The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these 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 and hopefully become 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 CDs, 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] The term B-side carries a more expansive definition in the K-pop industry, referring to all tracks on an album that are not marketed as title tracks.[2]
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.[3]
Double A-side
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".[4] 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."[5]
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' aforementioned "Day Tripper"/"We Can Work It Out" in 1965.[6][7]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,[8] and the Irish Singles Chart.[9]
Artists with the most Top 100 double-side singles
Perry Como (12) and Nat King Cole (19) both had additional double-sided singles on Billboard's pre-1955 charts.[10][11]
Artists having the most US double-sided singles on which each side reached the Billboard Top 40, according to Billboard:[11]
Artist
Number
Elvis Presley
26
The Beatles
14
Ricky Nelson
11
Pat Boone
10
Fats Domino
9
Brenda Lee
6
Connie Francis
6
Everly Brothers
6
Perry Como
6
Creedence Clearwater Revival
6
Nat King Cole
5
The Beach Boys
5
B/W
"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.[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" Billboard December 4, 1965: 26
^1977-12-24 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive | Official Charts
^"Every Official Christmas Number 1 ever". Official Charts Company. 25 December 2020. from the original on 3 April 2015.
^Nirvana – UK Singles Chart Archive officialcharts.com. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
^User needs to do an artist search for "Nirvana" irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
^Whitburn, Joel, Pop Memories 1890–1954, Record Research Inc., 1986
^ abWhitburn, Joel, Top Pop Singles 1955–2006, Record Research Inc., 2007
^"The Straight Dope: In the record business, what do "b/w" and "c/w" mean?". 15 October 1999. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
"A History of the 45rpm record" Martland, Peter. EMI: The First 100 Years – ISBN0-7134-6207-8
January 16, 2023
side, side, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, june, 2022, lea. 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 template message Several terms redirect here For other uses see A Sides disambiguation and B Sides disambiguation For Filipino pop band see Side A group The A side and B side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes these 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 and hopefully become 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 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 CDs 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 The term B side carries a more expansive definition in the K pop industry referring to all tracks on an album that are not marketed as title tracks 2 Contents 1 History 2 Double A side 3 Artists with the most Top 100 double side singles 4 B W 5 B side compilations 6 See also 7 ReferencesHistory 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 3 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 4 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 5 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 aforementioned Day Tripper We Can Work It Out in 1965 6 7 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 8 and the Irish Singles Chart 9 Artists with the most Top 100 double side singles EditPerry Como 12 and Nat King Cole 19 both had additional double sided singles on Billboard s pre 1955 charts 10 11 Artists having the most US double sided singles on which each side reached the Billboard Top 40 according to Billboard 11 Artist NumberElvis Presley 26The Beatles 14Ricky Nelson 11Pat Boone 10Fats Domino 9Brenda Lee 6Connie Francis 6Everly Brothers 6Perry Como 6Creedence Clearwater Revival 6Nat King Cole 5The Beach Boys 5B 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 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 These Were The Top 50 Best K Pop B Sides In 2020 According To Fans Koreaboo 25 January 2021 Retrieved 27 July 2021 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 Billboard December 4 1965 26 1977 12 24 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive Official Charts 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 officialcharts com Retrieved 23 October 2013 User needs to do an artist search for Nirvana irishcharts ie Retrieved 23 October 2013 Whitburn Joel Pop Memories 1890 1954 Record Research Inc 1986 a b Whitburn Joel Top Pop Singles 1955 2006 Record Research Inc 2007 The Straight Dope In the record business what do b w and c w mean 15 October 1999 Retrieved 12 January 2009 Other sourcesMacDonald 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 1129741922 Double A side, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
