why are most new releases going to four sides?

The LP market for current releases relies on audiophile purchases so sound quality is important. In order to squeeze more minutes onto a side, the grooves have to run closer to the label where sound quality suffers. Also, the grooves might have to be spaced closer together, which means recording level must be lower, which, in turn, means noise becomes a bigger issue. So, less sonic compromises are made with shorter record sides.

I agree with Larryi, getting up ever so often to swap LP sides is no big deal for me, I need the exercise anyway.

However, sound quality is extremely important to me, so much so that when a title is available in 45 RPM format I purchase it instead of the LP. 45 RPM format is even shorter play time but with some of the old jazz greats it's well worth it to achieve the extra dynamics and space of those old recordings (like "Cool struttin' by Sonny Clark !!)

Anyway, there's always CD if you really want convenient, you can hear the whole album without getting up. That's part of what makes it popular.

That's why they invented polycarbonate. Get up and flip you records, I say. There is nothing wrong with 2 songs per side. They should even go the full monty and make them 45rpm and 200g. There I said it.

Buy the vinyl and get into recording your tittles to CD, then you have a great vinyl and also a better sounding digital copy for when you dont want all the fuss. You will have the best of both worlds.

personally I'd rather hear a whole side in one sitting

the mood of the piece as a whole

I like vinyl - I just think some of the recent releases are overplaying the too little on a side mantra

it's hard to hear the cohesiveness of the new Lucinda Williams record when it's spread out over 4 sides

I recall pop artists like early Genesis and Todd Rundgren who loved cramming as much on a side as possible.