On 07/07/06, Tom Fine wrote:
You are correct. There were probably 50 more CD's that could have been
done (perhaps more if one considered being completist on the mono
stuff, which was an unlikely track because there was specific and
limited interest in the pre-1956 catalog and that interest was
addressed with the handful of mono reissues). Universal decided to
discontinue the reissues in 2000 after scaling back the previous two
releases. Many of the titles are still in print in the US but seem to
be taken out of print in most other markets, which is pretty idiotic
since they sold extremely well in the Orient and Europe. A good
classical issue is like an annuity -- keep it in print and it will
keep sending checks to the home office.
While there are probably some on this list who are passionate about
small-group and chamber music, in Mercury's case it never sold as well
as the orchestral and band recordings, so it was considered at the
bottom of the pile for reissues. Solo and concerto stuff like Janos
Starker and Byron Janis were big sellers originally and were big
sellers on CD. Point is, the reissue was a commercial undertaking (and
was very profitable), so what was reissued and in what order was
considered very carefully.
It seems to me it is time some of the classic recordings (in all genres)
were recognised as cultural treasures, so that reissues like these could
be subsidised by UNESCO, the big Foundations, or Governments in various
countries, just as art galleries and opera houses are subsidised.
While there may sometimes be a profit to be made from reissues, often
there is not. Or only enough to support a one-man-and-dog record company,
with consequent poor distribution.
There are many recordings that should be permanently available to all,
in the highest possible engineering quality, for the same reason that
anyone can walk into the National Gallery and look at the pictures.
Regards
--
Don Cox
doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx