This is an entirely unscientific, 100% accurate description of how albums should work. After thousands of hours of research, and hard-won insights from the dark ages when you had to purchase a whole album in order to listen to your favorite song, this is what's true about how an album should work.
The first song is an invitation. It should show your strengths without giving away the whole ballgame. It should definitely NOT be your biggest hit. If the biggest hit / best song is first, that's a terrible sign.
The second song can - and should - be your biggest hit. At least so far. The second song is your first single. The one folks are interested in getting to. And not so far deep in the album that they have to skip songs.
Song three is your first curve ball. Maybe it's a tempo change. Is it a waltz? Different instrumentation? You're an artist with range, this says. You're in the midle of an amazing ride. Sit back, relax.
Songs four and five is where an album can get dicey. You don't want to get too experimental. You might place a song that has single potential here. Keep it upbeat. You're still on side A, and you want folks to keep spinning.
Song six: BANGER. This is song one, side B, after all. Remind listeners what you can do, and why they're here. Uptempo. Maybe even your second single.
Now, you've established yourself as an entertainer, but who are you, really? Songs seven through nine are where you can stretch yourself. Want to get confessional? Take a big swing? Do you have a collection of weird sounds you think are interesting together? Or did your A&R team say, “write another one like the hit,” and you did, and whiffed? Bury it here. Did you write only 7 good songs? Welp, don't put any of them here. Want to harken back to an earlier time? That's some strong song 9 stuff.
Song ten. The last song. This is a special moment. Song 10 should be big. Aspirational. It can be a little longer, it's your farewell, after all. It should fade out, suggesting a world where it goes on into infinity, and where the magic of your album doesn't ever end. It's not necessarily a single, it's more like a gift to your listeners. It might be your rawest, most personal song that shows you at your artistic best.
So it is, and so it shall be. Unless you want to do it differently.
