From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V5 #114 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Sunday, March 19 2000 Volume 05 : Number 114 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [AVALON] RE : UK dates attendance ["Robert Whiteford" ] Re: [AVALON] to market, to market [thom.wallace@net.ntl.com] Re: [AVALON] "B" sides ["Killip family" ] [AVALON] Grrrrrrr [Noam Bronstein ] Re: [AVALON] to market, to market [William Sommers ] Re: [AVALON] to market, to market [jspellma ] Re: [AVALON] RE : Brand name ? ["mark shanahan" ] Re: [AVALON] Key Mail Order ["Richard Swift" ] Re: [AVALON] Grrrrrrr ["Decophile" ] Re: [AVALON] Support bands ["tfagan" ] Re: [AVALON] Greatest Rock Band Ever [Ida M Miller ] Re: [AVALON] to market, to market [thom.wallace@net.ntl.com] Re: [AVALON] UK Dates ["Richard Swift" ] [AVALON] Re: Brand names etc. ["Richard Swift" ] [AVALON] Re: Genes commentary [MarlanaK@webtv.net (Mary Korfanty)] [AVALON] Viva!, Heart Still Beating, Concert Classics v. Bootlegs ["Jeffr] Re: [AVALON] Re: Genes commentary [Irene Adler ] To leave the list, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon-digest ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 10:06:46 -0000 From: "Robert Whiteford" Subject: Re: [AVALON] RE : UK dates attendance Royal Albert Hall : Rob and Sue Whiteford 11/04/00 Petworth (no tickets yet - box office not open ) Rob,Sue, Ross and Holly Whiteford + 2 in laws + friend Calvin. I see this is on the official website now. Rob - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 09:36:31 EST From: "Grant Goggans" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Support bands Heidi wrote: More memorable, I saw Buckwheat Zydeco open for Bryan Ferry in the late 80's. They are a very good cajun/blues band. - -- I suspect you're thinking of Loup Garoup, the zydeco act that opened for Ferry during his 1988 tour. They were fantastic, though I never heard from them again. In 1994, Combustible Edison opened for him in Atlanta and they were remarkable. I have a compilation of theirs and play it often. On the subject of support bands blowing away the headliners, in 1989 Throwing Muses played an excellent set ahead of New Order, who took the stage for the worst concert I've ever seen. Peter Hook kept his back to the audience the whole set, Gillian was constantly yawning as she fiddled with her tapes, and Bernard kept forgetting the lyrics and mumbling the choruses. Grant ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 13:13:52 +0000 From: thom.wallace@net.ntl.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] to market, to market jspellma wrote: > It worked for Zappa, he started his own label and got his own > distribution deals Well for starters Zappa had a large sales market because of the fact that he was operating in the American market and always had a high profile in the music press. Because you start your own label does not ensure you distribution as the bulk of this is still handled by the major record companies. You point out that Ferry hasn't been a priority for a record company for ten years, well perhaps that's because he was so slow in delivering them new product. Surly this point reenforces the argument that goping "indie" would be a bad idea. Perhaps Johnny Reece could shed some light on the distribution/indie/major topic as he owns a record store. Tom. - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 11:35:38 -0000 From: "Killip family" Subject: Re: [AVALON] "B" sides Do I recall reading that Jobson was so appalled at the crapness of "Sultanesque" that he spent some time tweaking it, even though BF said not to bother? David Killip - ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Friday, March 17, 2000 10:12 PM Subject: [AVALON] "B" sides > I've just been listening to "the thrill" box set and it reminded me of how > good even roxy's b-sides were. "numberer" "pride etc." and particually "Your > applications failed" when iwent to puchase the then new single "love is the > drug" i asked the shop owner to play the flip side "sultanesque" only for him > to take it off half way through saying:"this is crap" funny thing was he was > right. what went wrong there Bryan? > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 13:23:26 -0500 From: Noam Bronstein Subject: [AVALON] Grrrrrrr Reecey et al, this post gets me going. Why does Bryan need a big hit? So he can be like the vile Cher? So.... he can get back in with the 'In Crowd' and party with Britney Spears? Certainly I hope not for his own self-respect. He's accomplished a lot *by anyone's measure* and if he's insecure, a better shrink or an Eastern religion might be the answer. I have to believe he has evolved - unlike some others (no need to mention names here -Carlos Santana-). Come on kids, get over it. Life goes on. Bryan Ferry could have a Number 