Are Albums Too Long Today? What’s The Best Length?
(Title image by DALL-E 3)
Hi WA Friends!
Albums come in all different lengths these days, which makes me wonder - how much music is just right for one sitting?
Musicians put a lot of work into their records, but everyone has their own opinion about how much is enough. Some people like albums that finish up in under 30 minutes, while others want a full hour-long journey.
Let's look at what works best for different listeners.
Under 30 Minutes: Quick and Easy Listening
Short and sweet - that’s what these albums are all about. Albums that are under 30 minutes are like a quick burst of energy for your ears. Perfect for a short car ride, a quick break, or when you want music that gets right to the point. There’s no extra stuff - just the essentials!
The great thing about short albums is that they’re focused. Every song needs to be good because there’s no room for filler. But the downside? Sometimes it feels like just when you’re getting into the music, it’s already over. It can be like tasting something amazing and then realizing there’s no more!
The Ramones and Kanye West are two artists who do a great job with short albums. The Ramones' "Ramones" is 29 minutes long, while Kanye West's album "Ye" is just 23 minutes.
30-45 Minutes: The Goldilocks Zone
This length is the favorite for a lot of artists and listeners. Albums that are 30 to 45 minutes long give you enough time to really enjoy the music without getting tired. It lets you dig into a mood or theme, but not so long that you lose focus.
For an artist, this length is a good balance. You get to have some hits and some deeper songs. It’s the “just right” of albums - not too short, not too long. The only issue? If the album is really good, you might end up playing it over and over because it’s short enough to listen to again in one sitting. When I lived in Florence, Italy, a teenage girl who lived next door drove me crazy listening to only side A of the Genesis album "Duke" again and again! Lol 😆
Nirvana and The Strokes are well-known for their mid-length albums. Nirvana's "Nevermind" runs for 42 minutes, and The Strokes' "Is This It" is 36 minutes long.
45-60 Minutes: A Full Musical Journey
Now we’re getting into a more complete experience. Albums that are 45 to 60 minutes long can explore more sounds and ideas, creating a whole experience for the listener. This is where artists can try new things and tell a complete story from start to finish.
The good part is that you get to see the full vision of the artist. There’s room for storytelling, for ups and downs, and for the kind of detail that makes an album come to life. But it’s all about balance. If there’s too much extra stuff, you might get bored and start skipping songs. Every minute has to count!
Radiohead and Fleetwood Mac are two artists that fit well in this category. Radiohead's "OK Computer" is 53 minutes long, and Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" (depending on the version) often runs between 40 minutes to almost an hour.
Over An Hour: An Epic Adventure
Albums that go over an hour are like going on a big adventure. These are the epic albums that are meant to pull you in completely. Think of classic double albums or concept albums like The Wall by Pink Floyd, where every song adds to a bigger story.
The best part of long albums is the storytelling. Each song connects to the next, and you get the artist’s full vision. It’s like reading a book instead of a short story. But it takes time and focus. Not everyone has an hour or more to really sit down and listen, especially today when there’s so much else going on.
Pink Floyd and The Smashing Pumpkins are great examples of artists who love long albums. Pink Floyd's "The Wall" is 81 minutes, while The Smashing Pumpkins' "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" goes well over 2 hours.
Many of the opera albums are over an hour in duration, reflecting the live performances and the stories they tell.
What Is An "Album" Today, Anyway?
Let’s take a minute to talk about what an “album” even means today. It’s not just about vinyl records anymore. An album can be a CD, a digital download, or even just a playlist of songs on Spotify or Apple Music. The idea of an album has changed, but it’s still a group of songs that show what an artist is about at that time.
Some people love the classic feel of vinyl - the cover art, the feeling of putting on a record, and hearing the crackles along with pure analog sound. Others prefer the ease of streaming, where everything you can imagine listening to is just a click away. The format might be different, but the goal is still the same: making a complete music experience!
Buying An Album Vs. A Single Song: The Full Picture
There’s something special about getting a whole album instead of just one song. When you buy an album, you’re going for the full experience. You get the hits, the more artistic tracks, and maybe even some experimental songs that might not be on the radio. It’s about seeing the artist’s whole picture, not just one part.
But buying singles lets you grab what you love without any extras. If one song really stands out, why not just get that one? It’s cheaper, and you don’t have to deal with the songs you don’t like as much. But by only buying singles, you might miss the magic that comes from listening to an album all the way through - the way the artist meant it to be heard.
Streaming is also huge these days. Most people are making their own playlists, picking favorite songs from different artists. The majority of people are listening to single songs from an album when they have unlimited monthly listening accounts. Even with streaming services, the art of making a full album is still trying to hold on!
What About Double Albums?
A vintage double album on vinyl is basically an album that comes in two separate records, usually because there's too much music to fit on just one.
Two of my favorite examples are Jimi Hendrix's "Electric Ladyland" and Led Zeppelin's "Physical Graffiti." Both of these albums are packed with amazing music and show why double albums can be so special. Double albums were popular for artists who had a lot to say and needed the extra space to tell their story.
The pros of a double album are that you get more music and a more complete experience. Artists can explore more ideas, experiment with different sounds, and give listeners a full journey. The artwork tends to be more interesting because there is space on the front, back, and between the two albums when you open it up. But the downside is that double albums can be overwhelming. Sometimes there's substandard filler material, and it can be hard to keep up the quality over so many songs.
