From: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org (fegmaniax-digest) To: fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Subject: fegmaniax-digest V7 #462 Reply-To: fegmaniax@smoe.org Sender: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk fegmaniax-digest Tuesday, December 15 1998 Volume 07 : Number 462 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: pac man fever [Ben ] Re: Any trip-hop/abstract hip-hop experts out there in Fegland? [Briannup] Re: Any trip-hop/abstract hip-hop experts out there in Fegland? [Briannup] Re: Films [Joel Mullins ] Re: pac man fever [Joel Mullins ] Re: pac man fever [Mark_Gloster@3com.com] Call for URLs [The Great Quail ] Re: pac man fever [Joel Mullins ] re: Pac Man Fever [Eb ] Re: Films [Eb ] Re: Mostly Momus [amadain ] 'cause he's a mean motor-scooter and a bad go-getter [normal@grove.ufl.ed] Re: Construct a critter [amadain ] Working (the show) [Terrence M Marks ] Re: 'cause he's a mean motor-scooter and a bad go-getter [amadain ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 23:49:17 -0500 From: Ben Subject: Re: pac man fever Eb wrote: > Michael K: > >It's really rare for singles > >from live albums to do much of anything . . . and this is probably even more > >true in the CD single era > > Well, regardless of singles, didn't the popularity of live albums take a > huge irreversible dip when the CD (and its accompanying emphasis on > fidelity issues) came to rule the marketplace? > > Seems like the only high-profile live albums in recent times have been the > various MTV Unplugged discs. And there, we're talking about a much more > intimate recording environment, with a small controlled audience, extensive > television-quality miking, etc. I have wondered why this is, it seems that every big rock act in the 70's had the obligatory double (sometimes triple!) live album, but since then it's become rarer. Are these youngsters just too dull in concert to warrant a live album, or is it that live albums are just a rip off repackaging of the "hits"? Also, one single from a live album I can think of that was a hit would be Paul McCartney & Wings "Maybe I'm Amazed", which was a hit in it's live version rather than it's original release. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 23:59:49 EST From: Briannupp@aol.com Subject: Re: Any trip-hop/abstract hip-hop experts out there in Fegland? Oh Yeah, Roni Size. Can`t forget about Roni Size. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 23:56:41 EST From: Briannupp@aol.com Subject: Re: Any trip-hop/abstract hip-hop experts out there in Fegland? M- A cd I really enjoy is Johnny L. Beautiful music over great break beats. Nice Slowdive harmonies over the 1st track. Some of it is kinda quick... I can`t remember the name of the ep, as a friends got it, but I know it's available on cd and Vinyl. Its only about 35 minutes, but worth its import value. B P.S. You ever check out Sterolab's "Dots and Loops" (Not really trip hop, but smooth beats!) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 23:09:02 -0800 From: Joel Mullins Subject: Re: Films > for a proper studio album release, like "Jewels for Sophia," which has a > greater likelihood of generating good sales.> > > but ELIXIR only shipped 21,000 copies. and he can't even keep his > catalog in print. we're dealing with a cult artist here, whether we > like it or not. i'm surprised he's on a major label at all. That's a very good point. I rarely, and I mean RARELY, ever meet people who have ever actually heard *of* Robyn Hitchcock, much less heard and liked his music. When I meet new people, they'll here me talk about him quite a bit, and then when they finally here his music, they're surprised. They always assume he's a girl. And though I do enjoy spreading the Feg-Gospel and making new converts, I actually like it this way. If the general public (which is filled mostly with a bunch of idiots who have no idea that there's other music besides what they see on MTV) were to become fascinated with RH, I think I'd get extremely sick. Robyn's way too good for most people in this world. I prefer to get to know people first, and then decide whether or not they're worthy of being converted. I guess I'm a feg-snob. (Did I get off topic? I'm sorry.) > are a > few out there who would give the Coens a run within this decade as > well... > from Jarmusch to Sayles to Soderberg, etc.