Forbes magazine has an +++ interesting opinion article +++ written by Bobby Owsinski that states it is a waste of time and resources for artists and record companies to create albums.

I disagree with his

". No longer does anyone consistently sit down for 40 or 50 consecutive minutes to listen to an album from front to back like they used to."

I DO all the time. At night I get in a state of mind (angry, hateful, moody, tired, jovial,..) and so I pick a state of music jazz, blues, rock, smooth jazz (yea I know it's not "jazz" but it's great mind clearing music), and sometimes classical - then pick an artist or band and listen for at least an hour or two of LP's (yes vinyl) or MP3s FLAC or WAV albums that I've copied to media or CD's or cassette's (my wife copies all LP's to cassettes - she prefers them to other media).

Once in a while, when lazy, I pick a "radio" station (actual terrestrial, iHeart, AccuRadio, etc.) and pick a genre or even artist "type" and try to relax and listen but there is usually too many abrupt changes in styles or mood or artist "intensity" - it's mentally disruptive. I don't want to analyze it, contrast & compare it, "grow" due to its "diversity" - I simply want to DRINK it.

So I'm not a big fan of MIX's for actual listening - for background "noise" mixes are fine

So I am going to have to go with Larry on this one.

I have a huge vinyl collection and there's nothing I like more than to pick out some great old album, grab some tea, or a cup of coffee and and drop that needle, be it on a great classical album, maybe some Yes, some jazz, some classical rock, maybe some STEELY DAN AJA! OH YEAH! I am a happy man.

Also, I have another odd artifact downstairs. A library. It is full of classic books. The kind you have to pick up and read. I like to sit in my Victorian rocker with a cup of coffee, listen to some Bach or Steely Dan and read maybe some Hobbes, Faulkner, Camus, Carl Sandburg, or Dickens.

I guess it is because I am not a total moron and I don't have to be spoon fed crack on the Internet or listen to one song at a time on Spotify because I am so jacked up with my hyperactive cluelessness that the only thing that can hold my attention is Instagram.

If I ever get to the point where I am so lazy, stupid, inarticulate and uncultured that I don't have the patience to listen to a full album or concentrate on reading a full book instead of--what do they call, is it "Facebook?"--I want someone to drag me out into the garden behind my house and shoot me at point blank range with a black power pistol in my face because I have no interest in joining a crack house or belonging to Idiot Nation.

There, I have said it and now I must go listen to an album.

Good Day to all!

It's albums for me. But there was a time in AM radio's heyday where the single was king (not that there weren't albums, though). Everyone had a stack of 45's (78's before that), but not a huge collection of albums.

Then came FM radio and everything was about album cuts (you mean In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida wasn't just 3:05?

Maybe we're just cycling back now.

I've got 1500 vinyl albums, about 2000 CD albums, and I had about 1000 cassette albums (but have digitized most of them, as my car doesn't have a cassette player anymore). I'm also in the process of digitizing my entire vinyl collection, but it takes time (but that's okay, as it's a labor of love). Even though I can easily listen to all the individual songs in my collection, I still listen to full albums as many are thematic, as well as show where an artist or band was creatively in their career at that point in time.

Clearly I'm not the targeted demographic.

John,

I'll raise you one...

Folks,

To be fair - we are musicians (or in my case think I am in their on mind ), and therefore are a very ,very small sub-set of the larger population in general.

As unsettling as it may be - I think we know in our hearts that article accurately reflects the larger population of music consumers and listeners.

Larry

God help us all then Larry.

Some time ago a professor at a famous (very famous) medical school told me that he and his colleagues felt the human brain was in a process of "de-evolution" and that we were losing the power of discernment because we were letting computers do all of our thinking for us.

The inability to sit still and read a book from cover to cover, or to be able to critically analyze what one reads, the inability to render a logical argument instead of reciting some gibberish that is parroted from last night's opinion on any news show, the inability to listen to a Beethoven symphony or any album from beginning to end: these are not seen as signs of mental advancement, they are seen as a sign of mental deterioration.

I am finding myself living in a world where it is harder and harder to find people who actually know anything and make sense.

I guess that is why I spend so much time on this forum.

I also have a large Vinyl and CD collection. My large reel to reel tape collection is gone; the tapes disintegrated as did my small cassette collection. I was never a fan of cassettes and I hated 8 track tapes; I'm glad that fad didn't catch on!

