rob okorn ([email protected])
Wed, 09 Sep 1998 00:10:28 PDT
$50 mil, hard to pass up that type of coin, they've had their fair share
of questionable investments and seedy accountants. The net worth
figures thrown out in the 100+ million range are closer to revenues than
actual profit, so the real figures are significantly lower.
As far as the duplicative live releases point, the live tracks are
different versions so that trajectory doesn't wash.
The official word is the first 2 releases are 80-89, first volume is
simply a 'best of 80's', pretty dispensible for most U2 fans, may
appease the casual fan who is lukewarm toward U2. Still, even the
casual non-discerning fan who only wants something from the 80's would
prefer the full albums of JT, UF since the 'non-hits' or 'singles' on
those albums would be excluded from the 'best of' set. Not having a
song like Red Hill Mining Town or even Mothers of the Disappeared or
songs of that calibre is exactly what a greatest hits package
represents.
Most artists have alot of filler on their albums or songs that that are
decent, a greatest hits package for those artists given their spotty
output usualy means excellent sales for their greatest hits release.
With U2, I'm sure it'll be successful given the quality of the
output,their mass appeal, and icon status but I think Polygram is
overestimating the sales upside with the first volume. People who have
Joshua Tree and UF including the lukewarm non-discerning fan aren't
going to embrace a watered down rehash of scant few of those songs.
Disc 2 will be the 80's b-side disc and has the upside given the
scarcity of the 80's CD singles and the quality of some of those gems
which are stronger than many album tracks.
Interesting that Polygram is contemplating either releasing disc 2
separately or bundling it with disc one. If they bundle it with disc
one, it would be the ultimate insult in that it would force people to
shell out coin and buy the dispensible volume 1.
A separate b-side compilation is a very inexpensive way of getting some
great b-sides, alot better than that '7" and 12"' CD boots mastered from
vinyl that spread tracks over several volumes. Some b-sides will be
omitted, hopefully Poly won't bungle track selction decisions or exclude
a must have track.
It would be nice to think that Poly will re-master some of the tracks
but that's probably not in the cards.
With so much U2 studio and live 80's material in the vaults, it's pretty
sad that Poly would go the 'product' route, it would have far better to
release something like alternate studio versions of tracks, something
like the first ever studio take of Red Hill or Streets or
producer/artist banter in the development of the song. Something like a
2CD 'Joshua Tree: the alternate versions' would have alot more value and
replay value. I'm sure if U2 really wanted it, they could make it
happen and push for it. Judging by some comments, it's unlikely, they
have stated they don't want inferior versions of those songs for public
consumption, the JT studio tracks represented the best takes on each
line, One Tree Hill was identical to it's first take. There is a part
of them that doesn't want to taint that.
The 3 disc releases also have a triple whammy effect, it buys some time
til the next studio release, it serves to put their 'best of' songs back
to the forefront and remind people of U2's icon status and previous
output, and it gives them a sufficient time window before they can
justify another round of pricey tickets. Along with the $50 mil and
Poly's consumption by Seagram, it makes economical sense for all
parties.
Sellout seems to be too harsh, they're just capitalizing on something
that makes financial sense. There is the jaded cynic who points out
that many artists from music to the film world who've already achieved
financial freedom and seek roles that challenge their skill turn a blind
eye to blatant commercialism and that point is also valid. But what's
wrong with cutting U2 some slack, they deserve the benefits they're
enjoying now based on what they've accomplished.
Even a talented actor who despises commercialism like Ethan Hawke
accepts a role in a hollywood formula western with it's 7 figure price
tag.
At the same time, people accepted U2's Zoo theatrics, it was different
and I suppose added a different angle, the Zooropa tour was an extension
of that, but my Pop, perhaps they thought they could get away with it
fiven the 5 year US hiatus, it became old hat and alot of people saw
that reliance as something the band saw as a necessary safety net angle.
Now with the releases of 3 discs of best of material, perhaps people
should take a closer look and realize that music is a business. It's
fine to use the rubber gloves but then reality sets in.
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