1 hit tomorrow if he really wanted to and it would be A JOKE. The people are getting what they want and he ain't giving it to them and that's the way it should be. HE ALREADY HAD A LOT OF HITS. See Chris Turner's post of 9/25/99 for a nice summary of BF's career. If you have criticisms of his output, fine but to pine for 'more hits', come on, who cares? It's like wishing Bjorn Borg would come back and whoop Andre Agassi's ass. Sorry for breaking my self imposed short 1-paragraph limit, but the "irony" of all this talk of the vileness of the music industry, with a backing chorus of how Bryan needs to make another big splash in it is just too much for me. The industry is a machine on an agenda, Bryan is an artist and a human being; and I doubt the twain shall meet, and I don't even see why they should. Noam Johnny Reece wrote: > - but of course our Bry is sadly absent from > the airwaves these days, as it's all Celine Bloody Dion, the vile Cher, or > hordes of airbrushed Children that we are subjected to. Somehow, somewhere, > Bryan needs, dare I say it, a 'hit'. Whether it be new material, or a big > splash advertising the millionth 'Best Of' of his/Roxys material, no - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 10:50:22 -0800 From: William Sommers Subject: Re: [AVALON] to market, to market At 01:13 PM 3/18/00 +0000, thom.wallace@net.ntl.com wrote: > Perhaps Johnny Reece could shed some light on the > distribution/indie/major topic as he owns a record store. For an even more inside insider's view, I'd love to hear from "The Team at Expression Records" on this topic. -wfs - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 14:02:28 -0500 From: jspellma Subject: Re: [AVALON] to market, to market thom.wallace@net.ntl.com wrote: > jspellma wrote: > > > It worked for Zappa, he started his own label and got his own > > distribution deals > > Well for starters Zappa had a large sales market because of the fact that he was > operating in the American market and always had a high profile in the music press. > Because you start your own label does not ensure you distribution as the bulk of > this is still handled by the major record companies. You point out that Ferry > hasn't been a priority for a record company for ten years, well perhaps that's > because he was so slow in delivering them new product. Surly this point reenforces > the argument that goping "indie" would be a bad idea. Perhaps Johnny Reece could > shed some light on the distribution/indie/major topic as he owns a record store. I think Zappa used Rhino and/or Ryko for distribution. I think of Warner Bros.and Virgin as bigger then them, maybe they are big too, I don't know. Your right that it would not guarantee any success by going that route and usually means more involvement and work for the artist, which I can see one wanting to avoid. But from what I've read on this list, he's got a few albums worth of material on the shelf, but no label was interested in releasing it, so that doesn't jive with them ready and willing and Bryan empty handed. I don't know if it's the label or Bryan or someone else that is making him do these cover albums, but I don't like them much, it's seems such a waste of talent. I love his songwriting, and would rather hear his hits or B-sides, deep cuts, outakes or what he thinks is trash before I listen to his covers. There are a few over the years I like, but the entire album of covers doesn't do it for me, but I'm sure I'm the minority. I still can't see how a new greatest hits collection will gather more fan interest, did the last 10 compilations do any good? I don't know, it doesn't seem so. In any case this is the first I've heard of the record company wanting original material and Bry not having anything to offer, I thought it was the other way around. Best, Jim - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 13:33:22 PST From: "mark shanahan" Subject: Re: [AVALON] RE : Brand name ? >From: "Johnny Reece" >A hard fact was brought home to me recently, on speaking on the >phone to an old schoolmate of mine, now living just outside Portsmouth. I >said we should meet up for a drink, as i'd be down that way for the Gig in >April. "Bryan Ferry" ?, he asked... "He's still making records" ? Wow ! >In truth, the Record Company needs to see that the >'ordinary punters' want Bryan, because if they don't, they won't support or >promote him in any future endeavours. Nasty little business really, ain't >it ? right. well, what's just really funny, then, is how david sylvian (who's on virgin) can take ELEVEN YEARS to put out another solo album and yet he's still got *his* niche within the big 'V' (and has NOT been let go)! now, granted - sylvian did put out an album in '93, collaborative w/fripp, and did a fairly substantial bit with various other artists (*but* - as 'guest' on their respective