45 records question why same song both side's ?
these are from a radio station marked promo or not for sale ,, and have same song both side's
any reason why ?

thanks

I am unsure about the "promos". I was told many years ago by several old jukebox operators some records were made with the same music on both sides for the jukebox market. When one side had become worn the operator just flipped the record over. This applied only to the 78 PRM jukeboxes that did not have the ability to play both sides such as the old Wurlitzers, Rock-olas, Seeburgs etc. I have a couple of those records hiding around here somewhere.

From the late 60's onwards, most radio station promo 45's had the same song pressed in mono on one side, stereo on the other.

I have many radio station promo copies and many of them do have the same song on both sides. In many cases, one side is mono while the other side is stereo. This was a common practice between the late '60's and the early '80's. The reason for the mono side was for AM stations that did not have stereo compatible turntables and, in some cases, to provide a true mono mix for AM radio. Some stereo records were recorded in such a way that they didn't sound right when the left and right outputs of the turntable were combined for mono (Joe South's "Walk A Mile In My Shoes" comes to mind); so, record companies would provide a true mono version of the song to radio stations. The stereo version was meant for FM stations that broadcast in stereo.

By the mid '80's, promo 45's often still had the same song on both sides; but, both sides were stereo. By the mid '80's, most AM stations had upgraded their turntables to stereo coompatible equipment and the records were recorded so that they sounded OK when the L and R channels were bridged for mono.

I think another reason for the same song on both sides was to keep DJ's from playing the "B" side of the record that would normally be found on the store copy.

Also, by 1968, most companies discontinued mono LP's for sale to the general public; but, many LP's were available in mono to AM radio stations at least until the early '70's.

I've found that mono 45's from the top 40 era often have a more pleasing sound that the stereo version of the same song that's found on the LP. I've also found that many promo copies sound better than store copies. In many cases, record companies paid more attention to making the promo copies better so that they'd sound their best when played over the air.

At WBZ-AM in the early 1970s we had Shure stereo cartridges in all the turntables. The studios had been constructed in 1967. Most of the 45s came in with mono on one side and stereo on the other, was was posted.

-David

thanks for all your help it DID HELP A LOT

This guy really knows his history! I had thought about the same thing as well. Your information is really helpful

Another factor to consider is the practice of cueing a disc by dropping the stylus into the start area, then backing up the disc by hand to get just ahead of the music start. This eventually caused what was called 'cue burn".

(That is why radio stations always used felt on TT's, never rubber covers, so you could slip it without making the platter turn)

They did it 'cause those TT's could start instantly and you could easily time the music with a liner or segue.

Having another side of the same tune meant more airplay with less trying to get another disc from the music director. I don't remember anybody giving a hoot about it being mono or stereo...it was radio, not HI-FI.

Many of my radio station 45's have cue burn, especially the polystyrene copies. The vinyl copies held up much better.