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> Singles that were originally B-sides, Anyone have any examples?
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Mangø
post 26th September 2022, 02:21 PM
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I was reminded in a recent post on here that Robbie Williams' 2003 top ten single 'Sexed Up' was originally released as a B-side in 1998 (albeit in demo form). This got me thinking about what other songs released as singles were previously issued as B-sides.

There are a couple of famous examples I can think of:
Green Day's 'Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)' was released in demo form as a B-side in 1996, before being released as a single a couple of years later.
IIRC, the version of 'Born Slippy' everyone knows was originally the B-side to the single but was re-released as a single after it was used in Trainspotting.

Though not quite the same thing, 'Fool's Gold' by the Stone Roses was originally a double A-side with 'What The World Is Waiting For' as the main track but then took on a life of its own.

Again not quite the same thing, Queen's 'We Will Rock You' was actually the B-side to 'We Are The Champions' and never released as a single in its own right until the version with Five.

Are there any other examples?
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Liam.k.
post 26th September 2022, 02:24 PM
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Madonna's 'Vogue' was originally recorded to be the B-side to 'Keep It Together' before it was decided it was too good a song not to be released in its own right.
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gooddelta
post 26th September 2022, 02:25 PM
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Flip & Fill's Shooting Star (No.3) was originally the b-side to True Love Never Dies (No.7)!
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Mangø
post 26th September 2022, 02:30 PM
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QUOTE(Liam.k. @ Sep 26 2022, 03:24 PM) *
Madonna's 'Vogue' was originally recorded to be the B-side to 'Keep It Together' before it was decided it was too good a song not to be released in its own right.

Never knew that! Imagine a song as iconic as 'Vogue' being a B-side!
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gooddelta
post 26th September 2022, 02:32 PM
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Also, U2's Sweetest Thing and Pet Shop Boys' Paninaro were both 80s b-sides that were remixed and released as singles in the 90s.
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WhoOdyssey
post 26th September 2022, 02:36 PM
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Ghost’s ‘Mary On A Cross’ was originally just a B-side to their single ‘Kiss The Go-Goat’!
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chartjack2
post 26th September 2022, 02:39 PM
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Maggie May is the example that springs to mind
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danæ
post 26th September 2022, 02:39 PM
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Wasn't Havana effectively the B-side to OMG for Camila Cabello for all of one week before the label realised Havana had way more hit potential?
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Jessie Where
post 26th September 2022, 02:49 PM
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Shania Twain's 'Man! I Feel Like a Woman! (!)' featured the version of 'Don't Be Stupid! (You Know I Love You!!)' which later ended up being the next single.
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Brer
post 26th September 2022, 03:13 PM
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'Shut Up' by Stormzy was the B-Side to his first top 40 hit 'WickedSkengMan 4' - arguably it was never really a proper single but it did become a much bigger hit!
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Bjork
post 26th September 2022, 03:23 PM
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Havana was not the b-side, both songs were released at the same time to see what sticked, pretty common, even The weekend did that with Blinding Lights
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Smint
post 26th September 2022, 03:30 PM
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Boney M 'Brown Girl in the Ring' originally was just the B side to 'the massive no.1 'Rivers of Babylon' in 1978. But as that fell down the chart, DJs started playing 'Brown Girl' and it became a double sided single and hte package climbed again to no.2 a few months later.

'Brown Girl in the Ring' was released as an A side in its own right and made no. 38 in remixed form in 1993 when Boney M had a bit of a revivial following a top 10 megamix the previous year.
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Spiceboy
post 26th September 2022, 03:34 PM
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QUOTE(Liam.k. @ Sep 26 2022, 03:24 PM) *
Madonna's 'Vogue' was originally recorded to be the B-side to 'Keep It Together' before it was decided it was too good a song not to be released in its own right.



Madonna didn't want to release it originally did she? It blows my mind such an iconic song was intended to be a b-side
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lewistgreen
post 26th September 2022, 03:40 PM
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QUOTE(Jessie Where @ Sep 26 2022, 03:49 PM) *
Shania Twain's 'Man! I Feel Like a Woman! (!)' featured the version of 'Don't Be Stupid! (You Know I Love You!!)' which later ended up being the next single.


That dance remix of Don't Be Stupid is probably my favourite single from Shania
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mrpopquiz
post 26th September 2022, 04:30 PM
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The Top of the Pops repeats reminded me that Thinking Of You by Sister Sledge was originally the b-side of Lost In Music back in 1979

Thinking Of You was released as a single in 1984 reaching number 11.
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Jester
post 26th September 2022, 04:32 PM
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I Will Survive was originally a b-side. Seems crazy!
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mrpopquiz
post 26th September 2022, 04:40 PM
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The Smiths masterpiece How Soon Is Now was originally on the b-side of the 12 inch single of William It Was Really Nothing in 1984 however so many people loved How Soon Is Now - it was number 1 on John Peel's Festive 50 of 1984 - that it was released as a single in its own right in 1985.
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Popchartfreak
post 26th September 2022, 04:45 PM
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Hot Chocolate You Sexy Thing was B side to flop Blue Night, 6 months later they reversed it and hey presto a 3 times top 10.

Kraftwerk The Model B side to Computer Love when it was first a hit.

How Soon Is Now - The Smiths (William It was Really Nothing 12")

In the 60's DJ's in the USA often used to flip singles if they preferred the B side, Righteous Brothers' Unchained Melody for one. God Only Knows The Beach Boys (Wouldnt It be Nice was the A side) another, and a zillion others only marginally less famous...!
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Brett-Butler
post 26th September 2022, 06:35 PM
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"Just a Day" by Feeder was originally the b-side for "Seven Days In The Sun" at the start of 2001, and was then released as a single in its own right at the end up the year, and ended up outpeaking the latter (#14 vs #12).
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k👠th
post 26th September 2022, 06:51 PM
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Florence + the Machine's You've Got The Love was originally the B-side to Dog Days Are Over
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