TJB Update!

[RichardWarner]

Additional rarities that might hear the light of day: "Whistle While You Work" from the Brass' first TV special, and "California Girls" (sung by the Merry Go Round and backed by the TJB) from Beat of the Brass special. Maybe "Desert Dance," performed on The Midnight Special.

 

[RichardWarner]

By the way Cap'n, did Randy mention if he or Herb knows about...or frequents...this board, even infrequently?

 

[Mike]

Yeeeeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaaa!, Herb Alpert rides again.

Cap'n, I'd like to shake your hand for a job well done -- my best regards to you.

 

[Captain Bacardi]

By the way Cap'n, did Randy mention if he or Herb knows about...or frequents...this board, even infrequently?javascript:emoticon('')

Yeah, Herb does pop in on ocassion and Randy says he's very appreciative of this site. He'll never post anything, but he considers any site about him or A&M as an honor.


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Captain Bacardi]

Additional rarities that might hear the light of day: "Whistle While You Work" from the Brass' first TV special, and "California Girls" (sung by the Merry Go Round and backed by the TJB) from Beat of the Brass special. Maybe "Desert Dance," performed on The Midnight Special.

I did ask about the TV shows, but there's nothing planned at this stage. It would involve other people who actually own the rights to those shows, and frankly Herb isn't all that interested in it at this time. Keep in mind that the remastering of the music has been keeping Herb busy. Randy said that they would begin work around noon and go until the wee hours of the morning, and this has been happening for a while. Let's don't get too greedy.


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Dave]

Let's don't get too greedy!

Yes...One Day At A Time!!

Dave neeye:

...appreciative of the progress made, so far, and glad that Herb DOES visit A&M Corner...! artyhat:

 

[Steven J. Gross]

"California Girls" (sung by the Merry Go Round and backed by the TJB) from Beat of the Brass special.

I had wondered about who was playing on that track Richard!
Cool info!

 

[thetijuanataxi]

This is terrific news!!!! I new Herb wouldn't let us down. I also believed that there was a maret for even the less popular TJB titles and that Herb would see that, especially if he visits the forum periodically. Hats off to Capt. Bacardi for giving us the skinny on what's in the works. Capt., did you happen to ask if anything with BMB original albums were in the works? And what format the new reissues would be ( CD, SACD etc.)?

David,
suddenly seeing the glass half full........

 

[mike white]

Wow, this really made my day. Thanks Captain. Looking forward to hearing some of the rareties. Did Randy mention if there would be any new liner notes on the unreleased stuff like Definitive Hits had?

 

[Captain Bacardi]

I just remembered something else I asked, and that was any "live" TJB recordings. Randy said there was none in existence. Herb didn't record any of his concerts because the equipment needed during this period to properly record a concert was too big and bulky and they didn't want to mess with it. He said that Herb doesn't have anything in his own collection, either. I thought that was unusual, but he said there wasn't any concert recordings.

We also talked about the "Rise" session, and Randy said that originally the song was about 2 minutes longer, but they had to cut it so it would fit on the vinyl single and album. He said that they went back to the bridge of the song but decided to cut it out.

I put a few photos of my trip in my part of the Gallery, which is at http://www.amcorner.com/gallery/Captain-Bacardi-Gallery. Go to page 7 and you'll see some photos of John Pisano as well as me & Randy, plus some other things.


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Mike]

Man, you sure know how to have a great vacation. How was John Pisano's show? Looks like great fun in the pictures.

 

[Captain Bacardi]

Man, you sure know how to have a great vacation. How was John Pisano's show? Looks like great fun in the pictures.

Go to the jazz forum to see my review of that night!


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Captain Bacardi]

Capt., did you happen to ask if anything with BMB original albums were in the works? And what format the new reissues would be ( CD, SACD etc.)?

No, I didn't ask about the BMB. Herb has nothing to do with their recordings. Uni owns the masters to the BMB albums. And as mentioned before, the reissues will be on CD, although Randy is considering SACD for a couple of titles.


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Captain Bacardi]

Did Randy mention if there would be any new liner notes on the unreleased stuff like Definitive Hits had?

