A 12 Song Album: Which Song Is Likely To Be The Best

first song on side 2, usually either 6 or 7.

^^went with 7

I spent an entire lunch arguing this with a person. He thought it was #3, I said #8 without a doubt.

3rd. 1st is the opener, 2nd is the single and 3rd is my fav (sometimes also becomes the 2nd/3rd single). but 6th/7th is also a good guess

3rd was my second choice

#11 is the high point of the album, where it all coalesces in a non-single but essential track (i.e., "Tired Eyes").

#12 has the best chance of being a 10-minute sprawling epic with bass solo.

^^ either that or #11, in that case #12 would be a shorter tune to blow off some steam

If it's their first album, the second song. If it's their fourth album, the sixth song, and if it's the seventh album, the fifth. Unless one of the seven was a greatest hits, in which case it's the third song on side two, regardless of how many songs are on side one. If the album is called Tubular Bells, it's the first song. I have a very precise algorithm worked out for all of this.

I've always found track 8's to be pretty good.

11 as the glorious closing epic, assuming there's a short outro track.

The penultimate track.

yes i feel like the penultimate track is the right answer.

If the album is from around 1990 or later, the first track, if the album is from the 80s or earlier, the seventh track (first on side 2).

These may also be the most commercial tracks though, and the Magnum Opus (the twelvth track) may be artistically better.

(Although albums with a Magnum Opus usually have less than 12 tracks)

If the album is from around 1990 or later, the first track, if the album is from the 80s or earlier, the seventh track (first on side 2).

OTM

nos. 11 or 12. they point the way to the future, so you're more likely to see an interesting experiment, change-of-pace, or hint of things to come.

Track 4 is often good.

I've never liked it when an album is totally front loaded with singles. It hints that the rest of the songs are not much cop.

Running through some albums on iTunes, seems to vary between 3-5, so I'll average it down to Track 4.

I can't stop thinking about Randy Newman's 12 Songs here, which is nothing but brilliance all the way through. It blocks my memory of any other 12 song albums.

It hints that the rest of the songs are not much cop.

I was always intrigued by the line "'cause I'm not much cop at punching other people's dads" in David Bowie's "Kooks"--I basically figured out what it meant in context, but I'd never heard it used anywhere else till now. (Posting from Canada...)

1-5 or 1-7 on the first side. I've noticed on most Pop or R&B albums after Track 5 or 7, it's all filler and ballads. The filler is worse if the album is 15-17 tracks long or contain interludes as they tend to be these days.

I was always intrigued by the line "'cause I'm not much cop at punching other people's dads" in David Bowie's "Kooks"--I basically figured out what it meant in context, but I'd never heard it used anywhere else till now. (Posting from Canada...)

Very familiar expression here in the UK.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Note that

- Fans of prog will largely go for the last track. Unless it is a prog album, then it may as well be the first.

- Fans of fast and furious rock'n'roll will tend to go for the first track in any case. Even if it isn't the biggest hit.

Also, if the album has no artistic ambition and no "epic" at the end, middle aged housewives and lovesick teenage girls will tend to prefer the finishing ballad.

i am a fan of fast and furious rock'n'roll

11

I want to say 5 or 7 but I dont know where that comes from

voted 4

2.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.