I used to work for a few record companies, including a small one that was very influential, and I was in the middle of everything, from album concepts, through recording and production, artwork, liner notes, etc., as well as the largest record company in America at the time, and never once in 30 years did I ever hear anybody suggest that the “shittier” songs should be relegated to the inner rings, because the sound is inferior.

That’s just nonsensical on multiple levels, and it has NEVER happened.