Sending an e-mail to MCA/Universal regarding CD issues

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » June 21, 2004 5:28 pm

Meisinger, I understand that it will be an expense, but please! There are over 400 CDs in my family's collection. They all include booklets or foldouts, (this includes albums first pressed on vinyl and albums that debuted on CD) except those 12 JBs! I fail to understand why JB's 73-85 albums are treated like crap on the CD format.

I really wish I could find some contact info for that product manager, so I could explain to them how respecting someone's work is more important then thier money. And reissuing the catalogue would most likely make them more $, as many of us would buy them again.

And about the e-mails. Why do record companys bother to post their e-mail addresses on their sites if they just delete everything? I didn't see a message that said "For professional contact only" anywhere.

meisinger · Post by **meisinger** » June 21, 2004 6:26 pm

Expensive isn't the issue. Unnecessary is. Not long ago, there was a good interview with Peter Criss from Kiss online. In it, he talks about the fact that true fans are last concern to anyone in the music business. True fans are hooked from the get go. Casual fans are the key and casual fans are buying old Buffett CDs at a steady pace. I don't think you realize how rare a catalog like Buffett's is. One I would compare it to is Beatles and you don't see that stuff getting remastered. Perhaps you don't realize what is involved from the sales standpoint on remastering titles. You don't just do it. It's a long process and I'll give you an example. At the end of July, we are releasing remasters of the Megadeth catalog. To do this, we had to delete the originals in August of last year. To do that, we had to stop manufacturing product long before that, to deplete what was on hand. That translates into roughly a year without selling Megadeth catalog. Stores can sell it, but I'm talking about the label. There was a greatest hits package that came out a couple of years ago, that killed catalog sales (that's why the remasters are coming out) so going a year without selling a catalog that the bottom has fallen out of, isn't a big problem. Yearly forecasts and projections reflect that. But, when you have a strong catalog and have to project it's earnings every quarter, you try to keep your margin high. As for trying to convince someone in business that nifty CDs are more important than money. I'm not sure what to say. Quite a few of us have families to provide for.

Key Lime Lee · Post by **Key Lime Lee** » June 21, 2004 6:40 pm

Parrot Monkey wrote:I really wish I could find some contact info for that product manager, so I could explain to them how respecting someone's work is more important then thier money.

I'd pay to hear that conversation, and the ensuing laughter.

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » June 21, 2004 7:21 pm

Parrot Monkey,

I hate to see you getting such negative responses here. The Beatles have in fact remastered several of their albums, most recently the White Album. According to what I've read, the entire Beatles catalog (along with some of the albums that have never seen an official release on CD such Live At The Hollywood Bowl) are going to be re-released but that's beside the point. I've seen artists that are less well known than either the Beatles or Buffett have their entire catalogs remastered and reissued with bonus tracks. I've cited Georgia's Guadalcanal Diary as an example before but another one would be Uncle Tupelo. While they're well known on a cult status level, they're far from a household name and all of their albums have recieved the same treatment Jimmy Buffett's records deserve. I think it's just a matter of being able to get in contact with the right person in order to have our pleas heard. In the meantime, I wouldn't let what the cynics say bother you. I know it's possible because I've seen it done with far too many other artists.

Key Lime Lee · Post by **Key Lime Lee** » June 21, 2004 7:41 pm

Jahfin wrote: In the meantime, I wouldn't let what the cynics say bother you.

I wouldn't call Meisinger a cynic per se... more like a realist, and a realist providing the perspective of someone from inside the industry.

If anything I'd study Meisinger's posts carefully because he's telling you exactly what you're going to hear from anyone at a label, except he's polite about it.

Don't let it stop you, but be honest about what you're up against and the language ($$) that labels speak. Otherwise you're just wasting your time.

I think you need numbers on your side - large volumes of parrotheads sending in the same message so you can convince them that there is a market. It's unlikely they're going to listen to just one voice.

