Re: (TV) RE: Live Marquee Moon / Marketing Strategy?

[Russ <russvr@gmail.com>]

While I am often thinking (usually without success) of ways to improve my
financial situation, I also think of ways in which my favorite recording
artist and musician could improve his situation. One way would be to get
those so-and-sos over at Fender to release a signature Jazz Master re-issue,
as they have done for Elvis Costello and J Mascis. Why haven't they done so
for Tom Verlaine is a mystery to me? Is there something we could sign? Does
anyone on our list know anyone over at Fender? Tom Verlaine without a
signature Fender Jazz master to his name is nothing short of criminally
negligent in my estimation.



On Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 1:59 PM, Phil Obbard <pobbard@yahoo.com> wrote:

> It could be "live in the studio", sure.
>
> "Verlaine or Fontana Records were trying to figure out a way to 'break' him
> commercially... with the strategy of
> ....let's release a *live* version of the song that he was most well-known
> for and see what happens ....maybe it might just attract those
> listeners/buyers who were 'into' guitar solos. "
>
> I suspect the conversation was more like:
>
> Fontana Records: Tom, only 138 people bought your last record. We can't pay
> the bills that way.
>
> Tom: What if I quickly re-record my most famous song with my current
> touring band and put it on an obscure 12"? That way, those 138 people will
> buy my next LP and the 12" single.
>
> Fontana Records: Brilliant! Except, since we're out of money, you need to
> record it in one take. Right now. In that studio over there. Hurry up, the
> repo men are here...
>
> --Phil
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Leo Casey <LeoCasey@comcast.net>
> To: tv@obbard.com
> Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 2:41:15 PM
> Subject: (TV) RE: Live Marquee Moon / Marketing Strategy?
>
> Regarding the 1987 live version of 'MM' released by Fontana/Polydor:
>
> > No, sorry I don't, but I think it was a soundcheck rather than a show.
>
> I'm just curious.  (OK maybe 'skeptical' :> ) is a better word).
>
> What's the basis as to why it was more likely to have been recorded during
> a soundcheck versus live in a studio?   It seems more likely to me that the
> reverse would be the case.
>
> For instance:  Why would a musician esp. Verlaine give (waste?) one of his
> greatest performances ever for/on a measly soundcheck?
>
> I bought both releases of this 'live' version of  'MM when they came out in
> 1987.  My take has always been something along the lines that it was a
> deliberate marketing strategy (albeit failed):
>
> Verlaine or Fontana Records were trying to figure out a way to 'break' him
> commercially; i.e., despite the high quality of his solo releases with
> Elektra/Warner Brs/Virgin, all of those had sold miserably (only his
> 'Dreamtime' album ever appeared as low as  #177 on the U.S. music charts).
> Verlaine or Fontana  came up [in desperation?] with the strategy of
> ....let's release a *live* version of the song that he was most well-known
> for and see what happens ....maybe it might just attract those
> listeners/buyers who were 'into' guitar solos.
>
> Kinda of like a let's try and market Tom to say a 'high-class' Joe
> Satrini/Van Halen fan/[fill-in your own choice] :> ) audience.
>
> So Verlaine thought, what the hell ok, and went into the studio with his
> then touring band of J.D. Daugherty, Rip and Smith and recorded it for one
> of the sides of a Fontana 12" single promo record.  Most likely it was
> recorded in the studio without any edits----just as most of the songs on
> the
> original MM album were.
>
> Leo
>
> ............................................................................
> .
> Re: (TV) Rare(?) Verlaine record
>
> To: tv@obbard.com
> Subject: Re: (TV) Rare(?) Verlaine record
> From: "Cliff McLenehan" <klif@volny.cz>
> Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 22:05:05 +0200
>
> ............. From what I remember Clinton telling me, the song was
> recorded
> with mics that were positioned at the mixing desk. He thought it was from a
> live
> performance. I don't think it was live in the studio. It may have been at a
> soundcheck. Everything is perfectly balanced, but you're right, there's no
> audience noise...............   Cliff
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