David Way ([email protected])
Tue, 10 Nov 1998 14:34:29 PST
I told myself that I wasn't going to do this, but I can't be silent
anymore. (There are too many messes to clean up.)
I like the song selection and versions they have included on the
"Best Of". I already have all of the albums, so they couldn't put a song
on it (besides the re-recorded "Sweetest Thing") that I didn't already
have. The Edge said in an interview that they didn't so much remaster
them as re-equalized them for compact disc. He reminded the interviewer
that "Boy" through "Wide Awake In America" were equalized for LP and
cassette, not CD, originally. This collection gave them a chance to do
it properly this time. Also, I'm glad to have the single edits all in
one place without changing CD's; I didn't already have all of these
versions anyway. If I want to hear the full-length versions, I'll put on
the original CD's.
The B-Sides collection is great, not just for the selection of
songs, but (again) I don't have to change discs to hear them all. They
also have been re-equalized for CD; some were probably re-mastered as
well because they are making their "debut", as it were, on CD (if my
memory serves me correctly, neither "Endless Deep" nor "Trash,
Trampoline, and the Party Girl" were officially released by Island
Records on CD before this compilation. Any corrections, if I am in
error, are encouraged and appreciated.) Any complaints about this
release, therefore, are merely nitpicking, IMHO.
Record labels are, for better or worse, beasts of capitalism. No
compilation of any sort will, almost necessarily, have every track you
want on it. This is especially true for a group which is still active
and whose back-catalogue still sells well. After all, if a particular
compilation DID have every classic album track/single/b-side, it would
at least partially negatively effect future sales of their
back-catalogue. Do I LIKE the label's operating rationale? HELL NO!! Do
I UNDERSTAND the label's operating rationale? Unfortunately and
reluctantly, yes.
People, the bottom line is that this release succeeds more than it
fails. Would you be happier without the CD's release? I can't imagine
anyone on this list answering in the affirmative. If you still feel
cheated because it wasn't all it could be, the future is not
pre-determined. You could still get what you wanted for this release at
a later time.
I'll comment also about the one who curiously appends "The Great" to
his name and his comment. (See the previous two editions of Wire if you
don't know what this is all about.) I, for one, was pleasantly amused by
the person who was obviously very excited about the little bonus our
group put at the end of the first CD. I'm not surprised that the person
had not heard the song before. Not every fan has every album, nor should
that be a prerequisite for admission to the Wire congregation. I
consider myself a fan of many groups whose complete catalogue is NOT
part of my personal collection. So, let's think a little before flaming,
OK?
This segues nicely into my final rant of the evening. I know neither
who defamed Aaron Sams and his work on his web-page nor what was said. I
DO know this: Aaron Sams IS a person of the highest integrity and
discretion. Therefore, I must draw the conclusion that the person(s)
responsible is/are lacking in both qualities which Aaron possesses.
Flame judiciously and deservedly, or not at all, please.
This used to be such a nice Internet magazine. What the H&*^%
happened? (I don't blame the people who want to leave this magazine at
all. Let me know where all of you go. Maybe we can do something radical,
e.g., discuss the personal and musical merits of U2.)
Rantingly yours,
David Way
(who still begrudgingly likes Wire because he met Vanessa and Rashas
this way)
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