What goes on an EP compared to an LP?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Will25
  • Start date Start date
W

Will25

New member
Hi,

Basically...my band are about to start recording for an LP we've/I've written, which is 11 tracks. Some fans have been asking for an EP to be released this year so the question is...are the EP tracks exclusive to the EP? I've got some songs that aren't on the album (because it's themed) but are still good songs, so shall I just use them for the EP and save the LP tracks for just the LP? Our 'best' song is an LP track but there are others that are just as good really... cheers :)
 
There's no correct answer for this. Will your 'fans' (customers) pay for an LP with 3-6 new tunes and 11 they already have on an EP?
 
I'm all for musicians getting out as much product as they can. New product.
Stick the new stuff on an EP and keep the LP separate. I hate the idea of having to pay again for stuff one already has.
Speaking of pay, I've long been amused by the idea that music buyers didn't have money to spend on records/Cds/tapes. This specifically refers to the pre download days. I long thought that those that held that view didn't know music buyers very well. Fans would always find the money to get music. We were as dedicated as smokers, winos and junkies in that regard. And if one didn't buy, one borrowed from friends or the library and taped said record.
 
"EP" and "LP" refer to vinyl products. EPs were generally 10" discs with about four songs. LPs were 12" discs with about 8-12 songs. Unless you're releasing vinyl the terms are rather arbitrary.
 
bouldersoundguy said:
"EP" and "LP" refer to vinyl products. EPs were generally 10" discs with about four songs. LPs were 12" discs with about 8-12 songs. Unless you're releasing vinyl the terms are rather arbitrary.
Click to expand...

Fast forward initially started with old school analog tape. Yet we use the term still in digital music, Though the medium has changed, the termonolgy roughly means the same thing. With EP and LP, people still use the terms in reference to releases of their music. Often an EP is about 4-5 songs and an LP contains about 8-12 even in the digital world.
 
phriq said:
Fast forward initially started with old school analog tape. Yet we use the term still in digital music, Though the medium has changed, the termonolgy roughly means the same thing. With EP and LP, people still use the terms in reference to releases of their music. Often an EP is about 4-5 songs and an LP contains about 8-12 even in the digital world.
Click to expand...

I suppose that if people still bought collections of songs rather than one at a time it would make sense.
 
If you have a total of 11 songs, put your best 3 songs on the EP and also include them when you make your LP.
 
I think of EPs as being 3-7 songs that precede an LP, and somewhat commonly expect to see the strongest single appearing on the LP. Good example that comes to mind is Boards of Canada - Trans Canada Highway. (But that EP came after the LP) Maybe an alternate mix of said single.
Or just a smaller group of cohesive songs. Good examples that come to mind are Polvo - Celebrate The New Dark Age, or This Eclipse.

The correct answer is there's no correct answer.
 
Thanks for the input :) I like the idea of the lead track being on the EP like a single release. I think I'll go with that seeing as it's just until the LP comes out and will be next to nothing to buy (if not free)!
 
So what exactly is an EP now, in terms of physical packaging? A CD? I mean, why have something that's the same size and cost to manufacture but then deliberately leave off 2/3 of the material? And if it's a download why bother having predefined collections when people are used to buying individual songs? It seems pointless.
 
I've seen EPs packaged as dual or triple 7" vinyl. More frequently a single 12" [sometimes 45rpm] or even a 10". But ya, CDs too.
 
Pure fashion, no substance. People will buy any stupid thing if they are brainwashed to think it's cool. As someone who bought music for years before the CD was invented I wonder why anyone would want one of those things that will be a crackly sounding mess by the third time you play it, no matter how careful you handle it and how well you clean it. The only thing I miss about vinyl is the cover art.
 
bouldersoundguy said:
Pure fashion, no substance. People will buy any stupid thing if they are brainwashed to think it's cool. As someone who bought music for years before the CD was invented I wonder why anyone would want one of those things that will be a crackly sounding mess by the third time you play it, no matter how careful you handle it and how well you clean it. The only thing I miss about vinyl is the cover art.
Click to expand...

I have records that are older than I am and they still play beautifully. Everything you just described points to user error, laziness or poorly configured, cheap listening equipment; specifically an improperly aligned/leveled stylus and turntable lacking anti skate and dust cover.

There is no good reason why records can't get hundreds of great-sounding plays if you take care of them.
 
haunt said:
I have records that are older than I am and they still play beautifully. Everything you just described points to user error, laziness or poorly configured, cheap listening equipment; specifically an improperly aligned/leveled stylus and turntable lacking anti skate and dust cover.

There is no good reason why records can't get hundreds of great-sounding plays if you take care of them.
Click to expand...

I was obsessive about handling and cleaning. Only the edge and label ever got touched. I used decent cartridges mounted using the alignment jig supplied with the turntable, and set the tracking weight meticulously to spec. The dust cover was always used and the tables had anti-skate.

I'm not talking about mistracking or scratches, I'm talking about that low level crackle that was inevitable once you took the disc out of the sleeve a few times. It wasn't a big deal on things like Never Mind the Bullocks, but on Wish You Were Here it sucked. Most of my friends seemed to be insensitive to it. I guess it just depends on what each listener finds acceptable.

Toward the end I started buying virgin vinyl imports and immediately dubbing them off to metal cassettes on my three head dual capstan deck with adjustable bias (which made the Dolby C actually work almost as intended), but that had its own limitations. I guess I found a low level tape hiss to be less objectionable than the ever increasing crackle.
 
An EP is a bit of a novelty release, for those who don't have enough songs or don't want to put out enough to make an LP. EP is Extended Play and LP is Long Play. an EP ussually has about 4 tracks whereas an album will have as many as 10 to maybe even 20! EP's aren't as popular these days but they are a nice taster, maybe if your band wanted to release a Christmas or Halloween release...they dont want to write 10 tracks about the subject but...4 is just right. I run a record label and I see more albums than EP's going out, but its still happening! :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top