Why Do People In The Industry Think They Can Dabble With Releases? #264

Why Do People In The Industry Think They Can Dabble With Releases?

I just don't get it, why does a Giles Martin think that he can "remix" the Beatles output (not that I care about the Beatles). Why could he not have left the catalogue alone and maybe do a remaster only? Or this Wilson guy who thinks he must show the world how it's really done. I mean there are even Deep Purple remixes. Is this a sort of ADHD syndrome? The guy at the mixing desk gets a load of money, the band can sell the same stuff over and over again? I get it, it's business as usual and usual in this case means, sod artistic integrity. Which begs the question, was there ever such a thing as artistic integrity in Rock and Pop? 


There are even cases where whole gigs are put into a different sequence because the producer thought his take of a gig is valid and he's letting the world know. Case in point, the two CD releases of John Coltrane with his Graz gig in 1962. I was a bit confused to see that it apparently didn't follow the proper sequencing and instead Werner X. Uehlinger thinks he knows best and John Coltrane didn't have an idea. 

QUOTE
Executive producer's note: The four tracks on this first release have been selected from the 1962 concert tape which Hat Hut Records has licensed from ORF Steiermark, Graz, Austria. I approached the Program as I would have done with a studio recording, by deciding not simply to reproduce the concert, but to present the music from a dramatic perspective. The second release, which hopefully will follow soon, will present the concluding portion of the concert with a different dramatic perspective.
UNQUOTE

Thank you Mr. Uehlinger, this is exactly what we've been waiting for, a different dramatic take more than fifty years after the fact. Actually I expected better from you, especially since Hat Hut (and the offshoot ezz-thetics) are one of a kind and the labels are a beacon in Jazz circles. But noone needs a reimagination and believe it or not, John Coltrane's music is his and not yours to be playing games with.

Both CDs were released in 2019 and 2020 and I recommend you to buy the releases with the original order and not this one, however beware of a lot of counterfeits/bootlegs.

Cheers

Roland

Dr. Feelgood - A Case Of The Shakes (LP - Testpressing) - #263

Dr. Feelgood - A Case Of The Shakes (LP - Testpressing)

I might have said it before, but here we go again. I'm not checking minutiae for Dr. Feelgood and/or Wilko Johnson releases anymore, I have better things to do in life. But the odd acetate or test pressing makes my heart still beating somewhat faster and I'm twenty years and more back in time, when it was essential to get my greedy hands on an item that wasn't in my collection yet. 

Just recently I got the B-side test pressing of "A Case Of The Shakes" ("only" the B-side) which was advertised as coming with an alternate track sequence. Which Dr. Feelgood aficionado wouldn't jump at the chance. It's UAG 30311 B, so it makes this British to the core. Unfortunately, there's no alternate track sequence, I double checked even with the Canadian release, because I thought that just maybe the seller made a genuine error. Well, the latter has a different track sequence, but this would be for the A-side only.

Now, I won't be complaining to the seller and I'm glad I was able to add it to my collection and the next thing to do is, to look for an A-side, not. No way, if I happen to stumble over one, the better for me. If not, I won't be losing any sleep. How does it sound? A bit bass heavy if I might say so. I don't recall the original to be such deep off the end.

Cheers

Roland