From: owner-basia-digest To: basia-digest@smoe.org Subject: basia-digest V1 #185 Reply-To: basia@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-basia-digest Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "basia-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. basia-digest Thursday, 1 August 1996 Volume 01 : Number 185 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Get Off My Back, People Re: basia-digest V1 #184 Re: Get Off My Back, People Re: Get Off My Back, People Re: basia-digest V1 #184 Music Video Airplay Re: Get Off My Back, People Re: Get Off My Back, People Re: Music Video Airplay ADMIN: Mail delayed Re: Music Video Airplay Re: Music Video Airplay Re: Music Video Airplay ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J.S. Lohr" Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 01:06:39 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Get Off My Back, People Reguarding the video: To tell you the truth, I'd forgotten about the video. But now that everyone has taken their turn in "reminding" me to contribute, I must remind everyone of the following selections: 1. Basia and Danny being interviewed on "After Hours," 7/16/90 2. Basia doing "Run for Cover" on Letterman, sometime in 1988 3. Basia doing "Time and Tide" and "Astrud" on the Tonight Show, June 1988 - now I know Ben says he's already gotten it, but he also says its very poor quality wise. Someone else on the list has this, so I wish they would contribute it. 4. Basia on GMA, August 1990...song: unknown 5. Basia on CNN's Showbiz today, May `94...interview and video clips I KNOW people have these performances on tape, but most have remained conveiniently quiet during the video shuffle. Without these performances, reguardless of my contributions, this video will remain incomplete. I say once again, the whole point of this was to provide people with a COMPLETE copy of ALL tv performances. At the very least, I would hope that those who have the aforementioned performances feel EXTREME guilt when asking Ben for a copy of the tape if they don't contribute what they can. You know who you are. I know who you are. Get with it. JSL. ------------------------------ From: "Diane F. Fisli" Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 22:57:54 -0700 Subject: Re: basia-digest V1 #184 Phil asks: >So what are these videos? Supposedly some in-concert footage, not sure if it's the whole Basia show... ALSO supposedly some very early Basia... T&T tour... Not sure about anything else, tho some Matt Bianco wouldn't be a reach for this guy, *if* he had a video camera when Basia and Danny were in the group... (I can hear the thundering of running feet as the Matt Bianco fans run towards their monitors screaming WHATTTT??????) Phil also said (re PW and COD) -- > And this >is what, his 5th or 6th solo album? 5th... Yeah, I think PW really outdid himself this time... And producer Paul Brown is such a *nice* addition, he seems to mesh well with Peter's ideas... Peter said that Paul is good at making suggestions, taking what Peter has offered and suggesting this and that to make things better.... I think Peter really enjoys working with him. Not to mention all the beer they happen to consume together... :) Roach observes: >If there WAS indeed a full video produced (which I doubt), Have faith, oh Roach, Peter said they did it... And I believe him... :) HOWEVER... >the odds of >Sony releasing it are probably nil, especially after BOB the CD flopped so >horribly. They're NOT going to spend the money on a video that no one is >going to buy - except, of course, in Japan. Which would make the going >rate for a BOB live video about $100+ here in the States. Unfortunately, you have a point there... I'll see what info I can dig up. Jacki gloats: >... because *we* can get a copy of Drunk on Love. > >Yep... I've got a copy right here. Nice work, kiddo! :) Consider this a big cyber hug {{{{{{{{{{{Jacki}}}}}}}}}} (see, I *knew* that voodoo spell would work!) (hee!) Phil whimpers: >Phil >(who needs help) Gads Phil, quick, lean towards your monitor, my shoulder is there for ya... And now I've gotta find a voodoo spell for video cassettes??? (or maybe just for Jeff!) :) David offers: >I don't contribute much to this list, but I do enjoy the daily give-and- >take. It's the only news I ever get of Basia and the FOB's (Friends of >Basia). You guys are great! Just wanted you to know. Thanks, David, I'll take a round-trip airline ticket, from Los Angeles to Hawaii, Labor Day Weekend... Peter's playing on 9-1. Is that fair? ;) outtacontrol.... ;) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ Diane F. Fisli, Photographer \\ "...If you follow your dreams... dff@peterwhite.com \\ You can never go wrong..." ExcusezMoi@aol.com \\ http://peterwhite.com \\ --Peter White, Caravan of Dreams ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ Please visit the OFFICIAL Peter White Website at http://peterwhite.com, or call the Peter White tour hotline at 818-973-3171 for information on upcoming concerts ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ------------------------------ From: Philip B Hall Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 06:37:32 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Get