I think it's about time the OCC allowed these to chart again. They used to be counted before they were disqualified.

I know Erasure released 3 EPs 'Crackers International' (1988), 'Am I Right' (1991) & 'Abba-esque' (1992).

 

When exactly did they stop counting EPs?

 

With the Arctic Monkeys releasing an EP it's sure to sell loads of copies.

I think it's about time the OCC allowed these to chart again. They used to be counted before they were disqualified.

I know Erasure released 3 EPs 'Crackers International' (1988), 'Am I Right' (1991) & 'Abba-esque' (1992).

 

When exactly did they stop counting EPs?

 

With the Arctic Monkeys releasing an EP it's sure to sell loads of copies.

The rules were changed in 1998, which restricted the amount of tracks per format to just 3. It used to be 4 until then. At one time it was even more - The Specials reached #1 in 1980 with a 5 track EP.

 

With the arrival of CDs, the term EP was dying out anyway. When it was just vinyl, a normal single had just two tracks and an EP had three or more. Usually, but not always, an EP was more expensive.

 

These days, we have maxi-singles which allow more than 3 tracks per CD anyway, so long as the additional tracks are remixes of any or all of those 3 tracks and the overall running time is 20 minutes or less. With a remix single, so long as all tracks are just remixes of the same song, the running time is 40 minutes. If a song ran for, say, just 4 minutes then theoretically if each remix was about the same length the CD could have 10 tracks and still be eligible for the chart.

 

Back in the 60s EP's had their own chart.

 

Back in the vinyl days an EP had 4 or 6 tracks (2 or 3 on each side) they were 7inch like a single but played at 33RPM like an LP. They also came in glossy picture covers like LPs.

 

Then in the 70s came the MAXI SINGLE which had 3 different tracks (no mixes) 1 track on the A-side and 2 on the B-Side. They sold in sleeves like normal 2 track singles and played usually at 45RPM like a single (with a few exceptions).

also it's a bit pointless especially if only the lead track is being shown on video and downloaded. anyway wasnt jinky and that brian kennedy thing an ep?