The Golden Rule for deciding whether to buy the album when you hear the single
I’ve been meaning to write this one up for ages. Anyway, here it is.
You hear a single on the radio, the first one off a new album (probably by an artist you’ve not heard or heard of), and think “Wow! That’s fantastic! This band is incredible! Must get the album!”
You get to the shop (real or online) and there’s the album, all cute, and it’s got that single on.
Now pause. Here’s the Golden Rule:
If the first single is the first track, the album is a dud.
The corollary: if the first single is not the first track, the album is great.
Few albums have broken this rule. Off the top of my head: Nirvana’s Nevermind. Garbage’s first album. Umm.. sure you’ll have some more. In general, though, it’s a rock. There are zillions more confirming examples than confounding ones.
This is why I’ve held back from getting Gwen Stefani’s Love Angel Music Baby. The first single (”What You Waiting For”) is a storming track, but it’s the first in the track listing. The second single (”Rich Girl”) was the second track, and was very so-so. The third track is the third single and sounds OK.
But in general, that’s how this works.
- These posts might be related (the database thinks..):
- A slightly different Apple tale: of Fiona, and her unreleased third album (11 April 2005; score: 70.68%)
- Best and worst value on the iTunes Music Store (3 August 2004; score: 51.77%)
- Don't worry, blondes aren't going away; and the paucity of hit records (28 February 2006; score: 47.16%)
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May 26th, 2005 at 1:59 pm
On the Doors’ first album, their only really good one, the first track is “Break On Through”, their best and first single.
The first track on Booker T’s brilliant “Green Onions” album is their first and best single, “Green Onions”.
In general, however, I think you’re right.
May 26th, 2005 at 2:13 pm
Actually, Dave, you’re proving my point - how many others of Booker T’s stuff do you hear *apart* from Green Onions? Whereas I’ll bet that, say, “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” wasn’t the first track on, um, forgotten who sang it.
The Doors album.. um. I’ve never been keen on the Doors, but I think many people would disagree about which was better..