Have we seen the last of the Blue Note RVG reissues?

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I just think the market drives this. If they can't keep even the heavy hitters in print, why would they put out the obscure titles like the Washington and Jordan? They'll head straight into deletion and the company loses money. And if the big name and famous PJ albums don't make it through deletion, then it makes no sense to release the others.

None of this is state-subsidized etc. It's great art to us, but the owners have to make money. And they're obviously not. Maybe they'll test the waters in downloads in the future. . . but again they'll try first what sells.

I'm happy for anything that comes out, but as we've seen less and less is coming out. The golden days have brassened up.

But it's a world market, Lon. Universal Japan have just put out some Prestige material - including Leon Spencer's "Bad walkin' woman" and Rusty Bryant's "Friday night funk" - that hadn't been issued in either the US or Japan before - the Spencer had never been on CD before, the Bryant only in the UK. They must think there are enough customers out there to make it worthwhile. (Oh, and Toshiba issued "Grant Green's "Visions".) If a Japanese firm can sell albums in suficient quantity, so can an American one - the same people are buying.

Delmark must have felt there was a market for Red Holloway's "Go Red go" - a real surprise (to me) of a new issue. Yes, I know; Delmark has a different attitude to EMI and Universal Japan. Ditto Palmetto and Criss Cross Jazz for two Lonnie Smith releases this year. And Doodlin' Records, too.

There's people out there wanting this stuff but the likes of EMI don't know how to get to them, by the looks of it.

MG

[ghost of miles]

I've got several copies of the Hubbard release to give away as thank-you gifts for the Night Lights fund-drive show tonight. We're broadcasting live tonight from 11 p.m.-midnight EST (theme is "Triple Trumpets"--playing Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, and Hubbard), but you can pledge online any time here:

Night Lights WFIU

Just be sure to tell 'em you want the contribution to count towards Night Lights and that you want the Freddie Hubbard WITHOUT A SONG cd.

Edited November 7, 2009 by ghost of miles

[mgraham333]

It's over. No more Blue Note RVGs, no more Connoissuers. No annoucement. Just fade to black.

[sidewinder]

I guess it's going to be just like 1979-84 again. A period of fabulous 'brown bag' 2LP reissues and the Rainbow Series then - nothing. Until a new generation discovers Blue Note.

In the meantime, Japan keeps it going (King and Toshiba had the field to themselves back then).

[felser]

It's over. No more Blue Note RVGs, no more Connoissuers. No annoucement. Just fade to black.

and Norah Jones releases.

[king ubu]

Well, I'd be all for some more of those brown vinyl twofers... just make sure one of them contains the "Cliff Jordan" LP and some of that Pacific stuff will be reissued as well! I'm sure the missing Lighthouse Crusaders could nicely be extended to a 2LP set with some OOP tracks... I remember I once had one of the white w/orange photo vinyl twofers from somebody, with some Blakey or Brownie stuff that probably at that time was pretty rare... of course later on it was all on CD, but hey, if that's what the brown bag time will bring, then bring it on!

[A Lark Ascending]

Cuscuna did point out in a Jazzwise interview this year that Blue Note were seriously exploring the download option, aware they had not given this approach the attention it deserves. Something about a complete website re-fit with download shop.

Not of much use to those who, for various reasons, are dissatistfied with downloading.

But I can see no reason why, with a bit of care and effort, everything could not be available that way, ready to catch the wave should that next generation get interested (via name-dropping from rock bands, dance crazes or soundtrack or commercial use).

Will need a major change in business practice though - away from the delete and withold until a market is created before re-issuing again approach, towards a just having it up there for when people get interested.

In the days when releasing something meant all sorts of problems - manufacture, storage, distribution etc - deletion made sense. In the new technological world it makes no sense at all. There's the initial work/costs remastering, making the digital files (and checking they are error free!), setting up the website etc. After that it's just a case of keeping people aware (a publicity issue) and sometimes satisfying the demand for upgrading when better technologies come along.

