Eagle-eyed crate diggers might have noticed a major disappearing act of late.
Collectors’ Choice Music, long renowned for its diverse and eclectic line-up of releases by artists ranging from Bing Crosby to Jefferson Airplane, has quietly been allowing its label’s releases to go out-of-print. In fact, many of those titles are already commanding high prices on the second-hand market. (The beginning of the end of the Collectors’ Choice label can be read here.) Though the company’s famed catalogue continues for the time being, offering music from various labels around the world, the label has been dormant for all of 2011 after a tumultuous 2010 which saw titles from artists like Petula Clark, Joanie Sommers and Connie Stevens announced and then withdrawn with little word from the label. But there’s a silver lining.
Gordon Anderson, the much-loved former Senior Vice President and General Manager of Collectors’ Choice Music, has recently announced a new venture that should be of more than passing interest to readers of The Second Disc.
It’s called Real Gone Music, and you can find the details after the jump!
Anderson’s LinkedIn page now offers this tantalizing tidbit: “I and my partner, Gabby Castellana, are launching a record label under the name of Real Gone Music. We will be licensing repertoire from major and independent labels, artist estates and other sources for release on CD, vinyl and digital formats.” Castellana founded roots-rock, rockabilly and punk specialist label Hepcat, which was sold to Collectors’ Choice back in 2005. Somewhat ironically, Castellana just departed his post as VP/GM of Super D, the entertainment wholesaler who purchased Collector’s Choice last year. Reportedly the Super D sale is what led to the demise of the Collectors’ Choice label. (Super D’s press release announcing Castellana’s departure and the appointment of his successor, Charles “Pip” Smith, notes that the company “boasts a rich and diverse label and studio roster including ToneTree, American Beat, Collectors’ Choice Music, Bandai Entertainment, Blackheart Records, Distribution 13, Light in the Attic, and Wounded Bird.”) Both Anderson and Castellana will bring a wealth of experience with reissued music to their new venture.
If Real Gone Music continues in the tradition of Collectors’ Choice, affording deluxe treatment to the catalogues of artists as different as Perry Como, B.J. Thomas, Bobby Darin, The 5th Dimension, Dionne Warwick, Glen Campbell and Badfinger, collectors should, indeed, be in luck. That label was an important source of music from heritage artists in the vocal and jazz genres while also delving into pop, soul and rock. Over at the Steve Hoffman Music Forums, remastering engineer Hoffman weighed in on Anderson’s announcement: “Gordon is in it for the music, totally. A refreshing change from the usual deal. Hopefully Ed O[sborne] and I can contribute lots of yummy projects.” Producer Osborne continued the “back to mono” movement with a number of fantastic mono singles collections from Collectors’ Choice by artists including Jan and Dean, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Gary Lewis and the Playboys and Jay and the Americans.
One casualty of the Collectors’ Choice label collapse was the acclaimed Bing Crosby Archive Collection, which has already offered two compilations, With All My Heart and Shall We Dance? in digital-only form. In the final months before the sale to Super D, Collectors’ Choice had also teamed with Warner Music Group for a disc-on-demand line under the Tartare imprint, and a new line of archival concert releases including a series of releases from Jefferson Airplane.
What would you like to see from Anderson and Castellana’s new Real Gone venture? Sound off below!
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I'll be happy with whatever Gordon gets up to -- he has excellent taste and an excellent sense of what is "missing" from the collector perspective.
Mostly, I'm a rocker. But, I delve into all sorts of stuff, and I've recently discovered that there's never been much of a reissue campaign whatsoever for two important - and rather eccentric - pre-rock artists: Alvino Rey (aka Ira Ironstrings) and the Harmonicats. Two juicy ideas...
My want list consists mainly of vocals: Perry Como (his RCA albums from the 1970/80's that haven't been released yet), Engelbert Humperdinck (his Epic label albums between 1976-80), Anthony Newley ("The Singer And His Songs" album for UA), Jerry Vale ("Sings 16 Greatest Hits Of The '60's") and Margaret Whiting (her London albums or even just a "London Years" compliation)...
Continue the excellent Crosby reissues. They are of superb quality.
How about the ones that were promised, Joanie Sommers, Connie Stevens?
I hope for more Cameo/Pakway cds
It's great to see Gordon Anderson coming back. I would love to see him, or anybody reissue the 1980 album from The Brains that featured Money Changes Everything. It's amazing in this day and age of what was reissued that this album has never seen the light of day on CD.
I'm sure there's other cds I'd love to see reissued but this will be a good start.
I would like to see Mavis Rivers' Reprise albums from the early era of Reprise--particularly whichever album has "I Remember You" on it.
Hopefully they can get the Petula/Joanie/Connie Stevens sets released, and continue with their superlative "Complete Singles" sets. I'd love to see them do "Complete Cameo Parkway Singles" sets for Chubby Checker, Dee Dee Sharp, and Bobby Rydell (and with the correct, full-length single version of Rydell's "Volare," finally). And fingers crossed that they can continue the Crosby releases.
And wouldn't it be great if they could do a Bing Crosby "Complete '50s Decca Singles," licensed from Universal? I think it would only be a two-disc set, as Bing really wasn't working that much in the '50s and left Decca in 1955. Why the '50s in particluar? Because all his stuff was recorded on tape beginning in late 1949, and most of it has only been available on CD as gray-market disc dubs.
Due to the vault fire on the Universal lot in 2008, I doubt if any original Decca tapes still exist from the 1950s.
I have heard conflicting things about this. First, I heard that most of the 40s and 50s single tapes were destroyed. Then I heard that, no, it was actually mostly '70s material that was destroyed. But people claimed to hear this from "inside sources." So we really don't know what was destroyed... it's never been made public.
