The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company intends to be the initial focus of promotional efforts and radio airplay, with the aim of it becoming a hit record. The B-side (or "flip-side") is a secondary recording that typically receives less attention, although some B-sides have been as successful as, or more so than, their A-sides.
Use of this language has largely declined in the 21st century as the music industry has transitioned away from analog recordings towards digital formats without physical sides, such as downloads and streaming. Nevertheless, some artists and labels continue to employ the terms A-side and B-side metaphorically to describe the type of content a particular release features, with B-side sometimes representing a "bonus" track or other material.[1]
Conventions shifted in the early 1960s, at which point record companies started assigning the song they wanted radio stations to play to side A, as 45 rpm single records ("45s") dominated most markets in terms of cash sales in comparison to albums, which did not fare as well financially. Throughout the decade the industry would slowly shift to an album-driven paradigm for releasing new music; it was not until 1968 that the total production of albums on a unit basis finally surpassed that of singles in the United Kingdom.[2]
Double A-sideedit
A "double A-side", "AA-side", or "dual single" is a single where both sides are designated the A-side, with no designated B-side; that is, both sides are prospective hit songs and neither side will be promoted over the other. In 1949, Savoy Records promoted a new single by one of its artists, Paul Williams' "House Rocker" and "He Knows How to Hucklebuck", as "The New Double Side Hit – Both Sides "A" Sides".[3] In 1965, Billboard reported that due to a disagreement between EMI and John Lennon about which side of the Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" and "Day Tripper" single should be considered the A-side and receive the plugging, "EMI settled for a double-side promotion campaign—unique in Britain."[4]
In the UK, before the advent of digital downloads, both A-sides were accredited with the same chart position, for the singles chart was compiled entirely from physical sales. In the UK, the biggest-selling non-charity single of all time was a double A-side, Wings' 1977 release "Mull of Kintyre"/"Girls' School", which sold over two million copies. It was also the UK Christmas No. 1 that year, one of only four occasions on which a double A-side has topped that chart, the others being Queen's 1991 re-release of "Bohemian Rhapsody" with "These Are the Days of Our Lives", Westlife's 1999 release "I Have a Dream"/"Seasons in the Sun", and the Beatles' "Day Tripper"/"We Can Work It Out" in 1965.[5][6]Nirvana released "All Apologies" and "Rape Me" as a double A-side in 1993, and both songs are accredited as a hit on both the UK Singles Chart,[7] and the Irish Singles Chart.[8]
B/Wedit
"b/w" redirects here. For the shortened form of "black and white", see black-and-white. For other uses, see B&W.
The term "b/w", an abbreviation of "backed with", is often used in listings to indicate the B-side of a record. The term "c/w", for "coupled with", is used similarly.[9]
Characteristicsedit
B-sides are often considered to be filler material: songs of lower quality. However, some pop artists such as the Smiths and Oasis have been particularly known for releasing strong material on B-sides.[10][11] B-sides have often been compiled on expanded or "deluxe" editions of albums or may be compiled into a "B-side compilation album" across multiple periods of an artist's career.[12]
^Billboard (25 June 1949). "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. Vol. 61, no. 26. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Savoy and Paul Williams Lead Again with... The New Double Side Hit – Both Sides 'A' Sides
^Hutchins, Chris. "Music Capitals of the World 20 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine" Billboard 4 December 1965: 26
^"1977-12-24 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive | Official Charts". Official Charts Company. from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
^"Every Official Christmas Number 1 ever". Official Charts Company. 25 December 2020. from the original on 3 April 2015.
