Questions for Steve Hoffman - titles you would like to remaster but couldn't ...

[Paul Chang]

Steve,

Are there any titles that you really want to get reissued but could not for any reason? If the answer is yes, could you list some of the top ones and the most frequent reason(s) why they were not available - missing/poorly-kept master tapes, the lack of licensing agreement, opposition from the artists, etc.?

If I remember correctly, Cream - Wheels of Fire on vinyl was announced by DCC but never released. Why was it, given that DCC did press the CD version?

How is it decided which format to release a title in?

How often do out of print titles get re-pressed if there is high demand, e.g. The Doors - L.A. Woman on vinyl that "everybody wants but nobody has"? (The demand on those titles always seem to shoot sky high after they become out of print. Why didn't we purchase them when they were in print? :confused: ) What if the license expires? Is the door shut for that licensee?


Best regards,

Paul

[Steve Hoffman]

Originally posted by Paul Chang
Steve,

Are there any titles that you really want to get reissued but could not for any reason? If the answer is yes, could you list some of the top ones and the most frequent reason(s) why they were not available - missing/poorly-kept master tapes, the lack of licensing agreement, opposition from the artists, etc.?

If I remember correctly, Cream - Wheels of Fire on vinyl was announced by DCC but never released. Why was it, given that DCC did press the CD version?

How is it decided which format to release a title in?

How often do out of print titles get re-pressed if there is high demand, e.g. The Doors - L.A. Woman on vinyl that "everybody wants but nobody has"? (The demand on those titles always seem to shoot sky high after they become out of print. Why didn't we purchase them when they were in print? :confused: ) What if the license expires? Is the door shut for that licensee?


Best regards,

Paul

Seven questions in one post. Sigh.

I don't want to list any albums that we couldn't license. Why get bummed out? You all know what they are by now, right?

"Wheels Of Fire" was not issued on LP. PolyGram got mad at us for issuing the Gold CD version with the correct American Atco logo at the bottom of the front cover just like the original. They withdrew our LP license for that title... Probably my fault for insisting that it be historically accurate.

Our licenses are for three years with an option for two more. "LA Woman" LP was pressed in big numbers. It was out there for years. All our DCC LP's were. We had tons of them. You vinyl lovers all had your chance. At one point, we couldn't give 'em away. Ah me. How things change....

I miss anything? :D

[Andy]

Steve,

Did DCC ever release the final print totals for the numbered records?

[Steve Hoffman]

Not to me, no.

[Andy]

Thank you for your prompt reply. I know you must be a busy man.

[Paul Chang]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman


Seven questions in one post. Sigh.

I don't want to list any albums that we couldn't license. Why get bummed out? You all know what they are by now, right?

"Wheels Of Fire" was not issued on LP. PolyGram got mad at us for issuing the Gold CD version with the correct American Atco logo at the bottom of the front cover just like the original. They withdrew our LP license for that title... Probably my fault for insisting that it be historically accurate.

Our licenses are for three years with an option for two more. "LA Woman" LP was pressed in big numbers. It was out there for years. All our DCC LP's were. We had tons of them. You vinyl lovers all had your chance. At one point, we couldn't give 'em away. Ah me. How things change....

I miss anything? :D

Steve,

Thanks for being so patient counting and answering my questons.

I guess "we vinyl lovers" were spoiled during the so called "Gold Age of Vinyl Reissues". There were so many titles to pick and choose, which may have given "us vinyl lovers" some false sense of security, that the good stuffs will be around forever. By the time I decided to make my DCC rock vinyl collection complete, "L.A. Woman" had "Already Gone". (Just like the Eagles sing it.) It was one of the first, if not the first, DCC vinyl title to go out of print. The gold CD version was what I got.

Chad Kassem likes to preach "buy now or cry later". Should I be crying now?:( Or should I keep my hope up because you are remastering great music on vinyl again?;) Hey, wasn't "Willie And The Poor Boys" already released by DCC? Does that mean ...? Sorry Steve, I don't mean to let you keep on counting.

[Steve Hoffman]

Well, I'm doing the first 5 Creedence titles again, yes. And some other titles too.

And, some of the DCC Vinyl MIGHT be repressed, but until I see it in writing, I'm not going to announce it here!

I don't mind answering questions. Some just bring it home what a good thing DCC was and what stupid things got in the way...

[wes]

Well, I'm done upgrading equipment now.......It's time to start buying more vinyl and gold cd's.........I'll be snagging up those CCR's that's for sure.........


-Wes

[Paul Chang]

Originally posted by wes
Well, I'm done upgrading equipment now.......It's time to start buying more vinyl and gold cd's.........I'll be snagging up those CCR's that's for sure.........


-Wes

Let's do the Mike Hobson (buying 3 copies each) times 7 on them just to keep Steve busy and happy, plus we may all get rich someday.;)

Steve,

Could you convince the boss to limit the number of pressing to the bare minimum, say 500 copies or less?:D

[Andy]

To have such a small run would probably make them very expensive.

[Paul Chang]

Originally posted by Andy
To have such a small run would probably make them very expensive.

Andy,

That's good, isn't it? Soon we'll all be able to quit our day jobs and start our own mail order record business. Oops, I just let the cat out of the bag.

Steve,

I change my mind. Please flood the market with 10 million copies of each title, especially those out of print DCC LPs. Once they are sold out, you'll get the RIAA Diamond Awards. Wait a minute! What's in it for me?:confused:

[lukpac]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
"Wheels Of Fire" was not issued on LP. PolyGram got mad at us for issuing the Gold CD version with the correct American Atco logo at the bottom of the front cover just like the original. They withdrew our LP license for that title... Probably my fault for insisting that it be historically accurate.

