Whilst a single’s A-side features a track that its artist, producer or label intends to be the main focus of all promotional efforts, the B-side usually features a track that typically receives less attention. This isn’t always the case though and on some occasions, the B-side of an artists single almost overshadows the track it’s meant to be supporting – The Smiths ‘How Soon Is Now’ for example was relegated to the B-side of ‘William It Was Really Nothing’ in August 1984.
With the rise of streaming, physical singles are rarer these days, but fortunately B-sides haven’t been rendered redundant and a lot of artists are keeping them alive – one being guitar hero, Johnny Marr. Since launching his solo career in 2012, Johnny has released a wealth of physical singles that have all been accompanied by a B-side that not only demonstrates his versatility as an artist, but is just as strong as its counterpart.
We’ve taken a deep dive into Johnny’s B-sides.
Before I formed The Smiths, I saw B-sides as an opportunity, ever since I got into Roxy Music and their singles. B-sides still work for me as a format. I divorce the fact that fewer people might own or care about a physical B-side from the fact it excites me artistically, that it gives me a canvas to work on.
Johnny Marr, Classic Pop, 2020
Psychic Beginner
One of Johnny’s most popular B-sides, the blistering ‘Psychic Beginner’ was perfectly paired with ‘Upstarts’ – the first single to be released from The Messenger and reflects the rawness of Johnny’s early solo material.
The It Switch
‘New Town Velocity’ is one of Johnny’s most personal and poetic tracks yet, so it was interesting to see the direction that he took for the B-side, ’The It Switch’ – a high energy track that received a rapturous response when it was given an airing at numerous live shows in 2013 and 2015.
Use Me Up
Potentially one of Johnny’s most popular solo songs, ‘Easy Money’ is infectiously catchy and so is its B-side, ‘Use Me Up’. With fast paced vocals and jagged guitar licks throughout, ‘Use Me Up’ would have been right at home on Johnny’s second album, Playland.
Struck
With pummelling beats and thrashing guitars throughout, the exhilarating ‘Struck’ is the polar opposite of its gentle A-side, ‘Dynamo’.
Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
For Record Store Day 2015, Johnny released a scuzzy cover of Depeche Mode’s 1993 classic ‘I Feel You’, alongside a live rendition of Smiths favourite ‘Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want’. It’s a hauntingly beautiful rendition of the track that perfectly captures the atmosphere of the hometown show that it was recorded at – Manchester Apollo, 2014.
Exit Connection
When Johnny released the atmospheric single ‘Candidate’ in 2015, he paired it with ‘Exit Connection’ – less than three minutes long and led by crunchy guitars and swift percussion, the raw and ready track couldn’t be more different to its A-side.
Jeopardy
The swagger fuelled ‘Jeopardy’ is the B-side to ‘Hi Hello’ and was so well received that it gained a permanent place in Johnny’s setlist during his ‘Call the Comet’ UK tour in 2018. Discussing the track in an interview with Classic Pop, Johnny described it as glam for the new century and the coolest song that he’s ever made.
Spectral Eyes
Featured on the ‘Spiral Cities’ single, ‘Spectral Eyes’ is an incredibly underrated track that Johnny originally wrote for Blondie. As Johnny’s vocals glide through the melodic verses and chorus, the track perfectly encapsulates just how far he’s come as a solo artist since 2013. It’s criminal that this one’s never been played live.
The Bright Parade
In 2019, Johnny released a standalone single titled ‘Armatopia’ – a synth ridden track that has been a staple part of his live sets ever since. The track was paired with ‘The Bright Parade’, which appeared to go under the radar. The sharply melodic track is laced with psychedelic vibes – in an interview with SPIN, Johnny himself described the tracks sound to reflect his thoughts on the solar system and reality TV stars.
Johnny’s B-sides are available from all digital stores. If you’re a fan of physical releases then you can find them in his aesthetically pleasing ‘Single Life’ boxset, which collects together the first ten solo single releases by Johnny in a limited edition 7” box.
