[mb-users] ReleaseType Compilation

[Chris B]

2008/4/28 Brian Schweitzer <brian.brianschweitzer at gmail.com>:
> In terms of cooperaa's argument, comparing this to demos, "Demos (which we
> file as "Other")", I would disagree with the basic comparison there.  If an
> artist releases a CD of demos, we consider it an album.  It's only when we
> have that bootleg of demos that it goes into "other".

getting off topic now, but i don't necessarily agree with that. the
MBz definition of an album is deliberately vague -
http://wiki.musicbrainz.org/ReleaseType - "An album, perhaps better
defined as a "Long Play" (LP) release, generally consists of
previously unreleased material."

MOST studio albums are previously unreleased material, but some
aren't. MOST demos are previously unreleased material, but few are
released as studio albums. i would consider studio albums to be the
type of release we give 'album' category and indeed that's all i've
ever used it on. understandably the definition of 'studio album' is
not a one liner hence we have what we have.

the fact that something contains unreleased material or not is not
discographically useful (a lot of artists demo entire albums before
recording them...does that mean the album release is now not 'album'?
of course not!) but a listing of studio albums is. it's just
'unreleased material' leads you to the latter most of the time,
without confusing everyone by trying to nail what a 'studio album' is.

i don't care to comment on classical releases :)