2006-10-16 17:34:01 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
EP stands for Extended Play - longer than a single, but shorter than a full album.
A B-Side used to be when you bought a single on vinyl or cassette, the single would be on the A-Side and an unrealesed song would be on the B-Side.
2006-10-16 17:37:13 · answer #1 · answered by shortcake 4 · 9⤊ 0⤋
An EP is basically a single that has a few extra cuts on it. My guess is that is stands for extended play (single). On vinyl, it normally would be 12" and 33 rpm.
On 45 rpm vinyl, the A-side is the "hit" and the B-side contains (usually) some other song, or a remix of A-side, or an instrumental version, etc. is the side of a 45 record that had the "less popular" song than the "A" side.
Also, EP is the speed at which a VHS video records or plays back when you want the tape to last 8 hours (SP usually records 2 hours).
2006-10-17 00:43:17 · answer #2 · answered by MrLou 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Originally phonograph recordings were made on a cylinder with wax on it, and a needle would both record, and play back the poor audio. As they made improvements, they created discs, and sold them commercially, one improvement was to make it so you could play one side of the disc, then the other side. Later when 45 rpm 7" singles came out, they called the flip side the "B" side, or side "A". Many record collectors prefer the "B" side, and sometimes the "B" side would be a poor tune, which was sometimes laughable. One of John Lennon's favorite singles was the "B" side of a single, becuase it had terrible saxophone playing. LP's also came out, which could fit over 30 minutes of music on both sides. For some reason someone thought that LP's (Long Play) were too long, or too expensive, so they started making 10" EP's (Extended Play) which were about 20 minutes of music. They were more popular in England, and faded out in the U.S. There also are 12" Singles, and EP's too.
Later that terminology transferred to the CD, although the CD only has one side (usually), sometimes they will release a CD single that has 2 or 3 tracks can call one of the tracks the "B" side. Also there are CD EP's. I have an EP that is actually 60 minutes long - go figure.
2006-10-17 00:44:18 · answer #3 · answered by The Bible (gives Hope) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
these are terms from the days when people listened to music on records. a normal album was called an LP, for "long play" and it rotated at 33.3 rotations per minute, or RPM. EP stands for "extended play" and they played at 45 RPM. they fit fewer songs on them, but the quality was good and they were cheaper. People used them to release a single or a hit.
The release would be on side A, which left side B free for another song. many groups and artists would use the space for songs that weren't on their full length albums, or to try out new things. these songs were called B-sides, and often they end up being rare, because while fans of a group or artist might buy and keep the full length album, or it might be available in music stores for years, EPs were only sold while the song was a hit, after which manufacture usually stopped. Singles would come and go just like pop songs do today.
EPs were smaller than full size LPs, but there were also 78s, which were the same size as an LP, but they played at 78 RPMs and would only have room for one or two songs on them. These are usually even more rare than EPs.
2006-10-17 00:44:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
b side is the side of a cassette single or a 45 record that has a song that is not a new release. it has a song from the same album but one that will most likely not be released as a single. EP has nothing to do with video cassettes. it is a type of album. lp is the big record with the whole album on it, EP is a shorter version that does not include all the songs.
2006-10-17 00:36:58 · answer #5 · answered by L.J. 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
EP is an Extended Play record (about four or five songs on it, but is a 12-inch record))
B-Side actually refers to the flip side of a single. The B-song is usually a throw-away tune or, in some instances a longer version of the A-side song or an instrumental version of the A-side song
2006-10-17 00:40:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
EP stand for extended play and B side is the opposite side of A.
2006-10-17 00:42:49 · answer #7 · answered by KEN C 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Both refer to old style albums and 45's
EP was "extended play" or 33 rpm album. The B side was the side of a 45 RPM record that had the less popular song, ie the A side was a hit.
2006-10-17 00:38:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
EP is a speed at which a VHS video plays back and the B-side is the side of a 45 record that had the "less popular" song than the "A" side.
2006-10-17 00:36:07 · answer #9 · answered by Gigi 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_play
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-side
2006-10-17 00:36:44 · answer #10 · answered by Brian S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