Anyone listen to entire albums?

This is an easy question to answer, I listen only to albums. I am habituated to albums having started collecting LPs in 1956. When tape cassettes became popular I got a Nakamichi tape player and began copying LPs to listen that way to save wear on my vinyl. When VHS came available and then Laser Discs and then CDs, I collected them. None of these formats lend themselves to playing by track so it never occurs to me to listen that way. Now that I have much of my LP collection and all of my CD collection stored in digital format I spend most of my time streaming thanks to Roon. I still have my turntable, my Nakamichi tape deck, my VHS player and my Laser disc player but they are idle most of the time because streaming is so wonderful.

I noticed that when streaming, if I don't like the album, I often don't finish it, and when listening to music from a vinyl record, I listen to it until the end and very often change my mind about the album.

I grew up in the late 70's and early 80's. My local North Jersey radio station, was WDHA, it was an album rock format. They used drop the needle and play new releases beginning to end. My friends and I would record the broadcasts on our cassette decks and have an inexpensive copy of the album. I use to buy cases of TDK cassettes from Crazy Eddies. 

When I listen to vinyl, I listen to one side of an album.  When I get up I choose a different record and pick a new side!  When I stream its playlists or for music discovery in which case I listen to the full album.

I remember back in the 80’s when CD’s first came out they reordered songs on 70’s albums and people lost their minds. The record companies responded by saying you can program the CD player to play in the original order but finally they just repressed as originally put out!

I started buying albums in the late 1960's. I never just listened to one side. I always play all sides in order. Think of it as an artistic creation. The album was conceived with all the songs (not necessarily a concept) in the order in which they are laid out. I know know some compromises have to be made when mastering so a cut may have to be re-sequenced.

You don't look at part of a photograph or statue or painting. A classical lover wouldn't listen to the middle movement then move on to another symphony. I can see millennials not wanting to do that. But would you go to a movie for the middle?

Now I have over 2000 albums, carefully selected so I know I will like what is contained on the whole album. I have virtually all major genres and enjoy the time it take to listen to entire record.

Either way, I hope you enjoy the music.