You, my educated friend, are most welcome. There is more to the history of counterfeiting/bootlegging but, as you know, brevity is the soul of wit. In lieu of Friday's quiz you can ... I don't know - how about just remaining sane and interesting?!
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On some of their releases, Collectables used to use vinyl in quite terrible shape. I recall this happening on their first Linda Jones compilation as well as one on Gloria Lynne.
The latter had some particularly bad examples, surface noise so bad that you could barely hear the recording. I was surprised that a label would issue such inferior product. In her book, Gloria wrote that Collectables actually borrowed her copies of her Everest albums to use so that they could put them out on cd.
I recently found a 'grey market' CD of one of my last 'bucket list' albums from the lp era. When the CD and re-release boom began I looked forward to this favorite LP being issued in CD format. Never happened. I continued to look forward as labels issued major 'dumps' of catalog lp product on CD. Never happened. Far more obscure lps were, and are, issued on CD, but not this one. For years I championed its release on CD to re-release labels, on forums, etc. Never happened. Once or twice a year there are rumors that the title will be coming out on CD. Never happened. So, 35 years into the CD era, and nearly 50 years after the lp's original release, is it logical for me to keep waiting? I think ... not. If an official release EVER becomes available, I certainly will buy it. IF I remain alive when [[and, if) that happens.
i agree that given the craziness of the past year and consumers eager to purchase media, any EE that is close to being ready should be released.
I do wonder if there could be delays though in future ones. not because of Universal but because offices are closed/remote. Not sure if Andy, Harry, George and the others are able to access the studios and vaults. so it would make sense that if we were to get an EE on Talk of the Town or Love Child, those could be delayed because all of the prep work they'd be doing now, is postponed due to pandemic.
but yes. they should have released Reflections by now [[assuming it was done enough to go out)
I too bought that Linda Jones CD! I saw there was a newer release recently which seems to be a little more complete although I don’t recall what label it was, but I want to be sure it’s an improvement before I spend money on it. She’s a tough vocalist to collect because I don’t think she recorded very much and she died so young. But some of her work is amazing.
I just can't. Really. I'd love to, but ... just can't. SOOO deeply private a selection. I'd love to, but just ... can't. NOTHING would allow me to tell you, though I would love to. Truly. It's simply .... Oh, OK. Jerry Butler's "The Spice of Life". I WILL purchase an official release the nano-second if it is released. BUT can't wait another minute. Do you have any remaining bucket-list cds?
Thanks for sharing that. It’s always fascinating to learn these things about folks.
I’ve only come to appreciate Jerry Butler lately. I think when I was younger I just thought he was too mellow or something. Now I’ve really come to appreciate his voice. I believe he was on VeeJay records for most of his career, wasn’t he?
Another vocalist who I think is in a similar vein is Major Lance who I only learned last year, when she became a popular news guest, that he was the father of the mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms. Whenever they interview her one of his albums is sitting on her shelf in the background, proudly displayed.
What makes that Jerry Butler album so rare or hard to find? Has his catalog not Been issued on CD for the most part?
I don’t have too many CDs on my bucket list, except one which you’ll probably laugh at. I really love the Salsoul Orchestra’s “Christmas jollies,“ and I have both volumes on CD but volume two is very hard to find and I’d love to buy it for a friend of mine. I love those two albums. They’re so joyful and fun to listen to especially on New Year’s Eve it’s become kind of a tradition for me to listen to both albums.
Now other than that I can’t think of anything which I just have to have. I’m afraid I’ve bought everything!
But I’d love to know what Jerry Butler albums you highly recommend as long as they’re available and won’t cost me a fortune!
As I recall, he only got to the first three Motown LPs, “everybody needs love” had an extra disc, I don’t remember if “feeling bluesy “did or not. He did “silk and soul” but I don’t think it had a bonus disc with it either. On the last album there was one track which was also repeated twice by mistake. Shortly after that was when he got tagged and stopped producing the CDs.
I have most of the Motown albums reissued as 2 albums on i cd in the UK around 15-20 years ago. I think there were 5 cd's containing 10 original albums. Not sure if that accounts for them all.I don't recall them containing bonus cuts, but there may have been a few. I need to check.
I do like the sound of these expanded editions.
it's one thing for fans to pass around bootleg copies of the music. while it's still illegal, i get the premise here. sharing bootlegs of random live shows, rare tv appearances, etc.
the problem is if the "fan" is profiting from his actions. if he's selling these cds then that's an issue. now he's not doing it 'for the love of the music and legacy' but to turn a profit.
shame on that person
now i don't know about this specific guy selling these cds - if he's charging for them or what. so i'm not necessarily accusing him of this but speaking more in the general sense
As I recall, the single disks were a little more than $20, and the double disks were closer to $30. I felt they were all worth the money except a few releases had too many versions of the same song, for example on the “Floy Joy” release, the title song I think had four or five different versions and to my ears they weren’t all that different.
On the releases you mentioned, all of the Pips' Motown albums finally made it to cd, with the exception of their live album ALL IN A KNIGHT'S WORK.
There were also additional tracks on each, but nothing like the expanded sets that have been done on the Supremes.
Who, Kenneth, can ever ascertain why certain lps have been released on CD and others have not? Of course projected sales $ is/are a major factor, yet ... After all, Jerry Butler was a much greater chart presence than, say, Betty Davis ever was. Not to mention Jackie Shane. Of course, matters such as an 'oddity' that can bring about press interest is a major factor. Jerry Butler's cd reissue has been actually pretty good, yet scattershot. Earlier lps with no hits have been issued, and in the 'new' cd years there was a semi-box [[2 cds) that was quite good. Indispensable is the now out-of-print 'Ice Man Commeth/Ice On Ice' single cd with those 2 complete lps. The lps with Thelma Houston are quite nice [[though I am not a duet fan). Butler went through several renaissances, and 'Spice of Life' and 'The Sagittarius Movement' are fan favorites. SM features his big r&b duet with Brenda Lee Eager, 'Ain't Understanding Mellow', which makes time stand still.
i still cant afford all the official expanded releases that are out never mind to start collecting bootleg ones !
Hi Kenneth,
tried to contact you, but your inbox seems to be full. Maybe you can send me a message?!!?
Hey Kenneth, we share an affection for the salsoul Christmas jollies.
That was a fun holiday season , '76 to be clubbing and bar hopping with that being played as part of the night's line up. I had a campus radio show at the time, you can guess what kind of music I formatted exclusively, and I would use the silent night cut off that LP as my end of show sign off each time. Very lovely version....
fun is what its about !!!
That second jollies release by The Salsoul Orchestra came out five years later as you likely know , the first being a Philly project under Vince Montana and the second out of NYC under Patrick Adams. I believe there's absolutely no overlap in the players ....
What's especially weird is that Patrick Adams was a pioneer in synthesizer disco , yet there's nary a one on here.....but then again I guess it wouldn't then be a project by the Salsoul ORCHESTRA ...lol!
To be full-on orchestra disco in 1981..... very unlikely proposition .... I'm going to listen to it ...it's been years ...won't wait til Christmas......
Funny they used the same gal for the second release's cover, I believe that's Vince Montana's daughter.