Do you still buy albums?

[ReggieB]

I was watching the end of Colombiana last night, and the closing titles were played out with Johnny Cash singing "Hurt", which I thought was rather splendid. So I found a copy of it online (http://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/hurt-johnny-cash/0004400779982?qref=dac_6) and bought it. However, I didn't just get that track but the whole EP it was on.

This morning I'm listening to the Johnny Cash and the other album I bought yesterday - Deerhunter - Fading Frontier (http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/15/deerhunter-fading-frontier-review) - and it has struck me how much excellent music I would have missed if I only ever bought the headline/hit track from an album. With downloads and streaming, it's easy to just select a particular track from an album, but I never do.

Also I think that the artists have put effort into deciding the track order and in doing so that that's the order they expect them to listened in. Classic examples being Joe Jackson's "Body and Soul" (http://joejackson.com/music?page=music&album_id=36567) and Genesis' "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lamb_Lies_Down_on_Broadway). If I want to listen to a particular artist, I'll select an album of theirs and listen to that whole of the album. If I accidentally randomise the play order of an album, it throws me. I'm used to the tracks being in their order on the album and don't like to hear them out of order.

So many times, I find that the track that led me to an album does not end up being my favourite track on an album over repeated listening. If I only listed to the hit tracks from an album, I'd have missed out on so much excellent music.

I hope we never get to a point when bands/singers only release singles. The album is a complete body of work and long may it survive.

[RobbieGong]

I was watching the end of Colombiana last night, and the closing titles were played out with Johnny Cash singing "Hurt", which I thought was rather splendid. So I found a copy of it online (http://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/hurt-johnny-cash/0004400779982?qref=dac_6) and bought it. However, I didn't just get that track but the whole EP it was on.

This morning I'm listening to the Johnny Cash and the other album I bought yesterday - Deerhunter - Fading Frontier (http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/15/deerhunter-fading-frontier-review) - and it has struck me how much excellent music I would have missed if I only ever bought the headline/hit track from an album. With downloads and streaming, it's easy to just select a particular track from an album, but I never do.

Also I think that the artists have put effort into deciding the track order and in doing so that that's the order they expect them to listened in. Classic examples being Joe Jackson's "Body and Soul" (http://joejackson.com/music?page=music&album_id=36567) and Genesis' "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lamb_Lies_Down_on_Broadway). If I want to listen to a particular artist, I'll select an album of theirs and listen to that whole of the album. If I accidentally randomise the play order of an album, it throws me. I'm used to the tracks being in their order on the album and don't like to hear them out of order.

So many times, I find that the track that led me to an album does not end up being my favourite track on an album over repeated listening. If I only listed to the hit tracks from an album, I'd have missed out on so much excellent music.

I hope we never get to a point when bands/singers only release singles. The album is a complete body of work and long may it survive.

I love albums with a passion but in my case generally vinyl albums. Either way I know what you mean. I have loads of albums that I initially bought for one track only to discover another gem by accident or have a different track grow on me big time :)

[dougmon]

Mmmmm, albums as opposed to single tracks? I'll almost always buy albums. The only time I buy single tracks is when it's the only way to get a track by an artist that I really like.

My viewpoint is slightly colored because I buy a _lot_ of compilation albums (various artists), and if I only bought the tracks I knew I liked I might miss out on some real gems. Of course, as you've illustrated, this is true of tracks/albums by single artists as well.

[Audio Advent]

I rarely buy singles either. It would have to be a better single version, e.g. extended mix or a great B-side that would cause me to buy a single, or that it was a single only. And single track downloads just don't have the value for money for me when you can buy £1 CD albums at charity shops.

Most music in the world is... well, never released to start... but of releasd music, most music is only to be found on albums. Singles are chosen for a purpose and not always a good purpose (e.g. that they will appeal to the lowest common denominator).

[Tom-Brown]

I too only buy albums (Vinyl) as I like to sit, listen and enjoy :) there will always be some tracks that are not favoured but that was why CD's took off so people could skip the tracks they didn't like :( I don't play many vinyl singles as I can't be bothered to keep getting up and down every 3 minutes!!!!!