> > > sayles i can definitely give you. And I'll give you Jim Jarmusch. Tarantino wouldn't exist without Jarmusch. He even said that he got his idea for Pulp Fiction from Jarmusch's Mystery Train. I love the Coen Brothers. But Jarmusch is *the* best filmaker around right now. Anyone see Dead Man? Great movie, and a great score by Neil Young. - --Joel ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 23:14:40 -0800 From: Joel Mullins Subject: Re: pac man fever > >And yeah, Tarantino is largely a > >hack > > !!!??? -- I love when Capuchin says things like that. He's so cute! > > >(he's done a couple three very cool things, tops). > > "Three very cool things?" Um, like "Reservoir Dogs," "Pulp Fiction," and > "Jackie Brown," three of the top movies that came out in each year that > they were issued? Three movies that are so damn good I won't even bother > to defend them, as you either "get it or you don't?" I mean, golly, most > "hacks" would give an eyeball or at least a kidney ort two just to have > made *one* of those films! Plus QT wrote the screenplays for "Natural > Born Killers" and "True Romance?" AND -- I know I am in the minority here > -- but the much maligned and underrated small gem that is "Four Rooms?" > This is not the work of a "hack." You may dislike him personally, but > really -- this is not the work of a hack. (If I keep saying it over and > over again and click my shoes, I can go to a safe place away from such > sentiments . . . maybe a place where Bach is wanking on a harpsichord Well, in my opinion, the best thing Tarantino has done is From Dusk Til Dawn. But most people never agree with me on this. It's the best script he's written, his acting was actually pretty good for a change, and he and Rodriguez make a great fucking team! I wish they would work together more. - --Joel ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 21:26:05 -0800 From: Mark_Gloster@3com.com Subject: Re: pac man fever Someone ebbed softly: >No no no no...sorry for the confusing syntax. I meant that >I don't like Cake, Stan Ridgway and Violent Femmes for the >same reason (ie, too much smirk, not enough heart). "The >same reason" wasn't referring to Spirit andDonovan. There is the sound of rustling as some of the Cake, Stan Ridgway, and Violent Femmes fans put away some of their nuclear weapons due to the retraction.) The other part of the statement, though, is one of the sadder consequences of having success early in a carreer with humorous music. I think that the more serious, sincere, and heartful stuff tends to get overlooked. If the artist has a peculiar form of expression (odd voice, or uses big words, or dare I say it- both!) they may always be marginalized for a particular work. Stan's success with "Mexican Radio" was a big ball and chain around his neck. When bugged to death by Geffen Co. to "write another one like that," he wrote "I Wanna Be A Boss," but when it came out they were too busy supporting Gubs and Bozos or some other act and he was dropped from the label. Stan refused to play it for a couple of years thereafter. Frank Zappa was marginalized by his own quirky lyrics, etc. I can't tell you how many people who "hate Frank Zappa" have absolutely loved FZ's music to which I've been able to trick them into hearing. Sometimes the messenger communicates in such a way that the message simply can't be heard by some. Consider the love/hate gulf between those who have heard Neutral Milk Hotel, Rufus, etc. It is a completely different matter if they are sent into quirkdom for their early effort when they continue to grow. (Randy Newman can't get airplay. At least as long as Pixar's in business and other people keep recording his songs he'll be able to make a living.) I continue to be violently opposed to the way musical artists are treated when they use any humor in any of their material. It is allowed and even encouraged in some artistic venues. In music, it seems to be some scarlet letter that unfairly allows people to discount serious work of which a portion may or may not contain some amount of humor. Some of them are lucky enough to cultivate (hmmm, look at those first four letters) audiences, or leach onto the cult audiences of others for exposure, but the going is pretty rough. Yea. I know. It's a rant. This is an artistic peeve of mine that I don't expect to vanish overnight. Happies, - -Markg (Oh, and about Jaws: Really liked the big rubber shark- possibly the greatest performance of our time) ps. I don't know what came over me. I'm really sorry for suggesting that Kay was sweet. This information had been passed to me completely in error. The messenger has been dealt with. A sweet Capricorn? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Dec 98 00:28:59 -0500 From: The Great Quail Subject: Call for URLs Feglings, As I sit here updating my itsy-bitsy Robyn page on my fabulous new iMac (By the way, I love it, but where the hell was Jeff Goldblum?! Wasn't he supposed to set it up for me? Tom, what's up with that?) I realized that I may be missing some Feg URLs. I know Bayard made a general call for URLs, and I just want to echo that -- if you have a homepage or a Robyn page, I'd like to place the URL on my Feg link page. That way Viv Lyon can keep spying on all your personal lives, in case you ever become famous enough to stalk. (Hear that, Black Bart?) And besides, it's just fun to look at Feg homepages! See Gary's suck list! Hear samples of Robyn