Chrome Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 I was reading some of the "do we need jazz critics?" thread and it got me thinking ... whatever happened to "explanatory" liner notes for jazz albums? I mean, I know the RVGs, for example, do the "A new look at" thing, but the current Blue Notes (Osby, Moran, Stefon Harris, etc.) don't have anything like that. Quote
Alexander Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 It seems to me that the function of liner notes has changed in the CD era. During the LP era, liner notes were printed on the back of the sleeve and could be read by a customer considering making a purchase. In that sense, liner notes acted as advertising as much as anything else (which is why you'll never read: "This album is pretty good, but not half as good [the artist's] last one." Everything is a masterpiece, no matter what). Nowadays, liner notes are (for the most part) printed in the CD booklet, which is sealed inside the jewelcase or digipack. Only a listener who has already made the purchase is reading the notes, so they immediately lose a large part of their original raison d'etre. I know that many Sony and Fantasy reissues have some sort of blurb on the back of the CD, but for the most part these are not full liner notes and are not intended to act as such. I also know that John Coltrane became increasingly disinterested in having liner notes on his Impulse albums, preferring to "let the music speak for itself." Given Trane's influence on subsequent generations of musicians, it's quite likely that many younger artists (Osby, Moran, Harris, et al) have, at least in part, made the decision to forgo liner notes for similar reasons. Finally, the fact is that liner notes can be pretty tiresome. Stanley Crouch's liners for Wynton Marsalis's albums are deadly dull, as well as full of exaggerated praise. Unless a liner note adds something to the listening experience, or is otherwise engaging (like Brad Mehldau's polemics) there's really no point in having them there at all... Quote
Christiern Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 They got smaller and smaller in point size, eventually making a large segment of liner notes readers half blind. There simply was no point in keeping up the practice. Quote
take5 Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 Force of habbit finds me reading through liner notes of everything I buy, but for the most part I find it tedious and silly. Yes, every note played by every musicians is genius. I only like it when they talk about specific things like instrumentation and maybe a little context. Quote
catesta Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 take5 said: Force of habbit finds me reading through liner notes of everything I buy, but for the most part I find it tedious and silly. Yes, every note played by every musicians is genius. I only like it when they talk about specific things like instrumentation and maybe a little context. I like it when they mention who ate canned soup for lunch and who had a sandwich. Quote
AllenLowe Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 (edited) Actually, though they are rarely readable before buying the CD, I think notes have actually improved in the world of compact discs - the booklets allow much more space, and if the writer is good, they can be quite illuminating, especially, but not only, with boxed sets - of course, this also gives bad writers more space - Edited January 7, 2005 by AllenLowe Quote
RDK Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 catesta said: I like it when they mention who ate canned soup for lunch and who had a sandwich. I believe in the jazz world it's pronounced "sammich." Quote
catesta Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 RDK said: catesta said: I like it when they mention who ate canned soup for lunch and who had a sandwich. I believe in the jazz world it's pronounced "sammich." How right you are. Quote
RDK Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 Seriously, though, I miss them and what they can potentially offer. Sure, Crouch's notes are pointless, while Mehldau's are overly thick and verbose. And saying that they're no longer needed to sell an album (since they're wrapped up inside) or that the printing is now too small seem like mere technical issues to me. It's the contextual insight and behind-the-scenes details that I miss. That, and the occassional artist's perspective you might get. The best of the ol' BN and OJC notes helped me get closer to the artist, on either a personal or artistic level. Quote
catesta Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 I hear ya. I very much enjoy liner notes done well. Quote
Jazzmoose Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 I'd rather listen to the music. I have books if I want to read something... This reminds me of a comment someone made here (and I apologize in advance if I offend) about giving a disc a 'serious listen' while reading the liner notes. Sorry, that's not a serious listen any more than listening while reading the newspaper. Concentrate on the music! Quote
Leeway Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 Liner notes have shrunk or disappeared while the "Acknowledgments" section has grown gigantically in size! Has anyone been noticing what a profusion of acknowledgments there are on many new releases? Musicians are thanking their mother, father, sister, great-aunt, everyone int he band, everyone in the band's girlfriend/boyfriend (no, I'm not going there B-) ), everyone at the record label, the production company, the art designer(s), et al. I've seen some that take up a full page. I have to attribute this either to the artist figuring they will never get another CD deal, or to inflated egos, like those at the Academy Awards, that feel they have to parade every personal and professional obligation before us. I'd rather have liner notes than this ostentation. However, liner notes from family relatives (the Marsalises are big on this) or personal friends should be banned. The kind of liner notes I appreciate are like those written by Bob Blumenthal for the reissued RVGs. I know some have criticized them for lacking a sense of excitement, but I like their relatively sober and informed commentary. I would be happy to see liner notes by Mr. Kart, Mr. Lowe, F. Davis, and others of that quality. Quote
Christiern Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 One more thing...liner notes give the label another chance at a Grammy. Apropos endless credits, has anyone noticed how "God" has had his/her hand in tons of bad albums--he/she seems to favor hip hop. Quote
sal Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 Alot of the smaller labels still use liner notes. I know Criss Cross, for example, has notes for every release they put out. Quote
ghost of miles Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 Christiern said: Apropos endless credits, has anyone noticed how "God" has had his/her hand in tons of bad albums--he/she seems to favor hip hop. You beat me to it, Chris--a pattern I've also noticed in many new jazz releases of the past few years, where "The Creator" is often cited for thanks and/or involvement in the proceedings. Quote
AllenLowe Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 funny this should come up here, as I am currently working on the liner notes for my next CD - I asked a writer I know to do it, and he had a little trouble "getting" the CD, so it means I'm doing it myself - fun to do, but VERY HARD to write about your own music - unless you're Mingus - Quote
7/4 Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 what ever happened to all the fun in the world? Quote
ghost of miles Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 7/4 said: what ever happened to all the fun in the world? here? Quote
couw Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 they fried it with a rat in an omelette Quote
7/4 Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 AllenLowe said: funny this should come up here, as I am currently working on the liner notes for my next CD - I asked a writer I know to do it, and he had a little trouble "getting" the CD, so it means I'm doing it myself - fun to do, but VERY HARD to write about your own music - unless you're Mingus - La Monte Young told me I should always write a press release and detailed liner notes with technical details, because if "they" don't get it - "they'll" get it wrong. So...it's good to guide "them" in the right direction. Quote
7/4 Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 ghost of miles said: 7/4 said: what ever happened to all the fun in the world? here? quiet! look at that last post from B3er in that thread, we don't want to piss him off, besides I promised him to ease off on crazy amounts of posts last Summer. Quote
7/4 Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 couw said: they fried it with a rat in an omelette Rat Tomago! Quote
couw Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 7/4 said: couw said: they fried it with a rat in an omelette Rat Tomago! Wait A Minute Quote
Jazzmoose Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 Minute Rat...the San Francisco Treat! Oops; sorry...that's Rataroni... Quote
take5 Posted January 7, 2005 Report Posted January 7, 2005 Jazzmoose said: I'd rather listen to the music. I have books if I want to read something... This reminds me of a comment someone made here (and I apologize in advance if I offend) about giving a disc a 'serious listen' while reading the liner notes. Sorry, that's not a serious listen any more than listening while reading the newspaper. Concentrate on the music! Some of us can multi-task. Quote
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