As you know, the Beatles, in their infinite wisdom, decided not to release any singles from their mega-packed album, "The Beatles" (better known as "The White Album").  

If you were in charge back then, what two songs would you have released as A-side singles?

Myself, I'd pick "Ob-La-De, Ob-La-Da" as the first, followed by "Back In The USSR" (put "Birthday" as the B-side, and you have a powerhouse 45).

Quoted from Buttmunker

Myself, I'd pick "Ob-La-De, Ob-La-Da" as the first, followed by "Back In The USSR" (put "Birthday" as the B-side, and you have a powerhouse 45).

I'd agree with you 100%!

Ob-la-di may not be at the top of every Beatle fan's favourite tracks on the White Album, but there is no doubting its commerciality back in 1968  - as was proven when Marmalade who took it to number one.

With regards to Back In The USSR, when it was released as a single in 1976 it reached the top 20 in the UK charts without much effort, and I'm sure it would have been a much bigger hit back in '68.

Quoted from The End

Ob-la-di may not be at the top of every Beatle fan's favourite tracks on the White Album, but there is no doubting its commerciality back in 1968  - as was proven when Marmalade who took it to number one.

It was released as a single in certain countries. The Netherlands for instance, and I think Greece and France as well.

"Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" yielded no singles, as did the US version of "Rubber Soul" (the US version of "RS" didn't have the song Nowhere Man on it, but the song itself was released in the US).

"Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/With A Little Help From My Friends" was released as a single in the US many, many years later - I think to capitalize on the film version in 1978.

I'd put Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da on the A side and While My Guitar Gently Weeps on the B side, not that many people would agree with that

Revolution 9/Why Don't We Do It In The Road?

Quoted from Whoever

Revolution 9/Why Don't We Do It In The Road?

imagine Revolution 9 hitting the top spot!

While my Guitar Gently weeps / ob-la-di ob-la-da

followed by

Back In The USSR / Sexy Sadie

1. A-Side: 'Back In The U.S.S.R.' / B-Side: 'I'm So Tired'

2. A-Side: 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' / B-Side: 'Birthday'

To not release a single accompanying the White Album was probably the worst single-related mistake of the Beatles ever.
Simply because they didn't release a single since August, so was a good time to release a new song to the radios at November. Consider that their next single wasn't released until April/May 1969 (Get Back), so it was an 8-month gap between the two singles! Quite a mistake! They had the perfect space to release another single between them, and for sure it would be a song from the White Album...

...Or not!? Because they could extract 2 songs from the album, leaving it with "only" 28 songs,   releasing the two songs as only-single songs. I suppose a good option could be Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da / Savoy Truffle. A sure #1 hit!  

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da was a UK #1 hit in early 1969 by The Marmalade.
Weird heh? A #1 hit single at the same time the song is included in the #1 album of the moment, sung by its original act!  

Quoted from wingsman

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da was a UK #1 hit in early 1969 by The Marmalade.
Weird heh? A #1 hit single at the same time the song is included in the #1 album of the moment, sung by its original act!  

that way, if the fabs did release it as a single, it would hit the No 1 spot!

Without a doubt, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps' and 'Back In The USSR'.

Sexy Sadie /Helter Skelter

Blackbird / Julia

DaveRam  

Quoted from wingsman

To not release a single accompanying the White Album was probably the worst single-related mistake of the Beatles ever.
Simply because they didn't release a single since August, so was a good time to release a new song to the radios at November. Consider that their next single wasn't released until April/May 1969 (Get Back), so it was an 8-month gap between the two singles! Quite a mistake! They had the perfect space to release another single between them, and for sure it would be a song from the White Album...

...Or not!? Because they could extract 2 songs from the album, leaving it with "only" 28 songs,   releasing the two songs as only-single songs. I suppose a good option could be Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da / Savoy Truffle. A sure #1 hit!  

I still think songs from "The White Album" received airplay, despite their not being available to buy as singles.  More incentive for people to go out to buy the entire album.  More money in that.

Back In The U.S.S.R/Ob la di Ob la da

-----

While My Guitar Gently Weeps/Sexy Sadie

Ob-La-De, Ob-La-Da/Don't Pass Me By

Back In The USSR/Blackbird

Quoted from BlueMeanie

Ob-La-De, Ob-La-Da/Don't Pass Me By

Back In The USSR/Blackbird

I'd go with that. Poor John - just not cutting the mustard.
Although the album is full of great songs, I think these are the only two a-side candidates. WMGGW is too ploddy and lacks a decent hook.

Quoted from Kevin

WMGGW is too ploddy and lacks a decent hook.

Really??

Maybe While My Guitar Gently Weeps is the best track on the album. But URSS and Obladi are the most commercial for sure. I suppose Obladi could be an easy #1 but maybe a too stupid single. I mean... we have Yellow Submarine already so...  
I suppose, in fact, the best track for being released as a single could be Back In The U.S.S.R.

(...but I guess I already voted for Guitar, I'm just confused!   )

Most folks in my part of the world at the time (west coast, USA) considered 'WMGGW' the best track on the album, I believe, with 'BITUSSR' running a close second. Released singles or not, they both got the lion's share of FM airplay. For all intents and purposes, they were the singles.

Maybe Obladi oblada and Back in the USSR

We all seemed to be choosing the same kind of songs for singles,
what about SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!

Dear Prudence / Savory Truffle

Quoted from Andy Smith

We all seemed to be choosing the same kind of songs for singles,
what about SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!

Dear Prudence / Savory Truffle

Although Dear Prudence is my fave song of the album I didn't consider it as a signle, but why not?

What about
Dear Prudence/Piggies

Dear Prudence is one of John's finest!

Quoted from Dark Phoenyx

What about
Dear Prudence/Piggies

Sounds good to me

Dear Prudence was a UK  # 3 hit for Souxsie and The Banshes in 1983. Think it would have made a good single

DaveRam

Quoted from 679

Dear Prudence was a UK  # 3 hit for Souxsie and The Banshes in 1983. Think it would have made a good single

DaveRam

wow, i forgot that. it could have been at the back of my mind!

blackbird/julia

helter skelter/ blackbird
bitussr/ julia

Bungalow Bill/Cry Baby Cry

1.
A.Back in the USSR
B.Dear Prudence

2.
A.Sexy Sadie
B. Why Don't We Do it in the Road