I would assume that was due to the "suits" and not Bill Levenson? Why didn't they complain before it was released?

Also, why didn't you just use the original UK artwork? Ditto for Fresh Cream... And why wasn't using the Atco logo a problem for that album?

[Steve Hoffman]

Originally posted by lukpac


I would assume that was due to the "suits" and not Bill Levenson? Why didn't they complain before it was released?

Also, why didn't you just use the original UK artwork? Ditto for Fresh Cream... And why wasn't using the Atco logo a problem for that album?

First of all, Bill Levenson was happy we were doing such a faithful recreation. He was on our side all the way. It was Bill who furnished us with the extra long version of "Passing The Time" and other tape highlights, pulled out of the old Atlantic vaults by Bill Inglot. It was the Suits that were pissed by the artwork. We didn't show the cover to THEM before release, only Bill. Mistake on our part. Bill had to side with the Suits I guess. We all would have caved in too I guess, to keep our job.

The UK Artwork? Why would we use that? The DCC Gold CD was a release just for North America. The original artwork was "Atco-ized" for this country back in 1968. That's the real version for America.

They never looked at Fresh Cream for some reason, just Wheels Of Fire.

Sigh.

[Andy]

Iteresting.

[Paul Chang]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman


First of all, Bill Levenson was happy we were doing such a faithful recreation. He was on our side all the way. It was Bill who furnished us with the extra long version of "Passing The Time" and other tape highlights, pulled out of the old Atlantic vaults by Bill Inglot. It was the Suits that were pissed by the artwork. We didn't show the cover to THEM before release, only Bill. Mistake on our part. Bill had to side with the Suits I guess. We all would have caved in too I guess, to keep our job.

The UK Artwork? Why would we use that? The DCC Gold CD was a release just for North America. The original artwork was "Atco-ized" for this country back in 1968. That's the real version for America.

They never looked at Fresh Cream for some reason, just Wheels Of Fire.

Sigh.

Hindsight is always 20/20. But could anything has been done to remedy the situation, like covering the Acto logo with a sticker (using the peelable kind if they are not looking)? I would have volunteered to do the cover-up job.

I just pulled both DCC and Atco versions of Fresh Cream off my shelf to compare the cover art. Beside the patente gold frame, the DCC has "STEREO SD33-206" (the Atco catalog number) on the front, sans the Atco logo, but a Polydor logo on the back. Maybe the Polygram suits were happy as long as they didn't see Atco.

I'm just curious. Have the Suits come crawling back on their hands and knees asking for your forgiveness, Steve?:rolleyes:

[Claus]

good answers Steve... I love this forum!

[Steve Hoffman]

To Claus: Thanks!

To Paul: No. :(

[Pinknik]

The UK Artwork? Why would we use that? The DCC Gold CD was a release just for North America. The original artwork was "Atco-ized" for this country back in 1968. That's the real version for America.

Does this mean you'd rather release the American Beatle's albums remastered from the original British tapes? Or is it a totally different situation? Thanks.

[Andy]

I hate to sound stupid, but that never stopped me before.

Does this mean you'd rather release the American Beatle's albums remastered from the original British tapes? Or is it a totally different situation? Thanks.

Did they rerecord for the American releases?

[Pinknik]

Did they rerecord for the American releases?

No, they didn't, but occasionally the mixes were slightly different and often tape copies with extra reverb and processing slathered on top (done after they arrived here in the States). So, to my understanding, if Steve were to remaster The Beatles catalog (and the British albums hadn't been made the worldwide standard for cd) then he'd use the original British tapes since they were original, but use the American artwork and running orders, etc. (Meet The Beatles, Beatles 2nd Album, etc.) if the release was meant to be N. American only. I was mainly nitpicking at Steve for this reason: If the British band Cream made a British album and he used the British tapes, why would he use the American cover, etc.? Original is original. Just curious you see.

[Andy]

Deep thoughts.

[Pinknik]

Well, as deep as my mind will allow.

[Dugan]

Originally posted by Andy
I hate to sound stupid, but that never stopped me before.



Did they rerecord for the American releases?

Sometimes the US got different mixes. Then there the brillant minds at Capitol [Dave Dexter, JR.] who would take mono mixes, for example I Feel Fine & She's a Woman, rechannel them, and send the whole track through the Towers echo chamber so they sound like a reverbfest, and , saving the best for last, took a production credit for it.
Produced in England by George Martin and in the USA with the assistance of Dave Dexter, Jr.

[Steve Hoffman]

Pinknik,

"Wheels Of Fire" was recorded and mixed at Atlantic in New York. The tapes are American. The tin foil cover was American, for which we found the original vendor who made us the same foil for our version. The inside cover day glow colors were American. We duplicated the original day glow inks for our inner cover. The British version was a pale imitation of the American release. Give us some credit, eh? I worked on the DCC release of "Wheels Of Fire", both sound and recreating the artwork, every day, for four months straight. Are you telling me I should have just used the crappy gray British cover and be done with it?

[Alan T]

Wasn’t really the problem that a 3rd party used registered trademark of WEA on a recording that you leased Polygram that could open the litigation between all the parties involved? Correct me if I’m wrong but only the live tracks and “Born Under A Bad Sign” were recorded in America. The funny part was your art director didn’t get the size of the lettering right on the ATCO logo when recreating the famous logo. It was a nice package with the recording information and restoration of the foil and spot colors used in the printing process.