audio from Chris D! Download pictures of nude squid from Chris G! Purchase copies of "Monday's Lunch" for all your frinds for Christmas! Yaaay world of Fegs! Well, that being said, if you wish, check out my list of links at: If you want to be added, email me your URL in the following format: Have fun! - --Lia Quetu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Great Quail, Keeper of the Libyrinth: http://www.rpg.net/quail/libyrinth "Countlessness of livestories have netherfallen by this plage, flick as flowflakes, litters from aloft, like a waast wizzard all of whirlworlds. Now are all tombed to the mound, isges to isges, erde from erde . . . (Stoop) if you are abcedminded, to this claybook, what curious of signs (please stoop) in this allaphbed! Can you rede (since We and Thou had it out already) its world? . . . Speak to us of Emailia!" --James Joyce, Finnegans Wake ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 23:27:29 -0800 From: Joel Mullins Subject: Re: pac man fever Ben wrote: > > Eb wrote: > > > Michael K: > > >It's really rare for singles > > >from live albums to do much of anything . . . and this is probably even more > > >true in the CD single era > > > > Well, regardless of singles, didn't the popularity of live albums take a > > huge irreversible dip when the CD (and its accompanying emphasis on > > fidelity issues) came to rule the marketplace? > > > > Seems like the only high-profile live albums in recent times have been the > > various MTV Unplugged discs. And there, we're talking about a much more > > intimate recording environment, with a small controlled audience, extensive > > television-quality miking, etc. > > I have wondered why this is, it seems that every big rock act in the 70's had the > obligatory double (sometimes triple!) live album, but since then it's become > rarer. Are these youngsters just too dull in concert to warrant a live album, or > is it that live albums are just a rip off repackaging of the "hits"? > > Also, one single from a live album I can think of that was a hit would be Paul > McCartney & Wings "Maybe I'm Amazed", which was a hit in it's live version rather > than it's original release. The way I see it, most people don't care for live albums and singles anymore because most people don't follow artists the way they used to. They see a video on MTV, go buy the CD, and never bother to look and see if the artist has other albums. Instead, they watch another video and go buy another crappy CD. As far as the general population goes, if it's not on MTV, it doesn't exist. They don't care about B-sides, live versions, outtakes, bootlegs, etc etc etc. Ladies and Gentleman, we are the Freaks of the world. Who else in the world would bother making a list of his favorite 1000 albums of all time? Only a freak would do that! But I'm a freak too. I will someday take a trip to Europe and spend the entire time just record shopping, looking for anything Robyn I can find. Only a freak would travel half-way across the world to go buy a few records. So, we must remember that the record companies are just trying to make some money off the idiots. And we are not the idiots. Did I get off topic again? Damn. I keep doing that. - --Joel ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 22:51:13 -0800 From: Eb Subject: re: Pac Man Fever Rubber Yellow Shark: >Frank Zappa was marginalized by his own quirky >lyrics, etc. I can't tell you how many people who "hate >Frank Zappa" have absolutely loved FZ's music to which >I've been able to trick them into hearing. Oh yes, Zappa's later rock releases leave me cold in the same way. In fact, I even thought earlier tonight, "Hmm, I might've mentioned Zappa in that 'smirk/heart' post, too." I own about 25 Zappa albums, yet I don't own any which I would call "rock" that were released past 1970 or 1971. I skipped all the later "Dr. Demento"-esque releases. And yes, I have heard more Stan Ridgway than "Mexican Radio." Off to the discard pile. Also, when I criticized him and others for their "smirks," that is NOT the same thing as criticizing them for being humorous. I just don't feel any underlying heart from those acts -- it's all about surface affectations, irony and wink-wink, whether the intent is humorous OR dramatic. Joel: >The way I see it, most people don't care for live albums and singles >anymore because most people don't follow artists the way they used to. >They see a video on MTV, go buy the CD, and never bother to look and see >if the artist has other albums. Instead, they watch another video and >go buy another crappy CD. As far as the general population goes, if >it's not on MTV, it doesn't exist. They don't care about B-sides, live >versions, outtakes, bootlegs, etc etc etc. I don't buy this easy cynicism. People "follow" artists just as much as ever. As I said before, I believe that live albums declined in popularity because the CD medium made everyone suddenly