Making a Compilation CD [c‑CD] is quite an affair. The process is described in detail in several places, some shallower than others.
I never make c‑CDs for myself. The discs I burn that are composites of artists, aren’t compilations. I just put them on a CD so I can listen to them elsewhere. A c‑CD must be made for someone else, and with specific intent. That is the overriding rule. Here are some others.
a] Each song on the c‑CD must have bearing on the person it is being given to. If this bearing is projected through your own doors of perception, thats just dandy.
b] Each song must have bearing on how you see yourself or want to see yourself in relation to the person the c‑CD is being given to. If this person is a love interest, limit the sap songs to one or none.
c] You may not have multiple songs by the same artist, even if the artist is a member of another band.
d] You may not put a song on the c‑CD that refers to the person you are giving the CD to.
e] Do not, under any circumstances, put on a song that you think is funny.
f] Do not, put on too many songs that sound the same. Variety is necessary.
g] Break these rules at your own peril.
That is what I try to go by. I might add some once I think of them.
h] Each song on the CD must relate to each other song on the CD. This relationship cannot be taken to a higher order such as, ‘all the songs relate to me or the person I am giving the c‑CD to.’ see a] or b] above. This way, if the c‑CD washes up on shore of a desert island and someone with a functioning CD player finds it on the beach, upon listening to the disc they will sense the theme of the CD, even if they are familiar with none of the songs. This is also provided that the disc itself is not too sand-etched to be read by a CD player.