^Nirvana – UK Singles Chart Archive 2 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine officialcharts.com. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
^User needs to do an artist search for "Nirvana" Archived 24 May 2012 at archive.today irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
^"The Straight Dope: In the record business, what do "b/w" and "c/w" mean?". 15 October 1999. from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
^Beaumont, Mark (19 July 2021). "It's time for a return of the good, old-fashioned B-side – and Sam Fender's leading the charge". NME. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
"A History of the 45rpm record" Martland, Peter. EMI: The First 100 Years – ISBN0-7134-6207-8
January 01, 1970
side, side, several, terms, redirect, here, other, uses, sides, disambiguation, sides, disambiguation, filipino, band, side, group, christian, theological, positions, side, side, side, side, theological, views, this, article, needs, additional, citations, veri. Several terms redirect here For other uses see A Sides disambiguation and B Sides disambiguation For Filipino pop band see Side A group For the Christian theological positions see Side A Side B Side X Side Y theological views This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources A side and B side news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message The A side and B side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two sided music recordings The A side usually features a recording that its artist producer or record company intends to be the initial focus of promotional efforts and radio airplay with the aim of it becoming a hit record The B side or flip side is a secondary recording that typically receives less attention although some B sides have been as successful as or more so than their A sides Victor 17929 A and 17929 B A cassette tape Use of this language has largely declined in the 21st century as the music industry has transitioned away from analog recordings towards digital formats without physical sides such as downloads and streaming Nevertheless some artists and labels continue to employ the terms A side and B side metaphorically to describe the type of content a particular release features with B side sometimes representing a bonus track or other material 1 Contents 1 History 2 Double A side 3 B W 4 Characteristics 5 B side compilations 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Other sourcesHistory editConventions shifted in the early 1960s at which point record companies started assigning the song they wanted radio stations to play to side A as 45 rpm single records 45s dominated most markets in terms of cash sales in comparison to albums which did not fare as well financially Throughout the decade the industry would slowly shift to an album driven paradigm for releasing new music it was not until 1968 that the total production of albums on a unit basis finally surpassed that of singles in the United Kingdom 2 Double A side editA double A side AA side or dual single is a single where both sides are designated the A side with no designated B side that is both sides are prospective hit songs and neither side will be promoted over the other In 1949 Savoy Records promoted a new single by one of its artists Paul Williams House Rocker and He Knows How to Hucklebuck as The New Double Side Hit Both Sides A Sides 3 In 1965 Billboard reported that due to a disagreement between EMI and John Lennon about which side of the Beatles We Can Work It Out and Day Tripper single should be considered the A side and receive the plugging EMI settled for a double side promotion campaign unique in Britain 4 In the UK before the advent of digital downloads both A sides were accredited with the same chart position for the singles chart was compiled entirely from physical sales In the UK the biggest selling non charity single of all time was a double A side Wings 1977 release Mull of Kintyre Girls School which sold over two million copies It was also the UK Christmas No 1 that year one of only four occasions on which a double A side has topped that chart the others being Queen s 1991 re release of Bohemian Rhapsody with These Are the Days of Our Lives Westlife s 1999 release I Have a Dream Seasons in the Sun and the Beatles Day Tripper We Can Work It Out in 1965 5 6 Nirvana released All Apologies and Rape Me as a double A side in 1993 and both songs are accredited as a hit on both the UK Singles Chart 7 and the Irish Singles Chart 8 B W edit b w redirects here For the shortened form of black and white see black and white For other uses see B amp W The term b w an abbreviation of backed with is often used in listings to indicate the B side of a record The term c w for coupled with is used similarly 9 Characteristics editB sides are often considered to be filler material songs of lower quality However some pop artists such as the Smiths and Oasis have been particularly known for releasing strong material on B sides 10 11 B sides have often been compiled on expanded or deluxe editions of albums or may be compiled into a B side compilation album across multiple periods of an artist s career 12 B side compilations editMain article List of B side compilation albumsSee also editB movieReferences edit Plasketes George 28 January 2013 B Sides Undercurrents and Overtones Peripheries to Popular in Music 1960 to the Present Ashgate Publishing MacDonald p 296 Billboard 25 June 1949 Rhythm amp Blues Records Billboard Vol 61 no 26 p 30 ISSN 0006 2510 Savoy and Paul Williams Lead Again with The New Double Side Hit Both Sides A Sides Hutchins Chris Music Capitals of the World Archived 20 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine Billboard 4 December 1965 26 1977 12 24 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive Official Charts Official Charts Company Archived from the original on 3 June 2020 Retrieved 6 May 2020 Every Official Christmas Number 1 ever Official Charts Company 25 December 2020 Archived from the original on 3 April 2015 Nirvana UK Singles Chart Archive Archived 2 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine officialcharts com Retrieved 23 October 2013 User needs to do an artist search for Nirvana Archived 24 May 2012 at archive today irishcharts ie Retrieved 23 October 2013 The Straight Dope In the record business what do b w and c w mean 15 October 1999 Archived from the original on 4 October 2008 Retrieved 12 January 2009 Beaumont Mark 19 July 2021 It s time for a return of the good old fashioned B side and Sam Fender s leading the charge NME Retrieved 24 May 2023 Petridis Alexis 5 March 2020 Oasis s greatest songs ranked The Guardian Retrieved 24 May 2023 Evanson Keith The Return Of The B Side Single Vinyl Me Please Retrieved 24 May 2023 Other sources edit MacDonald Ian Revolution in the Head The Beatles Records and the Sixties ISBN 1 84413 828 3 A History of the 45rpm record Martland Peter EMI The First 100 Years ISBN 0 7134 6207 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title A side and B side amp oldid 1218655386 Double A side, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