start worrying over digital mastering, DDD, etc etc etc. Suddenly, an album with an imperfect instrumental mix, missed notes and a constant crowd roar didn't seem so desirable. I'm not the only one who adheres to this theory. And by the way, record companies clearly don't agree with you that folks don't care about bootlegs. The giant wave of rarities box sets in the past few years is DIRECTLY designed to seize record sales back from bootleggers. Meanwhile, I think Jaws may be Spielberg's best film, and I own both the LP *and* limited-edition square single of "Pac Man Fever," thank you very much. Eb np: Buckner & Garcia/"Do the Donkey Kong" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 22:51:47 -0800 From: Eb Subject: Re: Films The Bear: >They >Coens are GREAT, but I think many of their films suffer at times from a >sense of preciousness >...comes off as being, in my opinion, contrived. Agreed. Though with their recent films, the Coens have finally managed to lose that icy actors-as-chess-pieces vibe which always alienated me. Good on them. Eddie: > the funny thing is, it's just NOT a >kids' movie at all. it's dark and horrific; and the dialog, i think, is >a little too mature for the kiddies. and maybe that's why it's bombing: >the kids don't get it, and the adults aren't aware that they're the ones >who should be seeing it. I've read a couple of articles that say it's PURELY a question of timing. The "Babe" sequel opened the same week as "A Bug's Life," and Disney's marketing muscle convinced all the kiddies that they wanted to see talking ladybugs over talking pigs. Thus, curtains for Babe. Simple as that. Too bad. I *loved* about half of the original, though it started sliding in the second half when the pig-as-sheepdog plot overwhelmed the simple barnyard fun. I haven't seen the Babe sequel. I don't go to movie theaters very often anymore. Eb, the God Damn Daddy ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 01:49:36 -0600 From: amadain Subject: Re: Mostly Momus >Sun, 13 Dec 1998 16:44:55 -0600, amadain wrote: >>"Born To Be Adored", while it contains much of the peculiar wit that makes >>Momus great, is pretty much a pale shadow. > >I think it has an unusual charm because, even though there's nothing in >the lyrics to indicate it, I don't feel like the character of the song >actually believes what he's saying. Sort of like rap boasting--everyone >knew LL Cool J wasn't *that* bad, or even that flexible. I had been thinking it was sort of like an affectionate satire of that "I'm the greatest lover on satin sheets/I'll oil you up from head to feet and shake you down/All over town, I'm known/As the smooth lover man" R&B type thing (note- fictional example I just now made up, don't go asking me what song it's from :)). Barry White really sort of started that, I think, which is why I thought it was parodying him specifically. But I think you have a good point that it could very well be just a general attempt at doing that boasting style. One thing about it tho- I guess some old hurts die very very hard, and I don't wish to be insensitive about this, as we all have our insecurities and tender spots. But it's mildly unnerving the way he's still telling the jocks/normals of the world how much better a lover he is and how their wives and girlfriends prefer his company. It's time to let that one go. >Hmmm...well, perhaps he's just overly protective of his sister. I was under the impression that this song was purely fictional. In any event, I don't think that's it. Somehow I don't think the man who wrote "How Do You Find My Sister?" is overly protective in quite that sort of way. >Perhaps Mr. K-tel's lack of discernible lips is too irritating for him to >stand. >I hear his sister is actually an actress, though I don't know her name. Well, there's a distinct feeling of dark disgust in that song, and it seems to be motivated by something more than just irritating facial features. I have to say, that it does also irk me that Harvey Keitel is so often filmed swanning about in the nude, as well, that may be part of it. It's not the nudity per se, it's the sort of swaggering macho way he does it. It's his attitude that's annoying, and the way he seems to choose parts that require it, so that he gets the opportunity ("I'm not an exhibitionist! I'm a METHOD ACTOR, BAYBEE!"). I think as I write, that I am now beginning to see what Momus is on about. >It's one of the brief bonus tracks on _Slender Sherbet_, along with "The >Guitar Lesson" ("the pupil is 42/a blackbelt at judo...") You really need to hear the version of this song on "Don't Stop The Night". >and "Closer to You." It's been a long time since I've heard "Sherbet". Is this version markedly different from the one on "Poison Boyfriend"? Love on ya, Susan P.S. To those who missed the chat- you didn't actually miss anything, though I'm sure that Gil wanker had a really SWELL time. