Meaning & use
B-side
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Meanings
nouncountablemusic
The second song, or the other recording, on a single record or cassette, released together with the main song.
Grammar: Countable: say a B-side or the B-side; the plural is B-sides.
Patterns
- the B-side of something
- on the B-side
The B-side of the single became a hit in its own right years later.
DJs still play the B-side because it has a rougher, livelier sound.
They pressed the B-side on the other side of the vinyl.
nouncountablemusic
A song that a band or singer releases together with a main single but does not put on a studio album.
Grammar: Countable and often plural: a collection of B-sides.
Patterns
- a collection of B-sides
- release something as a B-side
The band put out a compilation of rare B-sides and outtakes.
Fans queued for the single mainly to get the B-side.
That track started life as a B-side and was later added to the album.
nouncountablefigurative
The less important or less noticed part of something that comes with a more prominent part.
Grammar: Countable and figurative; often used with 'of'.
Patterns
- the B-side of something
The quiet research work is the B-side of every famous discovery.
For him, failure was the B-side of a career built on risk.
Word forms
| plural | B-sides |
|---|
Common combinations
- the B-side of a single
- The B-side of the single was recorded in one take.
- a rare B-side
- Collectors pay a lot for a rare B-side from the 1960s.
- release something as a B-side
- They released the demo as a B-side to keep fans happy.
- a collection of B-sides
- The box set includes a collection of B-sides and live tracks.
- flip side
- He turned the record over to hear the flip side.
Synonyms and how they differ
- flip side
- An informal term for the other side of a record; it can also mean the opposite aspect of a situation, so it is broader than B-side.
- bonus track
- A song added to a release as an extra; it is not necessarily tied to a single, which is what B-side implies.
Opposites
Word family
- A-side noun
- The main song on a single, the one promoted to radio.
- single noun
- A release containing one or two main tracks.
Commonly confused: B-side or beside?
B-side vs beside
Beside is a preposition meaning 'next to'. B-side is a noun from music and is pronounced with a clear pause between the two parts.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'B-side' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'B-side' is a countable noun for the second track on a single, so 'The B-side of the single was a slow ballad' fits. Option 2 confuses it with 'beside', option 3 treats it as a verb, and option 4 gives it the wrong meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “B-side”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.