The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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ATM – does ‘perception of value’ in the nature of box set packaging make a difference in your purchase decision?

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The question may seem boring, but it’s foremost in my mind at the moment – and I’d welcome the AW Massive’s thoughts. Let me explain…

Having researched and compiled, on paper, a fabulous 7CD+DVD Dick Gaughan box set spanning 1969-84, I couldn’t get any of the labels I periodically work with over the line with it. In short, they didn’t quite believe in it, while I believe in it completely – as both an artistic and commercial proposition. (Gaughan had to retire after a stroke in 2016 but I’m thrilled to say he’s completely supportive of the project.)

My plan is to create and release it via Kickstarter, hopefully launching in March. I’m firmly set on that path, so no need to suggest ‘Have you tried label X or Y’ – it will generate far more in the way of revenue for the artist, so it’s quite liberating!

Having gathered almost all of the costings at this point, I’m ruminating on the nature of the packaging – and the extent to which that affects (a) costs/retail price and (b) the attractiveness to possible buyers, the ‘perception of value’.

My costings so far have been based around a ‘clamshell’ box » Continue Reading.

Fatima’s 2023 in 77 Fragments

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Seven is the magic number – to round up the favourites from 2023 I’ve put them in groups of seven. Think of each one as a playlist for a long train journey or a day at the office. Every Magnificent Seven has ist own atmosphere, mood or approach, and although they seem wildly different, they complement each other perfectly. Random play sometimes is a good option. The one in bold from each pack currently stands out as the most enjoyed and, sometimes, most played. But these things change, of course…

N E W M U S I C

||||||||||||| »Somewhere in the distance, as if at the end of a long tunnel, monks are chanting. A bell rings, but it’s barely audible. It might not even be there at all.« |||||||||||||

Tinariwen • Amatssou Lana Del Rey • Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd? Altin Gün • Ask Steven Wilson • The Harmony Codex Dhani Harrison • Innerstanding Yo La Tengo • This Stupid World Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids • Afro Futuristic Dreams

||||||||||||| »A disembodied, echoing voice intones an introduction: »So, shall we practise a little meditation together?« To which the only answer is, » Continue Reading.

BBC Scotland’s ‘Travelling Folk’ – Colin H on Bert J

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I was asked to do an interview on Bert Jansch, on the theme of the ‘Bert at the BBC’ box set, for BBC Scotland’s ‘Travelling Folk’ a couple of weeks back. It was broadcast tonight- here it is. It was a real pleasure talking with presenter Anna Massie, and cannily edited by Emma Gryczka. They make me sound coherent… 😀 For anyone interested, the Bert bit starts at 1:17.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001fffx

What do you do with your box set “extras”?

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I’ve been doing a studio tidy up/clean out while we’re in lockdown here in Sydney. I don’t have many box sets, but I opened up the two most recent ones – the Small Faces “Here Come The Nice” and The Kinks “…Village Green…” and here are all these photos, singles etc and in the case of The Kinks, sheet music (for “Days”). I’d forgotten about them. What do people do with these things? If I was 16 years old I’d put the photos on my bedroom wall like I used to do with Sounds posters, or The Beatles White Album photographs. Nowadays they just sit in the box, until I take out the album (once a year) and flick through the bits and pieces like they’re an album cover.

Oh, maybe I’ve answered my own question…

But what do youse do? I’m curious

Kate Bush Bargain Box Sets

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SDE website reporting the lowest prices to date for most of the box sets – CD & vinyl at Amazon. £37 and £35 down from £63 and £60 respectively for sets 1 & 2. Apparently it’s due to competition from HMV, but I was unable to figure out how to buy an actual product to purchase on HMV.com [by anyone, not just Bush] – probably just me being thick.

http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/deal/deal-alert-kate-bush-box-set-bargains/

Box – Set – Nooooo!

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If I was going to spend over 300 quid on a Vinyl Box Set (which I am not), I’d like it in a nicer box than this. This looks like one of those cheap CD compilations you find in a motorway services. Rotten photo, tacky typeface, no relevance to the design aesthetic of any of the album artwork and Mick looks like he’s had an allergic reaction to something. I know Stones reissues have a bit of a chequered history so I hope for anyone who is shelling out for this, or the CD edition, that the remastering, pressing, sleeve reproduction are much much better realised than the big box they come in. It will all kick off on SuperDeluxeEdition.com if it’s not – and they’ve been instrumental in getting all sorts of mastering errors and cock-ups corrected in the past – albeit hassling some poor intern at UMG over some oversight to do with Thompson Twins or Nik Kershaw reissues so not sure if they’ll cut any ice with ABKCO (always amazed they still exist as an organisation – do they have a big picture of the Ron Decline on the wall I wonder?)