Track Order On CD

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Hi

What makes the perfect track order on a CD?

Do you start of fast and end slow?

Do you group slow / Fast songs together?

Do you go out on a bang?

Do you fade out so you can drift off to sleep?

Does the most popular song start the album???

I've used PA so far to help decide the following for my own CD release, so I also hope you can also assist in the above question.

1: Determine the length of album: Result = 50 mins 

2: Judge popularity of Record labels that have offered me contracts: Result = I've set my own up 

That's the stage I'm at with my CD! I need to finalise track order! Help!

I have my ideas but I want to know what others think. My other half likes the best song to be at the beginning so she doesn't have to fast forward to it. I like drifty songs to be at the end so I can fall asleep listening to music.

I know some prog albums convey concepts so there is a logical start and end. Pink Floyd the Wall to state the bleeding obvious... anyway your thoughts.

Edited by Q6 - February 07 2009 at 07:58

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Q6 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 18 2008 Location: York, UK Status: Offline Points: 126	Topic: Track Order On CD Posted: February 07 2009 at 05:48
	Hi What makes the perfect track order on a CD? Do you start of fast and end slow? Do you group slow / Fast songs together? Do you go out on a bang? Do you fade out so you can drift off to sleep? Does the most popular song start the album??? I've used PA so far to help decide the following for my own CD release, so I also hope you can also assist in the above question. 1: Determine the length of album: Result = 50 mins 2: Judge popularity of Record labels that have offered me contracts: Result = I've set my own up That's the stage I'm at with my CD! I need to finalise track order! Help! I have my ideas but I want to know what others think. My other half likes the best song to be at the beginning so she doesn't have to fast forward to it. I like drifty songs to be at the end so I can fall asleep listening to music. I know some prog albums convey concepts so there is a logical start and end. Pink Floyd the Wall to state the bleeding obvious... anyway your thoughts. Edited by Q6 - February 07 2009 at 07:58
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Negoba Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: July 24 2008 Location: Big Muddy Status: Offline Points: 5208	Posted: February 07 2009 at 21:23
	Most folks say you must grab the listener hard and fast and so you lead with a fast paced, catchy number. (21st Century Schizoid, etc) and continue with stronger tracks though you can mellow slowly. Usually you put at least a few of the stronger tracks later to keep people listening through the whole album. You can always do the newspaper article inverted triangle where you just go best to worst. Of course, this being a prog site, often the songs relate to each other in more obvious ways than in pop, so you have to let the songs dictate things more. Yes you start fast, how you end varies. Absolutely group fast and slow at least somewhat. You have to have a sense of pacing, alternating fast/slow is disorienting. Most popular song usually goes early but not first. You don't want people just listening to the first song....except..... If you're using as the CD as a demo then you use the inverted triangle and lead with your most popular song as long as it's fast/upbeat.
	You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all.

Q6 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 18 2008 Location: York, UK Status: Offline Points: 126	Posted: February 08 2009 at 05:23
	Good points Negoba. I think one of the problems with prog songs though is fast and slow are often built into the same song. Well if not fast and slow I often find my songs build as they progress. I'm not sure about the newspaper triangle idea as a problem I have is deciding which is the best/worst track. I may have to pester some of my freinds for that feedback.
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