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Post by roadhouse on Apr 8, 2024 20:26:26 GMT
Just wondering has there been some dodgy choices of B-Sides over the years?
Was browsing some of my old vinyl singles today, and it reminded me that Resurrection was the B-side of Marguerita Time, and let's not forget a B-side in those days we're a big deal as jukeboxes up and down the country in pubs entertainment complexes we're full of the hits of the day, and so lots of people might play the B-side.
So it made me think if the record company used Resurrection as the B-side to Marguerita Time which was aimed at a completely different audience to how we normally view Quo, the two songs were like chalk and cheese. I actually thought the B-side to Marguerita Time should have been either Jealousy, or Stay the night.
Theres been a few more clashes along the way, the single Caroline Live at the N.E.C. they used a live version of Dirty Water, but I thought Hold You Back Live at the N.E.C. would have been better.
Is there any singles you can think of where the B-side's where the wrong choice? Especially when alternative songs we're available that could have suited the A-sides better.
Any thoughts on this?
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quoman
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Post by quoman on Apr 8, 2024 21:24:23 GMT
Thought Dirty Water as the B side to Caroline was great, along with Down Down on the 12" as both weren't on the From the Makers of Live at the NEC set. And there was no way of hearing all this stuff back then unlike these days unless you heard it/taped it off the radio.
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allyp
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Post by allyp on Apr 9, 2024 0:49:41 GMT
Many of the A and B sides rarely had the same writers on both sides if the singles. Many of the 70s ones had Alan’s songs as B sides and into the 80s-90s a few of Rick’s were on them. This was probably a royalty issue to balance things out. Softer ride is one example credited to Parfitt/Lancaster despite being a Rossi/Young written song. Break the rules/Lonely night had all 4 members plus Bob Young credited as did Roll over lay down. Down Down would probably been better paired with something like Fine Fine Fine or Don’t think it matters than a track of same album?? Didn’t do it any harm commercially though☺️☺️
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mortified
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Favourite Quo Album: Hello!
Favourite other bands.: Talking Heads, Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow, Gary Numan, Alabama 3, ZZ Top, Paul van Dyk, Jeff Beck, Bowie, Gerry Rafferty, Band of Skulls, UFO, S.A.H.B
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Post by mortified on Apr 9, 2024 5:43:57 GMT
I wonder how much thought went into the B-side of a single? Probably quite a bit if there was a royalties issue at play. My main gripe in the past was when a B-side was something I already had. And this probably happened more often than it didn't. Especially with a 2nd single off an album, because I already had the A-side as well! It got a bit silly in the 80's, for example, when they released 4 singles from Back To Back and there was absolutely nothing new for me to listen to, despite the various formats (12", pic-discs, double singles in gatefold sleeves etc). Extended 12" versions was about all there was to offer something slightly different for the less than casual fan. And we now know there were other tracks out there that went unreleased for years. Daftest B-side for me was when Mean Girl was backed with Everything. What were PYE thinking? Nearly put me off the band
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Post by kursaal75 on Apr 9, 2024 7:24:09 GMT
For me, there’s been a few B sides that have been okay, but my favourites were 'Juniors Wailing' from the live '75 ep and as I've mentioned before, 'Lonely Night' which was played more times on the juke boxes in the pubs in Southend then the A side 'Break The Rules' just under 50 years ago!!!
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allyp
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Post by allyp on Apr 9, 2024 7:46:35 GMT
I wonder how much thought went into the B-side of a single? Probably quite a bit if there was a royalties issue at play. My main gripe in the past was when a B-side was something I already had. And this probably happened more often than it didn't. Especially with a 2nd single off an album, because I already had the A-side as well! It got a bit silly in the 80's, for example, when they released 4 singles from Back To Back and there was absolutely nothing new for me to listen to, despite the various formats (12", pic-discs, double singles in gatefold sleeves etc). Extended 12" versions was about all there was to offer something slightly different for the less than casual fan. And we now know there were other tracks out there that went unreleased for years. Daftest B-side for me was when Mean Girl was backed with Everything. What were PYE thinking? Nearly put me off the band The b sides Between Never too late and Back to Back were mainly tracks taken from albums. I think by this point the record companies were aiming product at record buyers who weren’t necessarily hardened Quo fans or would go and buy the albums. Also there wasn’t much extra material lying around and most of what was recorded got put onto the album. “Calling the shots” was the only rare track so to speak. When we got to “In the army” onwards there seemed to be excessive material including abandoned unused solo material so getting non album b sides wasn’t an issue. The 12 inch single format had taken off so all of that extra stuff was to embrace that and the pending cd single. Most of Rick’s related stuff was appearing on the b sides so assume like above was a royalty agreement again.
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matt
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Post by matt on Apr 9, 2024 8:07:18 GMT
Lucinda although cheesy I like with a rip roaring solo I ain’t ready is better than many tracks on TPAOY Obstruction day is great Mysteries from the ball as a bside instead of the execrable re-recording of Tommy?
