|
Dear Maddies,
Yes 'The Lot' has been spotted elsewhere in the good ol'
USA. I recently purchased a copy here in Los Angeles. Considering
how poorly Virgin has been backing the Lads I don't feel that I got totally
rooked at US$ 42.54. I have seen post from others who have gotten it
cheaper, but so what. My purchase also helped support the local,
non-chain, fairly priced, independent record shop. I have been going there
since my Freshman year of college and they have always had a good selection of
rather obscure material.
I was like a kid in a candy store for the first two days
that I had my very own digitally re-mastered Madness Collection. Talk
about a flashback to my halcyon days. Vivid memories of my old ring-a-ding
Vespa P-200E, that had been kept clean as a hospital and only had 900 miles on
it when I bought it from it's first owner. (Not bad in 1984 in southern
California I might add.) Wind blowing through a Flat-Top so flat you could
land planes on it; Ray-Bans wrapped around eyes that were wide open with
joy; A smile so big that I must have caught every damn bug in the city, but I
didn't care because I was 'Super Scooting' (An event that brings several scooter
clubs together for a common goal.) to see my favorite band play. (Guess
who.) I would have gladly paid another couple of hundred dollars, or more,
just for that memory rekindled alone. (And yes the Digital Re-mastering
does make all the difference because I have been listening to all of these
albums on vinyl and tape, and bad CD's for many years now. The oomph
that the re-mastering gives to all of these old gems is the difference, IMHO,
between the truly transcendent and the 'moment of clarity'.) It was like
being given back your youth, if only for a short time LOL.
But sadly there is a downside, the one thing that I was
most looking forward to was having all of the Madness videos readily
accessible. Then when I do play them it is like watching one of those
old grade-school movies. You know the one I am talking about, 16mm
projectors with one tinny speaker that sounds like you are listening to
epileptic whales hump with a hydro-phone. I hate quick time, and Steve
Jobs and Apple can kiss my Rude Arse. And count me as one of the schmucks
because I will but the singles re-mastered also. At least part of Virgin's
attempt worked, and will work again. The Digital redo is worth it, in my
book.
Well enough rambling, I should allow you lovely
Maddies some leftover bandwidth. If anyone has any ideas on how to make
the videos work better post me a note, on or off list. I would be most
appreciative. Fair Winds and better days to all. -Ghost-
P.S.-If you don't think that having the videos is that important, allow me
to remind you of an 80's hit-maker band that would have never gotten anywhere
without videos. Duran, I shudder to say it, Duran. Maybe they need
to be considered on the other topic that is floating around on the list right
now.
|
