Down. It's got that end-of-the-Beatles/60s thing going down.

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 18:10 (eighteen years ago)

Baby, you're a rich, fag Jew.
...but Rain bassline pwns all

― sexyDancer, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 18:42 (eighteen years ago)

You Know My Name.

Will I be the only one to vote for it?

― jim, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 18:43 (eighteen years ago)

Paul McCartney said it was his favourite Beatles song once. But I don't think he posts here.

― Alba, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 18:46 (eighteen years ago)

dude WTF @ any answer besides "rain"

― 69, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 19:00 (eighteen years ago)

Another Walrus vote.

"Walrus" I am a bit in doubt about, as "Hello Goodbye"/"I Am The Walrus" was very much perceived as a double a-side by the band.

I'm pretty sure Hello Goodbye was a designated A side as I've read several quotes of Lennon bitching about "fucking Hello Goodbye" being chosen over Walrus as the main single. I think he was extra bitter about this considering it was his sole contribution to the MMT soundtrack and the unusual amount of time he labored over the production.

― darin, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 19:02 (eighteen years ago)

"Yes It Is" is so classic it hurts.

― billstevejim, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 19:34 (eighteen years ago)

No fair including Walrus...it's technically a B-side, but really, it's unfair to all the other tracks.

Old Brown Shoe is amazing, the bass is sick and the lyrics are so George. She's A Woman is wonderful, paired with I Feel Fine makes one of the most solid Beatles singles they ever did. Things We Said Today would have been a monster if any other band had released it as a single.

Now I'm curious...why wasn't I Am the Walrus a double-A side with Hello, Goodbye? Clearly the record label didn't have a problem with doing double A sides, unless they had a specific problem with I Am the Walrus (which I imagine is entirely possible). And if Strawberry Fields Forever was really a double-A side with Penny Lane why wasn't it on the Beatles 1 album?

― musically, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 19:52 (eighteen years ago)

I think the majority of those b-sides are (even) better than their respective a's. (That includes "You Know My Name".)

I choose "Rain" - their most groundbreaking single, until their next one.

― Myonga Vön Bontee, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 20:11 (eighteen years ago)

"Baby You're A Rich Man" has a pretty boring chorus after the first few listens.

― Frogman Henry, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 20:44 (eighteen years ago)

Nice Curtis Mayfied-like verses, tho.

― Frogman Henry, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 20:46 (eighteen years ago)

Has to be "Rain".

― Fishman2, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 21:19 (eighteen years ago)

Rain the clear winner, Walrus a reluctant (?) second, and goodness gracious, You Know My Name in fourth place shocker!

Three votes, including mine, for "She's A Woman."

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 26 April 2007 07:19 (eighteen years ago)

I'm quite surprised that "Revolution" only got one vote.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 26 April 2007 07:20 (eighteen years ago)

Lennon might have wanted "Walrus" as a double A, but Guinness, Tom Ewing Popular and my original copy of the 45 (Parlophone R 5655) all have "Hello Goodbye" unambiguously marked down as the solitary A-side.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 26 April 2007 07:23 (eighteen years ago)

Unambig?

You have a promo?

The sixties parlophone singles never had a/b markings.

― Mark G, Thursday, 26 April 2007 10:52 (eighteen years ago)

Correction: on checking, mine is not the original but the 1976 green-sleeved reissue/repromotion innit.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 26 April 2007 11:15 (eighteen years ago)

Who was the fellow hippy who voted for "Inner Light"?

― Groke, Thursday, 26 April 2007 11:19 (eighteen years ago)

I need to hear "Things We Said Today" apparently!

I heard so much about "Rain" before hearing it and was a bit disappointed. It is good though.

― Groke, Thursday, 26 April 2007 11:19 (eighteen years ago)

xpost and those ones had "Strawb" as the a-side and "Pen" as the b.

Strange days indeed!

― Mark G, Thursday, 26 April 2007 11:20 (eighteen years ago)

Most peculiar Markgrout. Roll!

I wonder what mark Tom would have given "Walrus" on Popular had it actually been an official double A-side.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 26 April 2007 11:24 (eighteen years ago)

IIRC Hello Goodbye was a 6. Walrus would have been a 9 probably - love its angry intensity. 8 or 9 for the combo.

What did you vote for Marcello?

― Groke, Thursday, 26 April 2007 11:27 (eighteen years ago)

I did mention it above - "She's A Woman," not just because of the Scritti/Shabba cover (although the latter in some ways gives final justification to the former), but also because it's one of the downright strangest of Beatles tracks; not quite reggae, not quite groping towards psychedelia, bizarre semi-rhymes, but somehow it all works; Paul's "Woman" is as much an abstract as Lennon's "Girl" and both laid out some of the groundwork for The "Sweetest Girl", so I suppose yes, my vote was for Scritti-related reasons. "Walrus" I suspected would get plenty of votes without my help.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 26 April 2007 11:31 (eighteen years ago)

Thinking about HG/IATW I'm really sad it wasn't a double A side, would have been great to write about repetition vs nonsense in "children's" records and songwriting.

― Groke, Thursday, 26 April 2007 11:33 (eighteen years ago)

ian mcdonald's book 'revolution in the head' made me realise *just how good* '...walrus' really is. man that chapter of that book should come with all copies of the record.

― pisces, Thursday, 26 April 2007 11:47 (eighteen years ago)

You Know My Name has one of the coolest intros ever - begging for a hip hop production mix.

― the next grozart, Thursday, 26 April 2007 11:50 (eighteen years ago)

'Caught In A Moment' by the Sugababes has the same intro as 'You Know My Name'.

― musically, Thursday, 26 April 2007 20:03 (eighteen years ago)

just the first two chords, though!

― Tim Ellison, Thursday, 26 April 2007 20:06 (eighteen years ago)

I'm going with "Things We Said Today" - even though it's an album track.

― o. nate, Thursday, 26 April 2007 20:16 (eighteen years ago)

Well, I wasn't talking something of Ice Ice baby proportions or anything. Certainly very similar though.

― musically, Saturday, 28 April 2007 20:32 (eighteen years ago)

ten months pass...

staggered that RAIN won this. only saw this poll after reading about it on the pet shop boys b sides poll thread.

― pisces, Friday, 29 February 2008 14:33 (seventeen years ago)

meant to say yeah pet shop boys WERE the better b sides band, as some one pointed out last year.

― pisces, Friday, 29 February 2008 14:34 (seventeen years ago)

Missed this at the time, of course. But the poll is pretty much OTM, with the sole exception that "She's a Woman" should have come higher.

The non-appearance of "Strawberry Fields" on '1', the only album contrived specifically to fit an Alan Partridge punchline, is down to US chart rules of the time: two sides of a single could chart separately, and "Penny Lane" hit #1 but "Strawberry Fields" only #8. If it had been a UK number one, both sides would have been on of course, but as every Brit has heard about 753,465 times it wasn't, so it wasn't.

― February Callendar, Friday, 29 February 2008 16:40 (seventeen years ago)

So nice to see "Things We Said Today" so high.

― Pleasant Plains, Friday, 29 February 2008 16:50 (seventeen years ago)

Missed this one. "Rain" is wonderful but these are staggeringly lopsided results. No votes for "Thank You Girl"? At least "I'm Down" picked up a couple...

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 1 March 2008 00:03 (seventeen years ago)

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