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 02:38:43 -0500 (EST) From: normal@grove.ufl.edu Subject: 'cause he's a mean motor-scooter and a bad go-getter First-off, I've got some spare time coming up and I've decided to look into...well, there's this one particular subgenre of playwriting that was popular in England during the early part of this century and some of the last one. I don't know what it's called, well, something like Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" or Milne's "Mr. Pim Passes By" or Wodehouse's Same-play-every-time-with-slight-dialogue-changes. Light comedy set in the upper class, usually involving an assortment of wards, odd old men, battleax aunts who control the finances, and marriages. Well, anyhow, I'm trying to find more of these, and I don't know where to look because I don't know what they're called, if they're called anything, so if you-all know of anything like this, let me know, ok? (Why? Well, I want to put something like this into my comic strip, and I also happen to like light, marginal entertainment.) Re: Music I've decided to, on a lark, try to put together an album of early 80s pop, rather like the Dukes of Stratosphear albums. However, my knowledge of 80s music was recently shown to be lacking ("Tiffany who?"), so in addition to my studies of The Stray Cats, Michael Jackson, Talking Heads, Blondie, Katrina and the Waves, Men without Hats, Tears for Fears, DEVO, and possibly Dead Kennedys, whom should I include? Is there any major new talent that I've forgotten? Re: films I don't know enough about the subject to do more than ask "So how big/important was Frank Capra back in his day?" Re: Comic strips No-one has asked about this, because I'm probably the only one here who's that interested in comic strips, but my predictions for the immediate future are that South Park, Chicken Soup for the Soul or some major wrestling league spin off into comic strips. Comedy Central has, I'm sure, given the success of Dr. Katz and Rugrats as comic strips, considered a South Park comic strip. I'm sure the language would be toned down, and it would be written by a committee and not-at-all funny, and it would cause a lot of problems because a lot of people don't want to see objectionable material before breakfast. However, it's got heavy name recognition, and because people know the characters, they can pretend it's funny. I think that were the WCW to launch a plot-based strip involving the exploits of its wrestlers, showing events in addition to the televised ones, it could get into a number of papers. Note, however, that these are presented mostly out of bemusement at the concept. They're all seriously flawed. That hasn't exactly stopped Mary Worth or Family Circus, though. Putting off a 6-page paper on such things as the trend against centralized states in Africa and how to present African History since 1800 without presenting Africans as victims, Terrence Marks normal@grove.ufl.edu ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 02:11:04 -0600 From: amadain Subject: Re: Construct a critter >or form)might be offered where, oh perhaps, it might be sorta kinda needed. >A poll to figure out what robyn should do with his hair. >Comments are encouraged I have some, but mainly about what not to do. Definitely not the "Queen Elvis" mohawk. That was really a nadir. Nor the blow-dry hair-gel look, ick, that was bad too. I don't think shaving, as mainly that's best for people who a) have faced the fact they're balding and have decided that this is better than gradually watching it go or adopting a *yuck* combover or b) work as a bouncer at an industrial club. Probably best is about chin-length or a bit longer. When it gets to shoulder-length, what with those cowlicks and their unruliness there's a distinctly disturbing Farrah Fawcett-like effect. Love on ya, Susan so I'm NOT the only person who has opinions about Robyn's hair. I feel better now. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 03:28:02 -0500 (EST) From: Terrence M Marks Subject: Working (the show) I recently saw "Working" Is that a clip from "Brazil" I see in the opening? (One of that important guy walking down a grey, featureless corridor with a score of assistants shouting and waving papers about.) And there's something about it that makes it look like it's not *really* a TV show. It's got that same sort of "not at all professionally done" look that you see on fake TV clips from SNL, Leno or Letterman (or late-80s Fox shows). Is this just me and, if not, could someone more versed in the art of television tell me what they're doing wrong? (Yep. Second time today. "Hi, I'd really like information on something but I have no idea what it's called or how to express it") not playing, but should be: On Cloud Nine "Singing the songs of my heart at the top of my lungs" Terrence Marks normal@grove.ufl.edu ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 02:56:15 -0600 From: amadain Subject: Re: 'cause he's a mean motor-scooter and a bad go-getter >comedy set in the upper class, usually involving an assortment of wards, >odd old men, battleax aunts who control the finances, and marriages. >Well, anyhow, I'm trying to find more of these, and I don't know where to >look because I don't know what they're called, if they're called anything, >so if you-all know of anything like this, let me know, ok? I'm not 100 percent sure, but I believe this is usually called "drawing-room comedy". >addition to my studies of The Stray Cats, Michael Jackson, Talking Heads, >Blondie, Katrina and the Waves, Men without Hats, Tears for Fears, DEVO, >and possibly Dead Kennedys, whom should I include? Is there any major new >talent that I've forgotten? Depends on your taste, really. I would say the Style Council and Gary Numan are the major omissions here, but that's my POV. It's hard to make recommendations because I'm not sure I see a coherent criterion here. You've got Michael Jackson, who was mainly a sales milestone and not particularly -influential-. If you have him you probably should have Culture Club, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, and Wham as well. But then you've got Devo and Talking Heads there, who were for the most part much more musically influential than big-sellers and a totally different thang. If you want to talk influential (specifically with regard to "new-wave"), you need to include people like Gary Numan and Thomas Dolby. These are mentioned in your list alongside Men Without Hats, who had one smash, a couple more minorly charting singles, and more or less dropped from there. If you have them, you should also have similar stuff like Human League, the Fixx, Flock of Seagulls, and Wang Chung. Not to mention all those novelty things like "Rock Me Amadeus" and "Puttin' On The Ritz". And if you're going to get into eighties hardcore, that's yet another kettle, and you need to look at Suicidal Tendencies and Black Flag as well as the DKs, for starters. This is not even to mention the Two-Tone ska revival or old-school rap. Whew! This sounds like a helluva project you're embarking on, Terry! Love on ya, Susan ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 08:36:25 +0000 (GMT) From: Stewart Russell 3295 Analyst_Programmer Subject: Re: catching up (*four* digests over the weekend???) >>>>> "James" == James Dignan writes: James> 1) Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs. James> ... This, however, seems a goody, even if the James> emphasis on theremin gets a little wearying after a James> while. It's a saw. Joel Eckhouse of the Blue Sky Serenaders, no less, one of the few virtuoso saw players. James> Who are the Beta Band (I James> *think* they're Scottish)? Yes, they're Scottish Beck-wannabees. - -- Stewart C. Russell Analyst Programmer, Dictionary Division stewart@ref.collins.co.uk HarperCollins Publishers use Disclaimer; my $opinion; Glasgow, Scotland ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 02:43:40 -0800 From: Joel Mullins Subject: Re: Pac Man Fever > >The way I see it, most people don't care for live albums and singles > >anymore because most people don't follow artists the way they used to. > >They see a video on MTV, go buy the CD, and never bother to look and see > >if the artist has other albums. Instead, they watch another video and > >go buy another crappy CD. As far as the general population goes, if > >it's not on MTV, it doesn't exist. They don't care about B-sides, live > >versions, outtakes, bootlegs, etc etc etc. > > I don't buy this easy cynicism. People "follow" artists just as much as > ever. As I said before, I believe that live albums declined in popularity > because the CD medium made everyone suddenly start worrying over digital > mastering, DDD, etc etc etc. Suddenly, an album with an imperfect > instrumental mix, missed notes and a constant crowd roar didn't seem so > desirable. I'm not the only one who adheres to this theory. > > And by the way, record companies clearly don't agree with you that folks > don't care about bootlegs. The giant wave of rarities box sets in the past > few years is DIRECTLY designed to seize record sales back from bootleggers. Okay, maybe I didn't explain myself well enough. What I basically meant was that, if an artist releases a live album, they are targeting a more specific audience than with studio albums. Videos have become the main promotional tool in the record industry. And they usually don't make videos to promote live albums. So, the artist is not likely to gain very many new fans with a live album. The only people that will buy it are people who are already fans of that particular artist. Personally, I wouldn't buy a live album of someone's unless I already had a studio album or two and liked them. - --Joel ------------------------------ End of fegmaniax-digest V7 #462 *******************************