About Record Albums

Record albums are collections of recorded music intended for distribution. The term was originally used to describe phonographic discs. In modern times, CDs and digital record albums are also available and are often the preferred medium for music by the general public. The vinyl album, however, is slowly making a comeback into mainstream media.

History

The first record albums were so-called because the phonographic discs were packaged in a book resembling a photo album. Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" was the first album available this way in 1909. In 1948, the first 12-inch vinyl record albums were produced by Columbia, with 23 minutes of play time on each side. Today, vinyl records are no longer the primary form of music distribution, being replaced by CDs and electronic formats. As such, any collection of recorded music can be referred to as an "album."

Function

Record albums function as a storage medium for recorded music. They are the industry standard for popular music releases. Vinyl record albums are played on record players and are still enjoyed by collectors and music enthusiasts around the world. CD record albums are played on CD players or CD-ROM drives and digital record albums are played on MP3 players or similar media players.

Features

Traditionally, record albums consisted of 11 to 14 songs lasting approximately a total of 30 minutes to one hour. These numbers are dependent upon the record label and genre of music. Vinyl records had two sides, each containing half the music on the record and featuring one or more singles.

CD record albums typically hold up to 80 minutes of music and also consist of 11 to 14 songs, though some may be longer or shorter. Digital record albums may be created by the user or downloaded or purchased as a whole and can be of any length. However, they are generally an electronic version of physical CDs or vinyl record albums.

Features

There are several types of record albums in existence. Long Play (LP) records are 33 1/2 rpm vinyl records that come in sizes of either 10 or 12 inches in diameter. They have a longer playing time than previous formats and typically feature releases of more than 10 songs. Extended Play (EP) vinyl records are shorter than LPs. They usually contain 10 to 28 minutes of music. CDs and digital record albums are more popular today than the old vinyl record albums.

Benefits

Vinyl record albums are analog as opposed to digital like modern MP3s. This gives them a purer, warmer sound. Album covers are also larger, which increases the detail of the artwork that accompanies the release. Many collectors also appreciate the nostalgia of record albums. However, more and more modern artists are demanding releases on vinyl and effectively contributing to the revival of the vinyl record album.

Record albums in CD format are digital but don't require frequent turning as do the older vinyl albums. They are easily accessible and play on many compatible devices. Digital record albums are portable, they don't wear out and they can be obtained for free or very little cost, often being bought on a per-song basis.

Resources

• Newspaper article on vinyl records
• Wikipedia Article -- Record Albums