Chrono[lo]gical Classics - R.I.P.?

[anton]

While the appearance of the Complete Jazz Series on E-music is good news to (some of) us, it possibly also means that it is over and out for the Classics series. Granted, the label did not put out that much classic swing in its last few years, but there were occasional late gems like the Charlie Barnet 1940 vol 2. Much good stuff was never issued, like Jimmy Dorsey, Bob Crosby, Bob Chester, Jan Savitt, Teddy Powell, Les Brown, Ben Pollack, just to name a few. Will it ever be released on cd?

[trev]

I think you've probably seen this on Organissimo, but it offers the best insight:

"Classics came out with a monthly batch of 5 titles from early 1990 to August 2004 (up to volume 1379) and all earlier releases remained in print during that time. After that Classics ran into problems that did not have to do with Petard himself. There were distribution problems (the original distributor may have gone out of business, I don't remember exactly). Also, a partner to Petard didn’t want to continue with the label and its future was seriously threatened.

After a long hiatus during which various problems had been sorted out, the label resumed releasing new titles in July 2005. In the meantime many older titles had gone OOP. An announcement was made that many OOP titles were going to be re-pressed (which also happened), and that all titles would be made available again eventually (which hasn’t happened).

Classics has however once again run into problems with several months between batches, and I think even some of the re-pressed titles going OOP again. A good part of the reason may be the generally dwindling CD sales. The late 80s to the early 00s were a golden era for jazz reissues, but it’s apparently a lot tougher financially now, and that affects Classics as well."

also:

"You put it all in a nutshell. Basically, it's very simple: How can you make ends meet when new issues of Classics (or any other CDs for that matter) pop up days (not weeks) after their release on notorious internet-sites where they can be downloaded for free ? With fully scanned booklets, of course...

And yes, to the best of my knowledge, not even Gilles Pétard knows exactly how to carry on. As I wrote here several times before, I'll let this forum know when there are NEWS not RUMOURS."

So yes, It seems the project is virtually over now, thanks in part to internet piracy.

[Toon Town Dave]

I don't buy the piracy angle, it may have been an issue but I don't think it was very big. I see two major problems with Classics. First, the losing the distribution channel was a major blow. Second and more significantly, the label had a poor business model.

Small runs of many CDs means really high overhead and that kept prices high, about CAD$20/disc. Compare to Proper, JSP, ASV, Naxos, Hep or others at $7-12/disc that provide stiff competition. Add to that on-line, disc-less distribution which Classics never took advantage of.

On-line distribution is ideal for what Classics had to offer, lots of selection with limited demand. On-line doesn't have the overhead associated with production and storage of CDs. An alternative would be to have some sort of just in time production with direct to consumer sales.

[Eyeball]

So - any guesses on how many seekers of CC music buy the physical CDs or download them on line?

I think thunk many/most users would buy the physical CDs but that many/most younger users would download it - either legally or illegally.

I've always purchased the physical object and bever downloaded.

Are there stats?

[Haydn]

So - any guesses on how many seekers of CC music buy the physical CDs or download them on line?

I think thunk many/most users would buy the physical CDs but that many/most younger users would download it - either legally or illegally.

I've always purchased the physical object and bever downloaded.

Are there stats?

I would think the only stats for comparing downloads v CD sales would probably come from the company themselves. In general though, CD sales are steadily declining and online sales steadily increasing.

[Eyeball]

So - any guesses on how many seekers of CC music buy the physical CDs or download them on line?

I think thunk many/most users would buy the physical CDs but that many/most younger users would download it - either legally or illegally.

I've always purchased the physical object and bever downloaded.

Are there stats?

I would think the only stats for comparing downloads v CD sales would probably come from the company themselves. In general though, CD sales are steadily declining and online sales steadily increasing.

I was just curious to see how vintage Jazz was doing. I gues as the older generations die off it will be up to the remaining younger buyers, if any, to determine who music will be marketed unless the record companies come up with some intrusive manner to block downloading, but why would they as it is cheaper to send out an electrical current than it is to manufacture and ship a CD.

[kitkat]

There are sites where people uploaded Chronogical Classics CDs at anything above 96kbps with scanned booklets?

Pirates bothered with that label?

Seriously?

[dogpossum]

I didn't want to clutter up the emusic recommendations thread with this sort of off-topic talk.

Ok, so now I'm going nuts with emusic. It's consumed me. It's music-on-tap. It's wonderful. I'm not eating or washing or talking to other humans; it's my everything.

But wait. It's not quite everything. I'm especially keen on the chron. classics on emusic (btw, is this series actually the chron. classics series?), as brought to my attention by Trev. But I'm hungry for liner notes and details. I like knowing who's playing in what band, etc etc etc.

Are there liner note type details for the chron. classics anywhere online? If so, I need not bother with the outside world any more. I can be Tron.

[anton]

Are there liner note type details for the chron. classics anywhere online? If so, I need not bother with the outside world any more. I can be Tron.

E-music's lack of liner notes is exactly the reason why I got Tom Lord's Jazz Discography on cd rom (also available for online subscription). Since it lists the recordings of each artist in chronological order (if you so desire) it is the perfect match for the Chron. Classics.

[dogpossum]

Hey, good thinking - thanks.
I went straight to my university's library catalogue and shazam - jazznerdy abounds. Ace.