As there has been no reply to my comments under a band question area, I thought I’d take the initiative and start individual areas for those I have questions for.
Could I suggest a protocol here that each question has a number allocated to it so if asking a question of Terry that this is headed with a number and a brief idea of the question asked for example
1 – Demo’s for others
This may make it easy for the band member to answer all in one go by using these numbers.
Also if you have questions for any member who does not have an area themselves, please paste this as the first item so that others can follow suit – thanks
Steve
Hi, Julian - I was a deejay at CHOM-FM in Montreal during the 1970s when, as you may recall, Charlie had a fairly good following. Well, lots of airplay from me, at least!
Like so many other Charlie fans, I was disappointed by the sound of the Renaissance masters. Without exaggeration, the LPs of No Second Chance, Lines and Fight Dirty were among the most luxuriously mixed of the decade and, for me, define the parameters of the warm, enveloping rock'n'roll sound.
I've been following the Charlie websites for a few years, awaiting news of remasters. Maybe I'm missing something here, but it seems they're still "on the horizon". May I ask what the problem is? Money? Facilities? Disagreements amongst the band members?
I have a nearly pristine vinyl copy from which I could make my own MPs or AAcs or FLACs or what-have-you, but I'd rather pay up again to show my appreciation of the fine music you gave so many of us back then.
Thanks and rock on.
Discordia!
Interesting thoughts, yes. Thanks. Terry is presently in California (where I live) and we'll go over some options when we get together, for sure.
I think the vaults do contain more material. Terry also has some new works. Plus (gasp!) the remastering project is still on the horizon (and these will be at least at the audio standard of Anthology, indeed.)
Julian.
Hi Julian
A few months ago, you replied to an email of mine, highlighting you were going to be adding a boatload of new media to the site.
Any indications when this will actually happen?
Regards,
Peter
Hi Julian,
Thanks for the reply.
From talking to others I correspond with I think Fan Only releases would be well received.
They could be burnt to order so you don't have vast stocks hanging around and you could e-mail the covers (or download from the site here) so the user prints locally, thereby keeping costs low.
I know I would certainly welcome this facility if you and the others would agree to it.
I think around the £5 - £7.50 mark for single discs would not be unreasonable, but as boots go for more....
Hope you will be able to agree to this service
Steve
First, sorry to have been so absent. I will also prod other members to speak up in the forums. At least equal the volume of our friendly spammers (though they seem to have been quelled somewhat of late).
First, re-masters. We have not yet been able to locate the master tapes but we do have test pressings and virgin white labels. The Renaissance CDs mostly sound appalling (Here Comes Trouble and Anthology excepted). Lord knows what they used, but aside from HCT and A the band was completely unaware that these re-issues were being made, much less were involved in the process.
Live demos and such: well, it's a question of quality isn't it? These recordings were not professionally recorded and so we are reluctant to charge anyone for them, preferring just to make them available to those interested. We could, as a 'service' do as you suggest though. Interesting!
New Stuff: Spoke to Terry a week or so ago and he's threatening to send something fairly provocative this way, which will hopefully make it onto the site. He has already done a re-make of Fantasy Girls, which is due to be posted as soon as I can steer our trusty helpers in the direction of this site!
Meanwhile, my musical work is fairly centered on the Alan Parsons Art And Science Of Sound Recording series for which I am co-writer and producer. This massive, almost 2 year project is now only inches away from the finish line. You can hear a lot of music that has recently oozed out of these fingers in terms of title and bed music!
JC
Julian,
I understand that you are (re)re-mastering the albums.
Are these from the original tapes or from albums, as I heard that the original tapes were missing.
If not from the tapes how will these be improved over and above the original Renaissance issues?
The latest "best of" was certainly an improvement. Can we expect more of the same or better?
Is there a release schedule agreed yet?
Steve
Julian,
Re the streamed live and demos stuff in the media section, would you consider releasing these as fan CD's via the web site of as FLAC downloads for a cost?
Are there any more in the vaults that could be released say 1 every 3 months?
You would then be able to raise some funds either to upkeep the site or split between band members as you felt appropriate.
Steve
Hi Julian,
How is the re-mastering project going and when do you think we will see the first release?
Also have you given any more thought to doing private live pressings and selling them via the website?
It would be great to get the gigs featured in the media section (an others) in good quality on CD.
Regards,
Steve