What can I do to get the art restored?

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » February 28, 2004 7:32 pm

Yes, I’m still frustrated about the missing art to the 73-88 albums.

I’ve e-mailed Mailboat and Margaritaville.com. Anybody have anymore ideas?

mason · Post by **mason** » February 28, 2004 7:41 pm

go to garage sales or used record shops. rescue as many jimmy albums as you. but be sure to check for the art work. probably the only way you will ever get what you seek. good luck

"listen to the stories i could tell"

member of the parrothead nation

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » February 28, 2004 8:34 pm

I know. Such as shame, as I shift through the CD racks, I see lots of CDs that have loads of unique art. I get so upset knowing Jimmy’s albums could have the same. It’s not fair.

STUPID MCA!

Key Lime Lee · Post by **Key Lime Lee** » February 28, 2004 10:22 pm

Neither Mailboat nor Margaritaville.com has any control over the old records.

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » February 28, 2004 10:32 pm

Key Lime Lee wrote:Neither Mailboat nor Margaritaville.com has any control over the old records.

I know, I just want them to be aware. I can't seem to find an e-mail address for the ones responsible: MCA.

JMUparrothead · Post by **JMUparrothead** » February 29, 2004 12:04 am

Parrot Monkey wrote:
Key Lime Lee wrote:Neither Mailboat nor Margaritaville.com has any control over the old records.
I know, I just want them to be aware. I can't seem to find an e-mail address for the ones responsible: MCA.

mcarecords.fanmail@umusic.com
this should work

JMUparrothead · Post by **JMUparrothead** » February 29, 2004 12:09 am

JMUparrothead wrote:
Parrot Monkey wrote:
Key Lime Lee wrote:Neither Mailboat nor Margaritaville.com has any control over the old records.
I know, I just want them to be aware. I can't seem to find an e-mail address for the ones responsible: MCA.
mcarecords.fanmail@umusic.com
this should work

I'm pretty sure this company owns MCA now. You might wanna check out this site too. http://new.umusic.com/contactus.aspx
theres another email thing at the bottom of that page. You're right they are hard to find contact information for. probably cause they have so many complaints for being cheap and abusive to their customers

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » February 29, 2004 10:17 am

JMUparrothead wrote:mcarecords.fanmail@umusic.com
this should work

Thanks for the help finding the address.

I have an e-mail message saved that I’m going to send to them:

Dear MCA Records,

I’m a relatively young "parrothead" that has been enjoying the music of Jimmy Buffett for quite some time now. It all began with the Songs You Know by Heart compilation, the first CD of Jimmy’s my parents bought. Since then, they have purchased Floridays, Off to See the Lizard, Feeding Frenzy, Fruitcakes, Barometer Soup, Banana Wind, Christmas Island, Don’t Stop the Carnival, Beach House on the Moon, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Far Side of the World. Though I have enjoyed those CDs when my parents played them, it wasn’t until last year I became a true parrot head. I started to listen to all those CDs on my own and re-discovered so many songs. I soon after started my own collection, starting with the Meet Me in Margaritaville compilation. For Christmas, I received many CDs that filled in the gaps from before my parents started buying. After receiving those gifts and spending some Christmas money, I now have Down To Earth, A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean, Living and Dying in ¾ Time, A-1-A, Havana Daydreamn’, Changes in Latitudes, Son of a Son of a Sailor, Volcano, Coconut Telegraph, Somewhere Over China, One Particular Harbor, Riddles In The Sand, Last Mango In Paris, Hot Water, Live in Las Vegas and Live in Auburn. I can’t express in words how much I love the music contained on these discs.

There is, however one thing that disappoints me. When I started getting Jimmy’s 1973-1985 albums on CD, I noticed that all the back covers looked the same. They all have the same boring background (just in different colors) with track listings in a very plain font. When I opened the CD jewel cases, I found that the inserts also didn’t include any graphics, liner notes or lyrics (save the front covers). I discovered that in the early days of the CD format, the MCA label was taking the cheap and easy way out and had a series called "Compact Disc/Compact Price" and every CD released under this terrible generic moniker had none of the original artwork that was included (with the exception of the front covers) with the vinyl records. The back of all the inserts is an ugly ad that lists many other artists that have been affected by this. It makes it look like Jimmy was cheap and did not bother hiring art directors, which I know is not true, as I have seen many pictures and scans of the vinyl record's packaging provided by other parrotheads who own them. Such a shame, as all of Jimmy’s records included loads of pictures that were full of his character, beautiful paintings, complete lyrics, band credits and liner notes. I find MCA’s actions disrespectful to Jimmy and all the other artists that had to have their albums issued on CD by MCA in the early days of CDs. To my knowledge, Elton John and Steely Dan have had CDs in this series, but other labels have taken those recordings and reissued the CDs with a re-mastering job and all the original graphics, liner notes and lyrics that were included with first pressings of the LPs.

My belief is that the art and liner notes being included with the albums should be a requirement, not a bonus. Jimmy and the art directors (such as Peter Whorf) worked hard to get all of those pictures taken. Liner note writers (such as Tom McGuane) wrote all of those notes for a reason. The most insulting thing I find in MCA's actions is the removal of Jimmy's dedications and thanks, (i.e. the notes on the SOASOAS sleeve)

I own many Billy Joel, Elton John and John Lennon CDs that have all of the original art, liner notes and lyrics (plus additional material) included with them. When comparing them to Jimmy's 80's CD issues, I get really upset, knowing he could have the same.

