Getting the song order on your album right

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Chronological order? Or best tracks first, worst tracks last? Slow down, speed up, or mix it up? And what do you do with that pesky song that's stylistically out of place?

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Monday, 1 September 2003 03:00 (twenty-two years ago)

if it's a compilation over a substantial time period, then yes definitely chronological.

are you doing a 'best of' then colin?

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 1 September 2003 03:09 (twenty-two years ago)

and the pesky song can be the 'hidden track'

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 1 September 2003 03:09 (twenty-two years ago)

It's an art, not a science. Like Legos. Best thing to do is to put the tracks in iTunes or somesuch and get either an iPod or a whole mess of CD-Rs, and just keep trying different permutations until you start noticing stretches of songs you like in that order. As a rule of thumb that I've learned through teaching, though, don't put weak material at the end -- people's attention generally picks up when they know the end is near, and if they listen to the whole album, the last few songs will form a strong part of the impression they're left with. Also, getting the beginning and end down first is helpful in the same way that getting the edges of a jigsaw puzzle down first is helpful. As for the pesky song, well, that's what hidden tracks are for. Or web mp3s. Or the next album. Or the recycle bin.

― Jesse Fuchs (Jesse Fuchs), Monday, 1 September 2003 03:09 (twenty-two years ago)

No Jim, it's all new. The songs written earlier are audibly less well produced than the more recent ones, so that's an issue too. Experience has told me if you mix them up, bad production sounds like interesting production. However, if you go from well produced to less well produced, and hold to this line throughout the album, people realise that things are going downhill.

Hidden tracks? We're struggling just to get ten 'proper' songs, so we don't want to sacrifice one to hidden oblivion if we can help it. Besides, we need any leftovers for compilations, b-sides, etc.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Monday, 1 September 2003 03:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Jesse, that's some sterling advice, I thank you.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Monday, 1 September 2003 03:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Aww you boys and girls are all so clever. I heart ILM.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Monday, 1 September 2003 03:15 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah mix 'em up!!

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 1 September 2003 03:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Kick off with a corker or build up to it round about track three?

It's a bit like sorting out a batting order. Who's opening? Who's coming in at first drop? Who's dependable and can be trusted down the order?

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Monday, 1 September 2003 03:40 (twenty-two years ago)

you definitely have to open with a strong track. you're probably already aware of this colin but many lazy radio people will generally only play track 1..

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 1 September 2003 03:44 (twenty-two years ago)

(says me, regretting opening my last record with the only song i wanted to leave off it!!)

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 1 September 2003 03:44 (twenty-two years ago)

It's exactly like a batting order. Or, if you're making prog-rock, a D&D party. Which song is the half-orc assassin? Which one is the lawful neutral dwarven fighter? Which is the crafty gnome cleric/illusionist that works best when skulking in the shadows? Important questions, all.

― Jesse Fuchs (Jesse Fuchs), Monday, 1 September 2003 04:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Chronological is usually a good thing. Although I tend to think that, if you are making a compilation of some hot, new music, making sure to put those songs who were released on 15. August before those who were released 22. August isn't all that important really. :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 1 September 2003 08:03 (twenty-two years ago)

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