roadhouse
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Post by roadhouse on Jun 30, 2024 22:26:57 GMT
Probably a silly question, but why does the record company sometimes although rarely release a double A sided single?
Lies/Don't drive my car for example.
Does it mean they were unsure if each song were strong enough to stand up on their own, so release both on the same record?
Or is it so that radio or television could give maximum air time to each song?
I never understood it properly because I thought Lies and Don't drive my car were both very strong songs.
Other artists have done it in the past but what exactly is the deal behind it?
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Post by The Lord Flasheart on Jun 30, 2024 22:42:39 GMT
In Quos case, Lies was always the A side single but Don't Drive My Car was picking up airplay on the Radio so the record became a double A side.
The double A single started in 1965 with a discussion about which of the two songs should be the A-side of the new single, John Lennon had argued for "Day Tripper", differing with the majority view that "We Can Work It Out" was more commercial. EMI announced that the A-side would be "We Can Work It Out", only for Lennon to publicly contradict this two days later.
As a result, the single was marketed as a "double A-side". John's championing of "Day Tripper", for which he was the principal writer, was based on his belief that the Beatles' rock sound should be favoured over the softer style of "We Can Work It Out". Though We Can Work It Out became the more popular song with the Radio stations.
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roadhouse
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Post by roadhouse on Jul 1, 2024 0:03:50 GMT
In Quos case, Lies was always the A side single but Don't Drive My Car was picking up airplay on the Radio so the record became a double A side. The double A single started in 1965 with a discussion about which of the two songs should be the A-side of the new single, John Lennon had argued for "Day Tripper", differing with the majority view that "We Can Work It Out" was more commercial. EMI announced that the A-side would be "We Can Work It Out", only for Lennon to publicly contradict this two days later. As a result, the single was marketed as a "double A-side". John's championing of "Day Tripper", for which he was the principal writer, was based on his belief that the Beatles' rock sound should be favoured over the softer style of "We Can Work It Out". Though We Can Work It Out became the more popular song with the Radio stations. You mean to say radio was playing Don't drive my car before the single had been released? Does that mean they were just playing it from the album, or was there copies released with Don't drive my car as the B side, but then based on airplay they rushed it out as a double A Side with Lies? Either way it shows you the power of radio back in the day. To think radio could actually influence what the record company releases. Normally it's the other way round, the single gets released then in the hope radio stations play it. I was 11 in 1980 and a big Quo fan, but I dont think I heard Don't drive my car on the radio once, I heard Lies quite a bit. Must have missed it everytime while at school or whatever. |
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Jul 1, 2024 5:35:32 GMT
Whatever the reason, it'll have been for marketing purposes. Or possibly royalties. Do you get more for an A-side than a B-side? No idea. But you have Rossi/Frost on one side and Rick on the other.
I only ever heard Lies on the radio as well. And I think that's all Quo performed on TOTP, although someone might tell me different.
I know it's technically a double A-side but Lies was always the single for me.
Never knew that story about The Beatles. Interesting 👍
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roadhouse
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Post by roadhouse on Jul 1, 2024 6:42:28 GMT
Whatever the reason, it'll have been for marketing purposes. Or possibly royalties. Do you get more for an A-side than a B-side? No idea. But you have Rossi/Frost on one side and Rick on the other. I only ever heard Lies on the radio as well. And I think that's all Quo performed on TOTP, although someone might tell me different. I know it's technically a double A-side but Lies was always the single for me. Never knew that story about The Beatles. Interesting 👍 I agree, I think Lies is definitely the more radio friendly track. That said Don't drive my car is definitely a belter, and remained in set lists for decades. I was more curious surrounding the need for a double A Side, what exact purpose does it serve, other than possible marketing purposes, a bit like 2 for the price of 1, but then we had that anyway with a B side. I wonder what other album tracks could you couple up with an already established A Side to make it a plausible double A Side. I would go with Rockin all over the world and Dirty Water as double A Side. Or Down Down and Little Lady. I think I chose Dirty water and Little lady because they became concert staples similarly to Don't drive my car. Any ideas for others? |
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mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 6,095
Favourite Quo Album: Hello!
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Post by mortified on Jul 1, 2024 8:02:06 GMT
You could create literally dozens of double A-sides with Quo. But I suppose the bottom line is, regardless of what it says on the single, radios would probably have only played the one track anyway because it was on their playlist for that week/month/whatever.
The Beatles, of course, being an exception. As they would be.
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Post by 4th Chord on Jul 1, 2024 8:14:38 GMT
In Quos case, Lies was always the A side single but Don't Drive My Car was picking up airplay on the Radio so the record became a double A side. The first Quo single I owned.  |
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Post by dennis on Jul 1, 2024 8:30:09 GMT
I heard Don't Drive My Car on the radio before Lies, it was played by DLT on Radio 1 who was raving about it & mentioned that it was a double a-side with Lies
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allyp
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Post by allyp on Jul 1, 2024 12:09:47 GMT
This format has only worked for a small number of acts as one song will always take priority regarding publicity and radio play. The Beatles ones like We can work it out/Day Tripper and Hello Goodbye/I am the walrus , Strawberry fields/Penny lane..were all treated equally as the Beatles would be I suppose. Hey Jude/Revolution was the only one where one track got a bit more preferential treatment maybe due to the other one being a bit too political. Other examples of the format can be down to censorship like The Stranglers had with Peaches/Go buddy go even when the former got cleaned up a bit for radio play, the band performed the other song on top of the pops. Queen released Bohemian Rhapsody/ These are the days of our lives after Freddie Mercury died and both songs were pushed due to sentiment.
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mortified
4500 Timer
Posts: 6,095
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 Jul 1, 2024 15:01:28 GMT
In Quos case, Lies was always the A side single but Don't Drive My Car was picking up airplay on the Radio so the record became a double A side. The first Quo single I owned. What age were you? D'you buy it for the reverse of the pic sleeve?  |
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roadhouse
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Post by roadhouse on Jul 1, 2024 15:07:39 GMT
I suppose in hindsight, Lies and Don't drive my car could have been individual singles.
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allyp
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Post by allyp on Jul 1, 2024 16:32:08 GMT
I suppose in hindsight, Lies and Don't drive my car could have been individual singles. Wasn’t there a bit of a cock up with the chart compiling for the AA regarding Don’t drive my car and it is was only listed chart entry with Lies a few weeks after it got released?? Remember seeing it in the Guinness book of hit singles which stated that?? |
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roadhouse
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Posts: 456
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Post by roadhouse on Jul 1, 2024 17:25:17 GMT
I suppose in hindsight, Lies and Don't drive my car could have been individual singles. Wasn’t there a bit of a cock up with the chart compiling for the AA regarding Don’t drive my car and it is was only listed chart entry with Lies a few weeks after it got released?? Remember seeing it in the Guinness book of hit singles which stated that?? I think your right. I bought all those books, will have to dig mine out 😉 |
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gerh
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Post by gerh on Jul 1, 2024 17:28:45 GMT
While we’re at it - can anybody tell me what did ‘c/w’ (sometimes ’b/w’) mean on press ads, way back - I used to buy Sounds back in the day and they always had ads for 7” singles with that on it.
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jason
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Post by jason on Jul 1, 2024 17:38:17 GMT
While we’re at it - can anybody tell me what did ‘c/w’ (sometimes ’b/w’) mean on press ads, way back - I used to buy Sounds back in the day and they always had ads for 7” singles with that on it. c/w = coupled with b/w = backed with Both mean the same thing. |
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