He didn't mention anything like that, but I wouldn't be surprised that liner notes would be included.


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Mike Blakesley]

I'm wondering if a box set is in the works. If they put out the individual albums first, maybe a box (with rarities) would follow in a year or two. That would be the best place for more photos, more extensive notes, etc due to the larger booklet size.

I would like to see detailed listings of "who played on what." (Although that might burst some balloons!)

 

[Captain Bacardi]

What about Sundazed? Definitely need a small, specialist, collector-oriented label to release these.

I meant to ask him about maybe Varese, but it slipped my mind.

The key thing to remember here is that it's still a work in progress, and no definite release dates are set. Still, it IS good to know that they do intend to get these all released, and are working toward that goal. Better to take the time to do it right!

Absolutely! It certainly sounded as if Herb wants to make sure it's right. Hopefully, no tube mastering.


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Rudy]

Absolutely! It certainly sounded as if Herb wants to make sure it's right. Hopefully, no tube mastering.

It'll be fine if it's modern (or properly maintained/refurbished) tube equipment, if only because the original LPs were mastered using tubes.

And as mentioned before, the reissues will be on CD, although Randy is considering SACD for a couple of titles.

Wonder if they'd consider doing them all that way--with all the recent mass-market reissues coming out (Stones, Dylan, Animals, and others) that aren't advertised as such, it can't cost that much more to do it. I'd pay a couple bucks more for it.

 

[Numero Cinco]

All of the Tijuana Brass albums are being remastered and all will be released - every one of 'em! From The Lonely Bull to Coney Island, plus some rarities!

This news is inexpressibly wonderful!

I just want to give a big "Thank You" to Randy for taking time from his busy schedule to meet with me.

Hear, hear. And thanks to you, Nos Capitain. And greatest thanks of all to Mr. Alpert.

This whole thing started after the lawsuit that Herb & Jerry settled with Universal. Randy said they found tons of tapes in the vaults and Randy told Herb he needed to put these all in a digital format before the tapes deteriorate. So Herb and Larry Levine have been working on these ever since. . . . So the albums will be reissued as they originally were, with original art work, notes, etc. Then there will be a separate disc(s) of the rarities.

At last we have an explanation for The Delay that makes sense: (1) lawyers, and (2) pursuit of perfection, which entails salvage and reclamation.

So what are these rarities, I hear you ask? For starters Randy said there was "a whole bunch of Sol Lake tunes that were never released". . . Added to this, I also saw John Pisano the night before, and he said that there were "a few of my tunes that never got released", so this will probably be included as well. (I'll have a different thread about meeting John in the jazz forum tomorrow.) There will also be the 45s that never made it to an album - "Mexican Drummer Man", "Fire & Rain", "El Bimbo", "Whistle Song".

The news gets better and better, exceeding all my expectations.

As to the time frame of the release, he's not sure. They're still working on this so it's unlikely to be this year, with the possible exception to The Christmas Album. He's also not sure whether the albums will all be released at once or whether they'll spread them out over a period of time.

Let's be patient. For the producers, this appears to be truly a labor of love. However long the wait, it sounds like it will be worth it.

Now for the promotion part of it.

About this I don't know diddly squat. I can only trust Mr. Alpert's instincts about the business. From all appearances, they have never failed any of us.

My only quibble with the decisions reported:

Herb originally wanted to reissue the albums with bonus tracks on them, but Randy talked him out of that.

I would be interested to know the logic behind Randy's argument. I can understand, for example, not wanting to dilute the product, but I wonder if some notable exceptions might be made. Here are three:

1. "The Lonely Bull" in both Mr. Alpert's stereo mix and Mr. Levine's mono. They really are different sounds, even for the non-expert (among which I number myself). Mr. Levine's mix has added historical weight and importance: It was that sound that introduced radio listeners to the TJB and started them buying A & M records: first TJB singles, then TJB LPs, eventually everything else.

2. "Spanish Flea" in both Mr. Alpert's stereo mix and Mr. Levine's mono. Same reasons as #1 above, minus the historical importance. Yet, for most of us, this song, in both mixes, is a sentimental favorite, the best-known of Julius Wechter's compositions.

