How hard can it be to make a track listing?

I just wanted to share with you the thought process that it takes to do the track listing on an album..

To be fair i've not had a lot else to think of since i damaged my back!!

Anyway last week i said the track listing for echo was this

1.Into The Sea
2.Burnt Out Car
3.Ghost
4.Eleven
5.Big Sky
6.Late Man
7.Glide
8.8.19
9.Draw
10.Moondial

Well now its

1.Into The Sea
2.Big Sky
3.Eleven
4.Draw
5.Burnt Out Car
6.Late Man
7.Glide
8.8.19
9.Ghost
10.Moondial

It drives me mad working out track listings this is how we did it:

I work out the key speed and time signature:

1.Into The Sea - em - mid pace - 5/8
2.Big Sky - Emajor - fast - 4/4
3.Eleven - Dm - Mid Pace - 11/8
4.Draw - Em - 6/8 - Mid pace
5.Burnt Out Car - E - Fast - 4/4
6.Late Man Am - Slow - 4/4
7.Glide C - Fast - 4/4
8.8.19 Am - Fast - 4/4
9.Ghost Bm - Slow - 6/8 - 7/8
10.Moondial - Am - mid pace 4/4

Then spend ages working out the different running orders - trying to get as much variation as possible - there are infinite possibilities for different versions of an album. This can take days. The whole album becomes one huge epic composition with dynamic peaks and troughs.

It drives you mad.

I just want to say Mr Kevin Feazey has done a magnificent job of mixing and mastering Ghost. Thanks man.

Some photos from todays walk.



Thanks


Matt Stevens
www.mattstevensguitar.com