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Posted: |
Jun 29, 2010 - 1:47 AM
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By: |
Sarge
(Member)
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If you wanted a dozen apples, but the shop only sold them with a dozen bananas, a bag of tomatoes and a punnet of strawberries for 3 times the price of the apples alone...well, you get the point.
The DVD, the new recordings, the book - are extensions of the SPARTACUS score. They are special features much like you might find on a Criterion Collection DVD.
So by your own logic, the SPARTACUS box set is a dozen apples. It's one item.
Varese is not forcing you to purchase CLEOPATRA (bananas), CHEYENNE AUTUMN (tomatoes)and LES MISERABLES (strawberries) along with SPARTACUS.
Come back with a better analogy next time.
Did you say petulance? You didn't read the post you're replying to very carefully, did you?
Let's define petulant -
pet·u·lant (pch-lnt) adj.
1. Unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered; peevish.
2. Contemptuous in speech or behavior.
Quite the contrary, pp312 - my ill temper is extremely reasonable given the childish whining in this thread, and my contempt is warranted.
For film score fans to beg for this release, receive a deluxe box set that includes more than we had ever hoped for, then complain that it's too much and accuse the label of deliberately jacking up the price is simply disgusting.
I sympathize with those who can't afford it - I can't let go of $110 easily myself - but the inability to afford an expensive item does not equal being cheated. As I stated earlier in this thread, this boxset is a Bugatti or a Lamborghini, and you want it to be a Honda. Well, it's not.
Come back with a better insult next time.
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Posted: |
Jun 29, 2010 - 2:07 AM
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By: |
pp312
(Member)
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If you wanted a dozen apples, but the shop only sold them with a dozen bananas, a bag of tomatoes and a punnet of strawberries for 3 times the price of the apples alone...well, you get the point.
The DVD, the new recordings, the book - are extensions of the SPARTACUS score. They are special features much like you might find on a Criterion Collection DVD.
So by your own logic, the SPARTACUS box set is a dozen apples.
Varese is not forcing you to purchase CLEOPATRA (bananas), CHEYENNE AUTUMN (tomatoes)and LES MISERABLES (strawberries) along with SPARTACUS.
Come back with a better analogy next time.
Did you say petulance? You didn't read the post you're replying to very carefully, did you?
Let's define petulant -
pet·u·lant (pch-lnt) adj.
1. Unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered; peevish.
2. Contemptuous in speech or behavior.
Quite the contrary, pp312 - my ill temper and irritability is extremely reasonable given the childish whining in this thread, and my contempt is warranted.
For film score fans to beg for this release, receive a deluxe box set which includes more than we had ever hoped for, then endlessly complain that it's too much and accuse the label of deliberately jacking up the price is simply disgusting.
I sympathize with those who can't afford it - I can't let go of $110 easily myself - but the inability to afford an expensive item does not equal being cheated. As I stated earlier in this thread, this boxset is a Bugatti or a Lamborghini, and you want it to be a Honda. Well, it's not.
Come back with a better insult next time.
As far as I'm concerned, the extras are no more wanted than a bag of tomatoes would be were I buying bananas--hence, it's a very apt analogy. Come on, 2 CDs of the love theme-- that's ridiculous. And as for the box containing more than we'd hoped for, in fact it contains more than most of us ever wanted or can afford. I don't accuse the label of price jacking, as this is obviously a very expensive set. I'm just saying I don't want an expensive set. I want--and have only ever wanted--the complete Spartacus score in decent quality stereo sound--no more or less. And ironically, for all the bells and whistles here, that's the one thing I didn't get.
I've now abandoned all hope of that simple wish being fulfilled, but I'm not going to let it go after 50 years without a parting shot or two. If that and all the other (what I consider) legitimate complaints sends you into a pet, so be it.
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It's a great release indeed long awaited and i'm happy cause i can buy it today(sold my wife), but i'm sorry for many others : can we expect a light edition with score only dear BOB?
IT will be LA CERISE SUR LE GATEAU!
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Posted: |
Jun 29, 2010 - 5:29 AM
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By: |
Sardonicus
(Member)
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It's sad that this magnificent score has been priced out of reach of many people who have helped Varese survive all these years by religiously buying their albums - me included.
Oh my GOD - the ingratitude! The ingratitude!
Yeah, you "helped" Varese survive all these years out of the kindness of your heart - not because they created product you wanted to purchase. Get off your high horse and stop acting like Mother Theresa.
This manuever by Varese has taken the gloss off of what would have otherwise been a tremendous gesture to fans of this score and all great film music. But, as others have posted, Varese has never been all that "fan friendly".
Right... it's a "maneuver" by Varese to disenfranchise you - because there's so much profit to be made in disenfranchising film score fans!
