Some Great News On The TJB!

[Captain Bacardi]

As some of you know I'm heading to Hawaii this weekend and then L.A. after that. I've been e-mailing Randy (Alpert) Badazz about hooking up, which we're gonna try and do. But he sent me this little bit of info:

"I actually just spoke to uncle today. We are working on some upcoming Tijuana Brass releases. Should be very interesting.... "

I hope to find out more when I (hopefully) get to meet with Randy. I'll give a full report when I return August 1st.

In the meantime, check out his studio website at http://www.screamstudios.com/. Unfortunately, it looks like Uncle Herb will be in NY during my stay in LA. Oh well, you can't have everything.


Capt. Bacardi
...officially on vacation online...

 

[Rudy]

That's probably the batch of unreleased tracks Alpert was adding his horn parts to. Basically, there were some instrumental tracks recorded back in the 60s that never had a trumpet part added to them. (IOW, nobody would be doing revisionist work and replacing existing trumpet parts.)

I'll take that over a reissue any day.

 

[alpertfan]

Well, that's good news.

 

[Mike Blakesley]

I can't remember if he's ever seen the Corner or not, but if there's a computer nearby, maybe you ought to show hiim around the place. Might be a good way to get word to Herb that we're all out here waiting!

I like that "should be interesting" bit. That sounds good!

 

[Rudy]

I know Randy is a member here...other A&Mers have visited over the years as well.

 

[DAN BOLTON]

That's probably the batch of unreleased tracks Alpert was adding his horn parts to. Basically, there were some instrumental tracks recorded back in the 60s that never had a trumpet part added to them. (IOW, nobody would be doing revisionist work and replacing existing trumpet parts.)

I'll take that over a reissue any day.

Do you know of any titles? It sounds really interesting!


Dan

 

[Steven J. Gross]

Another "Rise" on the horizon.
(but enough about my sex life.....)

 

[Rudy]

Do you know of any titles? It sounds really interesting!

That's all I know about it. I would imagine, too, that a lot of tracks like this would be in various stages of completeness. If anything, I think it would be a bit eerie to add parts to music where the musicians have passed away (although, a nice tribute).

 

[thetijuanataxi]

A possible end to the TJB drought? That's the best news I've heard in a long time. It's high time that the whole TJB catalogue got the royal treatment with the lastest technology available. Maybe since Herb isn't running a multi-million dollar record company anymore he will have the time to give the reissues the TLC they deserve. We're counting on The Captain to give us the facts when he returns.

David,
suddenly optimistic........

 

[Rudy]

I'm not counting on any new reissues...I don't think there's a market out there for anything more than the biggest sellers. As much as I'd like to see the whole catalog reworked, heh, let's just say our gang here would probably be the only purchasers of something like "Summertime".

 

[Brasil_Nut]

As some of you know I'm heading to Hawaii this weekend and then L.A. after that. I've been e-mailing Randy (Alpert) Badazz about hooking up, which we're gonna try and do.

Have a great time, Cap'n!! Two of my favorite places: Los Angeles and Hawaii...good choices!!! Glad you'll be able to meet up with Randy, too!!

In the meantime, check out his studio website at http://www.screamstudios.com/. Unfortunately, it looks like Uncle Herb will be in NY during my stay in LA. Oh well, you can't have everything.

Interesting site. It's obvious that Randy runs his outfit much as Jerry and Herb did -- with the musician in mind. That's awesome! Shame Herb won't be there, but I'm sure Randy will have lots of interesting info to share. Hey! Sounds good so far!!

Thanks for sharing, Cap'n!!

Jon

 

[Brasil_Nut]

I'm not counting on any new reissues...I don't think there's a market out there for anything more than the biggest sellers. As much as I'd like to see the whole catalog reworked, heh, let's just say our gang here would probably be the only purchasers of something like "Summertime".

True, yet I'm surprised the Japanese have not managed to somehow reissue the TJB catalog by now. With their interest in everything A&M related, you'd think they would have jumped on the bandwagon long ago.

Jon

 

[Mr Bill]

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss a reissue program in conjunction with this news.

The best way to promote such a collection of previously unreleased tracks is to tie it in with the other albums, with an appropriate active marketing plan. It all makes sense with the notion that the discontinuation of the catalog (with only Deaf Hits available) was part of a calculated marketing plan, which was previously mentioned elsewhere. Think about it... Would it make sense that the only two commercial TJB albums available are the mediocre Deaf Hits and a collection of unreleased tracks?

While I hope for a complete catalog reissue, Neil is right -- albums like Summertime, Just You & Me and maybe the two reformed TJB 70's releases would likely only be grist for the diehard fans of this site... But here's hoping!!!

--Mr Bill

 

[Brasil_Nut]

You know what's really annoying about all of this? The music industry, that's what! I mean, I'm of the belief that all good music should be made available in whatever format is most popular at the time. In this case, the CD. I know we all feel this way, otherwise we wouldn't be trying to figure out when and where the TJB material will or will not be released.

It's just frustrating that kids must dictate what is considered to be good music because, after all, the "big" companies are after the almighty $$$ and nothing else. It's irritating to think that good music must be put on the backburner in lieu of the crud that passes as "music" nowadays. Just plain sickening.

I'll step off my soapbox now. It's not like me to get riled up about something like this, but I'm really getting sick of the "big" companies who make it difficult for the musicians who paved the way for them to begin with. Give me a break! Pay homage where homage is due!!

Jon

 

[thetijuanataxi]

Well said. So what if "Summertime" doesn't sell as much as "Going Places"? It still deserves to be had by those who want it. Plus those who are discovering Herb for the first time don't necessarily know which albums were bigger in the 60's, they just want it all, like we do. Besides, even Herb's weakest albums sold more than some of the stuff that's been reissued by other companies.

