For example The Unthanks new “product” – how do you refer to it when you are talking about it?
I tend to use the word “album”, cos I’m such a 1971 kind of guy, although in reality usually I’ve bought a CD. If I’ve downloaded the – er, product (in which case it’s not a CD) then “album” seems to also cover the digital experience.
I have a friend in NZ who is a music journalist (of my vintage although a bit younger) who ALWAYS uses the word “record”, which I love.
What’s your preferred nomenclature, and why?
I’m you there. Album, even though I’m invariably listening on Spotify.
And then song or perhaps track for an individual item.
Old habits die hard. It’d be interesting to hear the terminology used by 20 year olds.
Album for me too. And track for individual songs.
I had to explain about vinyl to my 8 year old daughter a few weeks ago and I don’t think she quite believed that that was how music used to be listened to….
Whaddaya mean ‘used to be’?
Album.
I use all of them to be honest, and LP, EP and single but the default generic terms are album and track.
There’s a Fabs performance where they address this – LP – album? or summat like that. Couldn’t find it on a quick look at YouTube but I’m sure someone can find it…
CD – it`s album.
Vinyl – then it`s LP
Download – er, it`s that crap I couldn`t be bothered shelling out any cash for.
LP. To distinguish it from an EP which although an abbreviation of Extended Play is in some senses a shorter Long Play. There are of course 45 revolutions per minute discs. Some fellows I heard on the Light Programme called them Singles. Which to my mind should only be used in the confines of the Lawn Tennis Association to delineate the truest tussle in tennis that between a man and a man applying only their muscular talents to best the other. I understand some ladies are now playing the game too. Much to be deplored but redolent of our modern ways.
Growing up with records it was easy – 12″ 33rpm were LPs, 7″ 45rpm were either singles or EPs depending on number of tracks. Then it got a bit tricksy with ‘maxi’ singles – usually 3 tracks, sometimes to be played at 33rpm, but we coped.
Tape versions appeared in the 60s on reel to reel, but few bothered, so I won’t delay us here, but pre-recorded cassette tape arrived, which they tried to call ‘musicassettes’ but no-one else did, and I seem to think that the American term ‘album’ became more generally used in the early 70s (it just seemed somehow cooler for the serious rock fan) and this conveniently avoided the association with the format – the LP is always on ‘vinyl’, isn’t it?
Enter the CD – I guess that then became the default ‘album’ format…? Mp3s aren’t real, so obviously they don’t count. I personally bridle at the term ‘on vinyl’ , and stick with talking about buying a ‘record’, which is where I came in….!
Album. Track. Occasionally “What the hell is this crap?”.
Album. “Product” sounds like poo. Which if it’s a Justin Beiber album is probably fair enuff.
A guy I was at school with used to refer to “the 3rd record on side 1” …
“I just bought a bunch of CDs, and an LP.” (Still products)
“I love the new album by Amason.” (Getting personal now)
But in Swedish I say “platta” on every occasion. Which is very old school (and probably very Stockholm) and very few young people will immediately understand what I’m talking about…
Wot, no ‘sides’ on a ‘platter’? Blinkin’ youth of today…
Another interesting change is that from ‘group’ to ‘band’. Not sure when and on what basis the transition happened, but I much prefer the former term.
Album and tracks.
It always surprises me when Jools Holland talks to a guest and says they have got a new record out and holds up a copy of their new CD. My default is record, but if I am talking to someone who I know won’t understand what I’m on about then I do use album or CD.
They are all records to me, whether black plastic, silvery plastic or nothing tangible at all. Tapes were always tapes, but I binned them years ago.