'The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook', Nov. '11

[bronxapostle]

heads: i get the laminate; tails: top gets the picks!!! hahaha no worry, surely i could live without it. let TB have it.

[MOJO]

Sorry, dude.. Flipped tails.. So what, should I split it up? Seems easier to just mail the stuff to one
Person I may have stuff from the super deluxe edition I ordered that I might not want. Will let you know if I have anything. Later.

[watercamp]

The box is too expensive period, end of story.

I paid $100.00 for the MAIT/TYM picture disc way back in 1978, there's only 500 of those. I was a fresh face enthusiast and what the hell I got one of the 500 original El Mocambo for free so...

It's CAPITOL Records not Capital!

[blureu]

The "news" is hitting the blogs now:

http://www.thedailyswarm.com/headlines/ ... w-box-set/

http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2011/1 ... n-instead/

[migdd]

This pretty much sums it up:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnyegr ... ally-dont/

[And No Coffee Table]

January 24 appears to be the release date for the standard CD edition.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006CV ... B006CVOK8O

[cwr]

"The devotion of Costello’s fans is absolutely a monetisable asset." - FORBES

Yep. Costello is savvy enough to realize that most of his devoted fans don't want to shell out as much as Hip-O is asking for this box set. And most of his career is evidence that he knows how to make being a fan of his FUN. The Rhino reissues are a classic example. After having huge success with the Rykodisc reissues, which were excellent, he knew that people would be angry if he came out with new reissues that made people feel like chumps for buying the albums for a second, third, or fourth time. So he and Rhino designed them so that any EC fan could actually feel great about buying them-- new liner notes and so many bonus tracks for the money that you felt like you were really just paying for the extras and getting the album for free. And for new fans who didn't already own the albums, it was an even better deal.

If this new box was even close to being a reasonably affordable set, it would be super-fun. And, hey, they could still FIX this by giving people who buy the box access to exclusive downloads of more of the recordings of other songs played on the tour. Although the problem with that would be that it would all inevitably be pirated, most likely, but at least it would be something to help justify the cost of the thing...

[verbal gymnastics]

Is this whole thing a marketing ploy to whip us into a frenzy not to buy the "product"?

If so it's working. Unless it's reverse reverse reverse psychology

[jardine]

well, personally, at this point, I don't want to be not seen to not want to not buy it, but then again, that I can't afford it, is not why I don't want to not fail to not buy it either. So, in short, yes, and by that, well, yes and no, of course.

5ive psychologies in reverse!

[sulky lad]

Jardine wrote

well, personally, at this point, I don't want to be not seen to not want to not buy it, but then again, that I can't afford it, is not why I don't want to not fail to not buy it either. So, in short, yes, and by that, well, yes and no, of course.

This is more complex than some of the analyses of Elvis oeuvres

[History History]

Jardine wrote

well, personally, at this point, I don't want to be not seen to not want to not buy it, but then again, that I can't afford it, is not why I don't want to not fail to not buy it either. So, in short, yes, and by that, well, yes and no, of course.

This is more complex than some of the analyses of Elvis oeuvres

I thought it was an early version of Strawberry Fields Forever.

[verbal gymnastics]

5 psychologies in reverse!

All this reverse psychology is driving me to death

[watercamp]

I don't even understand why this live package is coming out, should be a low price Costello Show series issue.

[bil1cat]

At last check price down to 202.64. Sun 11/27 9:31 pm

[Natasha]

5 psychologies in reverse!

All this reverse psychology is driving me to death

At last check price down to 202.64. Sun 11/27 9:31 pm

This whole thing is starting to annoy me a bit. Though, all this marketing will prove itself useful if they low the price.

I'll shut my mouth and buy it when it hits $150.

Let the betting begin!

[krm]

Sweden mailorder company Ginza has it listed now
http://www.ginza.se/Product/Product.asp ... ier=149634
The humble price here is 2459 SEK (equals € 265 or US$ 353 )
...and that is the exact price as two tickets for the cancelled Malmö show! Believe it or not!

[johnfoyle]

Indulge me as I repost a comment I posted here on Sep 28, 2011 -


It's going to be embarrassing watching this thing being reduced to clear...if good for those of us who will wait to buy!

Persuading people to pay some of the outrageous ticket prices that featured for some of the U.S. gigs is one thing. I just don't see it transferring to the artifact end of things. In essence these are recordings of a live show which, technically excellent as they may be, will be lacking the dynamic and excitement that actually attending them involves. The recordings that already circulate have a bonus in that they accurately record the ambiance and imperfections that the audience has experienced, a grittier , more involving experience.

This could be extension of the mindset behind the 'live' albums that Elvis huffed and puffed about , saying it was out of his hands, that he was merely tolerating the big , bad record industry in their wishing to develop product etc. Some clown proposed this package to Elvis, he saw how bonkers it is , he said a price , it was agreed , he'll gladly take the cash and after it stiffs he'll make some damning comments, merrily biting the hand that feeds right up to the elbow.