Off My Back, People On Wed, 31 Jul 1996, J.S. Lohr wrote: > > 2. Basia doing "Run for Cover" on Letterman, sometime in 1988 Jeff, If you mean me, I know I told you I had lost it. My shoddy technique allowed me to tape over it, evidently. I've gone through my archives twice searching it out. I think I recall someone else mentioning it was available, tho. > > I KNOW people have these performances on tape, but most have remained > conveiniently quiet during the video shuffle. Without these performances, > reguardless of my contributions, this video will remain incomplete. > I say once again, the whole point of this was to provide people with a > COMPLETE copy of ALL tv performances. There is no way this compilation can be considered complete, unless you have access to the Video Librarian of the Gods. In order to get the thing out to those who want it, it should be bundled up as v.1 and have periodic updates as new/old material surfaces. Also, include the poor quality stuff until it, too, can be replaced. When Ben finishes up with what he has, mabey the holdouts will be inspired to emerge from thier sloth and act like true Basiaskis. Phil (who knows there is such a thing as paralysis by analysis) ------------------------------ From: combee@techwood.org (Ben Combee) Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 07:40:17 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Re: Get Off My Back, People Cross referencing with the video status web page... > 1. Basia and Danny being interviewed on "After Hours," 7/16/90 HERE > 2. Basia doing "Run for Cover" on Letterman, sometime in 1988 HERE > 3. Basia doing "Time and Tide" and "Astrud" on the Tonight Show, June 1988 > - now I know Ben says he's already gotten it, but he also says its > very poor quality wise. Someone else on the list has this, so I wish they > would contribute it. GOOD COPY HERE > 4. Basia on GMA, August 1990...song: unknown STILL MIA > 5. Basia on CNN's Showbiz today, May `94...interview and video clips STILL MIA > I KNOW people have these performances on tape, but most have remained > conveiniently quiet during the video shuffle. Without these performances, > reguardless of my contributions, this video will remain incomplete. > I say once again, the whole point of this was to provide people with a > COMPLETE copy of ALL tv performances. Three of the five you mentioned are here and ready to be dubbed. - -- Benjamin L. Combee (combee@techwood.org) that public-access-TV-making, video-game-collecting, cryptography-pushing, World-Wide-Web-explaining, fem-music-loving, bad-pun-creating guy in Austin ------------------------------ From: "J.S. Lohr" Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 13:39:43 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: basia-digest V1 #184 On Tue, 30 Jul 1996, Diane F. Fisli wrote: > Phil asks: > > >So what are these videos? > > Supposedly some in-concert footage, not sure if it's the whole Basia show... > ALSO supposedly some very early Basia... T&T tour... Not sure about > anything else, tho some Matt Bianco wouldn't be a reach for this guy, *if* > he had a video camera when Basia and Danny were in the group... > > (I can hear the thundering of running feet as the Matt Bianco fans run > towards their monitors screaming WHATTTT??????) Wow - now THAT would be nice. > Roach observes: > > >If there WAS indeed a full video produced (which I doubt), > > Have faith, oh Roach, Peter said they did it... And I believe him... :) So? Its not like WE'LL ever see it! Hell, Sony probably has the same sort of footage for the LWNY tour, too - will we ever see it? HELL NO. Unless, of course, some act of God happens - let me put it this way: how do otherwise obscure acts become overnight sensations? You guessed it - they die miserable deaths. Look at Selena... I know that's sick, but TELL me its not true... you had better believe that if something like that were to happen to Basia Sony would release everything they have OVERNIGHT. We'd wake up tomorrow with "Basia Live in L.A., 1990" and who knows what else. Hell, Atlantic would probably FINALLY reissue WSAYO on CD here in the States - and you better believe that the vocals would stay intact on MTICB. That would be the only way BOB the video would EVER be released. Sick and sad, but its true. > HOWEVER... > > >the odds of > >Sony releasing it are probably nil, especially after BOB the CD flopped so > >horribly. They're NOT going to spend the money on a video that no one is > >going to buy - except, of course, in Japan. Which would make the going > >rate for a BOB live video about $100+ here in the States. > > Unfortunately, you have a point there... I'll see what info I can dig up. Really, I wouldn't be surprised to see a BOB video rear its ugly head in Japan. But, according to my numbers, BOB the CD sold very poorly there, too. Toodles! JSL ------------------------------ From: Larry Lipman Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 12:51:13 -0500 Subject: Music Video Airplay RE: Music Video Airplay >From: David Cervantes >Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 09:27:51 -0700 (MST) >Subject: Goober > >Am I the only person wondering why at least two videos were >made for The