Entre_Perpetuo Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 What is the ideal sequence of tracks on an album. How many, what kinds, where do they go? Maybe it’s best to use examples. I think my platonic ideal of album design right now is this: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 Metal, metal, metal, metal, metal, metal and metal. Then a little bit of metal, a little bit more metal and then finish with some metal. And maybe a metal track slotted in there too. 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueschica Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 57 minutes ago, treeduck said: Metal, metal, metal, metal, metal, metal and metal. Then a little bit of metal, a little bit more metal and then finish with some metal. And maybe a metal track slotted in there too. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueschica Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 (edited) Oops, Ok, back on topic. Great question, EP! Born to Run is a really good one, as someone that grew up with vinyl "albums" ; I always appreciated when they were arranged so that you could listen straight through at least one side; not too many fast or slower songs in a row and not what seems to happen on a lot of rushed records, a bunch of lousy songs with one hit or whatever. The first one I can think of is "Who's Next", its a great album and that's part of it. Loved it when I was younger and later on read that this also was supposed to be a rock opera that just never came together, but it makes sense that the song order would be thought about a lot and sequenced well if that was the case. Edited April 19 by blueschica 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueschica Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 Rumors by Fleetwood Mac is another great album with excellent sequencing for whatever reason; there's a whole book about the album in our public library but I've never gotten around to reading it. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nova Carmina Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 I like when albums begin with something punchy, then run through the gears, changing tempos and pacing, creating dynamism with a sense of ebb and flow, building to something summative and maybe a little melancholy (the album is over, after all). My all-time favorite album closer is Pink Floyd's "High Hopes," but the rest of that album doesn't have enough variation to really be a good example. I do think Clockwork Angels works well, but what can top . . . 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entre_Perpetuo Posted April 19 Author Share Posted April 19 12 hours ago, blueschica said: Oops, Ok, back on topic. Great question, EP! Born to Run is a really good one, as someone that grew up with vinyl "albums" ; I always appreciated when they were arranged so that you could listen straight through at least one side; not too many fast or slower songs in a row and not what seems to happen on a lot of rushed records, a bunch of lousy songs with one hit or whatever. The first one I can think of is "Who's Next", its a great album and that's part of it. Loved it when I was younger and later on read that this also was supposed to be a rock opera that just never came together, but it makes sense that the song order would be thought about a lot and sequenced well if that was the case. Oh yes! This is definitely one of the best! Can’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner! I love how it treats the end of side 1 and the start of side 2 especially. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisible airwave Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 (edited) Not the US edition but the European original 3 LP pressing with 30 tracks. Edited April 19 by invisible airwave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted April 20 Share Posted April 20 I'll say Boston's debut album. I remember when I first heard the 8track version with a different song order. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
custom55 Posted April 22 Share Posted April 22 (edited) Edited April 22 by custom55 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueschica Posted April 22 Share Posted April 22 8 hours ago, custom55 said: Yes, this is a great example! Back when artists actually thought about sequencing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted April 23 Share Posted April 23 Led Zeppelin IV does it perfectly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted April 23 Share Posted April 23 The CARS debut nails it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted April 24 Share Posted April 24 First Boston album. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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