20 great Side Two, Track Ones
27 July 2024, 19:00
With the vinyl album a part of everyone's lives again, let's pay tribute to the art of the track that opens the second side...
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The Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man
Mick Jagger sums up the mood of 1968 with this stirring side-opener on the Beggars Banquet album.
The Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man (Official Lyric Video)
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The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
Abbey Road’s first side comes to a close with the howling synth-wind of I Want You (She’s So Heavy). Thanks heavens that the second half kicks off with George’s ode to a nice Spring day.
The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun (2019 Mix)
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Pink Floyd - Money
Imagine the surprise of listeners in 1973 when the needle dropped onto the vinyl and they were confronted by the rhythmic cash registers of this classic.
Pink Floyd - Money (Official Music Video)
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AC/DC - Back In Black
The title track of the Aussie rockers' big 1980 comeback kicks off side 2.
AC/DC - Back In Black (Official Video)
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Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
One of the best singles ever, never mind a great Track 1, Side 2 - this classic opened the second side of 1980's Remain In Light.
Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime (Official Video)
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The Doors - People Are Strange
Jim Morrison's bewitching tale of outsiders, which kicks off the second side of their second album, Strange Days.
The Doors - People Are Strange (Official Audio)
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R.E.M. - Orange Crush
The "Metal Side" of 1988's Green album starts off with this scorching attack on US foreign policy. It's a shock after the haunting end to Side One ("Air Side"), The Wrong Child.
R.E.M. - Orange Crush (Official Music Video)
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Pixies - Where Is My Mind
After the relentless shouting of Side One closer River Euphrates, the flipside of Surfer Rosa opens with the quiet acoustic of this Pixies classic.
Where Is My Mind?
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The Beatles - Eight Days A Week
Another great Fab Four example which should have been a single. Instead, it's tucked away halfway through their 1964 album Beatles For Sale. It fades in, too.
The Beatles - Eight Days A Week
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The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again
Morrissey and Marr knew how to pace an album. The Queen Is Dead ends Side One with the poignant Cemetery Gates, but comes back all guns blazing with this hilarious single.
The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again
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Blur - To The End
Side One of Parklife ends with the ponderous Syd Barrett-esque Far Out. Turn the record over and you're confronted by this elegant ballad.
Blur - To The End
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Radiohead - Just
The second half of 1995's The Bends gets underway with this 'Head classic.
Radiohead - Just
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Editors - The Racing Rats
This live favourite starts the second side of 2007's excellent An End Has A Start album.
Editors - The Racing Rats
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Joy Division - She's Lost Control
After the majesty of New Dawn Fades, flip the record over for the "Oustide" and get ready for one of the band's classic tracks.
Joy Division - She's Lost Control (Official Reimagined Video)
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New Order - Your Silent Face
This exquisite piece of electronica wasn't a single, but remains a favourite track of the band's fans, thanks to its appearance on the album Power Corruption & Lies in 1983.
Your Silent Face (2015 Remaster)
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U2 - The Fly
Stomping, distorted single that ushered in a new phase for Bono and co, as a teaser to their Achtung Baby album.
U2 - The Fly (Vídeo oficial subtitulado al español)
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Prince - When Doves Cry
The first song on side 2 of the massive Purple Rain soundtrack - and one of Prince's monster hits.
Prince & The Revolution - When Doves Cry (Official Music Video)
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Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon
This all-time classic gets Side 2 of 1984's Ocean Rain underway.
Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon (Official Music Video)
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Arctic Monkeys - Riot Van
If you have the vinyl version of Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, this is what greets your ears when you flip the vinyl.
Riot Van
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Nirvana - Negative Creep
Classic grunge which heralds the second half of the band's 1989 debut Bleach.
Negative Creep (Remastered)