3. "Plucky" in its mysterious two LP versions (with and without "strip-tease")—about which I never even knew until I visited this site. Here a bonus track can be defended, since apparently different parts of the country heard two different "originals."

But—let's keep all this in perspective. From the most authoritative sources any of us has, it sounds like this long-awaited project will finally happen. To which I can only reiterate to all involved—Thank You.

After this, I may have to change my handle to !!Going Places!!

 

[Michael Hagerty]

Just when I'd finally become "OK" with the idea that it would never happen.....it's true....you just gotta let go sometimes! What marvelous news!

---Michael Hagerty

 

[Captain Bacardi]

My only quibble with the decisions reported:

Herb originally wanted to reissue the albums with bonus tracks on them, but Randy talked him out of that.

I would be interested to know the logic behind Randy's argument.

Randy brought up some other artist's reissues, particularly the Beatles, who released their albums as was, then did things separately as the Anthology series plus the Past Masters series. Those sold pretty well and he thinks a TJB rarities disc would also sell well. It's pretty much a marketing thing.


Capt. Bacardi
...on my final day of vacation online...

 

[Harry]

My only quibble with the decisions reported:

Herb originally wanted to reissue the albums with bonus tracks on them, but Randy talked him out of that.

I would be interested to know the logic behind Randy's argument.

Randy brought up some other artist's reissues, particularly the Beatles, who released their albums as was, then did things separately as the Anthology series plus the Past Masters series. Those sold pretty well and he thinks a TJB rarities disc would also sell well. It's pretty much a marketing thing.

I agree with this thinking. There's usually a reason why the b-sides, rarities, and outtakes aren't issued. Frankly they're usually not that good. So why clutter up a cherished album with some weird stuff that wasn't supposed to be there - just because there's room? And give me one album per disc, please. I like that better than two-fers and don't care if they cost a few dollars more.

That's not the way I want my re-issues, a personal preference to be sure. I like the idea of plopping in say, SOUNDS LIKE, and hearing just that, start to finish, no extras, nothing missing, just the album as it always existed, with all of the original artwork. (Heck I even like Mr. Bill's idea of putting the album on two different sides so you'd have to get up and change it, just liked in the LP days, but that seems a bit much.)

Give me all the extras you can find, manufacture, unearth, reproduce, etc. - on a separate disc. Just the odd stuff, then I'll always know where to find it, and it won't matter if it's a listenable disc - it's just a collection of oddities.

Harry
...stating his preferences, online...

 

[mikeargo]

This is the best news any died-in-the-ochre-wool TJB fan could ask for. While it's interesting to debate preferences about packaging and included sides and all that, I for one will take anything I can get as soon as I can get it. One album at a time with no extras, and a "rarities" album with all the obscure & unreleased goodies, is just fine with me!

Great thanks to the Captain for breaking this wonderful news. And applause to Mssrs. Alpert & Moss for believing enough in the timelessness of all that great music to want to bring it back for fresh ears.

Mike

 

[Greg Shannon]

Reading this news is a great way to start the week. I've been waiting for Warm to be released on CD since, oh, 1984.

You take great vacations, Capt. Can I tag along next time??

Greg Shannon

 

[Captain Bacardi]

You take great vacations, Capt. Can I tag along next time??

Well, if you're buying...

My only regret on this trip was that Pete Jolly wasn't in town and Pat Senatore was playing at Vibrato's the same night John Pisano was at Spazio's.


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Mike Blakesley]

Nice to hear Randy's logic on the content of the albums. It might make them sell better if there was some extra content on the individual disks, but I agree with Harry: Having a bunch of extra stuff at the end of a CD sort of wrecks the experience.

Putting all the rarities on one disk is a great idea. Maybe each of the "original" albums could come with a coupon enabiling the buyer to order the other albums and / or the rarities disk at a special price -- or maybe a "buy all the regulars, get the rarities free!" kind of thing.

Just tossing out ideas here in case "somebody" happens to read this thread!