Fifty years ago, the 45-rpm "single " created an entire culture based on the frenzied three-minute playing time.

In the sixties this was surpassed by the dinner-plate-size slab of vinyl known as the LP.

In the 1990s, the CD arrived and suddenly artists had a full hour to fill. So they filled it with second-rate offerings.

"They have a couple of songs and then the rest isn't very good. They're just trying to get the royalty rate for twelve tracks." Stephan Jenkins of rock group Third Eye Blind.