There are so many layers to creating a CD. Choosing tunes, finding players, booking the studio, recording the performance, but it turns out that's only the beginning. Now that the performing and recording portion of my work is done I'm on to the next phase - the packaging! First job - I need to find a title.
Titles can be a challenge because they are all about being concise. Capturing your story in a word or three. Unless of course you're Fiona Apple who threw brevity out the window with her sophmore release "When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He'll Win the Whole Thing Fore He Enters the Ring There's No Body to Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and If You Know Where You Stand, Then You'll Know Where to Land and If You Fall It Won't Matter, Cuz You Know That You're Right". If I remember correctly there was a question or should I say, answer, about that CD title on Jeopardy. What is the longest title ever on record?
I'm always one for research so I took to perusing my CD collection and scrolling through my list of albums on my ipod. Seems most CD titles, once you get past the self titled ones, come from the name of a song on the album. Then there are those that describe a certain moment in the performer's life or career - John Mayer's "Continum", the Dixie Chicks "Taking the Long Way". I've always thought Harry Connick Jr.'s series of chronological titles - "12", "25", "30" was a brilliant idea 'cause you know we'll all be waiting for "40" I also like titles that give you a hint of the style of music you're going to find on the album like india.arie's "Acoustic Soul". It's this technique used by Carcass on their 1989 release "Symphonies of Sickness" that kept me from losing my hearing as a child.
How much would you say the title of an album effects your feeling towards the music on it? Would "Revolver" sound the same if it was called "Here, There and Everywhere"? I can't remember a time when I've not purchased music because I didn't like the title but it certainly can influence your first impression of an artist when you see it on the shelf at HMV.
As I was brainstorming ideas for my own disc many a phrase came to mind that I would immediately discard because I knew it just wasn't the one. And then a title came to be that just seemed to fit: "Words We Both Could Say" It's my album title for so many reasons but I won't give it all away just yet. I let you hear the music first.
Recent Comments