Sweetest Illusion, but they've hardly been seen? >What's the good of making music videos if they're never >broadcast, or you gotta beg some goober at Sears to let you >watch them???? You guys who know more about the music biz >please explain this to me. > The long and short of it is.... Art vs. commerce. Let me preface everything by saying that Basia & Danny have an awesome gift - an ability to express life and communicate a message in such a way that it touches millions of people. However, the very thing that has enabled us to be touched by that gift, even be aware of it at all, is that the *business* of music has provided the opportunity. The commercial music industry exists because of laws creating ownership in intellectual property. If it were not for these rights, no profit could be realized from the creation, sale, and performance of music, and thus there would be little incentive for engaging in the *business* of music. The only reason music, music videos, Olympics, etc. are played over the airwaves is that broadcasters feel the material will attract viewers, who will in turn attract advertisers - advertisers who are willing to pay for airtime to reach those viewers. Look at it this way, if suddenly music weren't popular, they'd put something else on CDs. Basia videos would receive greater airplay if Basia could attract the demographics the advertisers wanted to reach *in large enough numbers.* Regrettably, her appeal in the States appears to be more ecletic. I can remember true "Top 40" radio, where country, blues, pop, and other styles were all mixed and presented on the same playlist. But in those days, you had to twirl a radio dial and locate a station. Today, it is so easy to tap a button or autosearch to change stations, that program directors are scared. If they "offend" you with musical material you don't like, you'll simply move off the channel. The end result is a bland, "corporate flavored" mix of music that shuns diversity for safety. The goal is to create a "comfort zone" of familiar musical style. As new technologies mature (Internet, satallite, WWW, digital cable, digital radio, etc) I hope this model changes. I hope there will be such a demand for software (i.e. music) to fill these media that diversity is both sought after AND profitable. Pure Speculation: Basia has had considerable success, so her videos may have been produced in anticipation of a greater reception of the album. My impression is that the album received good critical review, nice sales, but failed to make a Celine Dion-esque (commercial $$$$) impact. Another possibility is that her label diverted resources to another artist whom they felt had a greater chance for a larger ROI (return on investment.) It is, after all, the music *business*. End of Speculation. But don't despair. Most everyone I know entered - and remains active in - the music *business* because of the art. The *business* is the means to enjoy the art. They try to be so successful at the business that they can indulge the art. Our "saddest illusion" would be for Basia & Danny to prostitute and conform their art in a quest for commercial success over artistic honesty. Lots of artists are highly successful without being globally visible. I for one, would gladly forgo the videos and TV appearances if fan support (sales) would enable Basia & Danny to continue to produce albums of music that remain their honest artistic expression. Actually, I feel that way about most artists. How's that for heavy? But then, how to we break/become aware of new artists? Maybe all that new technology will provide the answer. Quite a Catch-22, huh? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Larry Lipman - ------------------------------------------------------------ Commercial Music Program - The University of Memphis 232 CFA Building - Memphis, TN 38152 (901) 678=2559 [min. 6 rings to voice mail] FAX: (901) 678=5118 Internet: Llipman@admin1.memphis.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ------------------------------ From: "J.S. Lohr" Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 13:44:21 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Get Off My Back, People On Wed, 31 Jul 1996, Philip B Hall wrote: > On Wed, 31 Jul 1996, J.S. Lohr wrote: > > > > > 2. Basia doing "Run for Cover" on Letterman, sometime in 1988 > > Jeff, > > If you mean me, I know I told you I had lost it. My shoddy > technique allowed me to tape over it, evidently. I've gone through my > archives twice searching it out. I think I recall someone else mentioning > it was available, tho. No, Phil, I don't mean you. Somebody else has it. > There is no way this compilation can be considered complete, unless you > have access to the Video Librarian of the Gods. In order to get the thing > out to those who want it, it should be bundled up as v.1 and have periodic > updates as new/old material surfaces. Also, include the poor quality > stuff until it, too, can be replaced. When Ben finishes up with what he > has, mabey the holdouts will be inspired to emerge from thier sloth and > act like true Basiaskis. I just hope the Karmic beast catches up with those holdouts if they dare to ask for a copy of the tape. I think a nice little bumped