In music, a single is a type of release, typically a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record or an album. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of formats. In most cases, a single is a song that is released separately from an album, although it usually also appears on an album. Typically, these are the songs from albums that are released separately for promotional uses such as digital download, or video release. In other cases a recording released as a single may not appear on an album.
The twelve-inch single is a type of vinyl gramophone record that has wider groove spacing and shorter playing time with a 'single' or a few related sound tracks on each surface, compared to LPs which have several songs on each side. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the mastering engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality. This record type is commonly used in disco and dance music genres, where DJs use them to play in clubs. They are played at either 33 1⁄3 or 45 rpm. The conventional 7‐inch single usually holds three or four minutes of music at full volume. The 12‐inch LP sacrifices volume for extended playing time. In the 1970s, a hybrid was created, the 12‐inch single.
Simon Philip Raymonde is an English musician and record producer. He is the son of the late arranger and composer Ivor Raymonde. He is best known as the bass guitarist and keyboard player with the Scottish band Cocteau Twins from 1983 to 1997.
The overwhelming majority of records manufactured have been of certain sizes, playback speeds, and appearance. However, since the commercial adoption of the gramophone record, a wide variety of records have also been produced that do not fall into these categories, and they have served a variety of purposes.
Picture discs are gramophone (phonograph) records that show images on their playing surface, rather than being of plain black or colored vinyl. Collectors traditionally reserve the term picture disc for records with graphics that extend at least partly into the actual playable grooved area, distinguishing them from picture label discs, which have a specially illustrated and sometimes very large label, and picture back discs, which are illustrated on one unplayable side only.
Man or Astro-man? is an American surf rock group that formed in Auburn, Alabama in the early 1990s and came to prominence over the following decade.
"Legal Man" is a single released by Belle and Sebastian on Jeepster Records in May 2000. The track features Jonny Quinn on congas, Rozanne Suarez on vocals, and The Maisonettes on vocals. The cover artwork—designed by Andrew Symington—features band members Stevie Jackson and Isobel Campbell along with Adrienne Payne and Suarez.
Derrick Morgan is a Jamaican musical artist popular in the 1960s and 1970s. He worked with Desmond Dekker, Bob Marley, and Jimmy Cliff in the rhythm and blues and ska genres, and he also performed rocksteady and skinhead reggae.
"Suedehead" is the debut solo single by English singer Morrissey, released in February 1988. The track was featured on Morrissey's debut album, Viva Hate, and the compilation album Bona Drag, the latter of which also featured the B-side "Hairdresser on Fire". The artwork of the single features a photo taken by Geri Caulfield during a Smiths gig at the London Palladium.
"Let's Go to Bed" is a song by English rock band the Cure, released as a stand-alone single by Fiction Records in November 1982. In the aftermath of the dark Pornography, Robert Smith returned from a month-long detox in the Lake District to write the song, the antithesis to what the Cure currently represented. It was later included on the album Japanese Whispers.
"Aces High" is a song by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, written by the band's bassist Steve Harris. It is Iron Maiden's eleventh single release and the second from their fifth studio album, Powerslave (1984).
Astro Launch is one of many 7" EPs Man or Astro-man? released in 1994. It was released on Estrus Records on clear orange vinyl and black vinyl. As the black vinyl copies are pressed onto translucent black vinyl, some discographies list the vinyl color as "rootbeer" or "clear rootbeer". There are also some copies pressed on opaque gray vinyl, and at least one copy on dark, ruby-red vinyl. "Transmission from Venus '94" is a re-recording of a song Man or Astro-man? recorded in 1993 and released on a Roger Corman tribute compilation. The back cover states that a secret vocal version of "Philip K. Dick" on cassette can be obtained from Man or Astro-man? for $1. The cover art was designed by Art Chantry.
Captain Holojoy's Space Diner is a Man or Astro-man? 7" EP released on Lucky Records in 1993. It was released on opaque pink vinyl and black vinyl. It came with two inserts: a postcard showing the Astromen eating in a diner, and a larger card stock insert with a photo of a band member on one side and fictitious song lyrics on the other.
Mission into Chaos! is a Man or Astro-man? 7" EP released on One Louder Records in 1993 and pressed exclusively on black vinyl. The back cover states that the songs are meant to be a soundtrack to the film of the same title which has been lost.
Inside the Head of... Mr. Atom is a Man or Astro-man? 7" EP released on Estrus Records in 1995. It was recorded by Steve Albini. The cover art and design is by Art Chantry. The back cover states "This single is dedicated to the vital memory of the band Bolt Thrower." It was released on clear green vinyl, opaque purple vinyl, opaque gray vinyl and black vinyl. Early pressings of the 7" have red and yellow center labels. The center labels on later pressings are black and silver, and these were available on black vinyl and gray vinyl.
Return to Chaos is a Man or Astro-man? 7" EP released on Homo Habilis Records/One Louder Records in 1995. It was released in a manilla folder style sleeve. The US version is marked "Top Secret" and the UK version is marked "State Secret". It was released on clear vinyl and black vinyl.
Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks is a tribute album based on the Emmy Award-winning animated TV series, Schoolhouse Rock!. It was released by Atlantic/Hollywood Records in 1996 and contains 15 tracks, the original "Schoolhouse Rocky" theme and covers of 14 songs from the series performed by popular music artists. There was also a promo-only 7" single distributed to promote this album featuring the Man or Astro-man? track and the Pavement track. This single was pressed on yellow vinyl. "Three Is a Magic Number" was one of the last recordings made by Blind Melon's Shannon Hoon, who died of a drug overdose in October 1995.
"Marquee Moon" is the title track from American rock band Television's first album, Marquee Moon. It was written by Tom Verlaine.
"Rock and Roll Madonna" is a song by Elton John with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. The song was released as a single in Britain in 1970, where it never charted. It appeared on several bootlegs and rarities compilations, such as 1992's Rare Masters, before it appeared on the 1995 remaster of his self-titled album. The song structure is, as the title says, a rock and roll song. Live-effects have been added, with an audience cheering throughout most of the song, a technique that would be used similarly three years later on Bennie and the Jets. The b-side, "Grey Seal", was re-recorded in 1973 for inclusion on John's seventh album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
Evi Hassapides Watson is a Greek musician, known primarily as a vocalist.
