The increased addiction towards music makes us spend more time with songs. The songs are in various forms on distinct platforms. As a singer or a musician, you know the differences between Album and Extended Play. The album is a single product, and the Extended Play is a mini album.
Key Takeaways
- An album contains a collection of songs, lasting between 30-60 minutes, while an extended play (EP) has fewer tracks and a shorter runtime, under 30 minutes.
- Albums showcase a cohesive theme or narrative, whereas EPs serve as a preview or sampler for an artist’s work.
- EPs allow artists to experiment with new sounds and styles, offering a more cost-effective and less time-consuming option than producing a full-length album.
Album Vs Extended Play
An album or LP (long play) refers to a full-length body of work, which has a running time of approximately 35-60 minutes and features between 7-29 tracks; whereas an EP (Extended Play) refers to a half-length body of work which has a running time of roughly 15-22 mins (max 30 mins).
The album is a single product that has four to nine tracks with remixes and Dj music. The album is the dominant recorded form in mid centuries. The songs are recorded in the studio and released on tape, cd drive.
The album mixes distinct works. The tracks were recorded in different locations with myriad areas, and they together created the album.
The extended play is a mini album. EP is the short form of Extended Play. It has small tracks for up to 30 min of play. Bonus tracks are available on EP. The EP provides the advertisement for the product or the album before release.
The EP helps as a marketing tool to connect with fans before releasing the album. The Ep is not a single but quite lengthy than a single with up to four tracks. It reflects the quality of your album.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of comparison | Album | Extended Play |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The album has four to nine tracks With 30 mins play | The Extended Play is a mini album With fewer tracks |
| Number of songs | Double than EP | It has 3 to 6 songs |
| Duration | Minimum 30 mins | Maximum 30 mins |
| Cast | To showcase skills | For marketing purpose |
| Best selling | Michel Jackson’s-Thriller | Hard rock band’s-Ugly Kid Joe |
What is Album?
The album has a mixture of songs from a single artist. The album has recorded music in the studio or in distinct locations. It has six to nine songs and more than that. The songs uploaded on various platforms are categorized into albums or EPs to make the search easy.
At first, album records in mixed tape and Compact disc. In the 20th century, records were in the range of 78rpm, and it evolved to the range of 34rpm.
The albums have the power to entertain people in the mid-century. It is called the album era. The albums were first released in 8-track tape by vinyl records from 1965 to 1983.
After that, it gradually evolved into a cassette format from 1970 to 1980. In the decade 20, cassettes disappeared sharply. Keep your first song in the album as best of you. People always listen to the first of the album.
The creation of an album is a time-consuming process. The recordings are done in the studio, or some other places, and then sound effects and notes are added. The outcast sounds eliminated.
Analysis to increase the quality of the album. The lyrics are checked twice, and the sound effects with voice notes match. Releasing an album will develop the creditability of a musician.
Playing an album is experiencing your music or your talent. Make the correct time to release your album by engaging with your fans.
What is Extended Play?
The extended play is a mini album. In 1919, EP was first issued by Grey Gull Records. Making an album is not only time-consuming but also expensive. This reason makes the artist release EP.
An EP has fewer songs compared to a full-length album. In the 20th century, EP was called an Extended Play Record. It means a track with a length more than a single track but less than the album.
The Ep contains four to six songs. iTunes and Spotify categorize the track with four to six as EP. Depending on the purpose of making, you minimize the tracks of music.
If you prepare for a marketing purpose, then there is no need for more tracks. If you show off your skills, then you must play some decent songs. The idea behind EP is to engage the fans.
So it is not much short that they don’t get the feel of the album. The EP is to taste the album a little before release.
The EP helps to grab the attention of your music in the competition of creators. While creating the Extended Play, it is vital to make your fans feel the album as it is.
Showcasing your vocal expertise and music notes, Ep is perfect. Many online sources like Band Camp, SoundCloud, and Reverb Nation will release your independent EP online. The title of your EP is vital in the release. If you don’t mark any title, iTunes add on itself.
Main Differences Between Album and Extended Play
- The album is a long-length track, but Extended play is a mini-album.
- The album needs more time to release, but the Extended play needs a short time to compose.
- The album is the whole track of the songs, but the Extended play is a glimpse of your album.
- In 1910, the album was introduced, and In 1919, the extended play was introduced.
- The album has four to nine songs, and the extended play has three to six tracks.
- The album is to showcase the skills, and extended play is for marketing and engaging the fans.
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=t9eocwUfoSoC&oi=fnd&pg=PA40&dq=album+vs+ep&ots=BlJpth_ST-&sig=GrqvjJqViACp89xCXYqxOgK9RBw
- https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/purcc/2016/events/22/
Last Updated : 11 August, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
This is a very interesting and informative article! I appreciate the detailed information about the differences between an album and an extended play.
As a musician myself, I found the insight into the purpose of extended plays and how they serve as a marketing tool very valuable. It’s great to see the different perspectives about these musical formats.
The historical background provided for extended plays was particularly intriguing. It’s amazing to think how technology and preferences have shaped the music industry.
The information about the first issue of an extended play record in 1919 was a fun fact that I hadn’t encountered before. It’s always great to learn something new!
I found the comparison table particularly useful in understanding the key differences between albums and extended plays. It really puts things into perspective.
I appreciated the emphasis on the purpose of extended plays and how they add value to the music industry. The historical context was also fascinating to read about.
The historical context provided about the development and evolution of albums and extended plays was enlightening. It’s fascinating to see how things have changed over time.
I am amazed by the attention to detail in discussing the album creation process. It truly is a labor of love to bring an album to life.
The insights into the recording process for albums and the decision-making factors behind creating an extended play were very valuable. It’s clear that a lot of thought goes into these musical endeavors.
This article provided a comprehensive understanding of albums and extended plays. It really broadened my perspective on the intricacies of music production and release.