The only amendment would be that Elvis seems to have baulked at the price and made the damning comment a bit early.

[strangerinthehouse]

At last check price down to 202.64. Sun 11/27 9:31 pm

I noticed that too and wondered if it was part of a "Cyber Monday" deal. The post on Elvis' website is finally making the rounds across the internet.

Here's one from the Telegraph, there are plenty more when you search google news.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/musi ... album.html

I'm hoping that maybe the book and other goodies that come with the set will be sold on tour. Having spent a bit more than the original total of this set ($258) on tickets for two more of the Florida shows, I'd be better off waiting 'til then.

[John]

Elvis is certainly starting to get a little publicity over this. BBC Radio 2 ran the story earlier and even the local station Radio Merseyside mentioned it whilst I was driving home.

Oh and Sky News inform us that Elvis sang Oliver's Army and Alison. Well I never!
http://news.sky.com/home/showbiz-news/article/16119964

[johnfoyle]

Interesting twist in this tale -

http://jazzlives.wordpress.com/2011/11/ ... o-read-on/

Ricky Riccardi | November 29, 2011 at 3:58 PM |

And–ahem, ahem, plug, plug–the only place to find the Universal box that Costello mentions is at the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, Queens! How can I say that? Because we bought up every last copy from the North American distributor. It won’t even be coming back to Amazon, except for private sellers. We’ve actually had executives from Universal in NY come to the Armstrong House to BUY copies because Universal doesn’t even have any more copies to give away! Now, at the Armstrong House, we don’t ship, so you need to make the trip to Queens but this is a good time to do so because we’re rolling out brand new holiday tours with Christmas-themed audio clips from December 1 through December 31. So come to Corona for the holiday gift that’ll keep on giving. Tell ‘em Elvis Costello sent ya….

Ricky Riccardi
Archivist
Louis Armstrong House Museum


http://www.amazon.com/Ambassador-Jazz-L ... p_tab0_t_1

[johnfoyle]

Uncut, January '12



Text to follow.

[migdd]

Thanks, John. Looking forward to reading this.

[johnfoyle]

My scanner isn't working so it'll have to be a transcription , whenever I get a chance.

[MOJO]

Wow, so it's a travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham. I'm confused and amused at the same time. I still want the product/package.. whatever, I guess.

[chickendinna]

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Elvis Costello on price of new box set: 'Either a misprint or a satire'
November 29, 2011 | 3:02 pm 361

What, you may be wondering, is Elvis Costello's advice to fans contemplating a purchase of his monstrous new limited-edition box set, "The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook," coming out Tuesday via record label Hip-O/Universal? On his website, he calls it a "beautifully designed compendium [that] contains all manner of whimsical scribblings, photographs and cartoons, together with some rock and roll music and vaudevillian ballads," so you might think he'd be promoting it as a holiday gift.

In a recent post entitled "Let's Make Things Sparkling Clear," the Imposter's team answers the question in no uncertain terms: "We at http://www.elviscostello.com find ourselves unable to recommend 'The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook' as the price appears to be either a misprint or a satire."

The multiformat package (DVD, CD, 10-inch vinyl, book, autograph, whatnot) documents his two-night stand this spring at the Wiltern in Los Angeles, where he delivered a raucous variety-show/concert in which fans were invited to the stage to pick a song by spinning a big game show-type wheel. The set has a list price of $339.98 (though Amazon's currently offering it for $202.66) and is limited to 1,500 copies worldwide.

But that's apparently too much, and Costello's team decided to speak out against Universal, the world's largest record label, by going public:

All our attempts to have this number revised have been fruitless so we are taking the following unusual step.

If you want to buy something special for your loved one at this time of seasonal giving, we suggest, “Ambassador Of Jazz” -- a cute little imitation suitcase containing ten re-mastered albums by one of the most beautiful and loving revolutionaries who ever lived -- Louis Armstrong.

The box should be available for under one hundred and fifty American dollars and includes a number of other tricks and treats.

Frankly the music is vastly superior.

The post adds that in 2012 the Spinning Wheel tour recordings will be issued separately -- but saves its deepest cut not for Universal but for file sharers who don't pay anything for music, which he describes as "pirates who [imagine] they are evangelists or that other people’s rights absolve their own thievery, in which case this is between you and your dim conscience."

Costello and the Imposters continue to tour with the spinning wheel, and will land in the Southeast this spring for a series of shows. For the price of the box, you might be able to grab a roundtrip ticket.

4/23 –- Melbourne, Fla., King Center
4/24 –- Clearwater, Fla, Ruth Eckerd Hall
4/25 –- Hollywood, Fla., Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
4/27 –- Jacksonville, Fla., Florida Theatre
4/29 –- Durham, N.C., Durham Performing Arts Center