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Post by duckbarman on Feb 6, 2016 18:09:05 GMT
If this LP had actually come out, I'm sure it would have had some success - in which case, the mind boggles as to what sort of band would have eventually made it through to 2016...  |
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Post by markus on Feb 7, 2016 0:55:15 GMT
Nice find Ralph; interesting question you pose. If you're talking about commercial releases, I unfortunately don't see them having the ability to have weathered the mid-latter part of the '70's (which, I suppose, still would have given them some time develop and establish themselves). However, if the record company would have stood by them (and the group would remain together) as legacy artists regardless of trends and/or commercial pressures the possibilities are indeed mesmerizing had they foregone the Pearlman-neo-Wagnerian aesthetic.
Basically we're talking BOC minus the flirtations with hard-rock (ersatz metal); how much palaver was Meltzer capable of grinding out? Plenty, I would guess.
I just wonder at what point, presuming their future releases would follow the debut stylistically, would the desire for commercial success and/or financial stability and security with an eye for the future steer towards either a change in style/image? Later than 1972 perhaps?
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Post by Buck on Feb 7, 2016 5:31:04 GMT
You wonder about the what-ifs, if the first Underbelly record had been successfully completed. But alas, it wasn't. And Elektra's relationship with Sandy P and the Underbelly deteriorated by the time the second record was ready to go. I thought those tapes were in a a land fill somewhere since Elektra got sold to Warners, and those tapes never surfaced for so many years.
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Post by Buck on Feb 7, 2016 5:34:16 GMT
Gotta say, for all their inability to understand BOC and market us, Columbia and CBS Records stood by us and their philosophy of long time artist developement, without which we'd never have gotten to the record sales we eventually did. It's a different time today. Aerosmith's first record didn't sell in 1973, but "Dream On" was a hit a couple years later.
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Post by FUNCO on Feb 7, 2016 17:17:07 GMT
I think Lady by Styx went a similar route to Dream on as was one of the early Hall & Oates songs that became a hit later.Surprised that Rational Passional wasn't mentioned-it's by far my favorite and Queens Blvd is a sorta Kinks sounding tune. Thhere's a bit of Beatles psychedelia there too.
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Post by FUNCO on Feb 7, 2016 17:21:36 GMT
Gotta say, for all their inability to understand BOC and market us, Columbia and CBS Records stood by us and their philosophy of long time artist developement, without which we'd never have gotten to the record sales we eventually did. It's a different time today. Aerosmith's first record didn't sell in 1973, but "Dream On" was a hit a couple years later. Yeah it always struck me as weird being that length of time with a big company and at the same time thinking the company isn't quite getting it as far as marketing BOC as product.Maybe BOC was TOO diverse for them to figure out |
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Post by duckbarman on Feb 7, 2016 18:28:39 GMT
I thought those tapes were in a a land fill somewhere since Elektra got sold to Warners, and those tapes never surfaced for so many years. Oh no - they're in Iron Mountain, 658 Binnewater Road, Kingston, NY (Rossendale). A guy who used to post on J&A, "me262edh", actually worked there for five years, so we grilled him (back in 2009) and learned that the SWU material was in: The very back building in the cave: Enter door turn right, go to the third row, and then follow the alphabet until you get to "S". This had the members names on it (Paper in the box), and this one Had "L. Braunstein" on it there was no "E. Bloom" on that particular reel. Trust me it was the real deal, and it was only one reel not multiples, albeit it was one of the really big ones, I don't know how much those things hold space wise. I can't tell you how many times I went back to that building to make sure it was still there & I worked there for over 5 years.
But the guy who showed it to me said, that it had been there for at least 15 years as thats how long he worked there, so 20 years at least, plus the 9 years that has passed.
And that facility has been there for 50+ years. So it is very possible they have been there since 1970? Who knows.
It killed knowing it was in there. Only good thing is that, those buildings are all climate controlled and the humidity level is usually under 28% so if its there still, at least you can rest easy that its in excellent shape. When you walk in the main gate, its like 55-60 all the time, there are 2 lakes back in there too, from the limestone that was mined there years ago. They hit some underground aquifers, at least thats the story I was told.
As it stands, all of the King Biscuit Flour Hour Masters were in there too! West Wood One also! That place killed me every damn day! Aside from the fact that the SWU Reel was there, there was everything from the entire SONY/Columbia Catalog!!! I mean everything! That included Portrait records!!! So yeah I saw that too!!!!! Capitol Records, Atlantic Records, that includes megaforce/Elektra ATCO, Cotillion every friggin' subsidiary label!!! SLAYER, Metallica(Pre-1st record) Jump in the fire demos TVT records were there, no yeah NIN stuff was there too. I saw unreleased Stevie Ray Vaughn stuff.... Live stuff. I saw Dat tapes, acetates, reels of various sizes.
I saw some really cool Miles Davis stuff down there too. There was lots I times I was supposed to be working, when I was just looking at stuff in wonderment & awe for hours.
I am suprised I lasted as long as I did. And I swear I was watched a lot, and accused a lot of stuff gone missing, but I was always cleared, cuz some people there always misplaced stuff. If I could've gotten away with it I would have. But when you leave the cave the Guard/Cop pats you down. And those reels aren't small.
The only way to get them out is via Columbia request acquisition sheet.
Presumably- for the Elektra stuff, you'd need a Warner's acquisition sheet... (aren't Rhino with Warner's..?) Anyway - the stuff's there and is being kept in decent conditions but it's such a massive waste of all this stuff being stored away unheard in some cold dark chasm... digitise the lot of it before it oxidises and crumbles into eternity... |
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Post by duckbarman on Feb 7, 2016 18:35:58 GMT
By the way - I just found out that Meltzer wrote that piece above - so actually, he's anonymously urging the readers to buy a record which was going to feature a number of his own songs!!
:-)
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