I tend not to do that Les, I tend to listen to the stuff on the CD that I am already familiar with and see how that is treated. If I like it then I go back and listen. If I don't like it then I play a couple of other tracks to see, usually (as you say) starting at the first one. Only if it is ALL stuff I am unfamiliar with do I start at track one.

From a record company producer......

.........in the first three tracks say what the CD is about. Thus if you have accompanied and unaccompanied, tunes and singing, concertinas or melodeons etc etc then try and get those combinations in the first three tracks - just as much for listeners as it is for me. Finish off with a couple of really strong tracks.