Your opinion, please: 366-band, 411 track 1981 box set

Can you put me back on the waiting list, I.M? I'd like to replace this, and it's certainly worth $26.

I'm glad you appreciate it on a stand-alone-mix level. That much music put across any other way would probably be overwhelming, and not very accessible as anything other than an historical documen---and this music is so very alive to me, I'd have hated to present it that way. Hope the next five mixes (and 12 hours of "bonus" material) hold up : )

Stephen ---

That fucking sucks, I'm sorry to hear. I'll put you on the waiting list again. Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help--did you lost any music permanently? Or just iPod/laptop copies?

As for what I can make out of Bimble's complaint, I guess I just don't subscribe to his notion that the people who contacte me first about the set are per se those who will enjoy it "most". Therefore, I don't see any reason that people later along should miss out just because I realised late into the process that I could fit another three hours of music on the appendix disc; and I don't see any reason people who already got their sets (like Bimble) should feel excluded, as I've offered to send replacement discs for the cost of shipping. Where the set now stands is basically the definitive version--I can't fit anything more. My aim is just to get the music heard.

I'd wondered about that, having never done any iTunes type stuff. If the file gets deleted/lost/stolen, do you have no recourse? Can you not download it again, having paid for the license?

I'm definitely still staunchly materialist about music, for better or worse.

I originally thought he was complaining about your statement that the 71 "extra" tracks were cut due to space limitations, when in fact he's claiming that you didn't even know about (at least some of) those 71 tracks until after you finished the set.

No matter which story is correct, obviously you're going to be a magnet for all things 1981. People will send you lots of stuff from 1981, wondering if you've heard it or not, and it's natural that you would want to update the set with some of this extra material. After all, you said from the start that your choices were subjective and you had no intention of covering all the bases.

So basically, revisions/additions to the set are not only unsurprising, but expected.

thanks I.M.

there's quite a lot to digest here!

Man, it's big.

You won't believe me if I say I never set out for quantity, only for quality. I think that holds true for at least 85% of the stuff, and the rest isn't bad, per se. Hope you dig it.

If so, then more the fool me.

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

Glad to hear it! Hope it stays so!

O. Nate ---

That very well could be, though I didn't consciously think of it in those terms. It's obviously one of the less genre-oriented, more general feel-oriented mixes. For me, it was just about "the beat," in a different way somehow than the 'Feet' mix. But I suppose you could say that a large percentage of "post-punk" was influenced by reggae/dub (and to my ears, African musics, and funk obviously, and Can, and Kraftwerk, and VU, and . . . . . .).

In any case, as I'm rather obsessed with rhythm, the 'Fire' disc is definitely one of my personal faves.

-- Ned Raggett (ne...), April 17th, 2005.

The only reason I mentioned Ned at all was because of this quote from I.M. from upthread:

You spoke to me in the most condescending tones, in your aged wisdom and insight; while every guy who really has insight, like Ned or Simon and everyone else, has been supportive and helpful.

My point was: I do not think I spoke to you in a condescending tone, and I would like to understand what this "insight" is that Ned "or Simon and everyone else" can offer about the year of 1981. I mean, if Ned and I are the same age, I find it hard to believe he could offer some special "insight" that I couldn't. However, if I am wrong, and he has been blessed with some special divine powers beyond his years I would honestly like to understand what this "insight" is.

As for what I can make out of Bimble's complaint, I guess I just don't subscribe to his notion that the people who contacte me first about the set are per se those who will enjoy it "most".

Exactly when did I ever say this?

Please stop chipping away at what is inherently a selfless act of I.M. sharing his personal project, and shut the fuck up.

Honestly, let your petty greivances sit for a minute. I don't have the newest briefcase version. I can get it if I want. So can you.

If you feel so slighted by the new version of the briefcase disc, I will be glad to send you money via paypal to reimburse your investment if you promise not to continue whining and derailing this thread. It's worth the money to stop what I consider to be a collosal waste of my time. You can contact me at the below address...I would gladly spend the $13 and get back to the matter at hand.

What are "these things" that you care about for which I'm showing blatant disregard? That's where I'm getting the impression that you think there are those who "deserve" this set more or who will enjoy it more, as I took to be the basis of your very first complaint when you thought you were deep in the queue due to email malfunction. As I've stated before, my "ideal" audience for the set was the kid who knows little but has the potential for passion--not collector scum like you and me. But I decided the only equitable and manageable approach to distributing this mix was first-come-first-serve, a rule I've broken only rarely, once being for you.

I have a feeling Reynolds has avoided being "overly general" in 570 pages worth of investigation. Whereas I probably would be wasting my time if I actually attempted to explicate the cultural relevance of any of this music---I haven't done the research, and I'm not a writer.

I can understand that you don't think it's fair that those who ask for the set at a later date get *more* music---but that's why I offered to send everyone who wants it the recently added stuff. If you really have a problem with the inclusion of the Ski Patrol track I got from you, I'll remove it. That should redress the practical complaints I've been able to discern. You've called me both an egotist and overly self-depricating; I'm pretty certain I'm neither. I know what I know--and I know enough to see how much I don't know. Beyond that, let's just agree to disagree, ok? As far as I'm aware, you're the only person who is "unhappy". At least, let's work this out via a private exchange, if we must.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,13887,1464368,00.html

That's about exactly what I had in mind but knew I couldn't pull off.

http://members.aol.com/blissout/postpunk.htm

Doesn't seem to be up anymore, but yeah, when I read that "primer" was when I realised Simon's book was something to look forward to.

That pretty much sums up my curmudgeony stance, at least re: current pop/rock/electronic-dance fare.

I "linked" to that essay in the 'READ' bit of the booklet. Good stuff.

That was a hope of mine--not to satisfy an appetite by to incite it--toward the one form of consumerism I've never had a moments guilt over.

Any major finds for anyone? Any suggestions for "links" in the buy or read sections for possible future editions?

Max

The Black Uhuru I wasn't sure about and didn't initially include, because while it's great, it definitely seems to me to basically be straight reggae, as opposed to reggae-inflected post-punk. Still, a few people suggested I include it, so once I found room, I figured why not.

I included the Prince because even though he's usually considered to have more to do with "proper" funk and pop, the sonic connection seems obvious to me (though it does risk begging the question, why not just include a lot of other supposedly "straight" funk. . .). The sound of prince in that era is right between Worrell and Human League, so it makes sense to me.

Glad you dig it : )

Max ---

drop me a line at the email below and I'll put you on the waiting list.

Arrgh - didn't think I need to contact you. Will sort out my PayPal thing tonight. Sorry - personal life got in the way.

p.s. Does the bad brains track really cut short like that?

Thanks, man. Copies straggled out as early as Nov. 2004, but most were in 2005. With any luck, someday in 2006 there'll be more. I've still got the list--but it's grown to over 250 names, and besides being too busy and too poor to get out ahead on material costs, I just got a little daunted.

Mark --

Not sure I know what you mean. Hopefully there wasn't a defect in the pressing. I doubt I would've edited a Bad Brains track. . .

Piscesboy --

I had plans to do 1982 or 1979, but real life caught up with me. I think a fellow here started up a 1979, but I think real life caught up with him, too. I've been sitting on a 3rd edition of '81 that's got 460 bands, 480 tracks, but haven't been able to do anything with it. If you do a search for "soundslike1981" on myspace.com, you might come across the smaller mixes I post there.