Because records can have tracks pressed into both sides, a B-side is literally the other side of a phonograph record. However, rather than the physical construction of record albums, the term “B-side” has come to be associated with specific connotations in the music industry over time. B-sides are songs that are unusual, rare, or secondary in nature, and are considered less important than the songs on the “A-side,” which are intended to be hits. As evidenced by many B-sides that later became very popular, the decision about what should be marketed as an A-side and what should be marketed as a B-side can be off.
The A and B sides of a record were not given much weight in the early days of recording. The trend started when record labels began putting the songs they thought would be hits on the A-side and secondary songs and supplements on the B-side. People eventually began to associate the term “B-side” with the concept of a second track. The A and B sides were promoted primarily for the convenience of radio stations and reviewers, with the record companies’ goal being to capture the ear with the album’s A side.
B-sides can be acoustic versions or remixes of songs from the A-side. A demo, a song that is not thematically related to an album, or a song that was unpolished at the time of the album’s release are all examples of B-sides. B-sides are typically included on the single associated with a record, or marketed separately as the B-sides for a particular album, because most recordings are no longer released on records.
Some artists and bands have compiled and released all of their B-sides in one package, providing fans with access to rare tracks as well as a unified history of the band’s style. Bonus material such as parodies, covers of other artists’ songs, and erratic material that didn’t fit in with the artist’s other releases can be found on B-sides. Some B-sides are intended to be rare, with only a small number produced in order for fans to place a high value on the bonus tracks.
Some well-known B-sides have risen to prominence. The Beatles’ “Rain,” for example, was originally released as a B-side, along with the Beach Boys’ “Don’t Worry Baby” and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” The success of their B-side songs, which were tacked onto albums as afterthoughts, surprised many of the artists.