Well, dear readers, sometimes amazing things can happen when you tell someone you don’t need something and they give it to you anyway. Such an amazing thing happened yesterday. I got up early and did the two-mile jog, then headed over to pick up a bunch of tapes for upcoming releases. One release involved a score that was replaced by another score – and I’d told them I didn’t need the replacement score since they can’t license it (the composer held onto those rights). But I guess it was easier to just bundle it all together, so those tapes were, in fact, there. But that wasn’t the amazing thing. As I’ve mentioned, on our upcoming release, which has two scores on one CD, one of which has been available before in a big expensive box set (same one The Apartment/The Fortune Cookie was in), and one of which is new to CD, we were using the CD as our master – that is, until I actually heard it and was rather appalled at how it sounded. I had no idea if that’s the way it was on the album masters, but my engineer thought it was the EQ that was used, which he felt was applied too “hot,” which caused the whole thing to verge on being distorted. Not horrible, but not to my liking. So, I decided to go back to the stereo album master. They also had mono tapes on the list, and I told them I didn’t need those – when you have the stereo album master you don’t really need the mono backup. But, as with the other tapes, they were there anyway. And this is where the amazing thing comes in: The two mono reels were in smaller boxes, which was odd. So, I looked at the labels and as I did it became immediately apparent to me that what these two mono tapes were, were, in fact, the original never before release actual score tracks to the film. The original LP was a re-recording, much like Mancini would do back then. Oh, all the themes were on the re-recording, but in different arrangements, with none really sounding anything like the score tracks. In fact, two of the album tracks had singing and lyrics – there are no such things in the film. We put them on and they were indeed what I thought they were, in very good-sounding mono. So, I had them transferred along with redoing the stereo album master, which did indeed sound much better. I figured I’d put on fifteen or sixteen minutes of the score tracks as bonus material. But then CD refs were delivered to me (so I could choose which tracks I’d use as the bonus stuff) and I listened to the whole thing, and it’s just brilliant and I can’t just do sixteen minutes of the close to fifty-minute score. So, I began thinking of my options. One option would be to do this as a standalone CD and forget the other score. But, since this has been out before, the other score is very appealing and would probably make people repurchase, where they might not if it’s just the one score. And, I still wouldn’t be able to quite include everything, as the original LP is slightly over thirty minutes. My other option is to go to two CDs, but not raise the price. That way, you’d get the two-fer as we were originally going to do it, plus another fifty-minute CD of the original score tracks to the one film. I really want to do it, but the cost goes up for the pressing, and the profit margin is so slim that I’m afraid to do it, because if any of the music has been available it’s not a priority for some people, and this composer is not in anyone’s pantheon (although I love him dearly and love everything he’s written for film). But it would be good value for money. I’ve queried by biggest online dealer, and asked him how many he’d commit to if I do it, and his answer will probably determine what I’ll do. I’ve got to make this decision by noon. Of course, I’d be interested in the thoughts of you dear readers.
I spent two hours listening to bits and pieces of other tapes, and I think we’ll be doing all of the titles in this batch, four all told, and very interesting stuff. After that, I headed over to John Boswell’s for our Kevin and Linda rehearsal. I only stayed an hour, but we had fun. I then came back to the Valley, picked up a couple of packages and some mail, got a Subway spicy Eyetalian sandwich, which I brought home and ate all up. I decided to take a break from viewing (Lost, Seasons Three and Four will be here today) and listened to CDs, including CD refs for the original score tracks, which, as mentioned, I’m totally in love with. I had several long telephonic calls, prepared a budget I needed to do, and answered e-mails. In other words, it was a very long and very exciting day.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below whilst I marvel at the amazing discovery I made today thanks to the fact that I was given something I specifically said I didn’t need. Amazing indeed.
Today, I shall ponder my decision and hope I hear back from everybody whose advice I sought. Although, I’m pretty sure I’ll go with the two CD set – the historian in my really wants to. Once I make that decision, I’ll do the liner notes and make sure I’m happy with the score tracks sequence as it is (it seems to play very well save for three source music party tracks that are all together – they’re easy to sprinkle throughout the album. But, I may watch the movie in question to see how close it is to movie order – I suspect it’s very close. Once I finish all that, then I’ll have some time to eat something amusing and to run an errand or three, and then it’s book fixes at Mr. Geissman’s at seven.
Tomorrow, I don’t have much planned and I’m hoping it stays that way, same with Sunday, at least I think so. Monday I have the first of two more dental appointments – not sure what he’ll do at this first appointment – perhaps redo the one filling and then prepare the teeth that are getting crowns (one porcelain, one gold). I don’t think I can say I’m really looking forward to that, but it has to be done.
And in case anyone hasn’t noticed, today is the last day of July, and I, for one, am looking forward to a positive, cheerful, healthy, and prosperous August for all of us.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the long jog, I must make a decision, I must write liner notes, I must do an errand or three, and then I must do book fixes. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player, and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, the score tracks to our next release. DVD/Blu-Ray, Lost, Season Three. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and let’s hope for even more wonderful amazing discoveries for one and all and also all and one.