Trivia Series: Top Track Singles
Such was the brilliance of the Beatles that both sides of their singles contained great songs. This next group of trivia questions tests your knowledge of which songs were selected as the top track on the singles.
What was the first Beatles single that EMI originally intended to market in the U.K. as a double A-side disc?
EMI originally intended to market “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Things We Said Today” as a double A-side single, but at the last minute decided to concentrate on the film theme as the top side. The promotional records for the single were pressed prior to EMI changing its marketing strategy and have a large red “A” on both sides. LEARN MORE about this remarkable single on pages 37 – 40 of Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records.
What was the B-side to the Beatles single “Help!” and which two Beatles reportedly wanted to have that song serve as the A-side had there not been the need to promote the film?
Paul’s Little Richard-style rocker “I’m Down” served as the B-side to “Help!” According to George, he and John wanted to have “I’m Down” as the A-side if there wasn’t “a film to consider.” It is interesting to note that John’s love for rock ‘n’ roll made him lean towards having Paul’s “I’m Down” as the A-side over his song “Help!” LEARN MORE about this incredible single on pages 49 – 52 of Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records.
Which two songs originally intended for the Beatles follow-up album to “Revolver” were instead issued as a single in the U.K. on February 17, 1967, which song was marketed by EMI as the top track and what other song was available but not selected for the single?
The songs “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” were recorded during the sessions for the album that would later be titled “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” EMI marketed “Strawberry Fields Forever” as the top track, though the disc was considered a double A-side single. “Record Retailer” reported the disc as “Penny Lane”/”Strawberry Fields Forever.” The other song available at the time the single was prepared was “When I’m Sixty-Four” LEARN MORE about this classic single on pages 66 – 72 of Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records.
What two songs were pulled from the “Revolver” LP for rush release as a single in the U.K. on August 5, 1966, and which of the songs was originally intended to be the A-side?
The songs “Eleanor Rigby” and “Yellow Submarine” were pulled from the “Revolver” LP for release as a single on August 5, 1966. Although the initial plan was to market “Eleanor Rigby” as the A-side, by the time the disc was issued, EMI was marketing “Yellow Submarine” as the top track of this double-sided smash. LEARN MORE George Harrison explains why the Beatles broke their rule about not releasing singles from albums by issuing “Eleanor Rigby” on page 63 of Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records.
What songs appeared on the Beatles single issued simultaneously with the “Rubber Soul” album in the U.K. on December 3, 1965, and which song was originally selected by EMI to be the A-side?
The Beatles December 1965 single paired “We Can Work It Out” and “Day Tripper.” EMI’s initial choice for the A-side was “We Can Work It Out,” but John pushed so hard for “Day Tripper” that EMI agreed to market the disc as a double A-side single. “Record Retailer” reported the disc as “Day Tripper”/”We Can Work It Out,” while “Melody Maker” and “NME” reported the single as “We Can Work It Out”/”Day Tripper.” The single topped all of the U.K. charts. LEARN MORE about what George Martin and George Harrison had to say about which of the songs was really the “top track” on page 53 of Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records.
The Beatles December 1965 single paired “We Can Work It Out” and “Day Tripper.” EMI’s initial choice for the A-side was “We Can Work It Out,” but John pushed so hard for “Day Tripper” that EMI agreed to market the disc as a double A-side single. “Record Retailer” reported the disc as “Day Tripper”/”We Can Work It Out,” while “Melody Maker” and “NME” reported the single as “We Can Work It Out”/”Day Tripper.” The single topped all of the U.K. charts. LEARN MORE about what George Martin and George Harrison had to say about which of the songs was really the “top track” on page 53 of Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records.