"Arny Krueger" wrote

I just got an LP of the classic 70's album "Chase" by
the late Bill Chase, and find that as often seems to be
the case, they put the hit single "Get It On" on the last
track of side one. The inner tracks of course always
have the most distortion. Surely the record companies
knew this, is there a reason they so frequently put the
hits on the inner tracks? At least this is my observation.

Exactly how would a record company know what
tracks, if any, the public would come to consider
"hits"?

That is one reason why they pay record company
execuitives the big bucks.

Please define..."record company execuitives?"
How would you identify this role in a large or
small company?

The "big bucks" metaphor, I already know...
*prejudiced view and intolerant of those enjoying
greater financial success over Arny K.*.


Do you think record producers are psychic or what?

No, but they often have an *ear* for hits.

Yes, sometimes that’s relevant. Other times it’s
not relevant to the product’s success. There is a
multitude of factors to consider and individual “hits”
is way down the list. Money and management are
first on any companies survival list. No record
producing company makes a living surviving off
“hits.” It’s a pitty you never took any business
classes in pre-engineering school. You wouldn’t be
spending your days planted like a flower in front
of your CRT .


How come some albums don't have any hits... didn't
they know that, too?

Stuff gets released against some people's better
judgment.

How could you possibly know (empirical) the
politics of marketing and production dynamics?

For your edification two books: This Business of Music,
the definitive guide to the music industry, 588 pages
($30). Legal Aspects of the Music Industry, an
insider’s view of the legal and practical aspects of
the music business, 494 pages ($30).