The reason for me sending this e-mail is to shed light on an issue that I find very important. To my understanding your company, Universal Records purchased MCA Records several years back. If MCA exists as a smaller branch and has a separate e-mail address I can send this to, please provide it to me. If not, please keep reading.
Back in the 80’s when CD’s were the new craze, MCA began to release some CDs that were manufactured in Japan. The CD issues that were re-issues of albums originally pressed on vinyl to my understanding, were complete with inserts that contained all or most of the original artwork and liner notes that were included on the LP jackets and sleeves. Later on, MCA moved manufacturing to America, where the disgraceful “Compact Disc/Compact Price” generic moniker was born. CDs that were issued in the dreadful series contained no artwork besides the front cover (which was polluted with the catalogue # and the moniker logo in the bottom corners), no liner notes, no band credits, no lyrics, nothing.
For most artist’s catalogues, this is no longer and issue as MCA has either re-issued the albums with all the original artwork and liner notes or sold the rights to another label to do the job. This does not hold true with Jimmy Buffett’s 1973-85 albums.
Jimmy Buffett’s 73-85 works are praised by many as his best years. Many popular songs are included on those albums, “Come Monday” , “Margaritaville” “One Particular Harbour” , and “Last Mango in Paris” , to name a few. While the above songs and many others appear on Buffett’s many compilations, the albums in which they were originally released on are only available on CD in MCA’s CDCP series. I find it quite disrespectful that Buffett’s 12 albums have only been available in this form for nearly 15 years.
I don’t own any of Buffett’s records myself (just CDs), but other Parrotheads were kind to devote some of their time to scan and take pictures of their collections. When I viewed the pictures for the first time, I was quite angry. Loads of neat pictures and paintings graced the album jackets, lyrics and liner notes were contained on the sleeves and so on. While lyrics, liner notes and pictures may fall into the “Bells and Whistles” category, crediting musicians does not. I had to search hard online to find out who plays on Buffett’s 73-85 albums, something I didn’t have to do with any other albums in my collection. The thing I find most disrespectful is the removal of Jimmy's dedications, for example, Volcano is/was dedicated to his wife and daughter.
Yes, I understand that interest is low on this subject as most music fans come to the reasoning that all that matters is the music and don’t care one bit about the printed material, most likely the reason these CD issues have been available on the market for so long. I just can’t understand why I am in a minority on this issue, as it is quite obvious what MCA did to once beautiful packages.
I know Steely Dan’s back catalogue was reissued and freed from the CDCP series, so I don’t see why Buffett’s 12 albums shouldn’t have the same recognition. The 12 albums are “A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean”, “Living and Dying in ¾ Time,” “A-1-A”, “Havana Daydreamin’”, “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes”, “Son of a Son of a Sailor”, “Volcano”, “Coconut Telegraph”, “Somewhere Over China”, “One Particular Harbour”, “Riddles in the Sand” and “Last Mango in Paris”.
The main point here is, if nearly every other album on the face of the planet can have complete CD packages, why can’t the 12 albums mentioned above?
Again, I apologize if you don’t have a response for me. If that is true, please provide me with an e-mail address for someone who can maybe answer.
Thank you...
Well, what does everyone think? Any suggestions as to anything I missed or should remove?
I kindly ask that everyone takes the time to send a similar e-mail message to either the above address or anything better I can get out of them. Please, I know intrest in art and liner notes is low, but we all have to realize the Jimmy was disrespected and that these 12 albums might be the only albums out there without complete packages.
The BN phamily is full of great people and I know if we all band together, we can get some results.
Maybe I missed it in there somewhere (and please pardon me if I did) but I saw no mention of improving the sound quality of the original releases. I also wouldn't mention that interest is low regarding a reissue compaign. That may be the response you've received on this particular message board but I'm not so sure that's how Jimmy Buffett fans feel over all. Otherwise, great work and please let those of us that are interested in this project know what we can do to help.
Jahfin wrote:Maybe I missed it in there somewhere (and please pardon me if I did) but I saw no mention of improving the sound quality of the original releases.
Whopps, your right! Good thing I posted the message here before I sent it. I will add that.
As for the intrest thing, I'm just not sure. If the intrest level was high, I'm sure something would have been done by now and we wouldn't have that Compact Disc, Compact Price, Compact Crap stuff.
Parrot Monkey wrote:As for the intrest thing, I'm just not sure. If the intrest level was high, I'm sure something would have been done by now and we wouldn't have that Compact Disc, Compact Price, Compact Crap stuff.
I don't think anyone has mounted a fan-based campaign to let them know how many of us care. Like I mentioned in a previous thread regarding this subject that's what it took to get the execs to re-release Guadalcanal Diary's back catalogue as deluxe editions. That was done by Rhino Handmade who specialize in this sort of thing.
You may receive a better response if you word your communication more like a business letter and less like a letter from a fan who's p*** off at a record company...
Examples...
