45 singles

For the benefit of those born after the era of vinyl dominance was overshadowed by CDs and mp3s, let me tell you all about 45 RPM single records.

Just as they are today, albums existed in long play (LP) 12 inch vinyl form as well, although you were limited to only being able to fit 22 minutes of music on each side of a 33 ⅓ RPM vinyl disc. A unique element of listening to albums on vinyl was the act of flipping the disc over to hear side two of an album. The order and placement of the songs was considered to create a flow.

But music was also released in the form of singles on smaller, 7 inch discs with a much bigger cutout in the center. A single had the song being promoted on A side and the B side was usually just a throw-away song, sometimes not even from the album the single was taken from.

Radio stations and professional disc jockeys loved the 45 single, as it was smaller and didn’t force you to carry entire albums with you to various jobs. 45 singles also fit nicely into jukeboxes, a source of music the customers could select from in bars, restaurants, and pool halls. 45 RPM singles were a music delivery mechanism to promote a song, and since radio stations typically played nothing but 45s, if the record label put one of your songs on a 45, there was a good chance it would end up on the airwaves, especially if the DJ (or the listeners) liked it.

What I found fascinating was the B side. Most of the time, you’d listen to it and think, “Wow! I can’t believe they recorded that with a straight face.” But sometimes, the B side was a masterpiece in its own right. Some examples:

Elton John A: Bennie and the jets B: Harmony

Bruce Springsteen A: Dancing in the dark B: Pink Cadillac

The Beatles A: Hey Jude B: Revolution

Crosby, Stills & Nash A: Suite: Judy blue eyes B: Long time gone

The Pretenders A: Back on the chain gang B: My city was gone

Ritchie Valens A: Donna B: La bamba

Buffalo Springfield A: Bluebird B: Mr soul

CCR A: Proud Mary B: Born on the bayou

Fleetwood Mac A: Go your own way B: Silver springs

The Beatles A: Hello goodbye B: I am the walrus

The Rolling Stones A: Honky tonk women B: You can’t always get what you want

The Smiths A: William it was really nothing B: How soon is now (It became an A side in 5 months)

The Guess Who A: American woman B: No sugar tonight

Elton John A: Border song B: Bad side of the moon

Joni Mitchell A: Big yellow taxi B: Woodstock

Carole King A: It’s too late B:I feel the earth move

Chicago A: Beginnings B: Colour my world

Janis Joplin A: Cry baby B: Mercedes Benz

Gary Glitter A: Rock & roll B: Rock & roll part 2 (Instrumental became much more popular)

KC & The Sunshine Band A: Shake your booty B: Boogie shoes

Queen A: We are the champions B: We will rock you

Rush A: Limelight B: YYZ

The B-52s A: Love shack B: Channel Z (I discovered this one during my radio show in CFS Alert)