As more and more people are developing the habit of downloading single songs instead of full albums, and record companies are focusing more on songs with the new ringle releases, do you think we are going back to how it was in the 50s? In the 50s singles outsold albums. It was all about the songs.

What's more important is that after the era of the singles was over and albums because more popular, albums released in that time (the 60s) are now heralded as the greatest of all-time simply because of the time in which they were released. Albums as not just a collection of singles, but a group of songs written to be heard together, was a new concept. So albums released when this was new and fresh are looked back on as the greatest of all-time.

So give it a few years, when singles are outwaying albums to the point that artists are doing what was done in the fifies. Which was release a few singles and then compile them on an album making what is basically a greatest hits album. That's all it was in the 50s. When that time comes around, whoever is lucky enough to release an album that is actually a group of songs made to be heard at the same time, not a collecion of singles, will go down in rock history for making some of the greatest albums of all-time.

Albums really didn't become the norm until the 1970s. In the '60s, only the Beatles, Beach Boys, and Jimi Hendrix dare to do albums rather than singles. By the '70s, starting with What's Going On, albums became basically the norm selling over a million copies and that's how it went on for at least two decades.

Since 2002, we've been in the middle of seeing singles selling more than albums now that the net has made it much easier to download. I wouldn't look at it as really going back because if we're going back to the time period between 1954 and 1971, then we'd be hearing singles on radio than we do on the net, that's the only difference.

People would still buy albums if the shit was worth having. The recording industry cut its own throat and they have no one else to blame. Run around suing every 10 yr old girl you want, the industry only has itself to blame.

Hell remember when the liner notes and the album cover itself was part of the experience?

lazycrockett said:

Oh yes. Matter of fact if I feel like purchasing an album, that's the first thing I look at.

Apart from the month of October (Rahsaan,Meshell ect) there wasnt a real 'album' for "me" since Robin Thicke and I use to have to oppposit problem, I never had enough money for albums I wanted.
An example I expect Mariah's new album to be filled with singles/songs as apposed to an album like 'Butterfly' and I think everyone will love this new approach from artists but dont realise 'fillers' was actually another name for 'album track' but may not be a song that stands out on its own bu on the whole....(dont get me wrong this same 'filler' theory doesnt work when your a disposal pop artist and all you should do is pop 'songs taht make people dance or download)

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[Edited 10/6/07 3:26am]

Vinyl...
those were the days...
Entering Nostalgia town, Leaving sucksville

lazycrockett said:

Not that bullshit again...

People don't buy albums like they used to, even if it's worth it...

Even the biggest names struggle to sell albums now...