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » June 21, 2004 7:47 pm

I don't recall saying anywhere in my message that meisinger was a cynic I just suggested it would be wise not to listen to the naysayers because I know a project like this isn't impossible. I fail to understand how other artists that are less known than Jimmy Buffett like the ones that I've already mentioned (and there are plenty of others) have had their entire catalogs remastered and re-released without any sort of campaign on the part of the fans (with the exception of Guadalcanal Diary, who's reissue campaign did begin with their fans). I'm also curious to know how anyone here knows exactly what's going on behind the scenes. How does anyone know that an effort to re-release Buffett's catalog isn't already underway?

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » June 21, 2004 8:54 pm

Thanks for the support Jahfin, although I must say that Lee and meisinger are just telling it like it is. I know they want to see Jimmy's old albums re-issued just like we do, they are just telling the facts.

Still, I'm sure it would be an investment, but it can't be that bad as Lee and meisinger have stated. For example, look at other reissueing campains that have took place in the 90s and early 00s. We have Billy Joel's catalogue, reissued in 98' which consists of 12 studio albums, 2 live albums and 2 compilations. They were reissued and now include remastered tracks, lyrics, liner notes all the photos from the album sleeves as well as CD extra videos. 16 discs that is. Do you think the people in charge of that production now exist as hobos? I really doubt it. Then there is Elton John's classic albums from 69-76. They were orignally on MCA's CDCP series, but fans hated it. So what happend? All 12 were reissued on Polydor in 92' and included all the liner notes, photos and paintings. And just when you thought they coulden't get any better, they did. In 95', Sir Elton's 12 classic albums were reissued yet again on the Rocket label and now include remastered tracks as well as retrospective liner notes. Twice his albums were reissued. Do you think the product managers from those two labels are now sleeping in dumpsters while their familes starve? I think not.

What I'm trying to say is, if nearly every other artist's albums can have the pleasure of including the art and notes on their CD releases, why can't Jimmy's classics?

WHY?

I also wounder what Jimmy would have to say on this issue. I really doubt he's looked at his own albums on the CD racks. Say you approach Jimmy and tell him the issue and the solution of reissueing. At first, he would probably laugh in your face as it includes him loseing some $ for awhile. But then tell him something like his dedication to his grandfather is now missing from Havana Daydreamin'. I think that would change his mind in an instant.

DeactiveCarib · Post by **DeactiveCarib** » June 21, 2004 10:10 pm

also, look at garth brooks' "one voice, one decade, one hundred million [albums sold]" reissuing campaign. . .. that was probably the most unessacary thing i could possibly think of but im sure he sold millions of millions of more albums because of that. . .. and i just noticed that buffett has 34 albums excluding SYKBH, the boxset, and all of those early compilations. . . .also, buffett has been making albums for 34 years, so he could have a "34 years, 34 albums" reissue campaign .. . . just an idea

. . . if anyone else likes this idea and wants to join me in contacting mailboat or MCA to spearhead this reissue idea, PM me please and i will include you in my corrispondence to mailboat or MCA

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » June 22, 2004 12:09 pm

I received this message from Margaritaville.com in regards to who to contact concerning Buffett remasters:

Please contact in writing:

HK Management
9200 Sunset Blvd #530
Los Angeles, CA 90069

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » June 22, 2004 12:23 pm

Jahfin wrote:I received this message from Margaritaville.com in regards to who to contact concerning Buffett remasters:

Please contact in writing:

HK Management
9200 Sunset Blvd #530
Los Angeles, CA 90069

Cool beans Jahfin!

I will consider tweaking my e-mail message to writing and the send it there.

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » June 22, 2004 12:37 pm

Parrot Monkey wrote:I also wounder what Jimmy would have to say on this issue. I really doubt he's looked at his own albums on the CD racks. Say you approach Jimmy and tell him the issue and the solution of reissueing. At first, he would probably laugh in your face as it includes him loseing some $ for awhile. But then tell him something like his dedication to his grandfather is now missing from Havana Daydreamin'. I think that would change his mind in an instant.

