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#1
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![]() BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 10 March 2006
Posts: 20,994 User: 151 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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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#2
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![]() BuzzJack Idol
Joined: 8 December 2010
Posts: 51,839 User: 12,472 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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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#3
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![]() Dreaming... can you hear me?
Joined: 8 March 2006
Posts: 84,615 User: 116 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Flip & Fill's Shooting Star (No.3) was originally the b-side to True Love Never Dies (No.7)!
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#4
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![]() BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 10 March 2006
Posts: 20,994 User: 151 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#5
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![]() Dreaming... can you hear me?
Joined: 8 March 2006
Posts: 84,615 User: 116 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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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#6
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![]() ‘psychedelic pop-infused’? Pull the other one!
Joined: 2 March 2018
Posts: 30,653 User: 67,771 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Ghost’s ‘Mary On A Cross’ was originally just a B-side to their single ‘Kiss The Go-Goat’!
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#7
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![]() BuzzJack Gold Member
Joined: 19 November 2014
Posts: 2,864 User: 21,383 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Maggie May is the example that springs to mind
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#8
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![]() 🚀 daan
Pronouns: he/they
Joined: 30 August 2010 Posts: 76,726 User: 11,746 ![]() ![]() |
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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#9
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![]() Break the tension
Joined: 7 March 2006
Posts: 92,870 User: 51 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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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#10
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![]() my vision's narrow, but I know the sun will rise
Joined: 14 February 2009
Posts: 117,247 User: 8,300 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
'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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#11
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![]() BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 13 November 2015
Posts: 36,377 User: 22,665 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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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#12
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![]() BuzzJack Gold Member
Pronouns: He/Him
Joined: 21 February 2021 Posts: 3,741 User: 124,514 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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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#13
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![]() BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 6 September 2017
Posts: 13,967 User: 39,568 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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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#14
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![]() BuzzJack Legend
Pronouns: he/him
Joined: 25 July 2013 Posts: 28,282 User: 19,585 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#15
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![]() BuzzJack Enthusiast
Joined: 11 August 2014
Posts: 808 User: 21,132 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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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#16
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![]() Right in front of my salad?!
Pronouns: he/him
Joined: 7 March 2006 Posts: 82,900 User: 12 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I Will Survive was originally a b-side. Seems crazy!
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#17
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![]() BuzzJack Enthusiast
Joined: 11 August 2014
Posts: 808 User: 21,132 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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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#18
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![]() BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 18 July 2012
Posts: 24,258 User: 17,376 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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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#19
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![]() Howdy, disco citizens
Joined: 16 January 2010
Posts: 12,865 User: 10,455 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
"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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#20
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![]() baddest of them all
Joined: 2 August 2008
Posts: 23,477 User: 6,764 ![]() ![]() |
Florence + the Machine's You've Got The Love was originally the B-side to Dog Days Are Over
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