Tell Me What You Think
So, how long do you think the perfect album should be? Everyone has their own opinion, and there’s no wrong answer.
If you had to choose just one, do you prefer:
- Albums under 30 minutes
- Albums 30-45 minutes
- Albums 45-60 minutes
- Albums over an hour
Let me know in the comments, ... And
Keep On Rockin' It! 🤘
(Happy Halloween, Phantom of the Opera fans! - created with DALL-E 3)
Frank 🎸
Recent Comments
16
Can't remember the last time I listened to or bought a new album Frank??
Probably about 20 years ago!!
The length doesn't bother me though... if it's all quality music then a three hour album is fine by me!!
Rock On!
🤣👍😎🍻🎸🍸
Hi Nick
That's the beauty of streamed music. You can listen to playlists, songs by a single artist or in a particular genre, or entire albums.
The downside is that the quality of the music is not great. It's digitized and then compressed for minimal storage requirements and faster loading speed.
Most people can't hear the difference, but most musicians can. 😎
Rock On! 🤘
Frank 🎸
Hi Frank
In my opinion, it depends on the music you're listening to and your personal taste. Sometimes it can even depend on your mood. There are times I feel like listening to a band / album for hours, where other times I listen to one song form that same band and then it's on to the next.
I do find myself listening more and more to a giant playlist of everything I have, switched to shuffle. I'll be listening to a Kenny Chesney song one minute, Van Halen the next and then....here comes Lionel Richie.
Boy, how things have changed and evolved in how we listen to music over the past 40 years! 🗓
Keep Rockin!! 😎🤘🎸
Tim 🎼
Hi Tim
Yeah, that's the power of playlists, especially if they are custom-built by the listener!
When I was in junior high school, one of our neighbors found out that I liked music, and on the weekends we would sit in his living room for hours listening to music from his collection of about 200 record albums. He would pull out an album, play a track, explain to me why a particular musician's part really shined, and pull out another album from a different band and have me compare the difference.
He was creating his "playlists" based on his musical knowledge and what he wanted to teach me about rhythm, harmony, and melody! It was an incredible experience! 😃
Mood is always a factor, on some level, when choosing music. 😎
Rock On! 🤘
Frank 🎸
That's awesome, Frank!! What a great experience for you!
You're right, he was creating a playlist before playlists were a thing!
Tim 🎼
Yup, Tim
I kept in touch with him and his wife over the years until they both passed away.
He wanted to play the guitar so badly but was afraid to give it a try. He said that he wanted to be one of the greats or nothing at all. I told him that it's not the way it works. Play for the joy of it and get as good as you can in the process.
He let me give him a few lessons but thought he really sucked. I kept telling him I played even worse than him in the beginning. Lol
Music appreciation was his true passion, which is a wonderful thing. 😎
Frank 🤘🎸
Yes I do agree with albums being a little long and extra but still worth the listen whenever I've got time. 👍😊
For the most part depending on the length of the album I would try to listen to at least 40 plus minutes of it before moving on to another. 😊
Myra ♥️
That's great, Myra!
Listening to a collected work in its entirety can really give you an idea of what the artist was trying to say. 😎
Frank 🤘🎸
Frank I am a big fan of the rat pack era, on those albums I can sit and listen for hours, as a matter of fact when I do my daily 5 mile walk, I take Frank, Dean, Sammy, Peter, Tony with me.(I think only the older group knows who I am talking about) Those songs and the live bands or orchestras are the best! That was music, it had heart, soul, and most of all it actually had meaning. I know a lot of people wouldn't agree with me on this. I guarantee any wedding reception you go to has the old songs in there on the dance floor.
I probably got off on the wrong tangent here.
Anyway, just my thoughts, great article!
Thanks, Mark
I love the Rat Pack era, too! I was brought up on all that fabulous music! The bands back then were much more skilled as musicians compared to the average bands that are popular today.
They could site read any music put in front of them and play it correctly the first time around. The radio shows were done live "on the air," with the bands in the room providing the singer's background music, so there was no room for error and no retakes or do-overs. Lol
Most of today's wedding receptions in the U.S.A. are done by DJs because a live band that can play a wide variety of music in the most popular genres costs a fortune!
Frank 🎸
See more comments
My cousin, who is in their early 20s, has a record player and records. LOL, I was like, what? I think they might be making a bit of a comeback :-)
I like the long ones 60 minutes, I have a ton of my grandfathers and his record player we gave him one year for Christmas. My mom and I used to play some, and I should get in there and see what I have :-)
I barely remember 8 tracks and 45's -)
Technology now is kinda cool; you don't have to buy a whole album or CD for ONE SONG YOU LIKE :-)
As always , awesome post :-)
Thanks, Kerri!
Yeah, playing vinyl on a record player is trending. It's a clever attempt to make people buy entire albums again instead of streaming single songs.
However, most of the albums you can buy today are just music that has been digitized (even from the old bands) and pressed on vinyl. So you are not getting pure analog sound. It's digitized, along with the pops, hisses, and other hassles of vinyl.
Compare the sound of a newly bought album to the old ones your grandfather has that are in decent shape, and you will hear what I'm talking about.
Rock On! 🤘
Frank 🎸