I suspect most people will be quite content to just have the music available in good quality sound (though I've no doubt we will continue to be pressurised into believing that we really do need to upgrade to the new premium mp17 format).

Who knows. Once they have the entire back catalogue sorted, they might then have more time to focus on new recordings!

[jazzbo]

I just think the market drives this. If they can't keep even the heavy hitters in print, why would they put out the obscure titles like the Washington and Jordan? They'll head straight into deletion and the company loses money. And if the big name and famous PJ albums don't make it through deletion, then it makes no sense to release the others.

None of this is state-subsidized etc. It's great art to us, but the owners have to make money. And they're obviously not. Maybe they'll test the waters in downloads in the future. . . but again they'll try first what sells.

I'm happy for anything that comes out, but as we've seen less and less is coming out. The golden days have brassened up.

But it's a world market, Lon. Universal Japan have just put out some Prestige material - including Leon Spencer's "Bad walkin' woman" and Rusty Bryant's "Friday night funk" - that hadn't been issued in either the US or Japan before - the Spencer had never been on CD before, the Bryant only in the UK. They must think there are enough customers out there to make it worthwhile. (Oh, and Toshiba issued "Grant Green's "Visions".) If a Japanese firm can sell albums in suficient quantity, so can an American one - the same people are buying.

Delmark must have felt there was a market for Red Holloway's "Go Red go" - a real surprise (to me) of a new issue. Yes, I know; Delmark has a different attitude to EMI and Universal Japan. Ditto Palmetto and Criss Cross Jazz for two Lonnie Smith releases this year. And Doodlin' Records, too.

There's people out there wanting this stuff but the likes of EMI don't know how to get to them, by the looks of it.

MG

Allen, Japan has always had a different market and distributin strategy. Yes, it works for Japan. But the giants like EMI USA are totally different, with different strategies, needs and ambitions. Different than the smaller US labels, Delmark, etc. These little guys CAN find a way to do their releases I guess, can take the risk. EMI is probably going to just limp along like a tired dinosaur towards a download plan.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I just think the market drives this. If they can't keep even the heavy hitters in print, why would they put out the obscure titles like the Washington and Jordan? They'll head straight into deletion and the company loses money. And if the big name and famous PJ albums don't make it through deletion, then it makes no sense to release the others.

None of this is state-subsidized etc. It's great art to us, but the owners have to make money. And they're obviously not. Maybe they'll test the waters in downloads in the future. . . but again they'll try first what sells.

I'm happy for anything that comes out, but as we've seen less and less is coming out. The golden days have brassened up.

But it's a world market, Lon. Universal Japan have just put out some Prestige material - including Leon Spencer's "Bad walkin' woman" and Rusty Bryant's "Friday night funk" - that hadn't been issued in either the US or Japan before - the Spencer had never been on CD before, the Bryant only in the UK. They must think there are enough customers out there to make it worthwhile. (Oh, and Toshiba issued "Grant Green's "Visions".) If a Japanese firm can sell albums in suficient quantity, so can an American one - the same people are buying.

Delmark must have felt there was a market for Red Holloway's "Go Red go" - a real surprise (to me) of a new issue. Yes, I know; Delmark has a different attitude to EMI and Universal Japan. Ditto Palmetto and Criss Cross Jazz for two Lonnie Smith releases this year. And Doodlin' Records, too.

There's people out there wanting this stuff but the likes of EMI don't know how to get to them, by the looks of it.

MG

Allen, Japan has always had a different market and distributin strategy. Yes, it works for Japan. But the giants like EMI USA are totally different, with different strategies, needs and ambitions. Different than the smaller US labels, Delmark, etc. These little guys CAN find a way to do their releases I guess, can take the risk. EMI is probably going to just limp along like a tired dinosaur towards a download plan.

Well, you may be right - I'm just glad they issued those albums last month! And I look forward to more.

MG