The Songwriter Forum - songwriting reviews, tips and chat
Songwriter Forum => The Bar => Topic started by: Wicked Deeds on November 30, 2018, 10:30:35 AM
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My second album is awaiting artwork and a release date. It has prompted me to ask the question why are we making albums. I do so because I don't wish the songs to be lost forever. I hope that my children will cherish the songs and pass them on to their children. I didn't promote my first album at all and believe that I only sold one copy (Star buyer - you know who you are. Kudos my friend.) Selling the album was never something that I expected to do. I simply write because I love to do so and it has been a huge part of my life. So, back to my original thoughts. Why are we making albums? I'd love to hear your reasons.
Paul
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Exactly the same as you @Wicked Deeds (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=19231) :)
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@pompeyjazz (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20269)
Mr Pompey,
I might add that the number of tracks on my latest album grows daily. I think I have compiled the definitive number of tracks then I unearth new/old songs which I have mastered and then find I have a pleasant but unfathomable problem of what to include and what to omit. The track count is now in excess of 20 songs. I wonder if I should go for a double album. I guess the tracks would have to go on 2 CD's. Am I right? By the way, could you send a copy of 'Lost' to me as a WAV file without any mastering additions. and also one that you have finalised. ;-)
Paul
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My dad was a journalist and a PR guy by trade - he described himself as a wordsmith. When he was in his early 80s I asked him to write his autobiography, because one way or another, he'd had an interesting and varied life and I wanted a record for me and my kids, who adored him. And also, because he was a writer by trade, I thought he could pull it off. Anyway, he did so and produced maybe 20 copies for the family. Dad went on to live until he was 93, but those books are all in the family now, and copies will be passed on through future generations, I hope.
So that is a big influence for me, and a major reason why I am doing it. I have Boydie onside for his mixing and mastering skills, because I want what I am doing now to represent the pinnacle of what I am capable of musically, to be presented in the best possible way, and ultimately, to be some sort of legacy for my family. Put it this way, I'll never write a book!
I aim to produce a CD, and actually I'd like to look at short run vinyl too, although that might be prohibitively expensive, I haven't looked into it yet.
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@Bill Saunders (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=18525), a great story about your Dad. My Grandfather passed away a couple of months before I was born. If someone said to me "Hey Paul, here's a record or book about your Grandfather, it contains his most intimate thoughts and feelings" then I would cherish that item. I would read or listen with such enthusiasm.
Make your album soon my friend!
Paul
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We've nine songs totally completed now. Like you, I have to decide how many more to include. I only want the best ones. Also, especially with the type of music I listen to, bands are making longer and longer albums. In my case, I love a 40 to 45 minute album, but it's not uncommon for albums to be 70 minutes plus. My attention spam for a purely listening experience is 45 tops. But that assumes that someone is going to sit down and play the lot, uninterrupted from start to finish. Perhaps a double album which invites "dipping into" is the way to go - double sided gatefold vinyl release - how can I resist that! All these things are possibilities once you free yourself of having any ambitions of selling the thing.
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@Bill Saunders (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=18525) That's a wonderful story. Worth writing a song about. It's great that you are making an album or should I say your first album :)
@Wicked Deeds (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=19231) Paul, A standard CD will take approx 66 minutes of Music. I managed to fit 19 tracks on my first album. Purists will say that 12 tracks is probably the right number but at the end of the day it's up to you. I stuck to 12 or 13 tracks for my next 3 albums. I did sell around 50 copies of my first album, mainly the physical CD but substantially less for the next 3 even though they are available on a pay what you want basis on Bandcamp. I'll send you the copies of "Lost later :)
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We've been working on our first album for long enough that now we have enough music for two. Haha.
It started as a way to commemorate Dave and my first 25 years together. The plan is for vinyl, because maybe we're a little eccentric. :o I admit, I initially had aspirations of being discovered. Haha. That quickly went away when I realized even when that happens, being a rock star is not all it's cracked up to be. My friend, who has helped us record some songs, was signed by and made three albums with SubPop, and now occasionally drives for Uber to supplement his income as a sound engineer, and he's way more talented and determined than I'll ever be. I think being signed to a big label was maybe a little disappointing in retrospect, although he's never said that.
It's now over two years later, we found Keith, and we're working on the second album with him, which we may print before the first, if not simultaneously. I've been saying this for a long time, but I think it's actually coming soon. And I have an order already! I expect that might be the only one, if he doesn't balk at the price (which I'll understand). Haha. But what it comes down to is we do this for fun and to express ourselves. Is there anything better than writing and recording? Not for me. I love it. I love our songs, playing guitar, and singing. I love the guys I play with so much. I love sharing everything with you, who are so generous and kind, to listen and comment constructively. The albums will be a physical memory of all these good things. I'm really lucky.
Lynn
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I am still making albums, but doing it a song at a time. Kinda blending the two opposing forces.