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allyp
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Post by allyp on Apr 9, 2024 12:04:00 GMT
Regarding Quo a few of their B sides were previous hits Burning Bridges had Whatever you want as its flipside maybe that helped the sales???
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roquer
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Post by roquer on Apr 9, 2024 12:13:54 GMT
Most of Rick’s related stuff was appearing on the b sides so assume like above was a royalty agreement again. I assume it is a royalty agreement. All the songs between 86-88 from the solo albums contains "the other person" credited. I mean, except for Long-legged Girls and Halloween, all the songs contains Parfitt or Rossi in the credits (That's Allright is known to be one of the Dolo songs from Francis/Bernie, but Rick is there in the credits), and for example, Don't Give It Up is a song from Rhino and some other, but Rick and Francis are there too, and I don't think they wrote anything of the song. Thinking of that, it's a good question. As I think it was Quoincidence said in other post, Rossi didn't know Democracy was released as the "B-Side" of Restless, he didn't even know it was released at all, so I think is the label who organise everything. Maybe they can listen to the band, as for example don't think it was the record company who selected Rock 'n' Roll as a single in 81, when the recent album was Never Too Late and did well in charts.
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Post by roadhouse on Apr 9, 2024 18:28:35 GMT
Don't get me wrong I wasn't knocking the songs they used as b-sides, I like the songs.
More specifically I was saying in the days when 7 inch vinyl singles were used in jukeboxes in pubs and entertainment places, someone would put on a familiar song which typically was a hit of that era, but might take a punt of playing the B-side, because they might really like the a-side, but might not normally like that particular artist. So the B-side in my opinion should be similar to the a-side which is the hit that drew them to that artist in the first place.
To put it another way can you imagine someone who doesn't normally like Quo but we're crazy about Marguerita Time, so they we're down the pub and thought I want more of the same, so put the B-side on, which is Resurrection only to find a totally different style song, and even had a different singer, as they probably don't know anyone in the band, but just loves Marguerita Time, so playing the B-side was like hearing a different band, in fact they probably thought they made a mistake and the wrong record was playing.
I'm sure this has happened to lots of artists, not just Quo, where the B-sides have no resemblance to the a-side which drew the listener to the artist. But this surely is to an artists detriment, and it causes confusion to the listener.
Its a bit like you can imagine them thinking what is this? It's nothing like the hit. Which becomes off putting, or put them off anything else the artist has to offer.
I remember when our local pub first had whole albums put on the jukebox when cds first became popular, and Thirsty Work was put on there, and over time certain songs became popular with the regulars. The point of no return was the most played, Sherri, Restless, Lover of the human race, all songs you could say was the softer side of Quo, but I was surprised at how popular Point of no return was, yet it was never a single or on the radio etc. Yet it quickly became a hit in that pub.
So it kind of highlights to me how important it was to get those b-side choices right in terms of strengthening the artists popularity.
Admittedly too late now, but I thought it would be interesting if you had the chance to go back and re-write history, what songs would you marry with the a-sides instead of what has been chosen.
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matt
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Post by matt on Apr 10, 2024 22:11:58 GMT
The Beatles and oasis aside, I don’t know anyone whose b sides are consistently decent. Much less a reason to buy a record
Acquiesce on Some might say is a good example
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mortified
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Favourite Quo Album: Hello!
Favourite other bands.: Talking Heads, Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow, Gary Numan, Alabama 3, ZZ Top, Paul van Dyk, Jeff Beck, Bowie, Gerry Rafferty, Band of Skulls, UFO, S.A.H.B
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Post by mortified on Apr 11, 2024 4:43:23 GMT
When I was younger and buying vinyl singles in particular, the B-side was never really in my thoughts. If it happened to be a good one, it was a bonus. Although I agree that if both sides were equally as good, it tended to make me look out for the artist more and maybe check out the album. Paper Plane/Softer Ride is a prime example of that.
The Sweet, of course, became well known for their B-sides; for a while anyway. It was almost a deliberate ploy to show off their other side. If you pardon the pun. Marguerita Time/Resurrection might fall into that category. As would Rock 'n' Roll/Hold You Back/Backwater. I think the juke box version only had an edited version of Backwater as the B-side. I once bid for a copy on e-Bay but didn't get it.
The CD single took things to another level because there could be several additional tracks making most releases like an EP. Losing the medium's charm in the process I'd suggest.
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Post by kursaal75 on Apr 11, 2024 7:19:35 GMT
T. Rex had some excellent B sides in the early 70s.
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allyp
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Post by allyp on Apr 11, 2024 7:48:42 GMT
I always thought b sides were tracks deemed not good enough for albums but listening to many acts sometimes they were better than A sides. I think it was sometimes a case of an act wanting to give their fans something different which wasn’t usually available on an album. Later on there was a trend to put 2 or 3 duplicate tracks of the A side on the b side in remixed form or just an instrumental. Live tracks became a bit of a normality too especially in Quo’s case.
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tqontq
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Post by tqontq on Apr 11, 2024 8:34:43 GMT
Best B Sides of Quo were Lonely Night and AB Blues. Didn't appear on any albums and love them both.
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