What's an EP?

Marcio** · May 20th, 2007, 10:44 AM

''A record will have a life of its own. We never even put out a single for the version of "Candle in the Wind" from my Live in Australia album [1987], but it caught on with radio programmers, and the song became a big, big hit. That's the pleasure of the record business sometimes: Something will happen when you least expect it. Ironically enough, there's a song I recorded years ago called "Are You Ready for Love" that's climbing the British dance charts right now. It's from an EP I did with [record producer] Thom Bell in 1977 called The Thorn Bell Sessions. A British DJ discovered the track and played it so much that it ended up becoming the dance hit of the summer in England. It's even going to be released this month as a single on Fatboy Slim's label, Southern Fried Records. So that's the sort of surprising thing that you can't stop.''

Interview with Elton John in Sep. 2003 - findarticles.com

So...What's an EP? What means this EP? Thanks !!!

:)

**Videoskooter** · May 20th, 2007, 10:54 AM

Marcio, an EP is an "Extended Play", a sort of mini-album. It usually is a 7" with more than 2 tracks or more than the usual a and b side.

Too long for being a standard single, too short for being a genuine album.

And now it's time for you to study:

Extended play - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**needlefingers** · May 20th, 2007, 03:23 PM

Not that I would disagree with the great VS, but in disco, doesn't EP refer to albums such as France Joli's first lp, France Joli. Or Musique's first lp, Keep On Jumpin'?

All the tracks on these albums are in "extended play" versions only. Thus, only 4 tracks per 12" record.

Although I believe we are talking about the same thing, I see in the article that EP has a longer and varied history than I thought. I actually thought the term didn't come into use until disco.

**markydefad** · May 20th, 2007, 04:15 PM

In the case of the Elton John/Thom Bell collaboration..."EP" refers to fewer tracks than a normal LP...4 on that as I recall...In the Eighties, groups often did these cheaper to produce 4 track EPs to promote themselves before they signed to a record label that would promote a full 10 or 12 track LP.

**ol'skinflint** · May 20th, 2007, 05:13 PM

Originally Written by markydefad

In the case of the Elton John/Thom Bell collaboration..."EP" refers to fewer tracks than a normal LP...4 on that as I recall...In the Eighties, groups often did these cheaper to produce 4 track EPs to promote themselves before they signed to a record label that would promote a full 10 or 12 track LP.

Marky: did you know that Elton John and Thom Bell did an entire album together? I saw it once at a flea market and can't remember why I didn't buy it (I've never seen it since). I love the ep they did, with those great Bell and James songs and the Spinners singing backup.

**ol'skinflint** · May 20th, 2007, 05:17 PM

Originally Written by needlefingers

Not that I would disagree with the great VS, but in disco, doesn't EP refer to albums such as France Joli's first lp, France Joli. Or Musique's first lp, Keep On Jumpin'?

All the tracks on these albums are in "extended play" versions only. Thus, only 4 tracks per 12" record.

Although I believe we are talking about the same thing, I see in the article that EP has a longer and varied history than I thought. I actually thought the term didn't come into use until disco.

I think the Musique and France Joli records are considered full length albums, they're just shorter than most albums. Best EP I own is called "Trap Door", by singer/songwriter/producer T-Bone Burnett. The songs are wonderful, the quality is almost like a CD, and it has a crisp, ROCKIN' cover of "Diamond's Are A Girl's Best Friend" that everyone should check out...

**garrybcoston** · May 20th, 2007, 09:48 PM

Originally Written by Videoskooter

Marcio, an EP is an "Extended Play", a sort of mini-album. It usually is a 7" with more than 2 tracks or more than the usual a and b side.

Too long for being a standard single, too short for being a genuine album.

And now it's time for you to study:

Extended play - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oh, I thought it was an electromagnetic pulse. Nuclear detonation in the atmosphere, but that's EMP I believe.

Garry

**casjam** · January 6th, 2009, 10:17 AM

Here's an article that breaks it down nicely:
What to Call Your Release - Demo, EP, or Album?

:icon_cool:

**Cdnbob** · January 6th, 2009, 12:09 PM

Originally Written by needlefingers

Although I believe we are talking about the same thing, I see in the article that EP has a longer and varied history than I thought. I actually thought the term didn't come into use until disco.

Actually from what I recall EP's were available in the 1960's and maybe even before that. I have Beatle EP's from the UK circa 1964, so I know that the format was around then.

**KBallenger53** · January 6th, 2009, 03:13 PM

Originally Written by Cdnbob

Actually from what I recall EP's were available in the 1960's and maybe even before that. I have Beatle EP's from the UK circa 1964, so I know that the format was around then.

True indeed. James Brown's: "There was a time" is actually timed at about 8 minutes and change from the Live at the Apollo LP recorded in '67. No wonder he's called the Original Disco Man!

'NUFF SAID

**PierreConstantin** · January 7th, 2009, 03:20 AM

Is an album with less than 30 min. of music an ep? The first Village People album, "American generation" by the Ritchie Family or "Last night a d.j. saved my life" by Indeep are examples of that -the first two have an A-side with just 11 min. of music more or less!

**tmob** · January 7th, 2009, 07:21 PM

There was never a hard-and-fast definition as to what made an EP vs. an LP, at least in terms of disco (it was different in the 60s, when a 7" EP usually had two songs per side).

I always went by how the label itself assigned its catalog number and list price. To cite your example, the first Village People release has the Casablanca NBLP prefix and was listed at the standard LP price. In the disco era, EPs were normally -- but not always -- listed at a lower price than a standard LP.

**boogyjuice** · January 10th, 2009, 07:58 AM

Here a few of my fave examples which have been titled as EP or mini-LP :

1983

1983

Glenn Jones & Platinum Hook are both distributed by RCA.
The label did a series of EP's around 1983.

1984

The Ronnie McNeir Experience by Ronnie McNeir : Reviews and Ratings - Rate Your Music

**Disco Funk** · January 10th, 2009, 05:57 PM

Originally Written by PierreConstantin

Is an album with less than 30 min. of music an ep? The first Village People album, "American generation" by the Ritchie Family or "Last night a d.j. saved my life" by Indeep are examples of that -the first two have an A-side with just 11 min. of music more or less!

I think in the 70s an EP was harder to define because there was so much emphasis on making longer tracks instead of putting on more songs on a record, unlike in the 60s. Heck, when I buy records off the internet, some sellers will characterize albums like the Love & Kisses stuff or USA-European Connection's albums as 12" singles (because of the single songs on each side).

Disco Funk