History:Untitled Track Style: Difference between revisions

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{{official style guideline}}
=Style for Untitled Tracks=


There are two main concepts of tracks with no name: '''untitled''' tracks, which are ''known'' to have no title, and '''unknown''' tracks for which the title (or lack of it) is not known.
'''This is an [[Official Style Guideline|OfficialStyleGuideline]].'''
# For '''untitled tracks''', enter "[untitled]" as the name. These are usually tracks that have not been given a name on the release (album sleeve and liner notes) it appears on.
## If the track is on another release with an '''official name''', use that name instead of "[untitled]".
## If the track is widely known under an '''unofficial name''', you can use that name between square brackets (conforming to the [[Capitalization Standard|CapitalizationStandard]]) as track name instead, e.g. "[Unofficial Name]".


'''Untitled tracks'''
# For '''tracks that contain only silence''', enter "[silence]" as the name. These tracks are often only a couple of seconds in length.
* For '''untitled tracks''', enter '''[untitled]''' as the name. These tracks are clearly shown to lack a title on the release (album sleeve and liner notes) they appear on.
# For '''tracks that do not contain songs''' and that are not named by the artist, you can enter a descriptive name between brackets in all lowercase, or "[untitled]".
# If the track is widely known under an '''unofficial name''', you can use that name between square brackets (conforming to the [[Capitalization Standard]]) as track name instead.
# For '''music tracks for which the name is unknown''', enter "[unknown]" as the name. This refers to tracks of which the name cannot be known even after extensive research.
# For '''tracks that do not contain songs''' and that are not named by the artist, you can enter a descriptive name between brackets in all lowercase, or [untitled]. If the track contains '''only silence''', use [silence].


'''Unknown tracks'''
'''Note that [[Data Track|DataTrack]]<code><nowiki></nowiki></code>s should follow [[Data Track Style|DataTrackStyle]].'''
* For '''music tracks for which the name (or the lack of it) is unknown''', enter '''[unknown]''' as the name.
# A '''hidden track''', or a bonus track that appears as just "Bonus Track", is not [untitled]; it is [unknown]. None of the two are clearly shown as lacking a title on the release -nor, in the case of hidden tracks, shown on the release at all.
# If the artist gives the track a name somewhere else (for example, in his website) that name should be used instead of [unknown]. If the title of a track added as [unknown] is given at a later point, the [unknown] title should be updated. If the track is confirmed to have '''no title''', it should be changed to [untitled].


==Rationale==


'''Note that [[Data Track|data tracks]] should follow [[Data Track Style|data track style]].'''
Many releases contains tracks that are not named or do not consist of songs. A common example of untitled tracks is the 'hidden' or bonus songs that are often found on CDs after the listed tracks, either appended to the last track of the release or as a separate track.


==Examples==
==Examples and specific indications==
* '''[untitled]'''
# A clear example of the use of [Unofficial Name] is [[Release:ead065b1-b582-4ac1-9041-f0c09b0ac67a|Aphex Twin's ''Selected Ambient Works Volume II'']], that has no titles on the [http://s.dsimg.com/image/R-1077313-1226417910.jpeg cover], but images.
# In some genres, like techno music, it is relatively common for releases to have a title, but no title for the individual tracks, as [[Release:69b5d797-0ef0-4b66-a70c-852d16fe9c67|Christian Wünsch's ''Proved Negligence'']]. These tracks should be considered '''untitled tracks''', and can be entered as [untitled] or, following the '''unofficial name''' guideline, as [Release Name, Part X] (always in square brackets).
# As indicated above, the '''descriptive name''' option can be used, in '''lowercase''', for live bootleg releases where there are tracks containing crowd noise, a guitar solo, etc. Corresponding names would be '''[crowd noise]''' and '''[guitar solo]''', e.g. [[Release:dc29bb60-18d2-4079-97e3-b0736191b42f|track 3]].
# Some releases separate bonus tracks from the listed tracks by one or more tracks that contain only silence. A version of Nine Inch Nails' [[Release:9c0b5a23-ca6e-4b4e-be2f-98280cf56c88|Broken]] uses the full 99 tracks available to the CD format; tracks 1 to 6 are music, tracks 7 to 97 are silence tracks, and tracks 98 and 99 are 'hidden' tracks. As indicated, these should be named '''[silence]'''.


* '''[unknown]'''
# This applies to the abovementioned 'hidden' songs, e.g. [http://musicbrainz.org/showalbum.html?albumid=277254 track 11]. When they appear on a track that also has a listed song, this rule has to be used in combination with [[Multiple Title Style|MultipleTitleStyle]], e.g. [http://musicbrainz.org/showalbum.html?albumid=28611 track 13]. Also, there are vinyl dance music releases that consist completely of untitled tracks, e.g. [http://musicbrainz.org/showalbum.html?albumid=349547 untitled].
# As mentioned above, [unknown] applies to "hidden" songs, e.g. [[recording:9362d9e2-899b-4a74-bf9a-4c339abb996f|track 11 on Cords' ''No Guru No Method No Beeper'']]. When they appear on a track that also has a listed song, this rule has to be used in combination with [[Multiple Title Style]], e.g. [[recording:de56b122-a175-4d52-afda-c130511a1725|track 13 on Bush's ''Razorblade Suitcase'']].
# Some releases separate bonus tracks from the listed tracks by one or more tracks that contain only silence. A version of Nine Inch Nails' [http://musicbrainz.org/showalbum.html?albumid=608 Broken] uses the full 99 tracks available to the CD format; tracks 1 to 6 are music, tracks 7 to 97 are silence tracks, and tracks 98 and 99 are 'hidden' tracks.
# The titles on a white label vinyl release are always [unknown], not [untitled]. As indicated, if any of the tracks is released in an official way and gets a name, it should also be named in the white label release.
# This will mostly be used for live bootleg releases where there are tracks containing crowd noise, a guitar solo, etc. Corresponding names would be '''[crowd noise]''' and '''[guitar solo]''', e.g. [http://musicbrainz.org/showalbum.html?albumid=97711 track 3].
# If a live bootleg includes a new, previously unreleased track that is not introduced with its name, it should be entered as [unknown] (and be changed to the official name when / if it is given one).

