A classic.
Posted on 01/12/2015 7:24:14 PM PST by Squawk 8888
Albums are almost as old as recorded music. A hundred years ago when the most music a 78 RPM record could hold was four minutes, long pieces like operas or symphonies were broken up over multiple discs. Those discs were then sold in book-like packages that reminded many of photo albums. That’s how the record album got its name.
The multiple disc problem was solved by Columbia in 1948 when in June of that year, they unveiled the 33 1/3 long-playing album. When RCA countered with the 7-inch 45 RPM single a year later, the LP became the domain of “serious” music–classical, jazz, folk, Broadway show tunes–while the 7-inch ended up as the heart and soul of rock’n’roll. Adults bought albums; kids bought singles.
Oh, sure, there were rock albums, but usually only the form of a compilation of an artist’s singles. It wasn’t until the Beatles and Bob Dylan came along that the album starting becoming a thing for rock and pop. And it didn’t take long for the marketplace to adopt albums. By the end of the 60s, albums were king and stayed that way for the next thirty years.
Along the way, though, the music industry abused its customers, especially towards the end of the 90s. By phasing out singles, the industry forced people to buy an entire album for just one song. When the price of CDs didn’t come down fast enough to suit consumers, they got pissed. VERY pissed. When Napster came along and offer an opportunity to get just the songs you wanted without the filler–and for free!–there was no going back. The breakup of the album had begun.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajournalofmusicalthings.com ...
My kids quit sharing their music when I ask them what they like about a song. Apparently it is possible to really like a song without realizing it is about getting really drunk and laid by a strange guy, or killing your abusive step-father, (we won’t even mention some really racy lyrics that they seemed clueless about) among other things.
However, deconstructing the lyrics has proven a good way to get them to quit the current tripe for some new tripe.
There is some good music being produced now, I even heard some dance tune the other day that I enjoyed once I was able to hear the words.
Changing the subject of the post a bit - albums as a concept are trending out right now, but as a medium can not be beaten - no square sine waves for me, please.
“Rush’s last album (Clockwork Angels) is a concept album. Tells the story of a guy (probably modeled after Neil Peart) that heads out looking for adventure. While Geddy can’t hit the high notes in the old songs (some might say that’s a good thing!), the music is better than ever in many respects. Most of Rush’s albums have a theme and a rhythm to them - I listen to the entire CD.”
Yup. And it is probably the first Rush album in which the entire album is built around a central concept; previous albums included concept pieces, but most of those had one side with a unifying theme and a few other unrelated pieces on the other side.
I tend to lean toward artists that can hold my attention for an entire album, which is why I lean toward progressive rock.
The price of CDs were artificially inflated (it cost more to produce cassettes but they were wholesaled and retailed far cheaper) and the industry bigwigs (Sony and others) accepted an out of court settlement deal to avoid explicit admission of collusion and price fixing in the retail pricing of CDs.
A classic.
If they have a "home theater" surround sound system then they have a readymade system to play their CDs (or even DVD-Audio discs).
Some bands that have final cut can still make this happen, but I'm sure that most acts have accountants and focus groups and data analysts deciding which songs go where based on maximizing profits on singles.
It was nice while it lasted though!
lol.
Maybe the bands/labels don't make releases like this anymore but consumers can make Mix CDs (or sequenced playlists) rather than forever listening to their music collection on random or spotify.
That perfect flow is attained by enlightened selection, not just random chance.
And thanks to the CD, I discovered the Brandenburg Concertos but buying all six on two discs for $10 :)
“Thick as a Brick, with a newspaper!”
And the Original pressing of the Tull LP “Stand Up” with the pop up center fold.
But the fist pressing of The Who’s Live At Leeds with the gatefold cover plus 12 documents/Poster was amazing.
Growing up I had turntables that could play 16RPM records but I never owned one until around 2000 (and don’t have a capable player).
Last year I saw some 7” albums (from the 50s) that play at 8RPM (even the 16 RPM setting would be double speed!).
It waaaas, but Taylor Swift proved no.
Talk to your kids. My kids looooooooooove vinyl. It is the coolest thing to them. They would move into Amoeba Records if they could. Wish I hadn’t dumped all my old records somewhere.
There was a 16 2/3 RPM “extended play” format that never really caught on. My dad had one in his collection; it was a 10” disc.
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