What exactly are 'B-sides'? and if there are B-sides, then there has to be A-sides right?
Full, simple explanation please.
I don't speak music language.

the vinyl singles, both 7 and 12 inches had an A-side = the hit,

and a B-side, often an outtake.....

example:

Let's Go Crazy was an A-side,

Erotic City was this single's B-side.




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[Edited 4/21/09 8:06am]

example, this 12 inch vinyl single:

Let's Go Crazy was an A-side,




Erotic City was this single's B-side.



credits, pics from sleevographia.
[Edited 4/21/09 8:18am]

To add to the last response, the term "b-sides" is most often (but not always) used to refer to those tracks (like "Erotic City") that weren't included on any album at the time they were released on the single.

When people say they are looking for Prince "b-sides" or you see a collection of Prince "b-sides" it will include those tracks like "Erotic City" that weren't on albums and won't include tracks like "Take Me With U that was taken from the Purple Rain album and used as the b-side of the "Baby I'm A Star" single.

the cover to the "Let's Go Crazy" vinyl 12 inch:




and - the backside:

"Let's go crazy," just ended on the radio...Jammin' 99.9 Lunch tunes at Noon...with Belinda.

I was always tryina pretend that I knew what the B sides were but I was a bit clueless just like the poster above

Wow

Feels like I blinked and all of a sudden there exists entire generation that is clueless to vinyl.....

well I never

JOYJOY said:

I feel Ya, JOYJOY>.

JOYJOY said:

Scary, huh?

JOYJOY said:

I was gonna bop JayJai upside the head for asking such a fool question.

But I couldn't lift my cane up over my head.

Damn kids.

JayJai said:

I've been meaning to find this out myself.
Now I know...

CJBabyDaddy said:

and Mi greatgrand almost hit yuh a blow upside yuh bomboclaat head fi tellin him greatgrandchil she ask a foolfool question... rassclaat man

JayJai said:

Such Language from the yooof of today...

Basically, anyone born in '90 or in the early 90s on out basically missed out on the notion of a-sides and b-sides. Instead of b-sides, CD singles and albums now have 'bonus' or 'hidden' tracks.

To udate things for today's generation, a 'b-side' today would be considered any bonus or hidden track not officially listed as being on a CD album. It could also be a bonus track on a CD single released from that album.

So by today's standards, 'The Morning After' would be considered a b-side since it isn't on the official LotusFlow3r CD but is on the verison on his website. It's not a true b-side by oldies standards, but it fits for today's generation.
[Edited 4/22/09 5:48am]

and sometimes the B-side becomes more popular than the single's A-side, like for instance "White Horse":

In the early 1980s, Laid Back was known in its own country [Denmark], Europe and South America, with the 1982 single "Sunshine Reggae" being one of its most successful. Though originally released as a B-side, its international standing was raised with the release of the 12-inch single "White Horse," (1983) a funk-influenced dance song with a memorable baseline that became popular in US dance clubs peaking at #1 (3 Weeks). The record was championed by none other than Prince.

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laid_Back


great song, btw...:
http://www.youtube.com/wa...8j2ej5jqQw




[Edited 4/22/09 6:00am]

Thx to everyone (includin CJbabydaddy ) for tryin to help me (and the couple other ppl that didn't understand) understand.
I think I ovastand now

To put it quite simply, a B-side is the other side of the LP, called "Side B". The regular single is/was "Side A". So, on the other side of the record was the "B-side". The term came from the record/album era, which I'm STILL in love with!! And there ya go!

Very good posts to understand what b-sides are. Now B-sides are something different. On a CD single, the first song is usually the hit or the a-side. The second song (if it is different) and any other tracks would be the b-sides. When the NPGMC was around he even released virtual b-sides.
[Edited 4/22/09 9:04am]