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A-side and B-side

What is A-side and B-side? A clear definition from the recording section of our glossary, with 12 related terms, tools to try and further reading.

Definition of A-side and B-side

The A-side and B-side are the two sides of vinyl records and cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings, which in purely technical terms of recording and playback do not favor any side over the other. The A-side of a single usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company intends to be the initial focus of promotional efforts and radio airplay, with the aim of it becoming a hit record. The B-side (or "flip-side") is a secondary recording that typically receives less attention, although some B-sides have been as successful as, or more so than, their A-sides.

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What is A-side and B-side?

The A-side and B-side are the two sides of vinyl records and cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings, which in purely technical terms of recording and playback do not favor any side over the other.

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