CV Goes Boldly Forth?

[ceved]

Well good friend and detractors, once again I have gone out on the limb with my own chain saw (running) in an attempt to rustle up some grassroots response from possible musical content sources to consider rtr as a medium for their art.
This time around I have contacted the good folks who protect the legacy of the too soon departed Eva Cassidy.
If this is a new name to you you really do not know what you are missing.  Minimize this page immediately, google her name and listen to some sound bites.
Heavenly!
Anyway, Eva was a local DC area artist who never made it big because the record folks could never pigeon hole her.
Unfortunately she died of cancer at 33 years of age, and only gained fame after her death.
I was prompted to action by the announcement in the local Annapolis paper of a new CD of unreleased material.
There had been announcements in the past of impending vinyl releases of Eva's earlier work which to my knowledge have gone unfulfilled.
I have also floated Eva's name out there as a possible TP candidate especially for her earlier work, the most well known being the album Song Bird.
The problem is that I do not know if the recordings were done in the digital or analog realm.
None the less, I floated out the idea that the estate consider a limited rtr run to utilize the rumored second shift capacity of the TP elves if the full TP treatment was not possible.
Once again I made it clear that I was/am a nobody, and that I was just asking if the estate had ever considered rtr tape as a medium to explore, especially if they really wanted to showcase the angelic voice of this artist.
Hopefully I will get a response one way or another; something the folks at Sundazed have avoided doing.
They however do not know how persistent I can be; or is it stubborn?

Anyone familiar with Mapleshade recordings?
Mostly jazz and world music, they too are domiciled in Maryland and have released material that was fawned over by the audiophile press, for good reason.
They are my next victim, unless someone has a better lead on them.
Until next time I remain the contemporay saint of lost causes Don Quixote Vonderheid, or Saint Sissyfuss as you prefer.

[john]

Good luck with Eva Cassidy and Songbird, that is one album i truly would love to see on RTR its a fantastic album and a great suggestion

[ironbut]

The Songbird release (I have it on lp) is a great sounding recording. I'd be all for that. I was trying to think of some female vocal albums that would make great TP releases and I think that Eva would have good general appeal. Another lp that I use to dial in my system is "Breaking Silence" by Janis Ian. Fantastic bass and imaging.
Speaking of female vocals in general, here's a quote from the ARSC list that's pretty interesting regarding their reproduction;

Human voice and piano have a lot of upper partials that are out of tune to the primary note. This is why they can be heard against an orchestral accompaniment. Harpsichords at one time were what most would describe as a louder instrument than the early pianos yet they blended into the orchestral sound. Composers seemed aware of the above in their writing. In early electric records piano and voice usually doesn't sound very natural. They obviously were a challenge for the engineers. Perhaps this is the explanation for your comment below.

Malcolm Smith

John, after looking at the gear in your signature, is there a modern magnetic tape format that you don't have? (or have you thrown out your old answering machine with the mini cassette?)

[JoeG]

The idea of "Songbird" and "Breaking Silence" would get my vote. "Tattoo" on the Janis Ian LP is one of the most haunting songs  have ever heard. Both LPs have great sonics, deep imaging and bass runs, and are well suited to this project.

Best of luck in your quest!!

[john]

  Hi Steve,
               No i don't have a tape based answer machine, i never did. British Telcom provide that service with out the need for any hardware at the subscribers home. I don't have DAT !!!!!!!!

[Markus Berzborn]

I read that "Time after Time" will soon be available on audiophile vinyl from the same company who did "Songbird", i.e. S & P Records.
It's an album from 2000 containing previously unreleased material.

Regards,
Markus

[astrotoy]

I also agree that Songbird would be a great release for TP - the first cut - Sting's "Field's of Gold" is worth the price of the album. It breaks my heart listening to it.  Janis Ian's "Breaking Silence" is another great pcik, as would be Jennifer Warnes albums -  "Famous Blue Raincoat" and "The Well". Larry

[mstcraig]

As far as other female singers, two I can think of off the top of my head that would be great on RTR are Holly Cole and Miss Peggy Lee.

[ceved]

Yes folks, as I promised, an invitation to explore the possibility of rtr release for Mapleshade Records has gone forth for better or worse.
I bring this to your attention not for braggadocio, but as encouragement that you too can be an advocate to increase the awareness of small independent labels of quality musical content and production values of the existence of a better way for their artists to convey their artistic intent to an audience of music lovers who will appreciate their efforts.
Was that a run on sentence?
I was almost out of breath typing it!
Prove the bean counters wrong.
Fly in the face of common sense and logic.
Stand up and be counted.
Sit down and shut up!
Who said that; Steve?
You like Holly Cole, Janis Ian or Jennifer Warnes?
Email them and ask for them to consider rtr releases?
The Tape Project doesn't just have to release music performed predominately by the deceased.
Oh you like the Grateful Dead, email them too.
I like the 'classics' as well as the next person, but there is plenty of new music that would thrill even the most jaded audiophile.
If we don't ask, the answer will always be 'no'.  If we ask it might at least be a 'maybe'.
Give rtr a chance.

[ironbut]

Oops, after raggin' on you guys about including catalog numbers with your suggestions, I forgot to do it too.
Eva Cassidy "Songbird" Hot Records G1-10045
Janis Ian "Breaking Silence" Morgan Creek 20023

[Ben]

Also add if still in print ... Several times I find a CD I want only to find ... there are none  left.