B Sides Trivia

1. Elvis Presley had one of the earliest double-sided hits when he released "Hound Dog" in 1956. "Hound Dog" topped the US charts as well as the flip side. What song was the flip side of "Hound Dog"?

From Quiz Double-Sided Hit Singles

Answer: Don't Be Cruel

"Hound Dog" was at Number One on Billboard for the first five weeks of the release of the single. "Don't Be Cruel" then held the top spot for six weeks. It was also the first single to top the Billboard Pop chart, the Billboard Country chart and the Billboard R and B charts. During his first engagement at Las Vegas in 1956 Elvis heard a band called Freddie Bell and the Bellboys do their version of "Hound Dog". The first television show to feature Elvis singing the song was "The Milton Berle Show" (1956). Elvis insisted on perfection when recording the song so he did 30 takes and finally approved take number 28 for release. Elvis first sang "Don't Be Cruel" to a national audience on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1956. "Blue Suede Shoes" was another 1956 hit foe Presley, "All Shook Up" and "Jailhouse Rock" were Elvis releases the following year. Elvis leads all artists in US Billboard double-sided hits with 36.

From Quiz It Was Supposed to be the Flip Side

Answer: Snowbird

"Snowbird" made history when Anne became the first solo Canadian female artist to be awarded a Gold Record. "Snowbird" reached Number Ten on the US Country chart, Number Eight on the US Billboard chart and Number One on the US Adult Contemporary chart. Anne had released her first album on the Canadian Arc label, but switched to Capital Records for her second album, "This Way Is My Way". "Bidin' My Time" was initially selected as a single release with "Snowbird" as the "B" side. A Canadian songwriter named Gene MacLellan composed the song and it has been covered by many artists including Elvis Presley. "Danny's Song" was released in 1972 and was also a Top Ten hit for Anne. "A Love Song" was released the following year and reached Number 12 in the US. Anne released her version of the Beatles' hit "You Won't See Me" in 1974.

From Quiz American Double-Sided 50s and 60s Hits

Answer: Hound Dog

It's hard to think of either side of this big seller as being the "B-side", but when the 45 was first released, "Hound Dog" was considered the flip side. Both sides charted, and both sides went to #1.

From Quiz Time To Play B-Sides

Answer: "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)"

From his album "Partners In Crime", "Escape" soared the charts in late 1979.

From Quiz Double-Sided Hit Singles

Answer: Hello Mary Lou

"Travelin' Man" was written by Jerry Fuller. A brief film was produced to promote the video and has been considered the first music video. It was Nelson's second Number One hit. "Hello Mary Lou" was written by singer Gene Pitney. Nelson's version reached Number Nine in the US but was more popular in Europe than "Travelin' Man". Gene Pitney recorded the song as an album cut in 1962 on "The Many Sides of Gene Pitney" but his label didn't release it as a single. "Young World" was a Top Ten hit for Ricky in 1962 and had the Number 87 "Summertime" on the flip-side. "Teen Age Idol" was a 1962 Top Ten and "Fools Rush In" made it to Number 12 in 1963.

From Quiz It Was Supposed to be the Flip Side

Answer: Gloria Gaynor

The Righteous Brothers had previously released "Substitute". Gloria Gaynor's label thought "Substitute" had more mainstream potential and released it as a single from Gaynor's "Love Tracks" album with "I Will Survive" as the "B" side. When radio stations started giving "I Will Survive" airplay, "Substitute" only made it to Number 107 on the Billboard chart, listed as "bubbling under". "I Will Survive" went on to be a 1979 Number One hit and in 1980 the song was awarded the only Grammy for Best Disco Recording. When Gloria recorded follow-up albums in 1980 and 1981 they were met with a cool reception because they were released at the height of the anti-disco movement. Evelyn "Champagne" King is known for hits such as "Shame". "Ring My Bell" was a hit for Anita Ward in 1979 and Donna Summer had several disco-era hits including "MacArthur Park" and "Bad Girls".

From Quiz American Double-Sided 50s and 60s Hits

Answer: Hello Mary Lou

"Hello Mary Lou" was written by Gene Pitney, and this 45 was the last one released under the name "Ricky Nelson." Future releases carried the name "Rick Nelson" since he was now an adult.

From Quiz Time To Play B-Sides

Answer: "I'm Gonna Win"

"I'm gonna fight to stay alive, kickin' it in to overdrive..." is a line from this "B" side from the Foreigner "4" album.

From Quiz Double-Sided Hit Singles

Answer: Day Tripper

"Day Tripper" and "We Can Work it Out" were recorded as part of the "Rubber Soul" album recording sessions. There has been speculation regarding what Lennon and McCartney actually really meant by the term "Day Tripper". The Beatles recorded "We Can Work it Out" during October of 1965 and spent 11 hours of studio time recording the song. The group members reportedly differed on which song had more commercial appeal as a single so they were both included on the same release. The Beatles had their first of 26 double-sided hits when "I Want to Hold Your Hand" went to Number One and "I Saw Her Standing There" went to Number 14 from the "B" side in 1963. "I Feel Fine" went to Number One in 1964 while the flip side, "She's a Woman", peaked at Number Four. "Can't Buy Me Love" was a 1964 Number One.

