Songs that were released as singles but are rare or scarce on LP's

The Beach Boys - "Living Doll" (California Dream Barbie) 1987

Sure, it wasn't a single in the conventional sense, but it was a single nevertheless. Written, produced, and performed by Brian Wilson, this flexi-disc recording was never officially released on any Beach Boys or Brian Wilson comp. "Living Doll" was later re-configured as "Christine", which was recorded during the sessions for Brian's first solo album, but "Christine" hasn't been released either.

 

Here is Brian Wilson's "Christine":

 

"Watching the River Flow" for the mono version of "Spanish Is The Loving Tongue" on the B-Side (as well as the powerful mono version of the A-Side ).

Bob Dylan, natch.

 

I don't believe that Fleetwood Mac's "The Purple Dancer", the B-Side to the great "Dragonfly" single from 1971, has ever been released on LP.
Or CD for that matter.

 

Three quarters of a thousand I'd believe

 

Verily, thou art most perspicacious !

Each, by the bye.

 

the cure - charlotte sometimes

 

Mixed-Up Confusion/Bob Dylan - not just for the the A-Side but also for the different take of Corrina, Corrina, on the flip.

Bob Dylan - Mixed Up Confusion / Corrina, Corrina

 

Jackie Wilson Said/ Van Morrison for the unique B-Side "You Got The Power", available nowhere else.

Van Morrison - Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)

Looked for one for years, finally bought one, then three more came along.

Not forgetting his other single-only release "Caldonia" (sic) with a unique B-side and of course "Joyous Sound" with the utterly mad* "Mechanical Bliss".





*see also : bonkers.

 

Love Goes To Building On Fire/Talking Heads.

And wasn’t New Feeling on the other side a different mix ?

 

Six Pack/The Police for the mono take of "Bed's Too Big Without You".

 

I and I*/ Bob Dylan for the rare B-Side "Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground".


* UK Release had a different A-Side.

 

How about a song that’s not just rare, but non-existent on LP, CD or any medium other than the original 45:

 

The same Bob Dylan and "Heart of Mine" for a different recording of "Let It Be Me" on the flip.

(European version - US version had the (at the time) rare version of "The Groom's Still Waiting At the Altar", subsequently added to 'Shot of Love').

 

Surely the most wrongest ! Lennon himself thought the lyrics weak but they're fine and his vocal is one of his raspy finest.

 

Redemption Song/ Bob Marley and his Wailers for the full band version.

 

Magazine/Shot By Both Sides - I think the masters were destroyed and it had to be re-recorded.

 

Once again, Bob Marley and "Waiting in Vain" for the otherwise hard to obtain "Roots".

 

Was “Do They Know It’s Christmas” ever available on anything other than the original vinyl single (and original 12” single) ?

 

Track this one down for a rare B-Side.

The Wailers - Concrete Jungle

 

Love/John Lennon -remixed and faded up for the single.

 

Paul McCartney -

Give Ireland to the Irish
Mary Had A Little Lamb
Sally G
Girls School
Daytime Nighttime Suffering

 

In the UK, it's been on numerous Christmas compilation CDs. In the US, it's less common; at one time, it was on only two US-released CDs.

In 2014 all the different Band Aid versions over the years (original, Band Aid II, Band Aid 20, Band Aid 30) appeared on one CD single, which was released in both the UK and the US.

The longer 12" mix and the B-side, "Feed the World," can only be found on the original vinyl releases.

 

30 Days Out by Bruce Springsteen.

 

Prince of The Punks - Kinks, b-side of Father Christmas which was also rare for a bit until it ended up on the Come Dancing comp. Prince of the Punks was eventually a bonus track on Sleepwalker. Kinks had some other b-side rarities in the 70s.