albums). however, we're talking '87 (i bellieve) since his last solo album and it wasn't until last year that he FINALLY finished another one. now, sylvian is probably my 'equally' favorite artist, outside of roxy/ferry, so i'm not knocking him. i suppose it could even be chalked up to who you know (as to syl's position within virgin). but, evidentally, they (virgin) couldn't care less about 'name recognition' or how long he takes to complete his oeuvres. word from his lips, in a s. african interview last year, was that virgin have never put pressure on him to get 'product' out. i find that hard to believe (and maybe he was referring to the 90's exclusively ...), but that's what he said. so, then -- why is it virgin need to see _ferry_ 'making it' with the "ordinary punters" in this musical world of ours? but, i do agree, it *IS* (is, is) a nasty little business. of course, that's what's wrong with it, to over-simplify, isn't it? that TOO many involved look at it AS a *business* ... well, as they say - 'c'est le guerre' ... peaces/ms ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 00:48:06 -0000 From: "Richard Swift" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Key Mail Order Heather - £12.99 / £13.99 is pretty reasonable for a CD over here - 'new' non chart CDs typically sell at c.£15! Additionally, a lot of people in the UK will find these CDs hard to come by (at least until Slave To Love is officially released here), hence the plug for Key Mail Order! Richard - ----- Original Message ----- From: Heather James Subject: RE: [AVALON] Key Mail Order > £12.99 translates to 20.45 US > £13.99 translates to 22.02 US > Most US CDs go for around $16-17 > sigh ... and "Slave to Love" is a CD of mostly retreads! > well, Bryan can by that private isle near fiji NEXT year ... > -= )-(eather =- - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 19:15:13 -0500 From: "Decophile" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Grrrrrrr - -----Original Message----- From: Noam Bronstein To: avalon@smoe.org Date: Saturday, March 18, 2000 1:29 PM Subject: [AVALON] Grrrrrrr >Reecey et al, this post gets me going. Why does Bryan need a big hit? >So he >can be like the vile Cher? So.... he can get back in with the 'In >Crowd' >and party with Britney Spears? After reading Colleen`s post and now yours, I found myself agreeing 100% with it and I finally asked myself what exactly would I like to see for Ferry. Certainly no one wants to see Ferry become a vile Cher, or sell his soul to Branson/Pigeon Forge, and I think most of us know deep down Ferry will most probably never see a song reach the top 40 much less the top 10 ever again. But we in the States share one thing with Ferry those in the U.K./Europe don`t and that is to at least see Ferry make some sort of impression in the U.S., something that has always eluded him and us. If he could just leave something other than "Love Is The Drug", I think both Ferry and we in the states would be satisfied. Gene - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 19:35:04 -0500 From: "tfagan" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Support bands it was actually Loup Garou -- see www.loupgarou.net "laissez les bon temps roulez!!" - --TriTri - -----Original Message----- From: Grant Goggans |I suspect you're thinking of Loup Garoup, the zydeco act that opened for |Ferry during his 1988 tour. They were fantastic, though I never heard from |them again. avalon | | - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 17:00:33 -0800 From: Ida M Miller Subject: Re: [AVALON] Greatest Rock Band Ever I certainly think Roxy Music were ONE of the greatest ... and, they are in my all-time Top Five Faves. However, if I could take ONLY one LP/CD with me to the DI, it would have to the 'The Doors' .. their first album. How about yours? eman96 wrote: > > Does anyone else here think that Roxy Music were the greatest rock band ever? > I'm serious, If you could take only one Rock LP/CD with you to the DI, > would it really be Roxy ? > - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000 01:10:00 +0000 From: thom.wallace@net.ntl.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] to market, to market jspellma wrote: > In any case this is the first I've heard > of the record company wanting original material and Bry not having > anything to offer, I thought it was the other way around. > I think in the past that was a case of Ferry not wanting to part with material that he didn't feel was finished. The problem with the record company was that by the time they got it the material was so over produced that they didn't think it would sell. "Mamouna" came out of the "Horoscope" project because Ferry had remixed and tinkered about with the tracks so much that he ended up loosing the thread of what he was trying to do. Alas this would seem to have