From Quiz American Double-Sided 50s and 60s Hits

Answer: Poison Ivy

The Coasters took their name from the fact that all members hailed from the coast of California. They were previously known as the Robins, and had a sizable Rhythm and Blues hit under that name with "Smokey Joe's Cafe" in 1955 - a song which is now the namesake of a big hit musical spotlighting the music of its writers, Leiber and Stoller (who also wrote "Hound Dog", among many others).

From Quiz Time To Play B-Sides

Answer: "Black Water"

"Another Park, Another Sunday" peaked at #34, while "Black Water" was a top ten hit.

From Quiz Double-Sided Hit Singles

Answer: I Get Around

The first Number One hit for the Beach Boys was "I Get Around". The group has scored eight double-sided hits since forming in 1961. Their father was relentless in his promotion of the band and got the boys their first official gig on New Year's Eve, 1961. They each took home $50 for performing at a Ritchie Valens Memorial Dance with Ike and Tina Turner on the bill. The group realized chart success singing about hot rods and surfing until The British Invasion. They adapted to the changing styles and released the Number One "Good Vibrations" in 1966. They topped the charts again 22 years later with "Kokomo". They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the same year. "Little Deuce Coupe" backed with "Surfer Girl" was a 1963 Beach Boys double-sided hit. "Surfer Girl" peaked at Number Seven. "Surfin' USA" was a Number Three hit in 1963. The flip side, "Shut Down" made it to Number 23.

From Quiz American Double-Sided 50s and 60s Hits

Answer: Bird Dog

The Everly Brothers actually began their careers as country recording artists while still students at West High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. They recorded one country and western 45 for Columbia Records, which was a big bomb - and as such, is very rare and valuable today.

From Quiz Time To Play B-Sides

Answer: "We're An American Band"

Do you have this one in your closet somewhere? The copy I have is gold colored as opposed to the traditional black vinyl '45.

From Quiz Double-Sided Hit Singles

Answer: News of the World

"News of the World" was the second album that the band members of Queen produced. Their first self-produced album was "A Day at the Races". Brian May was credited as songwriter for "We Will Rock You" and Freddy Mercury got songwriting honors for "We Are the Champions". John Deacon composed the second single release from the album, "Spread Your Wings". The song made the Top Forty, peaking at Number 34. Science Fiction genre artist Frank Kelly Freas designed the robotic cover for the album. "Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted" was released by the Animals the same year. "Rockin' All Over the World" was a 1977 Status Quo album and "Innocent Victim" was released by Uriah Heep the same year.

From Quiz It Was Supposed to be the Flip Side

Answer: Tequila

The Champs consisted of house musicians for the Challenge label, owned by Gene Autry. The band recorded tracks for Challenge artist Dave Dupree titled "Train to Nowhere", "Night Beat" and "All Night Rock". A fourth song was needed to complete two sides for each record and saxophone player Danny Flores composed "Tequila" and sang the title of the song three times during the recording. The song was done in three takes and put on the "B" side of "Train to Nowhere". "Train to Nowhere" went nowhere, but when a Cleveland disc jockey played "Tequila" the song shot up the charts, became a Number One US hit and earned a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording in 1959. Flores had to use the name Chuck Rio because he was under contract with another label. "Sleepwalk" was recorded by Santo and Johnny in 1959, the same year Johnny and the Hurricanes recorded "Red River Rock". "Teen Beat" was a 1960 release by drummer Sandy Nelson.

From Quiz American Double-Sided 50s and 60s Hits

Answer: Donna

Ritchie died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959, along with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. Both Waylon Jennings and Dion (DiMucci) were also supposed to be on board, but decided to travel by land instead that day. An interesting bit of trivia about "Donna" - it peaked out at #2 on the US singles charts, and was held out of #1 thanks to "The Chipmunk Song" by the Chipmunks.

From Quiz Time To Play B-Sides

Answer: "Shake It Up"

"Dance all night, play all day, don't let nothin' get in your way."

From Quiz Double-Sided Hit Singles

Answer: I'm a Believer

I'm a Believer" and "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" was a double-sided smash for The Monkees. "Last Train to Clarksville" was the first Number One hit for the Monkees. It was backed with "Take a Giant Step". "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" had "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" as the flip side and "Valleri" had the Number 34 "Tapioca Tundra" as a flip side. The group was formed when Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider were inspired by "A Hard Days Night" (1964) to create a television show focusing on zany band members. More than 400 aspiring actor/musicians answered a newspaper ad for talent. Michael Nesmith was the only member hired who went to the audition as a result of the ad. Folksinger Peter Tork was a dishwasher before Stephen Stills recommended him to the producers. Ironically Davy Jones appeared with the cast of "Oliver!" on "The Ed Sullivan Show" the same night that the Beatles made their American debut. He was already an artist on the Colpix label when considered for the band and Micky Dolenz had been an established actor since he was ten.