==Discussion==

Remember that [[Artist Intent|ArtistIntent]] always outweighs the [[Style Guideline|StyleGuideline]], so if tracks are deliberatly untitled, they should not be given an unofficial name.
<ul><li style="list-style-type:none">Hmm, can you give examples of when a track is 'deliberatly untitled' and when it is not? i can think of some, but i think i'd argue that when the unofficial titles reach a certain level of proliferation, then the artists wishes don't really matter? i'm not sure. hmm! --[[User:Gecks|Gecks]] I assume this means that if a silent track is named on the album (eg the 13th track on [[Album:d51fc845-0c19-4a24-b350-753e89d4bf1b|Furious Angels]], called 'Pause') then the track should ''not'' be renamed [silence]... I did think that was a little odd. --[[Deebster]]
</ul>

----


I've kept [[Data Track Style|DataTrackStyle]] separate, because that also deals with a [[Special Purpose Artist|SpecialPurposeArtist]] named [data track]. --[[User:Zout|Zout]]

This guideline incorporates the old [[Untitled Track Style|SilenceTrackStyle]], the old UntitledTrackStyle and the [[Old Unnamed Track Style Proposal|OldUnnamedTrackStyleProposal]]. --[[User:Zout|Zout]]

Note that it's difficult to define things when 'song' and 'track' are used as synonyms, even if they are not. --[[User:Zout|Zout]]

The only potential problem I can see: people continually reediting the lower case descriptors. Possible solution: a list of "preferred" descriptors to be used unless none are appropriate. -- [[User:MichelleW|MichelleW]]
<ul><li style="list-style-type:none">That is not my experience; when the descriptors are correct, i.e. it doesn't say "[guitar solo]" when it's a drum solo, editors do not touch it. This style is being applied to all Pearl Jam live releases, with not even once the potential problem you mention. --[[User:Zout|Zout]]
</ul>

Regarding rule 1.1 - I think this needs to be extended to album names as well, for untitled albums that have a common name. Perhaps not on this page, mind. [[Untitled Release Style|UntitledReleaseStyle]]? --[[User:Gecks|Gecks]]
<ul><li style="list-style-type:none">If you create the wiki page, people are much more likely to agree ;) --[[User:Zout|Zout]]
</ul>

[[Category:To Be Reviewed]] [[Category:Style]] [[Category:Official Style]]

Latest revision as of 11:50, 26 May 2015

Status: This Page is Glorious History!

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There are two main concepts of tracks with no name: untitled tracks, which are known to have no title, and unknown tracks for which the title (or lack of it) is not known.

Untitled tracks

  • For untitled tracks, enter [untitled] as the name. These tracks are clearly shown to lack a title on the release (album sleeve and liner notes) they appear on.
  1. If the track is widely known under an unofficial name, you can use that name between square brackets (conforming to the Capitalization Standard) as track name instead.
  2. For tracks that do not contain songs and that are not named by the artist, you can enter a descriptive name between brackets in all lowercase, or [untitled]. If the track contains only silence, use [silence].

Unknown tracks

  • For music tracks for which the name (or the lack of it) is unknown, enter [unknown] as the name.
  1. A hidden track, or a bonus track that appears as just "Bonus Track", is not [untitled]; it is [unknown]. None of the two are clearly shown as lacking a title on the release -nor, in the case of hidden tracks, shown on the release at all.
  2. If the artist gives the track a name somewhere else (for example, in his website) that name should be used instead of [unknown]. If the title of a track added as [unknown] is given at a later point, the [unknown] title should be updated. If the track is confirmed to have no title, it should be changed to [untitled].


Note that data tracks should follow data track style.

Examples and specific indications

  • [untitled]
  1. A clear example of the use of [Unofficial Name] is Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works Volume II, that has no titles on the cover, but images.
  2. In some genres, like techno music, it is relatively common for releases to have a title, but no title for the individual tracks, as Christian Wünsch's Proved Negligence. These tracks should be considered untitled tracks, and can be entered as [untitled] or, following the unofficial name guideline, as [Release Name, Part X] (always in square brackets).
  3. As indicated above, the descriptive name option can be used, in lowercase, for live bootleg releases where there are tracks containing crowd noise, a guitar solo, etc. Corresponding names would be [crowd noise] and [guitar solo], e.g. track 3.
  4. Some releases separate bonus tracks from the listed tracks by one or more tracks that contain only silence. A version of Nine Inch Nails' Broken uses the full 99 tracks available to the CD format; tracks 1 to 6 are music, tracks 7 to 97 are silence tracks, and tracks 98 and 99 are 'hidden' tracks. As indicated, these should be named [silence].
  • [unknown]
  1. As mentioned above, [unknown] applies to "hidden" songs, e.g. track 11 on Cords' No Guru No Method No Beeper. When they appear on a track that also has a listed song, this rule has to be used in combination with Multiple Title Style, e.g. track 13 on Bush's Razorblade Suitcase.
  2. The titles on a white label vinyl release are always [unknown], not [untitled]. As indicated, if any of the tracks is released in an official way and gets a name, it should also be named in the white label release.
  3. If a live bootleg includes a new, previously unreleased track that is not introduced with its name, it should be entered as [unknown] (and be changed to the official name when / if it is given one).