Liner notes are extra text and information included with a music album. As music mediums have evolved, this information has been presented in a variety of ways. These notes were originally included on the inner liner of a vinyl album, and they still bear that name. These notes were provided with a tape or CD on a small folding booklet that contained pictures and text with the development of audio cassettes and compact discs (CDs). However, as music formats have become more digital, the need for physical liner notes has decreased, and many artists have begun to provide such notes as digital files or on websites.
The origins of liner notes, though not necessarily the name, can be traced back to vinyl recordings played at 78 revolutions per minute (rpm). These records were usually singles that could be purchased separately or as part of a collection, which consisted of a “album” of recordings with notes and information interspersed among them. However, the term “liner notes” comes from the transition from 78 rpm records to 33-1/3 rpm records, which could contain an entire album on both sides of a single record. These records came in sleeves with thin liners that protected the record, and the liners’ notes frequently included information about the musicians or advertisements for other albums.
Liner notes were provided as music was transferred from 33-1/3 vinyl recordings to audio cassettes and CDs. These notes were frequently available as a small booklet folded into the inside of a cassette or CD case’s front cover. However, because these booklets allowed for much more information, record companies and musicians could include lyrics, artist comments, and other information in the liner notes. Additional information was frequently provided as an incentive to persuade people to buy a CD version of an album they already owned on vinyl.
However, as music mediums have evolved and changed, liner notes have begun to evolve and be provided in a variety of ways. Digital files can be distributed as part of an audio CD or as a download that includes all of the information found on a physical disc. Many artists and record labels have begun to make liner notes available on their websites, either as file downloads or as a webpage. There are also some websites that have been created as collections of notes from various artists and albums over the course of many decades of music.