From: hunter@work.nlm.nih.gov (Larry Hunter)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: CD vs. LP again
Date: 27 Jan 93 20:10:48 GMT
	<1993Jan26.191547.5316@organpipe.uug.arizona.edu>
	<C1HDns.63L@world.std.com>
Organization: National Library of Medicine


You know, I've been dying for something to argue with Dick Pierce about.  In
all the years (yes, it's been quite a few now) I've been reading his posts,
I have yet to find anything really arguable in what he has to say (and much
of great value).  But now I have something: 

  "Now scoff if you will at my particular musical tastes, but it point out
  the deep validity of your point. Much of the esoteric repetoire is simply
  not available, and may never be available on CDs. Period"

This is, as Dick likes to say, not wholly inaccurate.  However, I would
suggest that, in the long run, a great deal MORE esoteric music will be
available as a result of the advent of mass market music CDs.  A great deal
of music that had never made it to vinyl has become or is now becoming
available because of the advent of CDs. 

Perhaps we have no real disagreement.  It is certainly the case that some
valuable music that was released on vinyl will never make it to CD.  That's
why *I* own a turntable (and just bought a far-too-expensive new cartridge
for it).  On the other hand, I have been impressed at how much of the LP
catalog of the major labels has made it to CD.  Granted, the CD releases of
esoteric music tend to go out of print just as fast as the LP releases did,
but that's not a problem with the medium.

There are two factors that combine to make a tremendous amount of esoteric
music available on CD.  First, the media production cost per delivered
minute of CD is MUCH lower than for LP.  Many progressive labels have taken
advantage of this to release wonderful esoteric material that would never
have made it to LP.  Rhino Records, for example, has done a tremendous job
at releasing CDs jammed full of rare and wonderful music.  My tastes in
music are rather different than Mr. Pierce's, although I have similar
problems in my taste being far out of the mainstream.  I was delighted to
find that I could buy the complete Stax Records' catalog (a 9 CD set), or
the complete set of Stiff singles (5 CDs).  Tracking down all the vinyl
releases of Stiff singles would have been nearly impossible and VERY
expensive.  The recent trend towards massive, archival CD box sets has
accelerated because collectors are willing to spend the money on CD
collections that they apparently would not spend on LP versions (large LP
"albums" were tried many times, without much commercial success).

The second factor is big difference in the entry price for producing a run
of CDs.  Although not yet as inexpensive as making cassette tapes, it is
possible produce small quantities of audio CDs at prices that allow them to
be sold competitively.  This small initial outlay requirement makes it
possible for undercapitalized labels (even individual artists) to produce
CDs -- with money that wouldn't come close to producing LPs.  There is a
thriving market in esoteric music CDs that the major record labels would
never touch.  Independent labels (e.g. "Flying Fish" in New Zealand) are
producing CDs these days, not LPs.  Until recently, the only way to find
this kind of out of the mainstream music was on vinyl singles, or worse yet
cassettes; now it's primarily CD.  The price of producing a small run of CDs
is falling rapidly, too.

Of course, the distribution challenges facing producers of esoteric CDs are
no less than those facing LP producers, and it is not always easy to find
the obscure music of one's desires.  Nevertheless, I think it is clear that
CDs are making it easier to find this sort of thing, not harder.

Finally, don't confuse the large total quantity of obscure vinyl in the
world compared to obscure CDs. This is due simply to the long history of LP
sales.  The current catalog of available esoterica is larger on CD than LP,
and that will continue.  Total CD esoterica is rapidly catching up, and will
ultimately surpass the total LP quantity.

Sad to say, this doesn't mean that your favorite old record is guaranteed to
come out on CD.  But do keep your eyes open....  I had been looking for a
copy of the Miles Davis "Live at Carnegie Hall (The Legendary Concert of May
1961 with Gil Evans)" on CD for at least five years, and looking hard.
Frustratingly, a CBS release of "More Music From the Legendary Concert" has
been easily available, but not the original.  Just about two weeks ago, I
finally found a copy at Ameoba Records in Berkeley -- a brand new Japanese
release, for $22.  I was slightly disappointed to find that the distortion I
had always attributed to my lovingly-cared-for-but-aging vinyl was really in
the master tape, but I am overjoyed to have found it anyway.  That is, Dick,
what makes a record (CD?) collector's heart sing....

Larry
--
Lawrence Hunter, PhD.
National Library of Medicine
Bldg. 38A, MS-54
Bethesda. MD 20894 USA
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fax: +1 (301) 496-0673 
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Newsgroups: rec.audio