Vinyl Me Please Anthology

Mather said:
If it's like their previous efforts they likely just scanned an earlier press or CD release without fixing any of the pertinent info.
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It doesn't credit Kevin Gray on back but the credits it does have are the original master engineer, etc. I don't think that's too strange, but can't see, to find how other BN represses do it. Most of my MM are the original back as well and do not have engineer/remastering info on them outside of crediting RVG.
 
Indymisanthrope said:
I do believe they had a concept locked down, at minimum. Storf told me in the old place he thought the second one would be more in my wheelhouse than Blue Note was (that should be the final nail in the coffin for any more Fania hopes, btw).
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I'd almost guaranteed that it is in production already with the albums chosen and albums off to print. They would be wise to wait and see what went wrong with this one but I wouldn't be surprised to see the dollar signs in their eyes once they sold out the Blue Note one in a few hours.
 
YimYames said:
You'll be able to get them from somewhere, eventually. Probably in about a year.
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Not entirely sure that is true...most of these records haven't been repressed in 15+ years and are not on the Blue Note slate of releases for the next two years. If I wanted to buy these albums separately, in used condition, they would cost me well over what I spent on the box set. The records themselves sound great. They say they are fixing the majority of the issues that were big issues for me. The rollout was utter shit. Will I sign up for another Anthology? Nope. Did I learn anything new about jazz along the way? Not really. Do I still enjoy the records in this one and think it was worth the amount? I kinda do...There is still a lot to be disappointed about though.

I guess they didn't lie when they said it would be an experience though...just not the experience I entirely expected when I signed up.
 
I think we're seeing a company in transition here. There are cost-cutting measures happening that we can see: no more replacements for albums that arrive with cosmetic damage such as dinged corners, warps needing to have an American nickel fit under he warp in order to qualify for replacement, and now shipping the Anthology booklet in a flimsy mailer to many folks. Anyone would have known that the booklet would arrive in less-than-pristine condition. This last bit was clearly a conscious decision by someone with authority who decided "I don't care". Money is being conserved in ways we can see.

I'm guessing money is also being conserved in ways we can't see but in ways that affect the employees in a negative way. Maybe people have been let go, maybe people have been told that cuts to staff are coming, maybe changes have happened to cheapen the day-to-day office lifestyle/expenses. Who knows. But I get the impression that changes are happening to make the company more attractive (on paper) so it can be sold. It's what their brand-new COO (Lloyd Starr) did with his last company. I'm guessing he was brought in for a specific reason.

Even before this, my impression is that VMPs prices for records are too high, and they have too many employees. The belt may be tightening (but without the prices dropping).

Anyway, this is all speculation on my part, usually I'm talking outta my ass so this time may be no different. But the shipping of the booklet in a flimsy mailer, rather than buying some generic record boxes or at least stacks of cardboard stiffeners to sandwich the booklet for shipping, seems to me like an actual employee (not a 3rd-party shipper) saying IDGAF. Either that, or they were told they could only spend so much money to buy mailers for the booklets.
whiskeychaser84 said:
If this is the all Brazil month, I'm as good as gone. I'm going to become a Numero guy.
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Numero presses via URP. Not good. When I buy Numero stuff, I buy it on CD.
 
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dhodo said:
Ha! Did they fold it to put in your mailbox?
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No. It’s not only a bubble mailer, but the flimsiest one they could find. Too big for the booklet, so it was bound to get bent up. Friggin’ idiots! Even worse, EVEN WORSE, as they claimed it was to prevent damage. I just... I don’t know. What a drag. I can only assume they’ll replace it. After everything that’s happened, it’s so crazy, and honestly stupid, that they did this.
 
heavysoulbrutha said:
No. It’s not only a bubble mailer, but the flimsiest one they could find. Too big for the booklet, so it was bound to get bent up. Friggin’ idiots! Even worse, EVEN WORSE, as they claimed it was to prevent damage. I just... I don’t know. What a drag. I can only assume they’ll replace it. After everything that’s happened, it’s so crazy, and honestly stupid, that they did this.
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That crease just reminded me of one of those nightmare pictures where the mailman folded a record in half to fit it in a mailbox. My condolences! I'm still in awe of VMP's continued ineptitude.
 
Vinyl Me Please said:
Just a quick heads up ~
Your liner notes booklet will arrive in a separate mailer than your shipment 3 records. This was done to prevent damages in transit.
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I haven't received my last set of records yet - but were they really packaged in a way that this thin little booklet could not have been slipped-in, say, sandwiched between the two flat and sturdy objects of similar dimension? Surely that would have been a better option than an oversized bubble mailer...
 
Wow. Honestly, do you reckon they just forgot to ship the booklet with the last two records and made up the excuse that it's so everything arrives safely?

I'm coming back to my earlier speculation that this whole shamozzle actually immerses us in the jazz experience by making us all a part of a massive, avant garde, improvisation. I think, on the whole, it's been comical, and this latest one is hilarious really. I'm so glad the quality of the pressings has been great, and that replacements have been promised for the issues. Will honestly be relieved when this is all finally done.
 
slabsofvinyl said:
I haven't received my last set of records yet - but were they really packaged in a way that this thin little booklet could not have been slipped-in, say, sandwiched between the two flat and sturdy objects of similar dimension? Surely that would have been a better option than an oversized bubble mailer...
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It's interesting that some people reported getting it in a cardboard mailer while others have gotten flimsy mailers...the inconsistency is almost impressive!

Received my records today. Montara sounds fantastic. Am eagerly awaiting putting on Ambrose as I have become really fond of that album. Didn't really know about him before this anthology and checked it out when the rumored titles first came up. Am awaiting this pamphlet in suspense too. It really is hilarious that they said they were shipping it separately to make sure it wasn't damaged in transit hah.
 
pijo said:
Wow. Honestly, do you reckon they just forgot to ship the booklet with the last two records and made up the excuse that it's so everything arrives safely?

I'm coming back to my earlier speculation that this whole shamozzle actually immerses us in the jazz experience by making us all a part of a massive, avant garde, improvisation. I think, on the whole, it's been comical, and this latest one is hilarious really. I'm so glad the quality of the pressings has been great, and that replacements have been promised for the issues. Will honestly be relieved when this is all finally done.
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I think they shipped it separate so that the records wouldn't get warped. And then they ran out of mailers and sent it to a bunch of people in a flimsy envelope.
 
heavysoulbrutha said:
Man, if my liners come damaged like that, after they specifically said they were mailing them separately to avoid damage, I'm gonna be f*cking pissed. That is the most ridiculous thing I've seen yet. I don't understand what the hell is happening with this company. Why would they not do this right?
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Becomes clearer with every turn of the page on this forum why they cancelled the old forum. They knew this S Show was coming. They’re done as a company. I have zero doubt. Pull up a chair and watch the demise. They truly deserve it.
 
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