The Best B-Sides

[David Brent]

The music industry are resigned to the fact that the CD single will soon be no more.
CD single sales have plummeted over the last year and the record companies are no longer promoting their release. Legal online music downloads are now more popular than CD purchases from retail outlets.

The end of the single also means the end of the 'B' side.
Back in the wonderful days of vinyl singles the 'B' side was always of interest as an extra to the main release. Artists could experiment with a B-side track.

Bands such as the Beatles put some fabulous songs out as B-side singles. Remember 'Revolution', 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and 'I Am The Walrus'?

XTC released 'Dear God' as a B-side single, yet it received more airplay than the A-side 'Grass' and became a hit in the US.

What are some of your favourite B-side tracks of all time?
Hidden gems that maybe not everyone knows about?

Dave.

[penfold]

'Mark Time' by The Eclection.... a classic slice of late '60's pop, phasing vocals, terrific harmonies, complex arrangement and obligatory trumpet break...started out life as the 'B' to 'Nevertheless', also a wonderful track; both tracks got a lot of airplay, but somehow the thing was never a hit. Mark Time was eventually released as an A side in its own right, but its time had passed. The Eclection's one album has been re-issued as a CD (The original LP fetches about £50) but Mark Time was a non-album B-side so remains known to very few...unless, like me, you have the original single on Elektra.

[DB7]

Oasis did some very strong b-sides early on including Talk Tonight, Acquiesce, Round Are Way, The Masterplan, Half the World Away and the little ditty below, Let's All Make Believe.

[batman]

Originally Posted by DB7 Oasis did some very strong b-sides early on including Talk Tonight, Acquiesce, Round Are Way, The Masterplan, Half the World Away and the little ditty below, Let's All Make Believe.

Most, if not all, of those are on the CD 'The Masterplan'.

That perennial old favourite 'Radar Love' by Golden Earring features a great track on the B-side .... 'Just Like Vince Taylor', a right good ol' rocker!

And on an early 70s Strawbs single .... I think it was 'Lay Down' .... there is a great Bowie piss-take called 'Ciggy Barlust and the Whales from Venus'.

I also recall that the B-sides of all those Chinnichap hits from Sweet, Mud, Quatro etc were usually band-penned tracks which were often much better than the A-sides. Having said that ... these days I would probably prefer to listen to the A-sides .... that's right, that's right. that's right, that's right, I really love your Tiger Feeeeeet!

Bats.

[Nick Dando]

The B-side to Release the Bats by The Birthday Party is Blast Off. Two incredibly powerful tracks.

Nick

[ChristineCB]

"YES IT IS", while the A-Side "TICKET TO RIDE" isn't so bad either.

[Freddy]

The Bonzo's Urban Spacemen had 'Canyons of Your Mind' as a B side but as a youngster I remember listening to the Bee Gee's ' And the Lights all went out' and then finding 'Mr. Barker' on the other side. Strangest one though was Napoleon Bonaparte the third's(?) with the lyrics of the A side ' They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha Ha' played backwards.
Reminds me of going to a friend's house who had a multi player which could play up to ten ( I think) singles, seldom happened that way as slipping started soon after three had been played.

regards

Freddy

[Merton Park]

I like to listen to Sounds of the Sixties every Saturday on Radio 2 with Brian Matthews. He plays quite a few B sides, and some are excellent.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Freddy The Bonzo's Urban Spacemen had 'Canyons of Your Mind' as a B side but as a youngster I remember listening to the Bee Gee's ' And the Lights all went out' and then finding 'Mr. Barker' on the other side. Strangest one though was Napoleon Bonaparte the third's(?) with the lyrics of the A side ' They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha Ha' played backwards. Reminds me of going to a friend's house who had a multi player which could play up to ten ( I think) singles, seldom happened that way as slipping started soon after three had been played. regards Freddy

Those stacks were good at scratching records as well. When "scratching" was something to be avoided - actually it still is, along with ©rap

Steve

[Automotivehistorian]

What about Jasper Carrott's MAGIC ROUNDABOUT on the back of FUNKY MOPED?

And the Bonzos...I loved CANYONS and can even now remember the lyrics.."the sweet essence of Giraffe" is too funny"!

I am sure that the B to John Barrie's? HIT AND MISS (theme to Juke Box Jury) was ROCKIN' A READY....which was played the other day on the radio. Quite a catchy tune.

[penfold]

Canyons...good shout.
"In the wardrobe of my soul, in the section labelled...shirts"
Stephen Fry quotes it as one of the things that influenced his deep love of language....
too many good lines for one song....
"In the mountains of your chest,
I will plant a Union Jack,
Through the forest of your cheek, aaah...
In the holes of your string vest...."

[Fareham_Bee]

Jasper Carrott actually sold on the b side auto. Banned by radio everybody rushed out to buy it for that.

When I dj'd in clubs I found loads of good b sides to play, the main one that jumps out is Billy Ocean's awful follow up to European Queen, Loverboy. I used to play the flip Nights (Feel Like Getting Down), much more soulful and danceable.

[Jackdaw]

If you believe the Guiness book, then 'Girl of My Best Friend' by Elvis Presley is a B-side, although the authors must be the only people in the world to think so.
I'll go for that then - one of only two or three of his records that I like.

[Jackdaw]

Originally Posted by penfold 'Mark Time' by The Eclection.... a classic slice of late '60's pop, phasing vocals, terrific harmonies, complex arrangement and obligatory trumpet break...started out life as the 'B' to 'Nevertheless', also a wonderful track; both tracks got a lot of airplay, but somehow the thing was never a hit. Mark Time was eventually released as an A side in its own right, but its time had passed. The Eclection's one album has been re-issued as a CD (The original LP fetches about £50) but Mark Time was a non-album B-side so remains known to very few...unless, like me, you have the original single on Elektra.

I had no idea that Eclection's music was avilable - thanks for the tip, Penfold.
They received a great deal of air time on the BBC on such live audience programmes as Bob Miller's Millermen show and the like, and were a very impressive live act as well as on record.
I was lucky enough to see them supporting the Beach Boys at the Finsbury Park Astoria in the late sixties and they sounded a bit like a West Coast band themselves - very good musicianship.........................and they invented a word.

[batman]

Amazon.co.uk: Eclection: Music: Eclection

I'd never heard of The Eclection so I looked them up on amazon. There is one CD listed with samples. I have included a link with this post. I had a listen, great stuff, cheers penfold .... my order is already in.

Bats.

ps - reading one of the reviews it says that one of their members morphed into Georg Kajanus and formed Sailor! You learn something new every day .....