From: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org (basia-digest) To: basia-digest@smoe.org Subject: basia-digest V3 #247 Reply-To: basia@smoe.org Sender: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "basia-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. basia-digest Saturday, November 7 1998 Volume 03 : Number 247 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: basia-digest V3 #246 [Richard216@aol.com] Posting problems... ["Ashoke S. Talukdar" ] THE COPERNICAN CHRONICLES: A little more than just the best ["Ashoke S. T] RE: THE COPERNICAN CHRONICLES: A little more than just the best ["Ashoke ] Re: THE COPERNICAN CHRONICLES: A little more than just the best [Joel Cai] Re: Collecting and that kick-butt discography [Joel Cairo Subject: Posting problems... I think it's the size of the message that is the problem. Everything I send that is a short post seems to be ok! Jeff: (If you read this) Any ideas? Ashoke. ________________________________________________________________ Ashoke S. Talukdar | When the darkness takes you talukdar@morph.ebme.cwru.edu | with her hand across your face Home : 216-381-5872 | Don't give in too quickly Imaging Lab : 216-368-8812 | Find the things she's erased MetroHealth : 216-778-8987 | Find the line, find the face Pager : 216-670-5872 | Through the grain... Cellular : 216-317-7079 | Fax : 216-368-4969 | Suzanne Vega ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1998 12:37:55 -0500 From: "Ashoke S. Talukdar" Subject: THE COPERNICAN CHRONICLES: A little more than just the best One final attempt... _______________________________________________________________________ I love retrospectives. I would buy any retrospective as long as there are some variations. Last night I watched Stevie Nicks on VH1 Storytellers. Among other things, she rendered a version of "Rhiannon" with only her on the piano. By her own admission, she has very rarely done this. This song is one of my all time favorites. On the Fleetwood Mac "Dance" tour, the song would begin with a few notes on the piano and when Stevie's voice uttered the word Rhiannon, time would stop. The VH1 version is very different - stark, with a somewhat unfinished quality - rare for Stevie but worth every bit of the standing ovation that she got after it ended. I am grateful to VH1 for affording us the opportunity of revisiting our favorite artists in a different context. ****************** I was having a conversation with a friend last week. As someone on the list (Diane perhaps) pointed out, there seems to be a preponderance for "Best of..." releases. Essentially, old songs revisited with one or two new tracks. Many hardcore fans find this somewhat annoying. However, our discussion was highlighted by a couple of viewpoints not often taken. It would seem that the artists themselves would naturally like the idea of retrospectives. It is somewhat similar to being a chef. You rarely get to enjoy your own work in the same way as the beneficiary of the creative process - the audience. This is mainly because the artist gets to stay with the object of art through the creative process, more so than any of us, and is thus constantly surrounded by the "aroma" of their work. It is almost impossible to not become immune to some of the poignancy in the work that we, as recepients of the finished product, enjoy and cherish so much. In this light, it is quite understandable that one would want to revisit their own works occasionally, so as to be able to experience this flavor after having stayed away from it for a while. The music industry is faced with a different kind of dilemna. 25 years ago, the recorded media (vinyls, tapes, etc.) were not as long lasting as those of today (CDs, DVD, etc.). Hence, more and more, today we are likely to buy a CD and have it last for so significantly long a time, that we often don't have to worry about replacing it even after many months in the CD player. For same level of use, we would most certainly have to replace a vinyl LP or a tape. I know I have. The economic connotations aside, however, I think there is a somewhat subtle implication in the increasing propensity for producing compilations of existing works. The record companies, after all, are not naive to the demands of the market. They make retrospective compilations because statistics show that people will buy them. Which brings are to the third and, perhaps, the most important factor of this equation - the listener. Personally, I think these compilations can be very rewarding if done thoughtfullly. Re-releasing studio or live recordings of previous productions (T&T, LWNY, TSI and BOB) in a lengthy, 2-CD collection is NOT a thoughtfully done collection. Needless to say I did not buy it. But "Clear Horizon" is different. Like many of you, I too have heard all but the two wholly new tracks. But the official release of tracks like "Waters of March" and "Angels Blush" provide a sense of completion the anthology of her works. It also puts these songs into a context that is more Basia, than simply isolated recordings. Moreover, I think that putting together a compilation of songs, no doubt suggested by Basia herself, involves an element of interpretation of her own work. In making a song list, there is always the inevitable composition of coherence, which, to my mind, offers an insight into the Basia's feelings about these songs. It also provides us with the opportunity of creating our own context for listening to a set of songs in a particular order. Ultimately, my personal feelings about the release of "Clear Horizon" are about being content and at ease, rather than excitement. Content of the knowledge that she IS back in the studio and that there is more to come. Regards, Ashoke. ________________________________________________________________ Ashoke S. Talukdar | When the darkness takes you talukdar@morph.ebme.cwru.edu | with her hand across your face Home : 216-381-5872 | Don't give in too quickly Imaging Lab : 216-368-8812 | Find the things she's erased MetroHealth : 216-778-8987 | Find the line, find the face Pager : 216-670-5872 | Through the grain... Cellular : 216-317-7079 | Fax : 216-368-4969 | Suzanne Vega ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1998 12:44:30 -0500 From: "Ashoke S. Talukdar" Subject: RE: THE COPERNICAN CHRONICLES: A little more than just the best Finally! And all because I had a word in the first that looked like a key word to the list server!! Can't tell you what the word is though - if I do this message won't go through either. :-) Is this a bug or a feature? Ashoke. ________________________________________________________________ Ashoke S. Talukdar | When the darkness takes you talukdar@morph.ebme.cwru.edu | with her hand across your face Home : 216-381-5872 | Don't give in too quickly Imaging Lab : 216-368-8812 | Find the things she's erased MetroHealth : 216-778-8987 | Find the line, find the face Pager : 216-670-5872 | Through the grain... Cellular : 216-317-7079 | Fax : 216-368-4969 | Suzanne Vega ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 06 Nov 1998 14:12:09 -0800 From: Joel Cairo Subject: Re: THE COPERNICAN CHRONICLES: A little more than just the best Ashoke S. Talukdar wrote: > > Is this a bug or a feature? > Those of who who work with Windows programs frequently find ourselves asking this question... - -Kevin soundmn1@gte.net ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 06 Nov 1998 14:23:28 -0800 From: Joel Cairo Subject: Re: Collecting and that kick-butt discography Leslie Brown wrote: > Wow, Kevin, > you are the man! Is this all your personal collection? Jeeeez! The idea > of putting cover descriptions with the basic info was a great idea- > since that's one of the main reasons why I collect them. Nice job, don't > sweat the wraparound text ^_^ Leslie: OK, I won't... :^) BTW-- unfortunately, the answer to your question is "No", I don't own everything that's listed (wish I did, though!) Thankfully, I've got access to another collection or two. When I have the time (hopefully, sometime this weekend), I'll get the Illustrations page up, so you can see a few of these items. Thanks for the compliments, Though-- they're much appreciated! I might add, *I'm* looking forward to the promos myself, but there is absolutely NOTHING to be seen around the Portland area regarding "Clear Horizon"... no posters, no flats, no advance discs to the retail outlets OR radio stations-- nothing. Obviously, Epic/550's publicity machine has been cranked into high gear again. **A pox on them!!** But I'm still looking forward to the 17th. Really!! - -Kevin soundmn1@gte.net ------------------------------ End of basia-digest V3 #247 ***************************