Details here:
(http://board.theannextm.com/uploads/monthly_2018_11/1270282011_1x1PressReleaseREDACTED.thumb.jpg.ad1c90beecf773269a08fdf3bbc7702f.jpg)
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We've nine songs totally completed now. Like you, I have to decide how many more to include. I only want the best ones. Also, especially with the type of music I listen to, bands are making longer and longer albums. In my case, I love a 40 to 45 minute album, but it's not uncommon for albums to be 70 minutes plus. My attention spam for a purely listening experience is 45 tops. But that assumes that someone is going to sit down and play the lot, uninterrupted from start to finish. Perhaps a double album which invites "dipping into" is the way to go - double sided gatefold vinyl release - how can I resist that! All these things are possibilities once you free yourself of having any ambitions of selling the thing.
Yes! Not worrying about having to sell them is very freeing.
I have found a company here in the US that presses vinyl and prints a full color cover and label on demand per order, no upfront costs. They then sell it on their website for $35 per copy, which the artist gets $5 of. We're about to give them a try. I'll let you know how it works out. They will also press a single record for $50, or you can buy 10 for $32 each and sell them yourself. I'm not sure they do anything fancy like a gatefold cover, and the lps are limited to 18 minutes per side, so it may not be what you're looking for. I researched what you're wanting myself, and it would have cost several thousand dollars for 100 copies. If money is no object, and it brings you joy, you should do it. There are worse ways to spend money than fulfilling your dream.
Lynn
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@pompeyjazz (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20269)
Thanks for the files. Potentially another song to add to my joyful problem/headache. Check your drop box. I've returned a new master to you.
Thanks
Paul
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Having given this some thought...and on a purely personal level, I have to say that I have no idea...it's probably just vanity...and because it's now possible...whereas previously, it wasn't.
I can't even begin to say why I write songs...I think it's just an itch I have to scratch...I wouldn't say that it's fun for me and I spend half of my time thinking that I'm just wasting the other half of that time :P
But every now and again, I'll hear one of my songs, and find it hard to believe that I managed to do that.
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But every now and again, I'll hear one of my songs, and find it hard to believe that I managed to do that.
It's a great feeling.
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Some great stories here. I've been working on a debut album for some time and the beta version which we keep iterating is available on our SoundCloud page. I keep falling in and out of love with it. The last remaining song to complete it (Chimpanzee no 65) is proving a massive pain to finish. Hence the reason why I've not published anything here recently.
I think it's great that we live in a time where publishing an album is relatively easy. Ive got Pompey's album soup downloaded on my Spotify. The challenge is delivering something that others genuinely get pleasure from listening to!
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I shall look forward to listening to the completed album @mickyplankton (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20769)
Incidentally, I've just signed up to a course at the local college in the new year "How to make money from your music" Not that I have any delusions on that front but if there are any quick tips on how to make your first million I'll share them here first ;D ;D
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The challenge is delivering something that others genuinely get pleasure from listening to!
That’s a great ambition @mickyplankton (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20769) but if nothing else, make sure you enjoy it! As the sadly departed Pete Shelley said, (words to the effect)...we do it because we love it, you’d do nothing if you spent all your time worrying about what others thought about your music.
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Yes, there are some great stories here. Good luck to all who have aalready and those who intend to present new albums. :-)
I'm going to postpone my new album for a little while. It was originally scheduled for release in the early part of 2019. I mastered so many songs that there are now enough for three 10 track albums but......
Something happened unexpectedly and a fourt album came along that has now been mastered. The artwork has been completed and very soon, it will be unveiled. I have decided to invest a little time in promoting this new (joint) album as I don't want it to disappear without promotion. Hopefully, the details of the new project will be shared soon.
Paul
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I guess the thing used to be...
1. Hear a song on the radio.
2. Buy the single
3. Buy the album when it came out
4. Go and see them live on tour, they'd play songs from the next album
repeat...
Now music is so easy to obtain and hear, I think the Album is now a container for a bunch of songs , thats all, with SC and other sites acting like a record shop.
How many of you would pay 99p for one of my songs?
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How many of you would pay 99p for one of my songs?
I would! Is your music for sale anywhere?
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Hi,
Nooms and I did our EP recently and for me it was partly to see how you can produce and complete a project, get it finished and published on CD and digital distribution. And it was partly the joy of giving friends and family the gift they never knew they wanted. Or as PaulAds, said ego.
I am planning to do a properly produced studio LP sometime in the future and recognise it’s a vanity project and nor cheap - once my vocals pass muster. Why? Because I can, and I want to be proud of my simgs so again vanity. I’m not sure my family, who endure and have become immune to my prolific output are too bothered. I’m sure over time wicked’s legacy point will resonate.
:-)
Neil
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I have no plans to make an album so you can all rest easy and breath a sigh of relief..LOL ;D
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How many of you would pay 99p for one of my songs?
I would! Is your music for sale anywhere?
Vicki, goodness, that's really kind of you, I've got a dormant Bandcamp account so I'll put a few up there for sale and see what happens, which one would you like ? I'll send it to you.
Rich
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How many of you would pay 99p for one of my songs?
I would! Is your music for sale anywhere?
Did you release your album Vicki? if you did how's it faring?
Rich
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How many of you would pay 99p for one of my songs?
I would! Is your music for sale anywhere?
Did you release your album Vicki? if you did how's it faring?