I really hope that some day in the near future these albums get reissued with the original art restored and the disgrace of a product that's out now goes out of print.There is just too many graphics and liner notes to be thrown away here. I could see using generic artwork if the albums had no other art to use, but they all do. If its available, why not use it?

Thank you for taking the time to read my e-mail.

Tell me if you have any suggestions for things I should add.

JMUparrothead · Post by **JMUparrothead** » February 29, 2004 4:47 pm

its a good email but its mainly a complaint with a vague solution. you might want to suggest that they make all the artwork available, possibly online or send it to people upon request? Also I know it means a lot to you and I, but I don't know if they'll care about all the albums you have so you might wanna shorten that part so they dont lose interest and delete it. Unfortunately you're probably not writing to fellow parrotheads at MCI.

I hope they listen to your cause

Its great that you're following through with this. Keep me posted on the result or lack of one. If we could get a bunch of the people on this site to send them a similar message, I'm sure we could get some results!!!

Bamafan · Post by **Bamafan** » February 29, 2004 7:06 pm

There's also something i haven't seen anyone mention and that's the fact that some of the artwork wouldn't look good on the back of a cd. Take Living and Dying in 3/4 time for example, the song list and the band members are listed in the bottom left corner and there's no way you could read that stuff on the back of a cd case.

JMUparrothead · Post by **JMUparrothead** » February 29, 2004 7:54 pm

Bamafan wrote:There's also something i haven't seen anyone mention and that's the fact that some of the artwork wouldn't look good on the back of a cd. Take Living and Dying in 3/4 time for example, the song list and the band members are listed in the bottom left corner and there's no way you could read that stuff on the back of a cd case.

true but anything is better than what mca put on there

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » February 29, 2004 7:55 pm

Bamafan wrote:There's also something i haven't seen anyone mention and that's the fact that some of the artwork wouldn't look good on the back of a cd. Take Living and Dying in 3/4 time for example, the song list and the band members are listed in the bottom left corner and there's no way you could read that stuff on the back of a cd case.

Right, that’s the situation with many albums that were originally issued on vinyl. In the case of ¾ Time, they would have to cut a little of the top or bottom of the picture of the shark so it would fit the dimensions of the tray liner. They might be able to print all the notes on the back, as Varsee was able to do it with the Down To Earth CD issue. If not, they should move all those liner notes to somewhere inside to front insert booklet and just leave the track listing on the back. The track listing should be retyped in the same font, just larger print so it could be read. Art directors are prepared for situations like this and know how to improvise. The front covers are the only piece of printed material you can simply re-size in the case of most albums.

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » March 1, 2004 1:52 pm

Glad to see you continuing your cause to have the original artwork restored but while you're at it, I must chime in about having the discs remastered and the possible inclusion of bonus tracks when this is done. I say "when" rather than "if" because I firmly believe it is something Buffett will get around to one day, especially since most every other artist has done it, not to mention how badly the sound needs to be improved on the earlier CDs.

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » March 1, 2004 4:40 pm

Jahfin wrote:Glad to see you continuing your cause to have the original artwork restored but while you're at it, I must chime in about having the discs remastered and the possible inclusion of bonus tracks when this is done. I say "when" rather than "if" because I firmly believe it is something Buffett will get around to one day, especially since most every other artist has done it, not to mention how badly the sound needs to be improved on the earlier CDs.

Sure, reissues come with all of that.

The theory I’m going with is that MCA rushed all of their 80’s CDs out the door and didn’t bother taking the time to get the master tapes and take full advantage of digital audio technology. The same goes with the artwork. They probably included the front covers because they can simply be resized, no extra work needed. The rear cover and inner graphics and notes have to be modified due to dimension differences and the size of the print. It’s obvious that MCA went for quantity, not quality.

With reissues, each album can be given the individual attention it deserves.

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » March 1, 2004 7:22 pm

My signature below originally said “1973-85” but I changed it to 88 because I believe Floridays and Hot Water need to be reissued also. Floridays’ back cover is heavily truncated and black and white picture of the band on a boat that was used on the sleeve is missing. The situation with Hot Water’s printed material is really weird. The record jacket has a picture of Jimmy on the back that the CD doesn’t have, while the CD has lyrics and notes by Jimmy telling where he got the idea for each song or why he covered it in the booklet. According the cobo discography, the record has no gatefold and has a clear sleeve, which leave no where left to included the lyrics and notes. I guess MCA is saying you can’t have both.

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » March 2, 2004 4:55 pm

Noooooooo... Can't let this drop to the bottom of the second page!

The art must be restored!

fxmulder · Post by **fxmulder** » March 4, 2004 3:17 pm

With reissues, each album can be given the individual attention it deserves.

Look no further than the AC/DC remaster series as a template. Hugely upgraded sound, fantastic artwork, and very detailed booklets. Whether or not you like AC/DC, you have to respect the job that was done on reissuing their catalog... Even has weblinks to more goodies on the net.

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » March 4, 2004 5:05 pm

fxmulder wrote:
With reissues, each album can be given the individual attention it deserves.
Look no further than the AC/DC remaster series as a template. Hugely upgraded sound, fantastic artwork, and very detailed booklets. Whether or not you like AC/DC, you have to respect the job that was done on reissuing their catalog... Even has weblinks to more goodies on the net.

As with Elton John, John Lennon and Billy Joel.

Jimmy is one of the artists who’s catalogue still needs that treatment. Other artists include Springsteen and the Beatles.

Yes, the Fab Four.

Look what they did to the Revolver back cover!

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » March 5, 2004 11:32 am

No e-mail back from MCA yet. The fact that they don’t care is really annoying me.