J-pop Glossary Entry 2: Album

25 July 2006

Mini Album
A mini album is a CD release that contains a small collection of songs. Under oricon standard, CD with more than 5 songs will be classified as a mini album. The maximum number of songs allows on a mini album is 8 and those with more than 8 songs included will be classified by oricon as a full album.

There are 2 types of mini album.

The first resemble an extended single, containing 5 to 8 brand new materials or alternative version of previously released songs. This content format would usually feature an A-side, several B-sides, remix and instrumental for the included songs. Songs in this type of mini album are usually included in the next original album. Examples of this mini album format includes MISIA's "The Glory Day" and Nakashima Mika's "RESISTANCE" & "朧月夜~祈り").

The other content format is a true blue miniature original album. It may either contain 5 to 8 brand new songs (e.g. Aikawa Nanase's "The Last Quarter" and dream's "ナツイロ" & "Boy meets Girl"), or it may contain recent singles released prior to this mini album plus a few new songs (e.g. Aikawa Nanase's "THE FIRST QUARTER" and Hamasaki Ayumi's "Memorial address"). This content format is very widely used for the first album of many new artists, due to its lower production cost (e.g. ZONE's "Z").

Original Album
An original album is a CD release that contains a collection of new songs, including recent singles released prior to this album.

Under oricon standard, the minimum number of songs for eligibility as an original album is 9. Therefore, original album with less than 9 songs included will be classified by oricon as a mini album. The maximum number of songs allowable depends on the maximum playtime, which is 80min for CD. An original album would usually have 12 to 16 songs.

Content format for original album varies among different artist and record label. Generally, an original album will contain all single A-sides, which typically range from 3 to 5 A-sides. Although usually only A-sides will be included in original album, some outstanding or popular B-sides will also be included (e.g. SPEED's "熱帯夜", MAX's "I will" & Yaida Hitomi's "Life's like a love song"). Besides the single A-sides, an original album would also usually contain 1 or 2 lead songs (e.g. SPEED's "Carry On my way", Hamasaki Ayumi's "A Song for ××" & Utada Hikaru's "Deep River") that might have a promotion video (PV). Album lead songs are utilized for radio airplay and appear in the album TV-CM. Occasionally, previously released single materials are included as album version for compatibility in relation to the overall concept (e.g. MAX's "恋するヴェルファーレダンス ~ Saturday Night~ (HYPER J-EURO MIX)" & SPEED's "Wake Me Up! (RISE Mix)"), improvement (e.g. Nakashima Mika's "RESISTANCE (album version)") or marketability (e.g. Hamasaki Ayumi's "appears "Album Version"").

There is no limitation to the amount of previously released single materials an original album can contain. However, it is becoming quite common for original album to feature only 1 advance single, simultaneous single, recut single, or even without any single release. An album that contain only or extensively previously released single materials will be classified as a best album.

Original album would usually list bonus track as a first press limited release premium. Bonus track can be a new song that is of a style atypical of the artist (e.g. Koda Kumi's "キューティハニー"), a new song that do not fit the concept of the album, remix (Amuro Namie's " SO CRAZY (MAD BEAR MIX)") or alternative version of previously released songs (e.g. hitomi's "君のとなり (thermo plastic version)").

Original album would also include secret track that is not credited on the tracklisting. Like bonus track, secret track can be a song that is of a style atypical of the artist (e.g. hiro's "花"), a new song that do not fit the concept of the album (e.g. Hamasaki Ayumi's "kanariya" & Every Little Thing's "Sleepy time dog"), remix or alternative version of previously released songs. Secret track are also included for extra hype (e.g. Amuro Namie's "No (part 2)") or as a gift from the artist (e.g. Hamasaki Ayumi's "flower garden" & Every Little Thing's "Free Walkin'"). As the secret track is not credited on the tracklisting, the title and other details of the song will only be available through official media releases or future re-release of this song. Usually, secret track will be cut into a recut single as a response to feedback or new tie-up involved.

Remix Album
Remix album is a collection of remix on previously released song. However in rare circumstances, there is remix of new song being included as a preview (e.g. Hamasaki Ayumi's "Far away "HΛL'S MIX 2000"" in "ayu-mi-x II version Non-Stop Mega Mix") or exclusively on a remix album. For most instances, remix album is released after an original album, in which the remix is based on (e.g. Hamasaki Ayumi's "ayu-mi-x II is based on songs included in her 2nd album "LOVEppears"). The remix can be a new remix product or an inclusion from previously released single. Remix album typically comes with a theme on specific genres spanning from acoustic orchestra to club remix and is either available in separate track format or as a non-stop mega mix.

Remix album with less than 5 songs included will be classified as a remix single. The maximum number of songs allowable depends on the maximum playtime, which is 80min for CD. It is very common for remix album to span across 2 or more CDs.

Unlike original album, merits of remix album are focus on the remixer who did most of the job revamping the songs rather than the artist who makes none or little new contributions. Usually, remix album does not sell very well because it is dedicated to a niche market.

Live Album
A live album contains live recording of a live concert. Do note that an album consisting entirely of live studio recording on new songs will be classified as an original album instead of live album. Songs included in a live album would normally features an arrangement very different from the original version.

The minimum number of songs for eligibility as a live album is 5, while the maximum number of songs allowable depends on the maximum playtime, which is 80min for CD. It is very common for live album to span across 2 or more CDs.

Live album would usually sell worse than a remix album due to its inferior sound quality and unwanted noise recorded.

Best Album
A best album is a CD release that contains a collection of previously released songs, which are usually popular hits of the artist. Best album would usually contain 1 or a few new songs. A best album would usually have 12 to 16 songs and it is very common for best album to span across 2 or more CDs.

Content format for best album varies among different artist and record label. Generally, best album can be categorised under 2 content formats. The first typical content format is a 'Single Collection' that contains all A-sides released within the specified time period. Some best album from this typical content format might also include a few outstanding or popular B-sides, original album lead songs or other songs released within that specified time period. The other typical content format is a 'Best Selection' that would contain popular hits of a specific theme, concept or genre. As best album comprise extensively of previously released single materials, some of the songs are included as new version for overall compatibility, improvement or marketability.

There is no limitation to the amount of previously released single A-sides a best album can contain. However, if a best album contains only or extensively B-sides, it will be commonly referred to as an urabest album. Similarly, a best album that contains only ballads will be termed as a ballad best album.

An urabest album is a sub-category of best album. An urabest album is a best album that contains exclusively or extensively B-sides. Besides B-sides, an urabest album might also include previously unreleased song, indies releases and even demo. Urabest album is dedicated to a niche market as B-sides are usually songs that are not as popular. However, it is not exactly true that B-sides are always of inferior quality. In fact, most B-sides has the ability to reflects the style of an artist better than A-sides simply because B-sides shoulders a lesser commercial stress. Artist with lots of B-sides available exclusively on single are more likely to release an urabest album. Examples of urabest album includes Smap's "pamS", Do As Infinity's "Do The B-side" & ZONE's "ura E ~Complete B side Melodies~".

In the past, only very reputable and popular artists are eligible to release a best album, which would usually only be released more than 10 years after debut; after an artist passed away or after a band's disbandment. However over the years, many popular artists and record label started releasing best album at a much earlier stage to artistically separate different segment of their career and for capitalising more profits with minimal production cost. The success of many such best album lead to an overall industry drop for eligibility to release a best album, and the standard is still dropping drastically. Nowadays, best album had evolved into a very commercialise mechanise that is typically release after 3 to 5 original albums, and young artists with little or no success are also eligible to release a best album.

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