happened again. In the case of "Mamouna" the record company did as much as one could have expected, however this time round they may well have lost patience. Don't forget "Mamouna" didn't really sell all that well, but must have cost a bomb to record. In the end the record companies want to make money, they're not some evil monster just a business like any other. Tom Wallace. - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000 00:00:42 -0000 From: "Richard Swift" Subject: Re: [AVALON] UK Dates I have tickets to the RAH and Petworth. Others to follow?? Richard From: Subject: [AVALON] UK Dates > So far we have a small Posse of names for the UK dates > > Portsmouth.10th April > > Royal Albert Hall 11th April > Martin Stockman > Joclyn Fiske > John O'Brien + 1 > Simon Galloway > Johnny Reece > > Dublin 29th April > Gareth McGinley > John O'Brien + 1 > > Petworth House 23rd June - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000 01:15:44 -0000 From: "Richard Swift" Subject: [AVALON] Re: Brand names etc. Just to add my tuppence worth! Recent postings include: >Yes, but how many records is he selling? That's what record companies >want to know. And he's still unsigned as far as we know. >Again, all advertising and promotions will have to be bank-rolled by Ferry. >The record company will not do it for him. >It's clear that his self-penned work is >NOT going to yield him that "hit" at age 50whatever. As stated earlier, Bryan is contracturally obligated to produce a compilation album later this year. Although ATGB was released on Virgin Germany, the fact he still has to release this album suggests his contract with Virgin is still alive and well. Nothing I have heard from, for example Jim Lawn, suggests otherwise. From what Jim says, the record company are delighted with the success of As Time Goes By. It's Bryan's biggest selling album of 'new' material since Boys and Girls and has sold very well in a number of territories, not just the UK. Earlier this year at least, Virgin were keen to promote the album with a new round of TV advertising to co-incide with the second leg of the UK tour around Easter. This isn't financed by Bryan - the success of the album apparently justifies an investment on the part of the record company to advertise the album again and garner new sales. As for Bryan's ability to sell in the future we all have to wait and see - I don't see that anyone here can rule anything in or out. Yes it's difficult for someone of Bryan's age to be a big seller now because the market is dominated by youth (as it always has been). But who would have forecast a few years ago that Tom Jones would have a number one album, a string of top 20 singles and be voted Brit Awards' Best British Male Artist or that Andy Williams would have a top ten hit or Dean Martin a top ten album? How they got there (collaborations with 'current' artists or re-released material) is irrelevant - the fact is that they did and they did so by appealing to a whole new audience, and a much younger one at that. It might seem sad or pointless to some people on this list but I for one would dearly love Bryan to enjoy once again a greater degree of commercial success. Furthermore I think we'll see it sometime in the next 12 - 18 months (wait till then to offer up any disagreements!). Richard - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000 01:23:50 -0000 From: "Richard Swift" Subject: [AVALON] Sweden only release As for speculation why "Slave To Love" has been released initially in Sweden, this may well be to test the market ahead of a wider release. "As Time Goes By" sold well in Norway - had the same sales per head of population been achieved in the UK the album would have beaten all comers with about three million copies to spare. Perhaps this explains why another Scandinavian market has been chosen to 'pilot' the release? Perhaps Kicki could let us know how the album performs - with TV advertising the record company must be expecting some impact on the chart? Richard - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 19:55:58 -0600 (CST) From: MarlanaK@webtv.net (Mary Korfanty) Subject: [AVALON] Re: Genes commentary I have to agree with Gene, Ferry will no doubt ever make a top 40 again,& I personally don't care & I truly don"t think Bryan even cares. He stated in his webchat back in Jan. that indeed he preferred singing romantic songs because they moved him more than the other did, Also he liked black music especially the blues. And he said that Lottie Lenya & Bob Dylan were others who inspired him. Here in the US, like Gene said "Love Is the Drug"Slave to Love" & "Avalon" is what has been known. I haven't even heard ATGB get any air play. As for as I know his tour here didn't even bring him to the South . In 94 he was, & I thought a very good turn out. So how can he manage to stay in the limelight