As I stated earlier, perhaps this creeping paranoia is a sad byproduct of our current economic climate, but do the math. This set was undoubtedly expensive to produce, and Varese is entitled to make a profit - however small or however large that profit may be.
And what came first, the chicken or the egg? Perhaps Varese isn't "fan friendly" because they read one too many smug, childish, ungrateful, uninformed statements like yours.
Lastly I speculate that if this release had been done by MY favorite soundtrack CD company, FSM, they wouldn't have pulled this stunt. They DO seem to give a damn about film music fans.
Ah, I see. Your entire rant was actually a sycophantic love poem to FSM.
Can someone please explain to me how a record label can produce a lavish box set of the complete score of SPARTACUS, yet somehow it's a "stunt" and they don't give a damn about film music fans?
Your interpetations of my post are insulting and, like most of your posts, condescending and belittling. Who the hell do you think you are?
Instead of trying to understand the points that I made, you have to resort to your usual bashing of anyone who disagrees with you - now THAT'S childish. It's not enough for you to respond with your superior opinion - you have to put people down.
As I pointed out earlier, I've BEEN supporting Varese for over 30 years and don't give a damn what you think about my relationship with them. Yes, i buy their product because I want to, but in this day and age there are other ways to get their product with out paying for it. I have NEVER resorted to that and buy instead. It's called loyalty - but where is THEIRS??? I'm not going to boycott or stop buying their products - I'm just dissapointed.
I didn't say anything about a plot to disenfranchise me or anyone else and I'm not paranoid. Perhaps I should have stated that they made a CHOICE in going the route they did. And don't try to tell me that Robert Townsend didn't know that a lot of people wouldn't be able to afford this release. What good is putting out a release that is out of reach for a lot of people because of music that is not part of the original score?
And what do you suppose contributed more to the expense of putting out this album - paying for all those a-list recording artists to record mulitiple versions of the love theme or the actual leasing and preparation of the original score? I think they would have made a FINE profit with just an original score release.
Your last comment was completely ignorant. I have always been treated well by FSM and am a charter subscriber to the magazine - way back when it was a 1 page garage publication.
You mistake loyalty and satisfaction for my being a "sycophant". If anyone is sycophantic it's you in your defense of Varese.
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Posted: |
Jun 29, 2010 - 5:34 AM
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By: |
Sardonicus
(Member)
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If you wanted a dozen apples, but the shop only sold them with a dozen bananas, a bag of tomatoes and a punnet of strawberries for 3 times the price of the apples alone...well, you get the point.
The DVD, the new recordings, the book - are extensions of the SPARTACUS score. They are special features much like you might find on a Criterion Collection DVD.
So by your own logic, the SPARTACUS box set is a dozen apples. It's one item.
Varese is not forcing you to purchase CLEOPATRA (bananas), CHEYENNE AUTUMN (tomatoes)and LES MISERABLES (strawberries) along with SPARTACUS.
Come back with a better analogy next time.
Did you say petulance? You didn't read the post you're replying to very carefully, did you?
Let's define petulant -
pet·u·lant (pch-lnt) adj.
1. Unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered; peevish.
2. Contemptuous in speech or behavior.
Quite the contrary, pp312 - my ill temper is extremely reasonable given the childish whining in this thread, and my contempt is warranted.
For film score fans to beg for this release, receive a deluxe box set that includes more than we had ever hoped for, then complain that it's too much and accuse the label of deliberately jacking up the price is simply disgusting.
I sympathize with those who can't afford it - I can't let go of $110 easily myself - but the inability to afford an expensive item does not equal being cheated. As I stated earlier in this thread, this boxset is a Bugatti or a Lamborghini, and you want it to be a Honda. Well, it's not.
Come back with a better insult next time.
By the way - as far as your car analagy goes - at least I have a choice as to whether i buy a Lamborghini or a Honda. And that was my original point - why not two versions and let customers decide which one they what? Companies do that with DVD's all the time.
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The DVD, the new recordings, the book - are extensions of the SPARTACUS score. They are special features much like you might find on a Criterion Collection DVD.
That's quite a stretch. A Criterion DVD might be packed with tons of stuff, but it's usually in the $40 price range, not nearly 3 times that. Like the extras on a Criterion DVD, I will likely read the book once, watch the DVD once, and perhaps play back the entire discs 4-6 once each.
I said earlier that the price is reasonable for what's offered, I just don't want/need to be offered so much all in one package. It's certainly great for the people who hold North as their favorite composer and/or this score as one of their holy grails, but for the rest of us it's quite excessive.
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Posted: |
Jun 29, 2010 - 6:25 AM
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By: |
CinemaScope
(Member)
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If you wanted a dozen apples, but the shop only sold them with a dozen bananas, a bag of tomatoes and a punnet of strawberries for 3 times the price of the apples alone...well, you get the point.