But I also know that musicians, especially computer musicians, are a very small percentage of the population. You can thank the school systems for eliminating the music and art programs. but I digress. I also know that a lot of the younger population have the attention span of a gnat! If it isn't instantaneous its to slow. Thus they only want the songs they like and they want them now. Plus they want it portable so they can take it with them.

Although I still buy CDs I have to agree with the author. Streaming and individual song DLs are the wav (pun intended) of the future.

PS - I still read books. I want a book in my hand not some electric reader. I've never had to stop reading a book because of a dead or low battery :-}

PPS - I should change my gnat statement. The only time many of the younger generation concentrates on something it is either their phone or a video game.

I remember when I was about 9 years old my big sister starting buying albums. Before that it was stacks of forty fives. You could pile them on the record player and they'd drop one by one. Everything old is new again.

Maybe some of the reason for it too, is that there's so much more easy availablilty today. No more having to go to the record store.

There are some albums I have loved but I can remember being disappointed buying an album and discovering beyond the hit there were just a bunch of filler songs.

All that said, vinyl is making a come back so who knows what happens next.

PS. I never thought I would but I love reading books on my tablet.

So sad to see that all the numbers have dropped... I am a supporter of both scenarios. I mean, creating a whole album is a great thing, especially for fans. In albums, you get the opportunity to get to know the artist better and understand what they went through. Plus, it is more personal. On the other hand, it might be better to get a song out there every few months for several reasons: First, this will keep you relevant, second, you can save money, third, quality over quantity. However, artists like Beyonce give out a full storytime on their albums, which honestly is touching when you are a fan. It is like a movie of their real life, which is even better. So, I can't decide which is more important...

Album and records have been dead for 30 years. Cassettes have been dead for at least 15 years, It is all download now, Best Buy is getting rid of CD's entirely, I am sure all the other chain stores will follow suit. The advantage to down load is that going forward it will be possible to add a story line, or podcast to each song, and later give another story line etc. to the song. Could be a better way of reaching an audience without having to use TV, Radio, etc. Just depends on who gets downloads headed in the right direction. and if.

I am in the old school I guess, I feel like I am getting ripped off if I don't get something physical for my money.

Concept albums by the likes of Yes or Rush, full classical pieces,etc were / are movies for the mind, and the vinyl album covers looked great, had tons of info, and made cool wall art at times.

Hand me a great set of headphones & I will be like the commercial for Callaghan....

I absolutely agree with you @jcspro40. It's kind of sad when I think that the kids of our kids won't probably know what a CD is...

Hence my comment that I don't believe I'm the targeted demographic.

I'm okay listening to albums on services like Spotify, etc. Very rarely do I look for a specific single to listen to; usually just when I want to play a specific song for someone.

Were it not for albums, however, I would have missed out on a lot of gems that I enjoy immensely, even though they may never have been a hit. I often listen to my albums for the songs that weren't the hits (but are hits to my ears). If we go mostly back to singles, we're either going to have to search out those gems (which could be a musical adventure in itself), or we're just going to be fed a diet of what someone else thinks should be a hit.

Bottom line for me is that I have enough musical content to keep me busy listening for years to come. Slip some new singles in that resonate with me, and I'll just flag them to listen again later, and I'm good.

I do still miss bringing a record album home, playing the virgin vinyl, reading album cover and sleeve notes, recognizing contributing artists (and composers and arrangers, etc) in those notes, and just enjoying that 45 minute experience (with a short break to flip the record on the turntable).

Okay, reminiscing over.

As I said, I'm definitely not the demographic.

Nice!

One of these days I'll inherit my dad's record collection, which includes several footlockers full of old 78's, along with probably a thousand 33 1/3 vinyl albums, a lot of cassette, some eight tracks, and a bunch of reel-to-reel tapes. That will probably keep me busy the rest of my life, at which point my son will have to decide what he wants to do with it.

Also, my grandmother used to have an old Edison with a crank spring system, a tone arm that weighed a ton, no electronics (everything came from the needle through the horn; volume was controlled by how much you opened or closed the door in front of the horn) that played quarter inch disks where the needle ran hill and dale, rather than side to side as they do now. My dad's brother claimed it when my grandmother died, but before that, my dad went through and recorded all the records onto reel-to-reel tape using a microphone, so all the music was preserved. One day I'll probably convert those to digital as well.

