Why do the singles or most popular songs (usually) appear on the first side or first few tracks of an album?

Music
1

What albums are the exceptions where the most well known or popular singles appear towards the end of the album?

2

‘Love Spreads’ by the The Stone Roses was the first single and final track on ‘Second Coming’…that’s quite rare i think.

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4

Was just thinking how unusual this is when I listened to the Overmono album, on which the big singles are tracks 10 and 12 of 13.

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5

Historically it happens because people would use the listening posts at HMV (or wherever) for a maximum of the first three songs normally, so it makes sense to front-load the album to secure a sale.

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6

The singles on Wish are spread across the album - tracks 2, 7 and 9 out of 12.

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7

It’s a Shame about Ray had Mrs Robinson tacked on the end after it became a hit, I imagine some other albums have done similar (can’t think of any right now though)

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8

There were two to three singles from Ray before ‘Mrs Robinson’ including ‘Confetti’ - track #2. The album was re-released with ‘Mrs Robinson’ - it’s a bonus track really.

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9

Mr E’s Beautiful Blues by Eels was the lead single (and a moderate hit, it got to #11 here) from Daises of the Galaxy, but is actually a hidden track on the album itself.

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10

I assumed this was a more recent thing so when someone streams an album they hear the big hits first and are more likely to stick with it/pay for a download.

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11

Doves - Lost Souls has a fair few of its big hitters on side B (Catch The Sun, The Man Who Told Everything, The Cedar Room)

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12

Because they’re the first ones you hear

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13

Also they’re not exactly singles but Mogwai - Come On Die Young has Ex-Cowboy, Chocky and Christmas Steps towards the end

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14

I know that The Bends has singles throughout but I always thought it was cool and in the right place that street spirit was the last track on the album. You could probably make an argument that is the most popular song on that album.

Just did a fact check and it got to 5 in the uk charts well higher than any of the other singles which were in the 19, 20 type region.

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15

Always find it weird when big singles are near the end of the album. Seems natural that the punchier tracks go near the start and the punchier tracks are also singles.

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16

There There was the lead single from HTTT and is track 9

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17

lead single should ideally be track 2, or even track 1. it’s just the rules.

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18

Hurt is the last track on Downward Spiral innit? Idk if it was a big song before Johnny Cash covered it tho.

19

No Surprises is track 10 too.

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20

Fairly sure it was a big song before Johnny Cash covered it, I know sod all about NIN but I’d definitely heard it around a bit before the cover happened.

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21

Also from a mastering point of view (for vinyl anyway) its easier to get it sounding good if they put the loud punchy tracks at the start of a side and quieter ones at the end

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