I thoroughly agree with you there.
Like you, it's the content of the CD (
any CD, I might add) that interests me, not the price. Of course if you can get something at a good price from a certain website, then obviously, you'll do that. And why not?!
And as you say, (and as we all know) the current financial climate has left a lot of people in difficult situations. I don't have to disclose personal information here, but I'm one of them - at least at the moment. Therefore even spending a fiver on a CD has to be evaluated beforehand. Do I want it? Yeah. Do I
need it? No!
Of course I still allow myself to buy things, but I'm at an unfortunate stage where I have to really keep an eye on things. Sadly I've got much more important things to worry about than buying a new album on it's day of release.
And speaking of price, I would think John is still going to receive about the same royalty percentage of the album sale regardless of what price it was purchased for.
He is in the lucky position where his career outside of music, clearly enables him to be able to put out so many new albums without worrying about album sales. I mean, he probably does worry, obviously, but you see what I mean! Sales is probably one of the last things on his mind, with being able to produce and release a new album of his work when he wants, being the driving force.
I'm very interested in the booklet for
Glimmer, but think it would be a bit of a silly expense to buy a CD - regardless of price - just for the booklet. And the fact I have got most of the tracks on it, as I previously stated, is a fair reason to give it a miss. Which is why I see this release more for new fans and to have a more up-to-date best of out there (hopefully) on the shelves. I'm certainly not complaining about the album - far from it. I think it's a well packaged, well thought and impressive collection - just the sort of thing that needs to be out there for anyone just discovering John's work.
I am very interested in the reissue of
The Pleasures of Electricity so will be buying that. So I know I'll get "Cities of Light 5" when that comes out. Equally I'm really excited about
Impossible and
Neuro Video.
However I find that extended versions or demoes, can be inessential - the sort of thing that is interesting to hear, but for me, often a play-once-or-twice kind of affair, then revert to the original. I would say the same for most remixes. The "Burning Car" remix doesn't appeal to me and I have "Dislocated" from iTunes, which is just fine for my iPod - which is generally how I listen to music these days.
I certainly don't feel "obliged" to buy every release. That's a funny thought. If I did feel obliged to buy every last album by all the artists I equally love, that would be absolutely insane! I'm sure there are fans out there who haven't or don't intend to buy
In Mysterious Ways, for example, but that doesn't make them any less of a fan. I think with twenty-odd original JF CDs in my collection, giving just one a miss, is hardly a crime against fandom. And although a childish subject, if my loyalty, interest and dedication to John Foxx is put in doubt, then simply look
here. Nuff said!
