Re: [ARSCLIST] Community Radio

[phillip holmes <insuranceman@xxxxxxxxxx>]

> Actually, I haven't heard much in the way of "...old Verve or Blue Note
> with contemporary production techniques..." among hit pop tunes...although
> I would suppose it could be done, IF the tune was "fusion" (of soul and
> jazz, actually) style...and IF they could get the rights to use the
> original recording (for copyright reasons...remember every sound
> recording ever made in the US is under copyright until 2067!)

Verve issued the recordings, so no problem with getting rights.  It was 
their idea to repackage it for the dance crowd.  Look up "verve remixed". 
That series brings in popular DJs to spice up hits and make them disco 
friendly.  Mostly, it's adding a drum track.


> As far as to what extent an A&R man can determine pop music...I
> think the one requirement is that he has to be familiar with the
> current tastes of the pop-music audience. John Hammond's "discoveries"
> during his career were all artists who were basically playing current
> pop music, but doing so better than most. People simply won't accept
> music that is significantly different from what they are already
> listening to...over the years and decades, popular music has
> evolved fairly gradually rather than in a series of "jumps!"
> Music which is too radically different (i.e. avant-garde jazz
> and some of the more outre "serious" music" seems to sail right
> over the heads of about 99% of the public!
>
> Steven C. Barr
I agree, but it takes someone with some vision (and clout) to sign people 
like Bob Dylan.  I remember the first time I heard Nirvana.  It was pretty 
radically different than anything else on the radio.  Two years later 
everything sounded like Nirvana.  And most garage bands sound different from 
the next one.  But most of those bands won't get polished enough to get a 
record contract.
Phillip