Great news! Welcome back, Gordon! When do we start buying?!
Maybe Gordon will remember the track list I sent him for a Mark Lindsay solo singles set. That would make a great partner for the awesome Raiders singles cds. Gordon takes requests very seriously. He did my request of the Fabulous Poodles twofer on the American Beat label. Glad to see he didn't just lie down and die.
Dean, in the list that you sent to Gordon, did you only include Mark Lindsay's Columbia singles or did you also include the Warner/Curb and Greedy singles as well? I too compiled a wish list Mark Lindsay singles collection with 29 total tracks. I sure hope once Real Gone Music is up and running and is the success I am sure it will be, that Gordon can start taking suggestions again as he did at CCM.
Yep. I mentioned everything I could find. I don't remember if I came up with 29 tracks, but wouldn't that be great.
The world needs a Hollies singles compilation just like the great Paul Revere & the Raiders one CC Music put out.
How about the late albums from Connie Francis of Jealous Heart, My Heart Cries For You & Wedding Cake. And please rescue the Petula Clark complete singles collection!!! Also would love the Brenda Lee Top Teen Hits on cds as well as her country albums that were never released on cds.....like Memphis Portrait....and a complete reissue of Jack Jones RCA catalogue as well as a complete singles from RCA would be great (as well as his late Kapp recordings never on cd.....Our Song, especially. Many thanks...
I would also like to see The Brains on cd. Another choice - Zal Yanovsky's solo effort. And it'd be nice to see Rick Danko's first effort rereleased
I've been asked for my wish list ... Now, that's dangerous. I'll start off modestly with my request for "A Group Called Smith" and their followup "Minus-Plus" on Dunhill, Jackie deShannon's "You're The Only Dancer" and the Capitol recordings of Pete Daily and his Chicagoans. Good luck Mr. Anderson... Success will your best revenge.
I'd like to see the Complete Singles of Henry Burr.
Henry Burr was the most prolific recording artist of all time. I think he made over 12,000 records. Most of these pre-dated electrical recordings. That might run about 480 CDs. If he does the complete recordings, I think it would be best to do it in four volumes of 120 CDs each.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Burr
Some argue that Billy Murray made more records.
So maybe Gordon can do Billy too
Some argue that Burr only made 5,000 solo records, once you leave out the vocal group stuff, and stop arguing about the many pseudonyms that Burr used for different companies.
So maybe Gordon can call this project "The Best of Henry Burr" and reduce it to 200 CDs. Maybe two volumes of 100 CDs each.
But most of us on this website are "Completists", and would probably hold out for the 480 CD version. That is, if there are some bonus materials included (like maybe a shelving cart, and a free back massage)
I don't remember him - According to Wikipedia, this guy recorded way before my time - LOL!!
Too bad about that name Real Gone Music. There already is a jazz label in Liverpool New York called Real Gone.
But continuing in the great tradition of Collectors Choice releases Wackers, Clear Light, Eclection , might I suggest: Rhinoceros? A great 2fer.
On the American River I suggested Hardwater but when I got home I notice someone else beat you to it.
I also suggested The Churls. Another great 2fer. At least get that amazing first album out.
I also concur with the above mentioned Brains. And A Band called Smith.
But there is also Yankee Dollar (out of print and only released in Greece) and Jukin Bone.
Hope you and your friend had a great time on the North Fork... Best Wishes with this music venture...
If the sentimental songs of Henry Burr do not turn you on, maybe the hot dance songs of Irving Kaufman would make you tap your feet.
Kaufman was another "professional recording artist" who probably recorded several thousand songs on many labels. His records can be alot of fun.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Kaufman_(singer)
Irving made many, many more records than Bing Crosby. You can still pick them up at garage sales everywhere. Fellows like Kaufman and Burr made tons of records because they could sight read a song and record it in one take. They almost lived in the recording studios as full time singers.
Please Gordon, how about a 20 CD box - "Irving Kaufman - America's #1 Singer"
How many copies would such a thing, sell, Kevin... maybe 100 or 200 worldwide? I think Archeophone or a tiny, independent label like that would be the one to handle a Henry Burr or Irving Kaufman collection.
Bing Crosby now has more than 50,000 fans on Facebook and to celebrate that milestone all Bing Crosby Archive CDs are on sale and available exclusively at http://www.bingcrosby.com
For a limited time all single CDs in The Bing Crosby Archive series are priced at $9.99 and double CDs are $19.99. Order all 11 titles in the series for the bundle price of $109 – a $20 savings. Use the sale code “FACEBOOK” for a 10% discount on all orders during this sale. Shipping and handling charges apply.
The Bing Crosby Archive series debuted in 2010 as an outlet for the vast film and tape library maintained by Bing Crosby and his family. The initial compact disc releases included long out-of-print albums, new compilations of hitherto unavailable recordings and an album recorded in 1962, but never issued.
I'm still looking for "the Sensuous Sound of the Soulful Oboe" on CD.
[inside joke for JGA]
who is that? Only the chosen few know that title
A little D.A.B. will do ya...
This is great news! I hope Gordon and Real Gone Music will pick up the rights and re-release some of the now out of print Collector's Choice titles that the clowns at CCM have let expire. Titles like Merrilee Rush & The Turnabouts "Angel Of The Morning" the complete Bell Recordings, and The Brass Ring "The Dis-Advantages Of You/The Now Sound". I can't wait to see what comes out on Real Gone Music!
Interesting and ironic that the first releases from Real Gone Music are in the Top 10 best sellers currently at Collector's Choice Music.
I think it's hilarious!!!