From Quiz American Double-Sided 50s and 60s Hits

Answer: Friendly Persuasion

Pat, who is a direct descendant of Daniel Boone, enjoyed fame and fortune by re-recording rhythm and blues hits in a "toned down" version that moms and dads everywhere would approve of. His father-in-law was country star Red Foley.

From Quiz Time To Play B-Sides

Answer: "One Of My Turns"

Both songs are from 1979's "The Wall" album.

From Quiz Double-Sided Hit Singles

Answer: Peter Criss

Drummer Peter Criss sang "Beth" and co-wrote the song with Stan Penridge. Other members of the band were reluctant to include the song on the "Destroyer" album because it wasn't consistent with the band's style. Peter was backed with a piano and strings so no other members of the band played on the recording or were even present during the session. When they performed the song on concert Peter sang to a recording of the backing track. To date "Beth" has reached the highest chart position of any Kiss single and became the first Gold Record for the band. Peter composed the genesis of the song while in a band called Lips before becoming one of the founding members of Kiss. When he left Kiss the song was dropped from their live lineup.

From Quiz American Double-Sided 50s and 60s Hits

Answer: Lonesome Town

Ricky Nelson is, so far, part of the only family in history to see three generations score a #1 song. His father, Ozzie Nelson, scored a #1 song in 1935 as a bandleader with a song called "And Then Some", and Ricky's twin sons recorded under the name "Nelson". Their song "Love And Affection" hit #1 in 1990.

From Quiz Time To Play B-Sides

Answer: "Good Girls Don't"

A little curve ball here for those too quick to answer "My Sharona". The "B" side of that is "Let Me Out"

From Quiz Double-Sided Hit Singles

Answer: Ruby Tuesday

"Ruby Tuesday" was recorded in 1966 but not released until early the following year. It reached the top slot on the US charts but peaked at Number Three in the UK. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are credited as the songwriters. Keith related during a 1971 interview with "Rolling Stone" magazine that the song was inspired by a groupie. The Rolling Stones released a live version during their "Steel Wheels" tour and included the version on their 1991 live album, "Flashpoint". When "Let's Spend the Night Together" was released in 1967 it initially received little airplay because of suggestive lyrics. When the group performed the song on "The Ed Sullivan Show" they conceded to sing "let's spend some time together" because Sullivan was adamant that they couldn't perform the song the way it was written. In 2006 the band was prohibited from singing the song when performing in China. "Lady Jane" was released the previous year. "Angie" was released in 1973 and "Jiving Sister Fanny" came out in 1975.

From Quiz It Was Supposed to be the Flip Side

Answer: Always on My Mind

"Always on My Mind" reached Number 16 for Elvis in 1972 on the Country charts. Brenda Lee recorded a version the same year that only reached Number 45. Mark James, Johnny Christopher and Wayne Carson Thompson composed the song that was certified as a Gold Record when it was recorded by Elvis. The composers earned a Grammy when Willie Nelson's version topped the Country charts. Willie also won for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. The Pet Shop Boys performed a version of "Always on My Mind" in 1997 for an ITV television special honoring the tenth anniversary of Elvis' death. "Burning Love" was a 1972 "A" side hit for Elvis. "The Wonder of You" and "Kentucky Rain" were recorded by Elvis in 1972. Ray Peterson originally recorded "The Wonder of You" in 1959.

From Quiz American Double-Sided 50s and 60s Hits

Answer: I Want To Hold Your Hand

At one point in 1964, the Beatles held down the entire top 5 on the Billboard singles charts with five different releases. This has not happened before or since.

From Quiz Time To Play B-Sides

Answer: none-not released as a single

As any rock fan should know, "Stairway To Heaven" was never released as a single.

From Quiz Double-Sided Hit Singles

Answer: Born on the Bayou

John Fogerty wrote "Proud Mary" and "Born on the Bayou". "Born on the Bayou" was included on their set list when they performed at Woodstock. The group performed their set in the middle of the night when most of the attendees were sleeping. "Proud Mary" has been covered by artists from Ike and Tina Turner to Leonard Nimoy. The song reached the Number Two spot, one of several for the band. "Down on the Corner" was from their 1969 "Willie and the Poor Boys" LP. "Who'll Stop The Rain" was from their "Cosmos Factory" album the following year and "Sweet Hitch Hiker" was from the 1972 "Mardi Gras" album.

From Quiz It Was Supposed to be the Flip Side

Answer: Simon and Garfunkel

"For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her" was from Simon and Garfunkel's 1966 album called "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme". It was originally the flip-side to a single release from the album titled "A Hazy Shade of Winter". The album also included "Homeward Bound", "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" and "Scarborough Fair/Canticle". When they recorded a live version of the song in 1972 and placed it on the "B" side of "America" it overshadowed "America" on the charts. Brewer and Shipley are best known for their 1970 hit, "One Toke Over the Line". "American City Suite" was a Number 27 released in 1972 by Cashman & West. Sonny and Cher broke nationally with "I Got You Babe".

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