The DVD, the new recordings, the book - are extensions of the SPARTACUS score. They are special features much like you might find on a Criterion Collection DVD.
So by your own logic, the SPARTACUS box set is a dozen apples. It's one item.
Varese is not forcing you to purchase CLEOPATRA (bananas), CHEYENNE AUTUMN (tomatoes)and LES MISERABLES (strawberries) along with SPARTACUS.
Come back with a better analogy next time.
Did you say petulance? You didn't read the post you're replying to very carefully, did you?
Let's define petulant -
pet·u·lant (pch-lnt) adj.
1. Unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered; peevish.
2. Contemptuous in speech or behavior.
Quite the contrary, pp312 - my ill temper is extremely reasonable given the childish whining in this thread, and my contempt is warranted.
For film score fans to beg for this release, receive a deluxe box set that includes more than we had ever hoped for, then complain that it's too much and accuse the label of deliberately jacking up the price is simply disgusting.
What! Film score fans were hoping for two CD's worth of Love Theme Variations - the complete score in mono, & a price tag of over $100! I must have missed those posts.
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It's eight pages of posts by a smallish number of people,
Four pages, if you log in.
Money problems aside, this is worthy of the special treatment. And even if I had the ready cash without having to re-budget and shift around, I would still hesitate a bit before placing the order. I'd place it, but it would give me pause, but I'm not the rabid fan so many others are. I just love the score (and the Criterion version of the movie).
For those who really want the score and can't or won't justify the expense, I am positive that a smaller version will be created eventually. Once they make back their money (as much as possible) and, of course, if they have the rights to do so. That's they only thing: if Mr. Townson only has the rights to deliver it in this format then that's it. Otherwise, trust me - it'll be available in a 2 or 3 CD set in a year or so (maybe sooner, maybe later - but eventually).
Like most everyone else, I'm thrilled he was able to release the best available elements. And before anyone says "the b**t has more stereo tracks, I have the b**. The sounds quality blows. In stereo.
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Posted: |
Jun 29, 2010 - 6:40 AM
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By: |
pp312
(Member)
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What! Film score fans were hoping for two CD's worth of Love Theme Variations - the complete score in mono, & a price tag of over $100! I must have missed those posts.
lol. My thoughts exactly, but you put it more succinctly than I seem to have managed.
Incidentally, my main gripe is that Varese have built a huge edifice on these mono tracks like a castle on sand, and now have the temerity to use the phrase "astounding monaural". Are they being funny? No one markets mono material anymore, unless it's some old Lauritz Melchior archival stuff, and then it's usually budget. If only mono tracks were available, they should have been released at a far more reasonable price, without all the appendages and with an explanation such as FSM would have given: "Sorry, guys, we hunted high and low for the stereo tracks but no dice. The mono sounds pretty good though." Had they done so I would still have been hugely disappointed but far less critical. Not critical at all in fact.
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I think many of the complaints were that the set is too expensive. That's certainly a legitimate grievance in these troubled economic times. It limits this music to the people with disposable income, and of course to those who will copy it for friends.
When aren't things "limited" to "people with disposable income"? Why don't we just get it over with: if you're can't afford it at this time, or you have other responsibilities like (and I quote) "kids, mortgages, and utilities bills", then simply don't buy it. Save up for it while taking care of the truly important things in life first.
OR, take a gander in the Trading Post, and throw 5 dollars down for the chance to own the set. You have a 1 in 28 chance of winning.
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Posted: |
Jun 29, 2010 - 7:38 AM
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By: |
TerraEpon
(Member)
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Four pages, if you log in.
Two if you change your settings to show 200 a page 
Incidentally, my main gripe is that Varese have built a huge edifice on these mono tracks like a castle on sand, and now have the temerity to use the phrase "astounding monaural". Are they being funny? No one markets mono material anymore,
Eh, I don't quite get it either, but there are actually people who have a strange fondness for mono. Look at the whole Beatles thing last year, and a number of people even say that some classical jazz albums well known for great sound (such as Brubeck's Time Out) sound better in mono. Yeah I don't know what planet they are from either.
And it's true that the mono tracks here DO sound pretty good, but I think they gave them a very slight echo to let em breath (not quite what FSM does sometimes, just there's a lack of the 'pinchiness' that most mono tracks have)
But yeah, once again, I think the main issue boils down to the whole all or nothing problem. Read through this thread, a LARGE number of people say "yeah I'll buy it, but I won't listen to the covers/watch the DVD (at all/more than once)". It might be a decent price for "what you get', but when the majority of people don't even want that...well that's a problem.
And as others said, they absolutely HAD to know that not everyone could afford it, or be willing to drop an extra $65 (or whatever) for stuff they really don't want. Noone could be so dumb as to think otherwise. Buy it if you want, but please do not say that anyone bitching about the price is simply being a whiner. $110 is expensive no matter what way you cut it.
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