Rich
I did, Rich! Depending on what all I consider production costs, I sold enough so far to cover maybe a quarter of what it cost. :D I will take the CDs with me whenever I go anywhere, especially when I'm performing, so I'll sell a few more. So far I have 8 digital sales and 14 physical CD sales. I'm singing at a Christmas party on Saturday, so maybe a couple more will go then.
I have an EP in process at the moment, but it'll probably just be digital, which will save a lot of up front expenses. I wish I could "print" CDs on demand.
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I have never made an album. Years ago I was in a band and we did an EP.
I do want to make an album of some of my more recent songs. I hope to accomplish it in 2019. It will be a very modest undertaking, home recorded and produced, home made artwork.
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Go for it @mikek (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20884) A lot of guys on here and elsewhere do it that way and why the hell not. If you need any help or advice this is the right place to be for sure :)
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@Wicked Deeds (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=22987) This is a really good question.
For me, I think part of the reason is that it is something I have never done on my own (I have released band albums but they're not the same).
In life, I like to push myself and set challenges. When I was a kid, it was to represent my country at table tennis, which I achieved at the age of 14.
Let later it was to release a CD with my band. I quit music at 40 and started playing table tennis again, so I set myself a challenge to get good enough to play for Yorkshire, which I did 2 years later.
Now, at the age of 50 my challenge was to write, arrange, record and release an album all on my own, and I did that too.
I get a sense of satisfaction achieving difficult things. And when people say nice things about the music, that's the icing on the cake :)
And I think the reason I keep on with this now is because it is extremely enjoyable.
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@Nick Ryder (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=23004), I never did release that 2nd album. I did however write another 11 albums and stored them away on memory sticks and hard drives. Maybe it's an addiction 🥴
Paul
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Interesting reading through this. :)
I make albums because it's the only way I've ever written music. They make little snapshots of where I am both as a musician and as a person. I also try to make them cohesive wholes - with some factor that joins the album together - be that overtly like Neo Shrimp's story of more thematic like Only Hot Air Will Save Us. I view them as well as reflections of me: also as pieces of art that express something. Some are more political, some creative, some reflective or any mix and more. I would lose a large part of who I am as a musician without the album being my main method of delivering my voice. I know no one has or will listened to the full 4 hrs but until someone does, I only take criticism of a song so far: as without that songs context, I don't feel it has been properly heard. All my songs are 'album songs' - I write nothing with the idea of 'Hit' or 'single' in mind. Of course, without the 'album', I may also find a new part of myself as an artist by ditching albums, but at this moment, that's not yet happened.
All the best,
CCB
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I'm working on my 4th album. I give them away. I'm not at an age where I'm trying to build a career out of songwriting and I don't want/need the hassle of marketing. Writing and recording songs is a labour of love for me. I think that working on an album gives me something to focus on. I tried selling my first album on Bandcamp as a charity venture. I set myself a very modest target which I hit but, to be honest, it was way too much work trying to get enough people to shell out. I now have my albums hosted on Site123. I don't think many people actually listen to the whole albums, but they can listen to individual tracks. I reckon I get more plays on Soundcloud, thanks in no small part to the songwriters forums. My philosophy being that getting 50+ listens on SC and the likes is better than playing live to half a dozen p*** artists in some run down pub! :)
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I find lyrical inspiration easier when Im thinking about things in the context of an album - like sometimes I'll write one song about a particular theme, and then it'll trigger ideas for other songs, and it becomes easier to think of what to write about -- which is something I otherwise often struggle with - ie getting that initial idea of what a song is going to be about can be really difficult for me sometimes. But I guess the bigger reason I always tend to end up writing albums rather than just one off songs, is that it gives me way more satisfaction when its done, which comes from the fact that all my favourite bands from my youth were really 'album bands'..
18 months ago I had an experience with trying ayahuasca (not to give the wrong impression - I hadn't really done anything like that before), and in the same week holiday I got into a relationship with my current partner - she had previously been a friend of mine for a few years but we realised in that week it was something more... So it was a huge week which led to the inspiration for the second 'proper' album I've made called 'Doubts, Miracles, Temptations' (DMT for short :)) . Which was fully inspired by those two events that came from that one week. It's so nice to have a piece of work that marks out that little time in my life!
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My second album is awaiting artwork and a release date. It has prompted me to ask the question why are we making albums. I do so because I don't wish the songs to be lost forever. I hope that my children will cherish the songs and pass them on to their children. I didn't promote my first album at all and believe that I only sold one copy (Star buyer - you know who you are. Kudos my friend.) Selling the album was never something that I expected to do. I simply write because I love to do so and it has been a huge part of my life. So, back to my original thoughts. Why are we making albums? I'd love to hear your reasons.
Paul
Good question.
I like it, working on this craft.
Sometimes, (not always) I'm competing with myself.
If the present me proves better than the past me, I'm 'appy.
I prefer albums over single tracks. I like stories.
It's satisfying when others appreciate what I do,
but all things considered, I'm not really interested in commercial success.
Another reason. It seems I've always done it.
Among other things, it's part of the path I take to find my equilibrium.
All the best!