Flipless Discs

To music buffs, the flip side of a 45-r.p.m. record is as alluring as the hit side. It is a freebie, a mystery song that might become a chart buster in its own right. Elvis Presley's Hound Dog, for example, was on the back side of Don't Be Cruel.

Nonetheless, CBS Records has decided that flip sides should go the way of crew cuts and bobby-sox. Aiming to boost sagging record sales, the company last week began selling low-priced singles with songs on only one side.

Since 1973, the price of a 45 has risen from about $1 to as high as $1.99. At the same time, U.S. sales of singles have dropped 36%. By eliminating the flip side, CBS will reduce expenses. As a result, the new 45s will again sell for around $1.

Other record companies are watching the experiment, but some are skeptical. Says Dennis Fine, vice president of Arista Records: "I collected 45s, and I would hate to see flip sides disappear." To aficionados like Fine, a one-sided single would be as disconcerting as an economy version of Cracker Jack with no prize inside.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.