# Best all around single **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 19, 2016, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491 "2016-03-19T05:31:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/1 "2016-03-19T05:31:58Z")
There have been lots of “greatest single ever” lists around. But how about listing singles where all the tracks, including B-sides or extra tracks, were strong? The first one I though of was the dance single version of Tupac’s “How Do U Want It”? That’s a great song, [but I always though the three extra songs on the single were even better.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Do_U_Want_It) What’s your ideas? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/2 "2016-03-19T08:33:00Z")
How can there be three more songs on a single? That would make it a quadruple. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/3 "2016-03-19T13:49:26Z")
_American Pie_, because it took up both sides of the 45, making it truly a SINGLE. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/4 "2016-03-19T15:04:05Z")
“Penny Lane”/“Strawberry Fields Forever” for the win. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/5 "2016-03-19T15:20:30Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > “Penny Lane”/“Strawberry Fields Forever” for the win. I’d go with “Paperback Writer”/“Rain” but otherwise must agree! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/6 "2016-03-19T15:36:34Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I’d go with “Paperback Writer”/“Rain” but otherwise must agree! And that’s actually a “true” B-side, as opposed to a double-A side, if that makes a difference for the OP. Another one: “Wouldn’t It Be Nice/God Only Knows,” Beach Boys. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/7 "2016-03-19T15:52:23Z")
“Go Your Own Way/Silver Spring” - Fleetwood Mac. The B-side wouldn’t appear on an album until a decade later, and even then on a concert recording. But its still an amazingly popular part of their concerts. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/8 "2016-03-19T16:26:28Z")
_Fools Gold/What the World Is Waiting For_ by The Stone Roses. or _Strawberry Wine / Never Say Goodbye / Can I Touch You_ by My Bloody Valentine ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/9 "2016-03-19T16:36:40Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > And that’s actually a “true” B-side, as opposed to a double-A side, if that makes a difference for the OP. The OP just said “all the tracks” so double-A releases should count. Another one: “Wouldn’t It Be Nice/God Only Knows,” Beach Boys. [/QUOTE] The Beach Boys has a slew of contenders. What about “Surfer Girl”/“Little Deuce Coupe” or “I Get Around”/“Don’t Worry Baby”? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/10 "2016-03-19T16:37:45Z")
I would suggest that _Immigrant Song_ single, because the B-side was actually better than the A side. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/11 "2016-03-19T17:03:07Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > What about “Surfer Girl”/“Little Deuce Coupe” or “I Get Around”/“Don’t Worry Baby”? Those are fine, but “God Only Knows” is up there with “Something” as my favorite love song of all time. Hell, “God Only Knows” may be my favorite rock/pop song of all time, at that. And “Pet Sounds” is my favorite album of all time (tied with My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless”), so it’s hard not to go that direction for me. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/12 "2016-03-19T17:14:08Z")
The Commands - HEY IT’S LOVE b/w NO TIME FOR YOU [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Il3IE2jyvz4/hqdefault.jpg "COMMANDS - HEY IT'S LOVE b/w NO TIME FOR YOU (DYNAMIC)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il3IE2jyvz4) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/13 "2016-03-19T18:00:54Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Those are fine, but “God Only Knows” is up there with “Something” as my favorite love song of all time. Hell, “God Only Knows” may be my favorite rock/pop song of all time, at that. And “Pet Sounds” is my favorite album of all time (tied with My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless”), so it’s hard not to go that direction for me. I’m not a Pet Sounds disciple. If I had to choose, the haunting “Caroline, No” is by far my favorite from the album. Heck, I think “Don’t Worry Baby” is a better love song. Of course, you have McCartney on your side. To follow up on kaylasdad99, Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well” has a continuation “Oh Well, Part 2” as the B-side. A local station used to play them together back in the day and I was entranced by the unusual instrumental ending from Peter Green. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/14 "2016-03-19T18:48:08Z")
The Animals’ Sky Pilot, split into Sky Pilot Pts. 1 & 2 for the single ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/15 "2016-03-19T20:42:16Z")
Hey Jude/Revolution ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/16 "2016-03-19T23:44:37Z")
Let it Be/You Know My Name (Look Up My number) b-side way classier; danceable. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/17 "2016-03-19T23:53:36Z")
Jumpin Jack Flash b/w Child of The Moon Wild Horses/Sway Happy/All Down the Line ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/18 "2016-03-20T03:12:12Z")
To nominate another (though I’d probably vote for one of the already posted), the Beatles’ Something/Come Together. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/19 "2016-03-20T03:49:06Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > How can there be three more songs on a single? That would make it a quadruple. Actually there were a lot of singles, especially in the U.K., that had three extra songs during the CD single era. Plus, I mentioned in the OP a dance single, which almost always was longer than the regular single. (The regular single version of “How Do U Want It” was only two tracks. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491/20 "2016-03-20T11:06:08Z")
Funky Moped/Magic Roundabout. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-around-single/749491.md?page=2)