Somewhat Obscure, Pre First Album Singles

The Rolling Stones - Poison Ivy / Fortune Teller

The Grateful Dead - Stealin' / Don't Ease Me In

David Bowie - Do Anything You Say / Good Morning Girl

MC-5 - I Can Only Give You Everything / One Of The Guys

MC5 - Looking At You / Borderline

Johnny Winter - Birds Can't Row Boats / Leavin' Blues

The Family - Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens / Gypsy Woman

The Soft Machine - Love Makes Sweet Music / Feelin' Reelin' Squeelin'

Elton John - I've Been Loving You / Here's To The Next Time

Elton John - Lady Samantha / All Across The Havens

Elton John - It's Me That You Need / Just Like Strange Rain

Mellow Candle - Feeling High / Tea With The Sun

Jethro Toe - Sunshine Day / Aeroplane

ZZ Top - Salt Lick / Miller's Farm

Thin Lizzie - The Farmer / I Need You

Steely Dan - Dallas / Sail The Waterway

Rush - Not Fade Away / You Can't Fight It

AC/DC - Can I Sit Next To You Girl / Rockin' In The Parlour

Television - Little Johnny Jewel Part One / Little Johnny Jewel Part Two

 

Somewhat debatable but:
My Bonnie/The Saints

Beatles/Tony Sheridan

 

Radio Free Europe / Sitting Still
(Released on HibTone, July 8, 1981)

REM

 

Scott Walker "When is a boy a man" (1957, as Scott Engel)

Status Quo "I who have nothing" (1966, as The Spectres)

 

Adam and The Ants - Young Parisians

The Associates - Boys Keep Swinging

Blue Nile - I Love This Life

 

I got the Hooters debut live indy 45 of All You Zombies/Rescue Me when it came out in 1982. They subsequently released studio versions on their indy debut album and on their major label debut (again releasing it as a single at that time).

I believe this was really only sold in the Philly area. At the time this was released I was attending the high school that Eric Bazilian had graduated from.

 

Even though it’s technically not before their first album (The Magnificent Moodies), I’ve always thought that the first two singles of the Hayward/Lodge incarnation of the band fit this description. Both were before the “new” band’s first album, Days Of Future Passed.

Fly Me Again/I Really Haven’t Got The Time
Love And Beauty/Leave This Man Alone

 

Dave Clark Five had a bunch in 62-63; Chaquita, First Love, That's What I Said & The Mulberry Bush
Fairport Convention, If I Had A Ribbon Bow
Cream; Wrapping Paper
Hon mentions:
The Byrds; Please Let Me Love You
Blind Faith; Change of Address

 

The Kinks:

"Long Tall Sally"
b-side "I Took My Baby Home"
"You Still Want Me"
b-side "You Do Something To Me"

 

The Police: Fall Out/Nothing achieving

 

U2 - Out of Control/Stories for Boys/Boy-Girl

 

The Stone Roses had two
So young
and Sally Cinnamon (I've still got my original 12" copy)

 

Tiny Tim - April Showers b/w Little Girl 1966

 

Family Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens (1967)

 

^^^^from 1970^ (also note the differnt spelling of Lizzy/Lizzie)

and from 1971 a 4-track ep (not 100% sure if released before debut album but I think so)

 

Upside Down/Vegetable Man - Jesus and Mary Chain

 

She Is Beyond Good and Evil/3'38 - The Pop Group

 

Rush - Not Fade Away/You Can't Fight It

 

The Electric Prunes ‎– "Ain't It Hard" b/w "Little Olive"