New Books Network Andy Cowan, "B-Side: A Flipsided History of Pop" (Headpress, 2023)
Dec 30, 2025
Andy Cowan, a seasoned music journalist, discusses his book exploring the hidden history of B-sides in pop music. He reveals how iconic B-sides shaped major hits, spotlighting artists like The Beatles and Prince who used them for creative experimentation. Cowan dives into pivotal rock'n'roll tracks and surprising soul classics that started as B-sides. He also shares fascinating stories about last-minute flips that went on to become chart-toppers, making a case for the often-overlooked significance of these tracks in music history.
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Charts Gave Birth To 'B-Sides'
- B-sides emerged as a distinct concept once charts pressured labels to designate a hit song.
- Labels often put inferior tracks on the flip to protect the intended A-side hit, creating the 'lesser B-side' idea.
Format Shifts Enabled Creativity
- The seven-inch single and the LP's rise in the 1940s–50s reshaped how singles were consumed.
- That era established the single as an affordable popular object and set the stage for B-side creativity.
B-Sides As Experimental Sandbox
- Some artists embraced B-sides as experimental space, producing material distinct from hits.
- Bands like The Beatles, Smiths, Prince and The Cure used flips to push sonic or lyrical boundaries.