The 45 is a funny old thing. This little 7-inch record has long been considered the poor relation to its 12-inch sibling – its runtime is too short for anything approaching a full album, relegating it to EP status at best, and its sleeve too small to boast any kind of gatefold treatment. New releases are rarely issued on 45s; some record players don't even play them, lacking a 45RPM speed altogether.
In many ways, the 45 is the underdog of the vinyl world. But it still has a lot going for it. Being much smaller, 45s are easier to transport than a crate of 12-inch records. And some people reckon the higher speed contributes to a higher sound quality than the 33 1/3RPM of standard 12-inch vinyl.
