MFSL (new releases)

[Dave]

Just found out that MFSL will be releasing 3 new SACD hybrids on March 12th.

All Patricia Barber albums: Cafe' Blue, Modern Cool and Nightclub.:D

[Andy]

That will be good news for the two Patricia Barber fans I know.

[Grant]

Patricia Barber, didn't she die in a plane crash?:D

[Matt]

Man, you guys are harsh! Since when did Barber become a pariah (and undeservingly so, as well)?

[indy mike]

Hmmm, I wouldn't know a tune performed by Ms. Barber iffen it came up and bit me, but I for one wish MoFi would get back on track and do classic albums like the vinyl days (some of those titles picked towards the end of MoFi's original go round were kinda on the ahem, peculiar side of the street...) Would Ms. Barber's stuff be the kinda material that high end dealers use to demo equipment with???

[Andy]

I sorta like Patricia Barber. I wouldn't buy one of her records, but I wouldn't walk out of a room because someone played one of her records. My point is that I wouldn’t use Patricia Barber to launch a new label. I don’t think she has the mass appeal to sell a lot of records. Music Direct already sells those titles on CD and LP. The new MoFi SACD hybrids had better be a giant step up in quality, or people who buy the new releases won’t be back.

[Grant]

The company that owns MFSL now is bent on releasing product by indie artists. Cheaper?

Pricilla Barber who?

[Dave]

Actually you know about two years ago I would have felt the same way as most of you seem to. But after buying just Cafe' Blue on 20-bit gold cd I have to say that as far as that album goes I like her, it's agood one as far as fidelity and relaxing with the wife go.

Admittedly, MFSL could have put out something much more mass market appealing than these as their come back and I myself won't be buying any of these unless there is some huge sonic benefit over the one I already have but hey, you gotta start somewhere and if I was them, I'd still be shakin' in my boots that Steve Hoffman is still alive and working.;)

[Andy]

Exactly, shouldn’t the purpose of re-releasing something be to improve on the original? The original MoFi improved Katy Lied and released it. These Patricia Barber releases seem like they just being churned out to have something to put the MoFi label on.:confused:

[Grant]

Well, when the sales reports come in, they'll learn.

I think everyone can write off MoFi coming back to their former glory days. That's what everybody wanted, but...

[Claus]

Grant... that's right! Mofi will never (I say never!) return to their glory days! The time is over to make enuff profit with remasters!

In the 80's... Mofi could sell enuff titles either on vinyl or later on their gold remasters. They had no competion at that time, and now... the record companies have their own remastering departments, and there are other competitors too.

Also the new generation will not purchase every versions of a new remaster... they spend their bucks for mp3, pc, parties, home theatre or anything like that. But that's another story...

So I think... it will be a hard way to survive in the audiophile niche... same goes for DCC or S&P. IMHO

[jligon]

You may, or may not, know she is very popular in Chicago (home of MD) which may explain their relationship.
All things considered, I think it's a pretty good choice. Musicwise, I prefer it to 90% of the past MFSL catalog.
Personally, I'm going to wait to cast judgement on the new label. The MD people have always been good to me and I wish them well (as I do DCC & S&P).

[sgb]

Although I'm of the opinion that the Fantasy titles Chad Kasem has elected to release in the SACD format don't show as much potential for sonic improvement, they are, at least, of palatable music that has demonstrated its popularity far more enduringly than Patricia Barber. I'll be buying all five of the intial APO SACDs, but none of the MoFis, sorry to say.

[pigmode]

She was interviewed in Stereophile and she seemed like a nice person. I don't know her music but I hope this audio reviewer wasn't refering to her...

I should say this right here, if you are one of those musically devolved audiophiles that listens to those tepid jazz babes (you don't have to raise your hand and identify yourselves) this speaker is the one for you. Nothing will make these vapid bitches sound more breathy and sexed up. In fact, no speakers I know of makes late night cocktail jazz sound more libidinous than the (brand x speaker) do. :eek:

[Humorem]

Music Direct has the rights to do her stuff, and they now own the name MFSL, so of course those are the first titles they will do, as the out of pocket cost is zero.

Let's see what they do after that.

[Metralla]

I have three of Patricia Barber's CDs: "Nightclub", "Modern Cool" and "Cafe Blue". The "Cafe Blue" CD is on FIM Gold and it's a knockout. She is great and I'll be getting her SACDs.

I believe there is a personal relationship between the owner of Music Direct and Patricia which may further explain why these have been chosen.

Regards,
Metralla

[Dave]

Pigmode,

You mean other than she's married to the president of Music Direct?:D

At least I think it's the pres. It's late.;)

[pigmode]

Ugh. Tom Post--Goood. Music Direct--Baaad.

I think I'm due for some late night cocktail jazz...:eek:

[Dave]

Si, buenos nochas

[Matt]

I don't think Patricia is married to the president of Music Direct.

I agree, though, that if you're going to relaunch MFSL successfully, do so with the sort of titles that will attract the buyers. But, with their bad history, I'm guessing it's tough to get the titles they want, so they're going for easier targets. Patricia records for a small, independent jazz label, Premonition (which is distributed through Blue Note, I think). Those labels don't make a lot of money, but with low costs, they manage to break even. Since Patricia is based in Chicago and so is Music Direct, I imagine that makes things even easier.

Anyway, she is good, one of the better jazz artists out there recording for a small label, but don't hold it against her if MFSl releases a lot of her stuff instead of other, higher profile titles.