5 reasons why you should record an album (in 2022)

Many music artists are asking themselves the same question nowadays when it comes to releasing their music … is it better to release various singles or record a full album? If you ask the marketing and social media gurus they will tell you to release singles because it keeps you in the mind of the fans, keeps you busy posting about the latest release, etc. Of course their focus is marketing and numbers whereas your focus is going to be your music. What the marketing folks don’t consider in fact (they deal with already created works, not the creative process), is how this decision influences your artistic output, how you develop your sound, your musical voice. My contention is that one track at a time is too fractured, too haphazard to really allow you to create the best that you can give musically.

1 ‘Single’ Yourself Out

Releasing an album could also be considered swimming a bit upstream in the current streaming-centric world. Taking a stand and creating a real statement. It can also be a huge motivation as an artist to see such a work taking shape and finally becoming a reality and getting it out into the world. If you haven’t released an album yet, it could be considered a right of passage. If you have, then you should think back to that “album-finished“ moment and all that it brought you.

2 Great Albums

When we think back to some of the great albums released over the years such as Sargent Peppers, Nevermind, .. insert your favorite album here… do you really think that if they had finished each song individually, then released it and started the next one, that they would have sounded the same? I would say that is very unlikely. There would be changes in influences, distractions and a general loss of focus.

If we listen to any of the accounts of how these great albums were forged, there are many stories about how one song’s final production influenced other songs as they were all being arranged and mixed during the album making process, very often with the same production team and in the same location.

3 Production, Production

One of the key things that will become clear when making an album is the value of good production. Taking decisions about arrangements, getting songs to balance and flow through the album. It becomes more than just finding cool sounds for the intro - although there is that too :-) Figuring out which songs to include, the order, which song is the opener, which is the closer. These things all play a part in making the album a pleasure to listen through for your fans. By making an album you will be taking these production decisions that would many times not have even been a consideration if you released song by song.

4 Take it Slow

Have you found yourself trying to always get the maximum energy and impact into any singles you have released? Looking to hold people’s attention in the playlist world? In that scenario you won’t really want to give full attention to some of your more downbeat, slower songs. You are doing them and yourself a disservice. Having a mix of good, well arranged slow songs to balance out a live set is key to fan enjoyment and shows a different side of you as a songwriter and musician/band. Can you hold attention to a message?

5 Take It On Tour

Another advantage of releasing an album is that you can take it on tour. You can put together a show that represents the album and refine that show and make it something special. An album is the ultimate set list for a live show. Flowing from song to song in the same order as the album will become second nature and you won’t have those nervous glances at the set list taped to the floor as the guitar player struggles to get the effects pedals set up for the next track.

As a bonus, if you have the budget for CD’s or vinyl, you can even have hard copies to sell at your gigs. I bet that having people head home with your CD/vinyl in their hands will feel a little bit more powerful as a fan experience than sending fans off to stream the new song of the month.

Decision Time

So, why not make a list of the 10-or-so songs that you have kicking around (I know I have way too many of those :-) ) and start working up an arrangement and sonic picture that makes a coherent statement. With the proper preparation (at home or in rehearsals) and some clever planning, you would be surprised at just how good a recording you can get for your album.

Let me know in comments below if you are making an album now or plan to. I would love to know how you are approaching it.

Terry Doyle is a Music Producer and house engineer at Soundcaster Studios and musical artist PlaneDrifter