David,
hoping for a complete reissue campaign............

 

[Tom]

Captain,

Thanks for sharing the great news about Herb, and Randy. I hope you both have a nice time chatting. That would be a real thrill. I must say that when I first heard "Rise", my reaction was the same as Julius's when he and Herb were listening to the playback. It took me a while to warm up to it. The 2 elements that hooked me were, of course, Herb's unique trumpet playing, and Julius's marimba work. I know some folks don't like to think of "Rise" as a disco song but it is in reality, IMHO, and I don't like that type of music. But I must say, the only people who could pull off a dance song like "Rise" with a marimba in it, are Herb, and Julius. Do ya get the impression that I love these guys or what? Anyway, please thank Randy for me because I get a big smile whenever I listen to "Rise". Also, I'm looking forward to the new Herb/TjB material. I believe we've all been praying for a new project.

P.S.: Thank for Randy for writing Rise, and getting Uncle Herb to record it. It's a classic!

Tom (a Herb Alpert fan from "The Lonely Bull" on)

 

[bob knack]

I always thought that "Warm" and "Summertime" would make a great twofer CD. They both seem to have that sun and surf thing going.

It might make for some seasonal promotional tie-in opportunities: Coppertone or Mosquito Deleto etc..

 

[bob knack]

I would go with all the "Warm" original artwork. With Herb looking good on that bucking bronco and all. Then I would simply add all the songs from "Summertime" as bonus tracks.

I think that would bring in a few new customers.

 

[RichardWarner]

Pretty danged cool. So, in terms of..."Summertime", "You Smile" and the like...

The point of iTunes and the others is that all of the back catalog of an artist can be released online, because there are no warehousing costs like LPs and CDs used to incur. It's one reason that albums are cut from catalogs.

(Another reason is to repackage songs in an endless string of "Best of" and compilation albums that generate additional, temporary interest in an artist.) Apple's Steve Jobs has said that building back catalog is the next phase of the company's online music store --- get the wealth of back catalog material, much of which hasn't ever seen the light of CD.

Now...having said that...

I'll bet Herb's attitude is..."what? No way. I am not putting my material out there online for people to copy endlessly. What's the upside?"

Seems I read in Billboard, back in the very early '80s as digital was emerging, that A&M was not an enthusiastic supporter of CDs because the discs could be copied, perfectly...endlessly.

(And yet...on the other-other hand...Herb is definitely into sound quality. When he visited WSB radio and was in the control room with me, picked up a "cart," the industry tape format that radio stations used at the time to play music. He mentioned to the regional A&M guy, "hey we should put out singles directly on these tapes because the sound would be better."

 

[Rudy]

While I hope for a complete catalog reissue, Neil is right -- albums like Summertime, Just You & Me and maybe the two reformed TJB 70's releases would likely only be grist for the diehard fans of this site...

Exactly. Also, the music industry has absolutely zero to do with the reissues anyway: Herb owns the masters, and they won't see light of day until he says so. They'll also never be two-fers or midline series reissues either--that was a standing rule at A&M when they DID have the masters.

And even then, like Mr Bill says, nobody beside a lot of diehards like us would ever buy these. The only ghost of a chance is if Alpert and Moss formed a new label that distributed only via the internet. (And gosh, I'd hope they would not make them available only as downloads, unless they were in the lossless FLAC encoding. LIstening to compressed MP3 or iTunes files, quite frankly, SUCKS!!)

 

[Steven J. Gross]

Actually, I have transferred dozens of TJB songs to my Mp3 player, and they sound very good.

 

[Steve Sidoruk]

Here is a bit more info about Uncle Herb from Randy (Badazz) Alpert:

There is definitely some new stuff coming. Never before released music among other delights. Lots of cool stuff...

I'll let you know when the new/old TJB music arrives.

 

[Mike]

This is so intriguing! I’m captivated and the anticipation is building. What’s next? Tell me more.

 

[Mike Blakesley]

Seems odd that Herb would release a "new" album by the Tijuana Brass without putting out the old stuff.

I'm betting this new stuff will surface as bonus trax on reissues. That way, people who wanted to get ALL the new stuff would have to buy every album. Marketing, marketing, marketing!

 

[Mr Bill]

I'm betting this new stuff will surface as bonus trax on reissues. That way, people who wanted to get ALL the new stuff would have to buy every album. Marketing, marketing, marketing!

I'm inclined to agree with Mike. What would be the point of there only being two Alpert/TJB CDs on the market (the disappointing Deaf Hits and this supposed collection of unreleased rarities)? No. I'm inclined to bet on an Alpert/Moss-approved reissue program on an as yet unnamed label...

And since this news comes from Randy Badazz via both "A&M insider Steve S" and "the good Cap'n B" it is probably legit. And note that line: "Never before released music among other delights. Lots of cool stuff." Almost sounds like a "bonus track" approach to a reissue program to me!

That, of course, brings up the label issue. Who will it be? Will it be Uni with the A&M imprint, still used for both long-established A&M acts (Bryan Adams, Sting, Sheryl Crow) and new (Vanessa Carlton, etc)? Was the liner note comment on Deaf Hits ("...my new friends at Universal") an honest statement or butt kiss? Would he go with another label like the Warner's distributed Rhino? The less marketed Collectors Choice, Razor & Tie or other re-issue specialist? If I had a choice I'd pick Ryko as they superbly handled other reissue programs in the past and are due for another high-profile one (if they're even still around).

And so the speculation begins!

--Mr Bill