I'm sure JB is well aware of what is/is not included with his CDs.

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » June 22, 2004 1:02 pm

I also imagine Buffett (along with other MCA artists such Skynyrd) are aware of the p*** poor repackaging job MCA did with the vinyl versions of their albums.

Parrothed71 · Post by **Parrothed71** » June 22, 2004 5:16 pm

I sent your e-mail to the address...I agree and would love to see the reissues if they ever come to be.

Key Lime Lee · Post by **Key Lime Lee** » June 22, 2004 7:33 pm

Jahfin wrote:I also imagine Buffett (along with other MCA artists such Skynyrd) are aware of the p*** poor repackaging job MCA did with the vinyl versions of their albums.

But I bet he still cashes the royalty checks when they roll in without remorse....

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » June 24, 2004 11:23 am

Key Lime Lee wrote:
Jahfin wrote:I also imagine Buffett (along with other MCA artists such Skynyrd) are aware of the p*** poor repackaging job MCA did with the vinyl versions of their albums.
But I bet he still cashes the royalty checks when they roll in without remorse....

I have no doubt but what MCA did to the original packaging of those albums is a travesty. Perhaps the one good thing is the repackaged version of Changes in Latitudes is the only place you can find the short acoustic version of the title track.

mandegi · Post by **mandegi** » June 25, 2004 8:23 pm

Hey I find it hard to belive that A1A didn't even go gold?? I have bought it twice! and know that it has atleast sold 500,000 copies by now.

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » July 6, 2004 5:12 pm

Must pull this thread out of the water. I know what's going through everyone's mind as they saw the topic back on top: "There goes that 17 year old blabbing about the MCA CDs again, what a loser. Why dosen't he just sit back and listen to the music? That's all that matters, who cares about the packaging?". I don't care what people think, something must be done. Jimmy's early catalogue must be given the justice it deserves.

I was reading more newsgroups today and read that Walter Becker and Donald Fagen got in a fight with MCA about what they did to Steely Dan's old albums. Seeing the reissues on the Wal-Mart CD racks, I'd say they got results.

Guess I'm going to have to send a hard copy to that address, as e-mail is almost pointless when it comes to fans mailing professionals.

I'm also for the spreading of the idea to Mailboat, although they can't do much as much as they wish they could.

I still say a MCA/Mailboat deal (like what was done with MMIM) would be a good way to go. Mailboat would pay attention to the sound and packaging while both labels would split the profit.

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » July 6, 2004 5:25 pm

Don't let the lack of interest and discouraging words affect your beliefs. It's sad that so few people seem to care but this is just one internet site and is not representative at all of Buffett's overall fan base who I think do care.

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » July 6, 2004 6:00 pm

Your right about this site being only a small percent of the PH population. It's the fact that so many people here don't care that bugs me. I fail to see how it is possible not to be bothered by MCA's CD issues. How so many people can accept these CDs as definitve copies remains a mystery to me.

I mean, there appears to be numerous devoted PHs that belong this forum that go to as many shows as possible and even travel long distances to see Jimmy, but when it comes to the CDs, they are satisfied with MCAs disgraceful issues! Sorry, I just don't get it...

Maybe it's because I'm only 17 and I can't drink all my problems away like almost everyone else here.

(no offense everyone, I wish I was older and could do the same).

Parrot Monkey · Post by **Parrot Monkey** » July 7, 2004 11:04 am

I really hope LTC puts some hope into this project. What do I mean by that? Well, it looks like there is going to be lots of hype about Jimmy's new release. Because of all the good promotion with the 2 videos and the posters at stores, many new PHs are going to arrive. You know MCA will get jealous and wish they still had Jimmy on their roster. I know that this happened in the 70's when Jimmy hit big, Barnaby, his former label, released HCJ and then Before the Salt.

It would be wise for MCA to make their move while all the hype for LTC is at its prime. If they re-issue, it will be more eaiser to find the studio albums on the CD racks.

"Only Time Will Tell"