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?

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.

Flip & Fill's Shooting Star (No.3) was originally the b-side to True Love Never Dies (No.7)!

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!

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.

Ghost’s ‘Mary On A Cross’ was originally just a B-side to their single ‘Kiss The Go-Goat’!

Maggie May is the example that springs to mind

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?

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.

'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!

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

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.

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

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

 

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.

I Will Survive was originally a b-side. Seems crazy!

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.

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...!

"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).

Florence + the Machine's You've Got The Love was originally the B-side to Dog Days Are Over