..."if nearly every other album on the face of the planet" should more properly be put as "as many other CDs"
..."The reason for me sending this e-mail is to shed light on an issue that I find very important." - perhaps - "The reason I am writing this e-mail is to bring to your attention an issue of interest to a great many music collectors."
You've got to convince them that it's in their best interest FINANCIALLY to listen to you and heed your message...
1978 Jimmy Buffett Son of a Son of a Sailor Original Master Recording (MFSL--MCA UDCD 713) Produced and distributed by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, Inc (under MCA Records)
This is a good example of how the cds should be released.
conched wrote:You might also want to refer to this cd...
1978 Jimmy Buffett Son of a Son of a Sailor Original Master Recording (MFSL--MCA UDCD 713) Produced and distributed by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, Inc (under MCA Records)
This is a good example of how the cds should be released.
Whatcha think?
Don't have that CD issue, but I hear only good about Mobile Fedelity's mastering. How is the packaging done? I hear they included all the elements front the record jacket and sleeve, but just how is it done? Is it a booklet or foldout? Can anyone take pics or scans?
BTW, my e-mail will be tweaked based on all the suggestions. Thanks for the assistance so far everyone.
SOASOAS MFSL has all the album information in a booklet verbatim from the vinyl I have stamped Platinum Plus MCA 37024 so I guess it is a re-issue of abc Records AA-1046 which is on the cover.
The booklet even has the gatefold photo printed in the center fold of the booklet.
To me, it is exactly how the cds should have all been done.
I am well aware that MCA owns the rights to Buffett's albums. I just don't think MCA has any interest in re-releasing the Buffett albums with the artwork and possibly un-released tracks. Buffett's popularity has been at the top for quite a few years now, and as you have noticed there have been no remastered releases of original Buffett albums.
Columbia Records is the label that is famous for remastering and re-releasing albums...just see the Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash releases. I hope I am wrong on this issue, however I don't think MCA considers it worth their time and money to remaster the old albums and add the original artwork. I for one enjoy album art just as much as I do the music.
jbfinscj wrote:Columbia Records is the label that is famous for remastering and re-releasing albums...just see the Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash releases. I hope I am wrong on this issue, however I don't think MCA considers it worth their time and money to remaster the old albums and add the original artwork. I for one enjoy album art just as much as I do the music.
Columbia also did a good job on Billy Joel's catalogue, with the exception of 52nd Street missing a few pics of band members. Other than that, they are good.
I also enjoy album art as much as the music. How can one look at the Richard Bibby paintaing contained on the LaDi3/4 Time gatefold and say they don't care about album art?
I really hope I get an answer from Universal or they give me an MCA address and they answer. If not, I think I will go insane.
jbfinscj wrote: I just don't think MCA has any interest in re-releasing the Buffett albums with the artwork and possibly un-released tracks.
I don't either, unless they think they can make a ton of money. I don't think they're there.
That's what drives me up the wall every time I read a post where someone says that.
MCA is so into saving their pritty pennys, they will do anything, even if it means disrespecting all the people who worked their butts off on the albums, as they go uncredited.
I think VH1 should have a series called "The Biggest Disasters in the Music Industry" and MCA's CDCP series should be one of the top 5.
jbfinscj wrote:
Columbia Records is the label that is famous for remastering and re-releasing albums...just see the Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash releases. I hope I am wrong on this issue, however I don't think MCA considers it worth their time and money to remaster the old albums and add the original artwork. I for one enjoy album art just as much as I do the music.
Columbia has certainly done their fair share of re-releasing remastered versions of records from their catalog but they're far from the only ones doing so. The entire Lynyrd Skynyrd MCA-era catalog recently received the "remastered with bonus tracks" treatment. The Grateful Dead also recently had their Warner Brothers era material reissued in deluxe editions by Rhino. Bob Marley's back catalog on Island has also been recently re-released with deluxe packages by Universal (which Island is now a part of), so I think you see my point, it's not something that's exclusively done by Columbia. If MCA can do it for Skynyrd and other artists that used to be on their roster (they're on Sanctuary now if I'm not mistaken) and Rhino (and Rhino Handmade) they can do it for bands such as the Grateful Dead (and much lesser known artists such as the previously mentioned Guadalcanal Diary), I don't see why it can't be done for Jimmy Buffett. I feel it's just a matter of letting the powers that be know there's a demand for them.
Last edited by Jahfin on June 16, 2004 6:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Jahfin wrote:I feel it's just a matter of letting the powers that be know there's a demand for them.
Yes, that's very true. It's why I started this thread, for people to proofread my message and to encourage others to send their own. Please, everyone, take some time out of your day to write an e-mail to Universal/MCA. Remember, strength in numbers! Cartmill and I can't do it alone!
Parrot Monkey wrote:MCA is so into saving their pritty pennys, they will do anything, even if it means disrespecting all the people who worked their butts off on the albums, as they go uncredited.
Of all the sins any major label commits on a daily basis, that would never even make it into the top 10. If you want to get really mad, they do much worse than that....
Eleven longhaired friends of Jesus in a chartreuse microbus...
)
I don't think they're there.