# Should this be a single Release Group? **URL:** \ **Category:** MusicBrainz\ **Tags:** release-group, musicbrainz\ **Created:** [August 26, 2021, 10:57pm UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/should-this-be-a-single-release-group/548282 "2021-08-26T22:57:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hds](https://community.metabrainz.org/user_avatar/community.metabrainz.org/hds/32/13492_2.png) [@hds](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/hds)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2021, 10:57pm UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/should-this-be-a-single-release-group/548282/1 "2021-08-26T22:57:54Z")
The French nu-metal band [Pleymo](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/71280101-265e-48ad-a1b4-983f386ef2e8) has two different versions of their second album Medicine Cake. In France, it was released under the title [Episode 2: Medecine Cake](https://musicbrainz.org/release-group/b2d46d43-987c-37df-8bec-45bf508ab954) with vocals recorded in French. In Japan and US imports, it was released under the title [Doctor Tank’s Medicine Cake](https://musicbrainz.org/release-group/e0003b3c-388f-46a9-9f07-16ef63e71c33) with vocals recorded in English. These are the same compositions/works, the same instrument recordings and it is the same conceptual release. The mixing and editing might be slightly different (I think I remember that some DJ effects were mixed differently), and I believe that they each have a song that is exclusive (2 songs that were not recorded in alternate languages). Obviously the songs are different Recordings. But should they be in a single Master Release or separate Master Releases? My vote would go towards a single Master Release, but I’m confused and would like others’ opinions. ---
**Author:** ![UltimateRiff](https://community.metabrainz.org/user_avatar/community.metabrainz.org/ultimateriff/32/47799_2.png) [@UltimateRiff](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/UltimateRiff)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 4:56am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/should-this-be-a-single-release-group/548282/2 "2021-08-27T04:56:26Z")
It looks to me like it’d be one release group, could even add some aliases for the alternate title(s) so it shows up in RG searches. I can’t think of any examples of releases with translated lyrics off-hand, but one example of different tracklists being the same RG would be The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Are You Experienced”, with the [UK](https://musicbrainz.org/release/6b050dcf-7ab1-456d-9e1b-c3c41c18eed2) and [US](https://musicbrainz.org/release/7eceb634-a571-32bf-aac4-0b7f6615efc6) versions being in a different order, even with different artwork. ---
**Author:** ![outsidecontext](https://community.metabrainz.org/user_avatar/community.metabrainz.org/outsidecontext/32/90_2.png) [@outsidecontext](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/outsidecontext)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 5:29am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/should-this-be-a-single-release-group/548282/3 "2021-08-27T05:29:53Z")
Translated versions, were the recordings contain lyrics sung in different languages while the rest of the recording stays the same, are quite common with e.g. Disney film soundtracks. This has been discussed heavily before, with I think no conclusive result. But most seem to be in favor of separate release groups, and this seems to be mostly what is been done in practice. Some previous threads: > [@Same album sung in different languages on MusicBrainz](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/same-album-sung-in-different-languages-on-musicbrainz/251554): > > Hello, A few days ago, I initiated a procedure of fusion between several albums of OST of the film “The princess and the frog” of Disney. See [https://musicbrainz.org/edit/44908044](https://musicbrainz.org/edit/44908044), [https://musicbrainz.org/edit/44900185](https://musicbrainz.org/edit/44900185) & [https://musicbrainz.org/edit/44900176](https://musicbrainz.org/edit/44900176). In fact, these are releases of countries with different languages and some songs have language changes from one album to another. The member chabreyflint showed me the following guideline: [https://musicbrainz.org/doc/Style/Release\_Group](https://musicbrainz.org/doc/Style/Release_Group) w… > [@\[STYLE-972\] Translated versions of albums (now with poll!)](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/style-972-translated-versions-of-albums-now-with-poll/379909): > > As far as I am aware it’s currently accepted practice to keep different language versions of albums in separate release groups, though there is no relationship type to link the two (or more) release groups. I made [a ticket](https://tickets.metabrainz.org/browse/STYLE-972) to add such a relationship and this thread to discuss whether this practice should be incorporated as a formal guideline. [The release group guideline as it stands](https://musicbrainz.org/doc/Style/Release_Group#Other_situations) says there is no consensus on this issue, but I have had people tell me (in the context of movie soundtracks) that… ---
**Author:** ![UltimateRiff](https://community.metabrainz.org/user_avatar/community.metabrainz.org/ultimateriff/32/47799_2.png) [@UltimateRiff](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/UltimateRiff)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 6:05am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/should-this-be-a-single-release-group/548282/4 "2021-08-27T06:05:17Z")
> [@hds](#): > > These are the same compositions/works Actually, they’d be different “works” if the lyrics are translated, with the translated work linked to the original. ---
**Author:** ![aerozol](https://community.metabrainz.org/user_avatar/community.metabrainz.org/aerozol/32/116_2.png) [@aerozol](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/aerozol)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 6:12am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/should-this-be-a-single-release-group/548282/5 "2021-08-27T06:12:45Z")
> [@outsidecontext](#): > > quite common with e.g. Disney film soundtracks Another one where this comes up is Audiobooks, where different languages are separate RG’s. However, personally, an album like this I would probably put into the same RG, if the _intent_ seems to be that it is the same album. Just personal preference. ---
**Author:** ![mfmeulenbelt](https://community.metabrainz.org/user_avatar/community.metabrainz.org/mfmeulenbelt/32/449_2.png) [@mfmeulenbelt](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/mfmeulenbelt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 6:42am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/should-this-be-a-single-release-group/548282/6 "2021-08-27T06:42:00Z")
I guess it should be decided on a case-by-case basis. A lot of [Kraftwerk](https://beta.musicbrainz.org/artist/5700dcd4-c139-4f31-aa3e-6382b9af9032) albums have both German and English releases, but those are so similar (almost identical names and few lyrics anyway) that I would always use one release group. Right now the editors on Kraftwerk seem to be split on this too, seeing that [Die Mensch·Maschine](https://beta.musicbrainz.org/release-group/d147e89b-90ca-35b6-9f7b-3e34b8edf63f) / [The Man·Machine](https://beta.musicbrainz.org/release-group/05f467f1-7524-4d9f-8794-81fbb3fef12f) are two different release groups and all other albums share their release group. ---
**Author:** ![hds](https://community.metabrainz.org/user_avatar/community.metabrainz.org/hds/32/13492_2.png) [@hds](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/hds)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 6:53am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/should-this-be-a-single-release-group/548282/7 "2021-08-27T06:53:01Z")
Seeing as how this is evenly divided, I’ll leave them as is, until (or if) an official ruling ever comes into play. Thanks for all your feedback! ---
**Author:** ![jesus2099](https://community.metabrainz.org/user_avatar/community.metabrainz.org/jesus2099/32/36_2.png) [@jesus2099](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/jesus2099)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2021, 2:15pm UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/should-this-be-a-single-release-group/548282/8 "2021-08-27T14:15:38Z")
@hds, I took the liberty to rename your topic from ~~Master Release~~ (probably a Discogs terminology) to Release Group, to void any confusion. I hope you don’t mind. 🙂