I've experienced it.
On many albums the different tracks are recorded in many locations across a long time period. During mixing and mastering the engineer will attempt to smooth the differences, but if the original recordings are too different then this will be clearly audible on a decent hifi.
Different tracks may have been recorded on 2" 24 track analog, others on ADAT, and with different mics in different rooms, with more or less competent engineers, monitoring with different speakers.
I've found it very common on a band's first album, because there are often a couple of tracks recorded earlier, perhaps when funds were less scarce, and the remainder recorded when the record deal was landed with a major label. Jamiroquai's first album is one example.
On many albums the different tracks are recorded in many locations across a long time period. During mixing and mastering the engineer will attempt to smooth the differences, but if the original recordings are too different then this will be clearly audible on a decent hifi.
Different tracks may have been recorded on 2" 24 track analog, others on ADAT, and with different mics in different rooms, with more or less competent engineers, monitoring with different speakers.
I've found it very common on a band's first album, because there are often a couple of tracks recorded earlier, perhaps when funds were less scarce, and the remainder recorded when the record deal was landed with a major label. Jamiroquai's first album is one example.