fender would do justice. Toodles! JSL ------------------------------ From: "J.S. Lohr" Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 13:48:31 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Get Off My Back, People On Wed, 31 Jul 1996, Ben Combee wrote: > Cross referencing with the video status web page... > > > 1. Basia and Danny being interviewed on "After Hours," 7/16/90 > > HERE > > > 2. Basia doing "Run for Cover" on Letterman, sometime in 1988 > > HERE > > > 3. Basia doing "Time and Tide" and "Astrud" on the Tonight Show, June 1988 > > - now I know Ben says he's already gotten it, but he also says its > > very poor quality wise. Someone else on the list has this, so I wish they > > would contribute it. > > GOOD COPY HERE > Oops, my fault. My fault. > > 4. Basia on GMA, August 1990...song: unknown > > STILL MIA > > > 5. Basia on CNN's Showbiz today, May `94...interview and video clips > > STILL MIA SEE? I'm not a total schmuck, am I! JSL ------------------------------ From: "J.S. Lohr" Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 14:52:18 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Music Video Airplay On Wed, 31 Jul 1996, Larry Lipman wrote: > >From: David Cervantes > > > >Am I the only person wondering why at least two videos were > >made for The Sweetest Illusion, but they've hardly been seen? Actually, there were three videos made: Drunk on Love, Yearning, and Third Time Lucky. Sucks, doesn't it? > > Pure Speculation: > Basia has had considerable success, so her videos may have > been produced in anticipation of a greater reception of > the album. Well, at some point in March '94, someone at Sony was convinced that Basia WAS DEFINITELY going to get airplay on VH-1. And like I said before, this deal was probably set until VH-1 got a copy of the "Yearning" video and chucked it in the garbage, ala "get with the program, Sony. We don't play this crap anymore." > My impression is that the album received good > critical review Well, it did in everything except the All Music Guide. ;) > nice sales Well, fair sales. Actually, let me put it to you this way: Basia's TSI sold about as well as Matt Bianco's INDIGO did (here in the States). INDIGO had the benefit of a super-popular dance track, while TSI had the benefit of a cult following. Both went gold in about the same amount of time (believe it or not) and both had zero visibility when it came to video airplay, advertising exposure, etc. > Celine Dion-esque (commercial $$$$) impact. That's not a fair comparison, though. Celine Dion's music is pre-packaged and predictable. Granted, she's an excellent singer, but she's a prefabricated act. She'll have an album out every year and a half probably for the rest of her life - and on each album, you had better believe that there'll be AT LEAST two Top 20 singles. She's a record company's dream - production is cheap and the payback is phenomenal. The middle-class record buying public eats that sh*t right up. All she has to do is stay favorable in the public's eye (and not catch Michael Bolton syndrome). What Basia needs is a surprise single, ala Everything But the Girl's "Missing." If I remember correctly, the album that that was pulled off of was released back in '94, and the single popped up on the radio literally out of nowhere. And how's this for marketing: the CD shops are still having to sell THE IMPORT CD SINGLE to people who want the song (at least that's what it was like a few months back - I don't know about now). You'd figure that the record company would jump on the proverbial bandwagon but... Tower in Rockville was having to carry about 200 copies of the UK CD Single because nothing was available domestically as of yet. Forget trying to find the album it was pulled off of - I've looked for that everywhere and have yet to see it. I think it was released domestically because its listed in the "big yellow book," but you wouldn't know it from looking in the bins. That's what Basia needs: for something like "Yearning" to magically appear on the radio in mass quantity, and for Sony to have to struggle to release the single here in the States. Of course, it'll never happen, but I can dream, can't I? > Another possibility is that her label diverted resources > to another artist whom they felt had a greater chance for > a larger ROI (return on investment.) > It is, after all, the music *business*. Well, Celine Dion did have an album out at the same time, but it was a rerelease of some old album she did before she hit it big. Toodles! JSL ------------------------------ From: jeffw (Jeff Wasilko) Date: Wed, 31 Jul 96 21:30:58 EDT Subject: ADMIN: Mail delayed Just FYI: Mail out of smoe.org is being delayed due to problems at our internet provider (and their problems are due to more problems at BBN). At this point, there are 200+ messages waiting to go out, and mail is moving (slowly, though). - -Jeff ------------------------------ From: combee@techwood.org (Ben Combee) Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 23:18:41 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Re: Music Video Airplay [getting quite off topic] > What Basia needs is a surprise single, ala Everything But the Girl's > "Missing." If I remember correctly, the