Particularly with the advent of Compact Discs, albums are sometimes released with a bonus disc featuring additional material that is usually not part of the main album (such as live tracks, studio out-takes, cut songs, or older unreleased material). These may or may not be considered double albums by different people, and depending on the content of the bonus disc. A new innovation is the accompaniment of a CD with a DVD of related material, such as video related to the album or DVD-Audio versions of the same recordings. These could be regarded as a new form of double album; some such discs are also released on as a two-sided format calledDualDisc.
The same principles apply to the triple album, which is comprised of three units. Packages with more units than three are usually labeled as boxed sets.
The double album has become less common since the decline of the vinyl LP and the advent of Compact Discs. A single LP had two sides, each of which had a capacity of approximately 22 minutes, for a 45 minute maximum per record. (An "extended play" record format was developed to allow approximately 26 minutes per side, but for various reasons, it was not commonly used.) A single CD has a capacity of either 74 or 80 minutes, depending on the format; thus, many old double-LP albums have been re-released on a single CD. However, other double-LP albums are re-released as double-CD albums, either because they are too large even for a CD, or simply to retain the feeling or continuity of the original. Examples include The Beatles' White Album and their compilation albums 1962–1966 and 1967–1970 (the former being only 63 minutes, and the later being almost 100).
There are also double-LP albums, such as Mike Oldfield's Incantations and Chick Corea's My Spanish Heart, for which some some tracks were left off of or shortened for a single 74-minute CD release, though both were later re-released in their entirety when 80-minute CDs were developed.
Though the average album length has increased since the days of LPs, it remains rare for an artist to produce more than 80 minutes of studio material for one album. Thus, the double album format is now more commonly used for several formats other than studio albums. Live albums which either present all or most of a single concert, or material from several concerts are commonly released on multiple CDs. Compilations such as greatest hits records can often comprise double albums. Soundtracks and scores are also commonly released on two CDs; particulary soundtracks to musicals, which typically last longer than 80 minutes, are commonly released in their entirety as double albums, occasionally offering a second single-disc version featuring the most notable songs. The double album format is also frequently used for concept albums.
The double album is not entirely obselete when it comes to studio albums, however. Some artists still occasionally produce a large enough quantity of material to justify a double album. For example, Barenaked Ladies recorded 29 songs (initially intending more than 30) for their first original album following the completion of their contract with Reprise Records, including several songs that were cut from past albums under that contract. Without needing to get a label's approval, they were able to release a 25-track "deluxe edition" double album Barenaked Ladies Are Me, as well as releasing the album as two separate single albums, as well as a variety of other formats. Nellie McKay reportedly fought with her label to get her debut album, Get Away from Me released as a double album, even though the material would have fit on a single disc. She has been said to be the first female artist to have a double album as a debut.
On the other hand, double albums are often seen as self indulgent and bloated, containing "filler" tracks or old studio out-takes which would not usually be considered of a high enough standard to appear on a single album. In many instances, double albums come at a time in a band's career when they have achieved much success and possibly believe that fans will buy anything they produce.
Particularly with the advent of Compact Discs, albums are sometimes released with a bonus disc featuring additional material that is usually not part of the main album (such as live tracks, studio out-takes, cut songs, or older unreleased material). These may or may not be considered double albums by different people, and depending on the content of the bonus disc. A new innovation is the accompaniment of a CD with a DVD of related material, such as video related to the album or DVD-Audio versions of the same recordings. These could be regarded as a new form of double album; some such discs are also released on as a two-sided format calledDualDisc.
The same principles apply to the triple album, which is comprised of three units. Packages with more units than three are usually labeled as boxed sets.
The double album has become less common since the decline of the vinyl LP and the advent of Compact Discs. A single LP had two sides, each of which had a capacity of approximately 22 minutes, for a 45 minute maximum per record. (An "extended play" record format was developed to allow approximately 26 minutes per side, but for various reasons, it was not commonly used.) A single CD has a capacity of either 74 or 80 minutes, depending on the format; thus, many old double-LP albums have been re-released on a single CD. However, other double-LP albums are re-released as double-CD albums, either because they are too large even for a CD, or simply to retain the feeling or continuity of the original. Examples include The Beatles' White Album and their compilation albums 1962–1966 and 1967–1970 (the former being only 63 minutes, and the later being almost 100).
There are also double-LP albums, such as Mike Oldfield's Incantations and Chick Corea's My Spanish Heart, for which some some tracks were left off of or shortened for a single 74-minute CD release, though both were later re-released in their entirety when 80-minute CDs were developed.
Though the average album length has increased since the days of LPs, it remains rare for an artist to produce more than 80 minutes of studio material for one album. Thus, the double album format is now more commonly used for several formats other than studio albums. Live albums which either present all or most of a single concert, or material from several concerts are commonly released on multiple CDs. Compilations such as greatest hits records can often comprise double albums. Soundtracks and scores are also commonly released on two CDs; particulary soundtracks to musicals, which typically last longer than 80 minutes, are commonly released in their entirety as double albums, occasionally offering a second single-disc version featuring the most notable songs. The double album format is also frequently used for concept albums.
The double album is not entirely obselete when it comes to studio albums, however. Some artists still occasionally produce a large enough quantity of material to justify a double album. For example, Barenaked Ladies recorded 29 songs (initially intending more than 30) for their first original album following the completion of their contract with Reprise Records, including several songs that were cut from past albums under that contract. Without needing to get a label's approval, they were able to release a 25-track "deluxe edition" double album Barenaked Ladies Are Me, as well as releasing the album as two separate single albums, as well as a variety of other formats. Nellie McKay reportedly fought with her label to get her debut album, Get Away from Me released as a double album, even though the material would have fit on a single disc. She has been said to be the first female artist to have a double album as a debut.
On the other hand, double albums are often seen as self indulgent and bloated, containing "filler" tracks or old studio out-takes which would not usually be considered of a high enough standard to appear on a single album. In many instances, double albums come at a time in a band's career when they have achieved much success and possibly believe that fans will buy anything they produce.
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