The Extended Play

This week I dug into the history of the Extend Play, better known as the EP. Instead of going bigger and jumping straight into the album/LP format, I decided to take a step back and look into the EP. I did this because even though I am hoping to release my first project as a mixtape if certain issues prevent me from reaching this goal, I have a safety net, the Extended Play.

The first iteration of the EP was seen as early as the late 1900s. This early design was the 78 rpm discs known as the “2-in-1” records. However, by the 1940s smaller vinyl discs such as the 45s and 33s were competing with this large player. By the 1950s these smaller, more easily manageable interpretations beat out the 78s as the most popular and sought after music playback devices. The 45s, a 7-inch vinyl, had roughly 7.5 minutes of playtime on both sides. This was just enough time to place roughly two or three average length tracks on either side of the vinyl. Due to its limitations when compares to the 33s, the 45’s became known as sampler projects. The term coined to identify these types of releases was the Extended Play. An EP would usually consist of promotional singles or a few album tracks released to the public in order to stir up some hype for an upcoming larger project. Sometimes though, a large project that would usually appear as a 33, was released as a few 45s in order to drip-feed music to the fans, or as a packaging tactic.

While today we no longer usually consume analog music, the idea of the EP and its release tactics primarily remain the same. Musicians will often use the EP as a means of staying relevant in between two major album releases. Some artists may release companion EPs to accompany the sound, style, or idea of a previously released title. Others will use the format to test how well their approach to a genre might sound. A classic tactic that has had a resurgence has been the drip-feed approach of an album release. Hip-hop artists such as Kevin Abstract and Denzel Curry have released albums, over a three-week span by cutting up the tracklist into individual EPs. By the third week, the final chapter of a saga has been released to the public, thus finishing off a musical era. 

The final approach to the EP format is by using the Extended Play as a shorter, more dense mixtape. EPs are viewed as a less challenging and time-consuming endeavor for a musician. This is because of the incredibly small tracklist an EP may offer. Usually, anywhere for 2 to 6 tracks may appear on an extended play, versus a 10 or more track mixtape. EPs may often have the same at-home approach feeling that a mixtape will have. While others may have a professional feel to them. The possibilities are endless for the modern-day Extended Play.