Top 20 - Double A-Side Singles

[CroMagnon]

Also, what constitutes a "Double A-Side"?

Is it leading with a new track while releasing an album track? In the case of Where the streets have no name (I can't take my eyes off you)?

PSB have plenty of strong B-sides.

Did any of the people in the list announce a release as double-a? Or is it just something people accept over time?

Historically, a double A-side was where both sides were actively promoted e.g. for radio play, TV performances, and with videos.

In practice, though, although both Streets and How can you expect to be taken seriously? were both played on the radio (I definitely heard the latter on Radio One at the time), and both had videos that were played (e.g. on How can you expect to be taken seriously? was played The Chart Show in the UK), Streets was definitely the senior partner, and got much more attention.

(Note that True Faith and 1963 was not a double A-side, hence why it couldn't be in the list. 1963 was 'just' the B side. It had no video, and wasn't promoted for radio play as far as I know).

[jasonjohn]

Domino Dancing was released 17 March 1988

Not sure when Don't Make Me Wait was release in 1988, but it doesn't give a lot of time for either side to hear and then react, esp given how slow media was to release back then. Unless someone was pre-touring their future single?

Either way, the similarities are not missable!

Recently heard this 1987 release for the first time.
https://youtu.be/2v8YragSIuI
Written and produced by a certain Lewis Martinee who produced Domino Dancing.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

Ah this explains it then I always pictured Chris laying on a couch and randomly rising to set out the riff, as he did with Patience. But it seems not

[jasonjohn]

Historically, a double A-side was where both sides were actively promoted e.g. for radio play, TV performances, and with videos.

Ah that makes perfect sense. Esp back in the days before cheap youtube promos and when physical media was more a thing.

[CroMagnon]

Historically, a double A-side was where both sides were actively promoted e.g. for radio play, TV performances, and with videos.

Ah that makes perfect sense. Esp back in the days before cheap youtube promos and when physical media was more a thing.

As the title of both songs was also part of the single art for a double A-side, I'm sure PSB also got a kick out of the ludicrously long title that resulted from pairing a medley song made of two songs with longish titles, with a song with a long PSB-esque question title.

Is 'Where the Streets have no name (I can't take my eyes off you) / How can you expect to be taken seriously?' the longest single title in history? (21 words, 104 characters including spaces!).

(The archetypal double A-side, of course, was Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever).

[TwizzleUK]

Domino Dancing was released 17 March 1988

Not sure when Don't Make Me Wait was release in 1988, but it doesn't give a lot of time for either side to hear and then react, esp given how slow media was to release back then. Unless someone was pre-touring their future single?

Either way, the similarities are not missable!

Incorrect. 'Domino Dancing' came out 12 Sept 1988. 'Dont Make Me Wait' was 15 Aug 1988

[TwizzleUK]

"True Faith / 1963" is the best double-A side for me, along with PSB "Streets/Seriously".

'True Faith' / '1963' wasn't a double A-side. '1963' even appeared on the B-sides disc/tape of 'Substance'. '1963' was released as a remixed single in its own right in 1995.

[jasonjohn]

Domino Dancing was released 17 March 1988

Not sure when Don't Make Me Wait was release in 1988, but it doesn't give a lot of time for either side to hear and then react, esp given how slow media was to release back then. Unless someone was pre-touring their future single?

Either way, the similarities are not missable!

Incorrect. 'Domino Dancing' came out 12 Sept 1988. 'Dont Make Me Wait' was 15 Aug 1988

Ah true. 17 March was the record date, so riff locked in by then