album that that was pulled off of > was released back in '94, and the single popped up on the radio literally > out of nowhere. And how's this for marketing: the CD shops are still > having to sell THE IMPORT CD SINGLE to people who want the song (at least > that's what it was like a few months back - I don't know about now). You'd > figure that the record company would jump on the proverbial bandwagon > but... Tower in Rockville was having to carry about 200 copies of the UK > CD Single because nothing was available domestically as of yet. Forget > trying to find the album it was pulled off of - I've looked for that > everywhere and have yet to see it. I think it was released domestically > because its listed in the "big yellow book," but you wouldn't know it from > looking in the bins. I was easily able to buy copies of _Amplified Heart_ and the US single of "Missing" here in Austin. Their new album, _Walking Wounded_, is very "Missing"-esque and quite excellent. EBTG, another old-VH1 darling that had been left on the side of the video road. - -- Benjamin L. Combee (combee@techwood.org) that public-access-TV-making, video-game-collecting, cryptography-pushing, World-Wide-Web-explaining, fem-music-loving, bad-pun-creating guy in Austin ------------------------------ From: Philip B Hall Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 00:28:15 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Music Video Airplay On Wed, 31 Jul 1996, Larry Lipman wrote: Larry, Larry, Larry, Larry. You wrote of: > Art vs. commerce. and > the *business* of music has provided the opportunity. and > > The commercial music industry exists because of laws and > Basia videos would receive greater airplay if Basia > could attract the demographics the advertisers wanted and > to fill these media that diversity is both sought after AND > profitable. and > the album. My impression is that the album received good > critical review, nice sales, but failed to make a > Celine Dion-esque (commercial $$$$) impact. and other stuff that would make Ayn Rand sit up and take favorable notice, if she but could. Your ideas hold water. There is something undeniable about the equation between art and commerce. However, NOTHING can explain the relationship between the artist and that artist's management. If the manager thinks that repressing a release is the best thing for an artist's career, and the artist goes along with that thinking, then by God there is nothing else to be done about it. Since it is up to Basia and Danny to create, and it is left to that fat bearded jerk to market their creations, then the combined effort must, by definition, be the output. If the numbers add up to profit, YET the visibility and recognizability of the artist amount to a fade out, then all expendatures towards promoting a negative image are, naturally, a complete waste. SONY has anticipated the desires of the artist's management and agreeably done nothing to promote their work, all the while knowing that production is a minimal expense, while promotion is mega-expensive. If the album will reach gold or platinum in two or three year's time all on it's own momentum, then hell yes Let's do a video or two - but we won't pay anyone to show it. Thus, the artists are doing everything they know must be done, the Company is investing the absolute minumum required to get the thing out of the womb and in to the World, and the arsehole manager can know that his ignorant dictums are guiding the whole enterprise. His goals have been met. After all, her market is a cult, and cultists are well known to smack their sheckles down unthinking, on command, with no questions..... ....until the appearance of this list. There is nothing catholic about our cultic drive. We each have our own selfish reasons for devoting a portion of our time and energy to discussing, complaining, pissing and moaning, and in general, blathering on about this woman and her music. Why Basia is a relative unknown, and Celine (who to me sounds like the noise you get from placing a blade of grass between your clasped thumbs and BLOWING into your fists) Dionne is as ubiquitous as a noon-time whistle, can only be explained by _management_. This Dee guy is of the opinion, evidently, that Basia is best displayed out of sight. Works for him, don't it? So, Larry, get your best hair shirt out of the closet, strap it on, and enjoy the ride. There really is no other way out of this thing. Phil (who may not know Art, but doesn't know Paul, either....) ------------------------------ From: "J.S. Lohr" Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 00:46:52 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Music Video Airplay On Wed, 31 Jul 1996, Ben Combee wrote: > I was easily able to buy copies of _Amplified Heart_ and the US single of > "Missing" here in Austin. How recently, though? This is, like, May I'm referring to. No album, no US _CD_ Single, just a crapload of the white UK CD singles with, like, 5 or 6 (I think) dance remixes on it. > EBTG, another old-VH1 darling that had been left on the side of the video > road. Well, not for very much longer. Toodles! JSL ------------------------------ End of basia-digest V1 #185 ***************************