伦币 元
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发表于 2005-11-16 14:38:14
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An extended play or EP, is the name given to vinyl records or CDs which are too long to qualify as singles but too short to qualify as albums. Typically an album has eight or more tracks (anywhere between 30-60 minutes), a single only one or two (5-15 minutes), and an EP four to eight (or around 15-35 minutes.) Some artists, especially in the days of vinyl, have released full-length albums that could fit the definition of a modern-day EP. (See Yes's Close to the Edge and Prince's Dirty Mind as examples.) A remix single is not considered an EP unless it also has other songs on it (an EP/single hybrid). The name "extended play" has become something of a misnomer, for though it originally was used for singles that were extended beyond the standard length, it is now more often synonymous with an album that is shorter than usual; indeed EPs are sometimes referred to as "mini-albums" (see below). For this reason, among others, they are referred to as "EPs", the full name being used much more rarely. <BR><BR>大意: EP是用来定义那些作为曲目远远大于单曲, 而又小于专辑的胶片或CD. 通常情况, 一张专辑至少会包含8首或更多曲目(时间在30-60分钟间), 单曲通常包含1-2首曲目(时间在5-15分钟). 而EP则通常是包含4-8首曲目(时间在15-35分钟左右). 只包含了不同版本混音的单曲碟不能称之为EP, 除非它里面还包含其他曲目. <BR><BR>EPs were released in various sizes in different eras. The earliest EPs were 33? RPM recordings on 10" (25cm) disks, and appeared at the close of the 78 RPM era. By coincidence, the format gained wide popularity with the coming of Elvis Presley, and it is sometimes erroneously stated that the term "EP" derived from his initials. <BR><BR>In the 1970s and 1980s there was less standardization, and EPs were made on 7" (18cm), 10", or 12" (30cm) discs running either 33? or 45 RPM. Some novelty EPs used odd shapes and colours, and a few were picture discs. <BR><BR>The term is also sometimes applied to compact discs with short playing times. However, since a CD can carry any amount of material up to around 80 minutes, the distinction between a CD EP and a short CD LP is somewhat arbitrary and is based on artistic and marketing factors. For example, EPs are usually released as a promo or as a method for an artist to release a collection of songs unfit for an album. Some artists prefer to use the term "mini-album" instead of "EP", bringing a stronger significance to the work instead of it being counted as a mere add-on to an artist's discography. <BR><BR>Music fans have been divisive on whether, for example, a five-track release of 60 minutes would be considered an EP or an album; this choice is left for the artist to determine themselves. Fans of experimental music such as Current 93 and Nurse With Wound are very familiar with albums containing a very low track count.<BR> |
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