I've noticed with recent releases from Take That and Shayne Ward to name a few, that albums are starting to include only 10 tracks. I remember in the 80s this was usually the standard number of tracks on an album but since then, the number of tracks on an album have increased to around 12-13. What do you think is the record companies strategy behind this? I think in some cases it may be to save costs but in other cases, its a way of saving leftover tracks to milk a deluxe edition or album re-release.

the albums are cheaper also these years. . .

Ten tracks is fine if the quality is good.

 

 

Ten tracks is fine if the quality is good.

 

I'd prefer 12 though or more ideally. I have a Celine Dion studio album which features 17 tracks "A new day has come" and one of Westlife's studio albums has 20 tracks.

I'd prefer 12 though or more ideally. I have a Celine Dion studio album which features 17 tracks "A new day has come" and one of Westlife's studio albums has 20 tracks.

I'm afraid 17 tracks on a Celine Dion album is at least 17 too many for me :lol:

I get fussed a bit when an album has only 10 tracks or less, debut album or not. 14+ is a bit too many for me so, yeah, I guess I'm used to the 12/13 tracks standard. Depending on the album length as well TBH.

Edited November 18, 201014 yr by FM11

Maria Haukaas Storeng's latest album had 8 tracks, 3 of which were more than 8/10.

 

Less =/= better.

 

Somewhere around 10 seems to be the Scandi norm. Tone Damli's albums come in at the 10/11 mark.

 

 

I would rather see more tracks, but i'll happily trade quantity for quality. I would give anything to hear an EP of new Mutya tracks.

album prices are also creaping up again recently. Albums did seam to be selling for £7.99 or £8.99 but are now back up to £9.99 for most new releases.... it is very very sad for my wallet :(

James Blunt's first 2 albums Back To Bedlam and All The Lost Souls both had 10 tracks on, Susan Boyle's latest album has 10 tracks, would the songs on it be classed as quality over quantity?

album prices are also creaping up again recently. Albums did seam to be selling for £7.99 or £8.99 but are now back up to £9.99 for most new releases.... it is very very sad for my wallet :(

There is less competition nowadays. Especially with Virgin/Zavvii gone

I've noticed with recent releases from Take That and Shayne Ward to name a few, that albums are starting to include only 10 tracks. I remember in the 80s this was usually the standard number of tracks on an album but since then, the number of tracks on an album have increased to around 12-13. What do you think is the record companies strategy behind this? I think in some cases it may be to save costs but in other cases, its a way of saving leftover tracks to milk a deluxe edition or album re-release.

 

The thought 'deluxe edition' was the first that occured to me as soon as I read your thread title.

Maria Haukaas Storeng's latest album had 8 tracks, 3 of which were more than 8/10.

 

Less =/= better.

 

Somewhere around 10 seems to be the Scandi norm. Tone Damli's albums come in at the 10/11 mark.

I would rather see more tracks, but i'll happily trade quantity for quality. I would give anything to hear an EP of new Mutya tracks.

 

With so few tracks, I was expecting a masterpiece of an album but it was still filler packed :(

 

I have to say though that I do quite enjoy 10 track albums or extended EP's like Robyn/GaGa/Sats have done. They're usually far higher quality than longer LP's purely because the padding out songs are usually removed.

I'd prefer 12 though or more ideally. I have a Celine Dion studio album which features 17 tracks "A new day has come" and one of Westlife's studio albums has 20 tracks.

 

 

Too many and lots of filler. 10-12 is ideal. 40-50 minutes playing time is fine. I hate 70+ minutes studio albums though all GH and Best Of's should be that.

James Blunt's first 2 albums Back To Bedlam and All The Lost Souls both had 10 tracks on, Susan Boyle's latest album has 10 tracks, would the songs on it be classed as quality over quantity?

 

 

Yes, all three great albums.

They're obviously doing this to re-release the album in case of success.

 

I've also noticed they don't put "UK Bonus Tracks" anymore. Instead, they've turned to "iTunes Bonus Tracks".

westlife's first 4 studio albums had 17 to 20 songs on them. From then their albums had 12-13 songs. . .

With so few tracks, I was expecting a masterpiece of an album but it was still filler packed :(

 

I have to say though that I do quite enjoy 10 track albums or extended EP's like Robyn/GaGa/Sats have done. They're usually far higher quality than longer LP's purely because the padding out songs are usually removed.

I know :( even though you warned me i was still so disappointed in Maria. Breathing and Hold On Be Strong are such brilliant albums.

 

 

Charis - Quality over Quantity any day of the week. Pestlife may have had 4 albums with 17/18/19/20 tracks on them but they are yet to produce enough quality material to fill a one track single.

Tori amos has no idea how to edit, american doll posse came in with 24 tracks and the album before and after it 19 and 18 tracks each. It has let her down the last few albums as with 3 or 4 of the fillers cut the albums would be so much better.

 

Though in the age of ipod, itunes ect more is better as you can always edit tracks off the playlists/albums, so if an album has 20 tracks and i like 10 but my friend likes the other 10 we both have enough tracks to make an album i guess.

They're obviously doing this to re-release the album in case of success.

 

I've also noticed they don't put "UK Bonus Tracks" anymore. Instead, they've turned to "iTunes Bonus Tracks".

I hate hate hate this! Either I have to buy the album from itunes/apple or I don't get the whole thing. I wouldn't mind giving them the 99p for the extra track but they inevitably make it "album only" on the big tracks. Its not like when there was special editions of albums where at least I could choose the shop I bought it in. I wish more artists would refuse or make the songs available more places.

 

Tori amos has no idea how to edit, american doll posse came in with 24 tracks and the album before and after it 19 and 18 tracks each. It has let her down the last few albums as with 3 or 4 of the fillers cut the albums would be so much better.

 

Though in the age of ipod, itunes ect more is better as you can always edit tracks off the playlists/albums, so if an album has 20 tracks and i like 10 but my friend likes the other 10 we both have enough tracks to make an album i guess.

Funny I was thinking of her too. Her albums are great quality but they can seem a little bloated and inaccessible when they're all 20 tracks. Perhaps if she released some singles again like a proper campaign and had a few b-sides instead...

Fewer royalties need to be paid out if there are less songs which means more money for the record company