Why aren't all modern vinyl releases 45s?


I have purchased a handful of brand-new records released post CDs, and all of them are 33s, except for Baroness' Blue album, which is two LPs of 45s. The audio quality is far superior to the 33s, and there is plenty of room left on the other records (usually 2x LP) to fit the groove density required of the higher rpm. All of this makes me wonder if these bands want to go through the effort of releasing vinyl in the digital age, why not maximize quality?

Thoughts?

ricksgiving

Reference Recordings are not comparable to any average 45. First, they’re not reissues; they are derived directly from live performances, but I agree they’re marvelous.

I prefer 33 RPM reissues because I think 45s are a PITA in terms of enjoying music. I’d rather sacrifice a little bit of extra quality (and I question that’s always true anyway) if I don’t have to get up every 5-8 mins. I have a ton of 45 RPM reissues, and for not-so-small handful of them I also have the 33 RPM reissues that have come out since from the same place (e.g. MMJ and AP). Guess which ones I play? Yes, the 33s. I want to to play my system to listen to music, not the other way around.

I also listen to classical a lot and refuse to buy them as 45 RPM reissues. I bought one and it never gets played.

Another practical point for 33 releases is that any given album takes half the space in your shelving, leaving more room for your collection*.

Prioritizing the 'ultimate' sound quality against the experience of playing a record and record storage space gets things seriously backwards for me.

 

*a benefit that is often negated by labels like Acoustic Sounds who double the space taken with the addition of a bunch of poorly reproduced, alternate session photographs: making a double LP package out of what should be a single.

ATO regularly presses their artists at 45RPM. My Morning Jacket is just one