What is the perfect album length?

39.7 minutes.

Ok, in my mind, the perfect album would have a bunch of 3 or 3 1/2 minute songs, a couple 4 minute songs, and a 6 or more minute epic.

Track Listing

1. Example 1 - 2:58

2. Example 2 - 3:29

3. Example 3 - 3:14

4. Example 4 - 4:19

5. Example 5 - 3:46

6. Example 6 - 3:38

7. Example 7 - 3:24

8. Example 8 - 4:48

9. Example 9 - 2:56

10. Example 10 - 3:06

11. Example 11 - 3:12

12. Example 12 - 1:52

13. Example 13 - 7:23 (a long epic to top the charts)

Album Length: about 45:25 minutes. Not too long. Average rock album

In my opinion an hour is the maximum length a good album should be. Most albums that are any more than that are filled with useless stuff that cant keep you into the songs. They're the tracks that you just hit the next button halfway through or skip all together. A truely good album can have 8 or 9 songs with a total length of around 30 minutes. Check out some bands like ACDC and ZZ Top, they have several kickass songs and kickass albums very short and sweet but yet they definitely get the job done.

I think that these albums all have a complete message. They are all truly "albums". They are all different lengths, all perfect.

Sublime- (self titled)

Jane's Addiction- Ritual De Habitual

Herbie Hancock- Maiden Voyage

Jimi Hendrixs- Electric Ladyland

Willie Nelson- Red Headed Stranger

Pink Floyd- Animals

Booker Ervin- The Freedom Book

I think it matters "how much music" is packed into the lenght of the CD. A lot of jazz instrumental albums are only about 35 minutes long, but there is so much music packed into that time that it is a fully satisfying listen.

There are more musical ideas happening in just one instrumental jazz song than there are on eentire albums of more repetitive styles of music.

Here is a band leader who never coasted for to long without switching things up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkj6hykf0a0

Listen to the bass and drums constantly changing behind the soloists.

These musicians are not concerned with lenght of a song. They're done when they have played the song through thoroughly.

In summary, each album has its own perfect album length.

My attention span for albums seems to be around 45 minutes. The ideal album length for me is probably a little less than that, maybe 38 minutes. I tend to prefer longer songs, so maybe 7 tracks with an average length of just over 5 and a half minutes (Deep Purple's Machine Head).

27 minutes and you have a good pop record. you could get 11 or 12 killer tracks on it, listen to it in half an hr and be on yr way.

sure, the longer albums are alright --40 minutes or longer-- but i can easily sit down with a relatively short album and listen to it without any pauses or skipping of songs, which is what i do a lot of times with the longer albums.

but, if it was 27 minutes and had 5 songs on it, then i would still feel that was the same as having a 40+ minute album. maybe i just have a short attention span.

Some of my favorite albums are 30-50 minutes long, but if I were to make an album, i would leave them begging for more. so, i would make it about 37 minutes.

No such thing as the "perfect album length".

I have 25 minute albums to 2 hour long albums.

The mood and the music; but shorter will keep you wanting more. I guess I haven't dealt with cd or albums for quit some time. but back then I would be annoyed if I bought a short album. that's if it is good.

39 minutes exactly. You check your classics that's the lucky number. Seriously though, it used to annoy me after cd's came in, that artists always felt the need to fill the 75 minutes and most couldn't.

it depends..if the bands os okay---35 minutes, if its good--45, if its amazing, they can get away with any length in their albums ;)