why do vinyl copies of albums have less tracks than the CD?

[shonky]

Anyone remember that Shellac album coming with a free (unannounced) CD of the same album? I think the point being made there was that Steve Albini thinks CDs are pants, but it wouldn't hurt labels to do this would it? Unless the point is just to scalp music fans. Or they could offer free downloads of the missing tracks.

Any reference to Albini/Shellac really needs to be bigged up.

Indeed. One of the best articles on music industry shenanigans right here http://negativland.com/albini.html . Read this years ago in Maximum Rock'n'Roll and it should be read by anyone thinking they might want to sign a record deal.

With regards to the vinyl thing, I'd like them on vinyl to dj and listen to. Burial's the only cd I've bought in 4 years and I would have got the vinyl if it was available (mind you I've got a lot of the tracks on the 12"s anyway).

Mind you, the amount of stuff that only comes out on 12" means that vinyl folks generally don't have it too bad

[knifedreams]

Anyone remember that Shellac album coming with a free (unannounced) CD of the same album? I think the point being made there was that Steve Albini thinks CDs are pants, but it wouldn't hurt labels to do this would it? Unless the point is just to scalp music fans. Or they could offer free downloads of the missing tracks.

fucking great album. heavy ass pressing as well. was listening to that and some big black just yesterday.

[docdoom]

On the other hand i have a paul simon album (graceland) with about 12-15 tracks on that sounds great...its really just bass-driven music that this applies to im guessing...

[Jubz]

It maximizes sales, you get some of the vinyl buyers checking the CD aswell to get the exclooses.

[jamie vex'd]

With our album, it was down to expense and sound quality, and it will be the same considerations for anyone releasing a vinyl album. If we'd have squeezed more tunes onto the two plates, the volume and sound wouldve been reduced to the point where it wouldnt even have been playable next to 12". If you've got djs buying your album to play out, you need to make sure its playable, otherwise they'll have wasted their money. The other option is to have more vinyl plates, but that is really expensive, a third plate of vinyl wouldve most likely eaten any earnings for both us and the label, espeically if it didnt sell well. It is a shame, and the artist is left with a vinyl album that doesnt represent them as fully as the cd does. But at least the singles were available on 12". I'm sorry if anyone feels dissapointed tho. Hopefully you can understand why it had to be that way. We'll see what we can do on the next one.

[shonky]

All good Jamie, thought that an OK pressing. I've got far quieter 12's to be honest.

Always amazed at the way no-one thinks of turning the gain back some on the mixer, whack it up on the amps and then you've got that little bit more oomph should you need it.



These go up to eleven

Ah, but then the old DJ quandary comes in and you realise that if it can go full, it will go full and all is lost.

Could someone tell me whether there's less bass or whether it's just quieter, with all the frequencies at the same ratio? Wouldn't seem to be much of an ish if it's the latter as you could just do what's described above. Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm not really up on vinyl pressing.

[titchyschneider]

ummmm, if the boxcutter album is already on DOUBLE vinyl, then how does it push the limitations of vinyl or cost more to put a measly four extra tracks on? thats two tracks per vinyl record, its hardly going to ruin the pressing/loudness/quality. it can still fit.

You clearly know very little about the process, and sound in general.

and you clearly know nothing about the concept of egalatarianism

[kablammo]

bought the boxcutter album at last but found out it has FOUR less tracks than the cd

SURELY YOU MEAN 4 FEWER

[ufo over easy]

and you clearly know nothing about the concept of egalatarianism

You mean egalitarianism?

Or would you also stress the importance of egalitarianism in language?

fwd!

[oopu]

We get less songs and pay more on vinyl???? Maybe some labels could look at doing some sort of exclusive pressings of missed tracks or something specifically for the vinyl heads....


Oh yea, nothing gives me a boner more than a 12' that go 45! pure deep filth.... ha, yea i was impressed when i bought the clientele lp, the folks at merge included a nice card thanking me for buying vinyl and included a code and web address to download the entire album "for your ipod" the card was signed, "with love, the folks at merge records" how fucking sweet you pommies are....

[we eat our young]

I think its slightly unfair on the vinyl buyers that they get less for their money. After all its them who buy the 12s and support the smaller labels- for instance (and i'm just taking Vex'd as an example here) wouldn't it have been the people who bought the 12's that convinced Mike P to sign them to Planet Mu?

I totally appreciate what everyone is saying about pressing volume & distribution costs but i also appreciate what Shallac did with a cd which must have cost them next to nothing- toolshed did the same for their lp on twisted nerve.

I just think that for the vinyl market to survive- particularly the lp market- artists and labels need to look at ways to encourage people to buy the lp otherwise in the future there won't be vinyl releases. I think it would certainly encourage people to buy the vinyl if for instance Vex'd included a mix cd exclusive with the vinyl and not the cd....

[jamie vex'd]

I think its slightly unfair on the vinyl buyers that they get less for their money. After all its them who buy the 12s and support the smaller labels- for instance (and i'm just taking Vex'd as an example here) wouldn't it have been the people who bought the 12's that convinced Mike P to sign them to Planet Mu?

if a 3LP vinyl release only sold as much as the subtext singles, the label wouldnt even break even. I'll say it again man, we wanted all the tracks to come out on vinyl. It just wasnt viable, not with the sales we had done up until at that point.

. I think it would certainly encourage people to buy the vinyl if for instance Vex'd included a mix cd exclusive with the vinyl and not the cd....

That would actually be really cool. I'll talk to the label about that next time, it's a good idea.

One thing on this vinyl/CD sales debate. CDs , for most people they're nothing more than a disposable disc for them to carry the tracks from the shop to their computer, and their mates probably downloaded the same music for free., I buy CDs all the time, to support the artist, and to get decent sound quality (fuck 192kbps). But I get nothing like the satisfiaction I get when I come home with a sick album on beatiful vinyl. Vinyl has a wonderful character, great packaging, it's a wonderful thing to own. People who buy a CDs dont get any of that.

[Littlefoot]

being a vinyl geek and a new dubstep convert, I too kinda find it annoying.. Im also a music technology geek and i realise exactly where Vex'd are coming from, now dubstep is getting some exposure and people are gonna start flooding to throw music in.. how about home listening and DJ versions? I know it would cost more, but man Dubstep sales are about to rocket I am sure.


ps. There are a lot of Shellac fans here! half surprising but cool, im more into Big Black and Rapeman though, less noodle, more punk!

[djshiva]

We get less songs and pay more on vinyl???? Maybe some labels could look at doing some sort of exclusive pressings of missed tracks or something specifically for the vinyl heads....


Oh yea, nothing gives me a boner more than a 12' that go 45! pure deep filth.... ha, yea i was impressed when i bought the clientele lp, the folks at merge included a nice card thanking me for buying vinyl and included a code and web address to download the entire album "for your ipod" the card was signed, "with love, the folks at merge records" how fucking sweet you pommies are....

now THAT is a sweet idea!!!