Album
An album is a collection of sound recordings. It is usually made by a musician, and is sold in stores. Albums were originally a collection of gramophone records, each having one or two songs. Today an album is usually in the form of a compact disc, although many artists also release their albums on vinyl records. LP or Album in digital format in the 21st century it is increasingly normal to release music.
Types of albums
There are two main types of albums, studio albums and live albums. Studio albums are recorded at a recording studio. Live albums are normally recorded while the musicians are performing for an audience. Live albums are usually recorded at concerts.
Other types of albums include:
- Compilation album: Compilation albums are usually made of songs that first came from many different albums. These songs can all be from the same musicians (often called "Greatest Hits" albums) or they can each be from different musicians.
- Debut album: the first album from a musician or musical group.
- Solo album - A solo album is an album by a single musician. This often happens when a singer or musician who is a part of a band creates an album without the rest of the band. It may also happen when the person leaves the band and starts performing alone. For example, most of Beyoncé's albums after she stopped performing with Destiny's Child are solo albums.
- Tribute album: Tribute albums or "cover albums" are albums where a second group or musician plays songs which were first played by another, often more famous, group or musician. The second group is usually called a "Tribute band" when most or all of the music they play is from another band. For example, a Slipknot tribute band would mostly play songs that were written and played by the band Slipknot.
- Live album: Live albums are made from songs that are performed live, such as during tour.
Tracks
Albums are normally separated into tracks. Each track is a part of the album which has one song in it. The term is often used to mean a specific song on the album by number. For example, the "fourth track" or "track four" from an album is the fourth song on the album when it is played from the beginning.
Album Media
Albums c. 2000 came on compact discs stored in jewel cases.
Early record albums from the first half of the 20th century resembled photo albums, being packaged in book form on multiple 78 rpm records.
A record album on a turntable
A typical 8-track tape player
A blank compact cassette tape and case
The ten-track compact disc studio album Led Zeppelin III
An orchestra recorded "live" in the studio
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