The Forgotten Art of the B Side Disc One

1. Donovan - Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness) [c/w Turqouise 1965]
2. The Clash - Pressure Drop [c/w English Civil War 1979]
3. The Beatles - She's a Woman [c/w I Feel Fine 1964]
4. The Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby [c/w I Get Around 1964]
5. Monkees - Take A Giant Step [c/w Last Train To Clarksville 1966]
6. T. Rex - Life's A Gas [c/w Jeepster 1971]
7. The Jam - Smithers-Jones [c/w When You're Yoing 1979]
8. The Who - Instant Party [c/w A Legal Matter 1966]
9. Marvin Gaye - At Last (I Found A Love) [c/w Chained 1968]
10. Sly & the Family Stone - Everybody Is A Star [c/w Thank You Falletinme Be Mice Elf Again 1969]
11. Pink Floyd - Scarecrow [c/w See Emily Play 1967]
12. Manfred Mann - John Hardy [c/w Sha La La 1964]
13. Led Zeppelin - Hey Hey What Can I Do [c/w Immigrant Song 1970]
14. The Small Faces - Grow Your Own [c/w Sha La La Lee 1966]
15. The Rolling Stones - Stupid Girl [c/w Paint It Black 1966]
16. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now [c/w William It Was Really Nothing 1984]
17. Joy Division - These Days [c/w Love Will Tear Us Apart 1980]
18. The Fall - Blood Outta Stone [c/w White Lightning 1990]
19. The The - Three Orange Kisses From Kazan [c/w Uncertain Smile 1983]
20. Oasis - Half the World Away [c/w Whatever 1994]
21. Tears for Fears - Ideas As Opiates [c/w Mad World 1982]
22. New Order - 1963 [c/w True Faith 1987]
23. Pet shop boys - Paninaro [c/w Suburbia 1986]

In the U.K charts this week only one song sold more than 500 physical copies - the Number One single 'Beat Again' by JLS. The week's number 16 song, Rabbit Heart by Florence & The Machine did very well on downloads, but physical copies? CD Singles and 7"s - 64 copies. Across the whole country.

As more and more people download music onto their computers and mobile phones it's become apparent. The physical single is dead.

The great tragedy here, of course, is the loss of the great art form - the B Side. Far from being an unwanted studio off-cut, sometimes the B Side was a vehicle for an artist to relax and experiment, free from the pressures of having to deliver a hit.

Some bands in particular took the B Side very seriously. Some of Oasis and Suede's finest songs can be found hidden away on their B Sides or their subsequent compilation albums. The Beatles and Smiths have a back-catalogue of flip sides that would put many bands greatest hits to shame.

All these acts are featured here, alongside many classic flipsides of yesteryear. 2 Cds 46 tracks. Every track a gem. Some of these eventually made it onto the artists full albums. Others appeared on odds and sods compilations. Some, only ever on the B-side, maybe that gone unplayed by many many owners of the single.

All have one thing in common though. They're all crackers. One day I'll compile a mix of exclusive B-sides. But for now...

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