if he want get to some big cities? Is that good management? We are spread out far here in the states,& yes, its a little more work & effort. Not like in Europe, that you can drive to another country in just a few hours. Here you can drive all day by car & still be in the same state. Its entirely a different concept here for Concerts. They are huge(crowds) but the artists managers must think thats what will keep them in the forefront. What I'm getting at --I could be seeing a big concert every night here where i'm from-----Question wheres Ferry ? I mean he's not even getting the full advantage of the US. Not Bryans fault , it has got to fall on management. There are people who would see him if only they had a chance once in a while. Marlana K.................................................... - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000 00:08:46 -0800 From: "Jeffrey F. Jones" Subject: [AVALON] Viva!, Heart Still Beating, Concert Classics v. Bootlegs I rarely post messages in detail, however, there were some prior posts that I must respond to:) Awhile back there were some comments about Viva!. Specifically, dislike by fact that this was not a "complete concert" and that sound quality suffers. To this I have a few commments: 1. At least with "Viva!" we knew that the concert was edited; the 3 sources are stated in the liner notes. On the other hand, we assume "Heart Still Beating" is in its original form because it comes from one venue/date source. However, after listening to "Thames Lovers" (Buccaneer 018) we quickly become aware that the legitimate release to this popular Frejus France show is heavily edited, i.e. song changed order, removal of spoken word by Ferrry. In addition, it is quite evident that the Thames Lovers is superior in sound. Too bad there are only 9 tracks. 2. It amazes me that "Concerts Classics" was allowed to be licensed. This Denver 1979 Manifesto tour show is one of the worst, both in sound quality and performance. This tour seems to have the most "official" broadcasts, even more than the Avalon tour - couldn't they have been more selective?? I can name 2 concerts off the top of my head, Philadelphia and London, that are superior in sound and performance. The latter, bootleged on the Joker label (Roxy Music Live Vol. 1) is my favorite. What a great live version of Casanova!! 3. I admit that the original CD version of Viva! lacked vibrance. However, this remaster is only outdone by the improvement of the first album. Also, I think the roughness of this show is one of its strengths. I hate live albums that sound like compliation studio albums. I recently bought Loreena McKennitt's new live 2 CDs set; great songs, but the recording has no ambience. There's my two cents worth - I feel so much better now:) - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 22:40:33 -0800 (PST) From: Irene Adler Subject: Re: [AVALON] Re: Genes commentary i no can unserstand u - --- Mary Korfanty wrote: > I have to agree with Gene, Ferry will no doubt ever > make a top 40 > again,& I personally don't care & I truly don"t > think Bryan even cares. > He stated in his webchat back in Jan. that indeed he > preferred singing > romantic songs because they moved him more than the > other did, Also he > liked black music especially the blues. And he said > that Lottie Lenya & > Bob Dylan were others who inspired him. Here in the > US, like Gene said > "Love Is the Drug"Slave to Love" & "Avalon" is what > has been known. I > haven't even heard ATGB get any air play. As for as > I know his tour here > didn't even bring him to the South . In 94 he was, > & I thought a very > good turn out. So how can he manage to stay in the > limelight if he want > get to some big cities? Is that good management? We > are spread out far > here in the states,& yes, its a little more work & > effort. Not like in > Europe, that you can drive to another country in > just a few hours. Here > you can drive all day by car & still be in the same > state. Its entirely > a different concept here for Concerts. They are > huge(crowds) but the > artists managers must think thats what will keep > them in the forefront. > What I'm getting at --I could be seeing a big > concert every night here > where i'm from-----Question wheres Ferry ? I mean > he's not even getting > the full advantage of the US. Not Bryans fault , it > has got to fall on > management. There are people who would see him if > only they had a chance > once in a while. Marlana > K.................................................... > > > > -------------------- > To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe avalon > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com - -------------------- To unsub, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V5 #114 **************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest