when does a single become a maxi single become an EP become a mini album become an album?

Answer 1

Vinyl singles consist of two or more tracks released on a traditional Gramophone record. The disc itself is reversible, with the main track on one side (the "A-side"), while the second track (the "B-side") would be played when the disc was flipped over. Some singles, such as The Beatles' "Come Together"/"Something", were released as double A-sides (or "AA"), where the two tracks were given an equal importance. Vinyl singles were originally sold in standard paper sleeves, but now often have their own printed card covers with special artwork and text.

A maxi single or maxi-single is a music single release with more than the usual two tracks (generally an a-side song and a b-side song).The term came into wide use in the 1980s, where it usually referred to 12" vinyl singles with 3 or 4 tracks. A typical practice was to release a 2-song single on 7" vinyl and cassette, and a maxi-single on 12" vinyl.


Extended play (EP) is the name typically given to vinyl records or CDs which contain more than one single, but are too short to qualify as albums. Usually, an album has eight or more tracks (anywhere between 25–80 minutes), a single has one to three (5–15 minutes), and an EP four to seven (or around 15–25 minutes).


The term "record album" originated from the fact that 78 RPM Phonograph disc records were kept together in a book resembling a photo album.For many years, the standard industry format for popular music was an album of twelve songs, originally the number related to payment of composer royalties.Due to the large capacity of new media, the matter of how long an album should be is open to debate. According to the rules of the UK Charts, a recording counts as an album if either it has at least four tracks or lasts more than 20 minutes. Sometimes shorter albums are referred to as EPs, an abbreviation of extended play, "extended" meaning longer than a single. The term "mini-album" may also be used.

Answer 2

A single is an A-side hit and a B-side with another song

And EP has at least 2 hits or a longer song at least

Maxi single is usually a 12 inch remix or a maxi version of a song.

An album is a series of songs that last at least 30 minutes it could last longer.

Answer 3

single has only two sided songs A & B
EP has around 3 - 4 songs in both sides.