Well, I still have some Hank Williams sr. 78 rpms MGM, most of the beatles albums, but, when I was buying them in the day, I hated having to fool with a needle I was always having a scratch occurring and the singles with the yellow insert would drive me crazy, yeah, i was so happy when cassettes came along and then CD's, and now downloads, i am older than some here, but, I just love this digital age. I have imusic on my iphone, and pretty much every song that i have ever enjoyed is on it. real simple, great sound, no I dont want to go back to the albums and singles.

CliftonD -

Like you, I like the digital realm also, but I think the issues is more about creating a cohesive collection of 10-12 songs packaged together, versus one single song, rather than the media on which it is presented. I'm happy listening to my MP3 albums as listening to the vinyl album (although my heart still lies there). Yes, I have my own personal playlists, but even then they usually revolve around some cohesive concept, and as such are my own "album", if you will. I'll have a driving playlist, an easy listening playlist, etc. Not much different from "Various Artists" albums you buy. Even though I still listen to my vinyl albums, I am still in the process of digitizing all of them, because vinyl record albums just don't play well in the car (which is where it seems I do most of my listening these days).

Where I work we have a system worth thousands and thousands of dollars that is focused around vinyl. Literally probably close to a 100k system. Audiophile to the extreme where even cables are a point of contention. <grin>

The owner recently found a rare 'excellent' quality vinyl copy of AJA (special print) and bought it.
We had a stressful day last week, and mid afternoon he asked 'You want to listen to something and relax?'

I walked over to his 'new' Aja acquirement, picked it up and handed it to him.
After a few minutes of listening he remarked 'Wow, this is nice!'

So your remark kinda hit home for me.
I have 2 copies of that AJA vinyl, both have their wear and tear over the years, but it was awful nice to just sit down and listen to something coherent in series.

So many other examples come to mind. Everything Pink Floyd did in the 70's-80s should be listened to as an album, some Beatles, ELO, Yes (Yes!), etc etc are examples.

From what I gather the article indeed references the listening habits of today's market as opposed to the value of a true album.
To me, mastering an album/CD still includes the art of the order of songs, the flow (including key changes between songs and the effect it has from one song to the next) and the segues between songs (think Dark Side of the Moon) that makes it a true piece of art.
I also remember a stage in music where people did their own 'Mix' compilations, arranging songs in an order to achieve the same effect.

I do not think these things will disappear, as appreciation of art can be defined/taught .. it's just not the mainstream market currently. As someone mentioned; things are cyclical. It'll come around again.
Either that or we are truly losing our capacities ...

@ rharv

"Losing our capacities..."

Brilliant. That is what I was trying to say. And that is the problem.

I saw a great article by a jazz musician several years ago breaking down a Steely Dan song from that album, and the theme was: "Why is this good?"

He described in exquisite detail the chord inversions being used, not just any old chord inversion, but an EXACT chord inversion that could only be played in only one place on the keyboard or guitar, the exact notes in a sax solo, and why they were perfect, the exact effects being used on Fagen's voice and why they used them, the exact notes in the backing vox, and why no other notes would have worked to get that inimitable feel and sound they had going on.

Then he ended with something like "And that's why it sounds like Steely Dan." I wish I had bookmarked it man. It was brilliant.

The point he was making is that they put SO much time and effort into the smallest of details, and as much effort into mixing and mastering, so when we put the needle down on AJA we go "Aaaaah...yes...thanks guys." We truly feel thankful they did all of this hard work for us.

Most of the time these days when I try and listen to something new my thought is the opposite:

"Why are you forcing me to listen to this? This is torture."

That is what we are losing, or have lost.

<<< I saw a great article by a jazz musician several years ago breaking down a Steely Dan song from that album, and the theme was: "Why is this good?" ........ I wish I had bookmarked it man. It was brilliant. >>>

That's Rick Beato. He's an amazing Jazz player, songwriter and top producer. He has a whole series of "Why is this song great?" on YouTube and some really nice mixing videos and............

Yes, great videos.

Here is the Steely Dan one: https://youtu.be/xKIC9zbSJoE

I think listening to full albums is still very much a common activity for music enthusiasts. I listen to albums front to back *all* the time. In my friend group, I know I am not alone. I too disagree with this article to a degree. While it is true that the focal point has shifted to singles over the years, the era of full albums being outdated is far from near - in my honest opinion.

I'd love to hear other's thoughts on this

Wow, thanks guys!!!

Here's another great one I saw. The Mu major chord.



The other videos you guys shared are awesome too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSDD8rgUiNc

That was a good one! Thanks for sharing it!