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Although it's never too early to think about the running order for your album, it may not be possible to finally be sure you've got the right version until the editing process is nearing completion.
A good running order can make a big difference to the perceived quality of your album. Even though CD technology has removed the need for a side break or turnover point, and allows listeners to choose their own (or a random) order of play, most people will still start at the beginning and listen through the album. So you can use the running order to make sure they get the most out of your recording.
Many albums start with the strongest track, so that the listener hears you at your best straight away. Whether or not you opt for this approach, it's good to make sure the first track accurately reflects the overall style - and quality - of your album.
The other critical position is probably the last track. You'll want to leave the listener with the best possible impression of the album - for example by choosing a track which leaves them wanting more!
If your album is being released on LP or cassette, you may need to think about the last track on side 1 and the first track on side 2. The final track of the first side is often seen as a particularly important point - because you want to make sure the listener is suitably inspired to turn the tape over and hear the rest!
Having thought about which tracks will fill these specific places in your running order, there are a number of factors which can help you plan the rest of the running order, including:
Alternatively there may be other external factors which dictate your choice of running order. For example an historical programme might be strengthened by arranging the items in chronological order of composition.
It's a good idea to plan your running order well in advance - it may even help you decide whether certain items are suitable for inclusion in the first place. However, you should be prepared to review the order as your project progresses, because the quality of performance and recording of each track may not be easy to judge until you've heard the finished result.
A strong running order - just like a good concert programme - will make for a great listening experience and ensure that the impact of your finished CD is as good as possible.
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