Metamatic Forums John Foxx Ultravox Rare Foxx-era Ultravox vids at youtube.com

There are at least 3 Vox tunes that I wish were included on the recent Japanese re-releases that are at youtube: "TV Orphans," "I Won't Play Your Game," & "I Came Back Here (it says 'Hear' at the site) to Meet You."

Did the band ever make studio recordings of these? If so, I'm surprised they weren't included on the ULTRAVOX! remaster along with the other bonus tracks. Maybe John just didn't think they were very good. Still, as a completist/fan, I'd love to have them.

There's a pretty good explanation as to what did and didn't go on the recent re-releases on the EV website here . If you have a look at that, it may answer a lot of your questions and why things didn't get included...

All the best


EG
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Ah, I see now. Thanks for the link, E.G. Maybe these will turn up (if they haven't already) on a bootleg or two.

That blows....over an album's worth of material that may or may not reach our loyal fan base unless Island decides to release it. Maybe we can petition.

Record companies never cease to amaze me. Let's be honest; John Foxx is a cult artist with a small but incredibly loyal fan base. We'd all shell out big bucks for this material, so Island's shooting itself in the foot by keeping the masters stashed away. If they were smart, they'd release a limited edition CD (500 to 1,000 copies) of this material to placate the rabid fans.

It may 'blow', but if you read the EV item carefully, it was because the band decided not to release it, not Island. As for petitioning, this was done on everyone's behalf by EV - I would have thought it unlikely your strategy of petitioning would be successful. Sorry.



EG
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I'm not so sure. I think you're wrong to say that people would shell out 'big bucks' for this (generally, people who say they would rarely will). On TP recently, a question was asked that was connected to concert ticket prices - if Ultravox reformed tomorrow, what would the maximum people would be prepared to pay to see a line up of their preference. 'How much would be too much?' for a dream concert - and would that be flexible given a firm stance on 'astronomical' pricing? £50 max was one of the few replies. As I say, a small number may do, but generally people will not pay out 'big bucks'.

Island have been smart enough to keep an interest in the back catalogue, but given the labels main act is U2, I can't imagine they'd revisit re-releasing a re-release ever again. It's not cost effective for them. Although I can see you point of why releasing a limited edition of something may keep some people happy is an attractive idea to the fans, the downside is that there's always a case where one (or several) 'rabid fan' will want more than what is on offer - or moan when they are not able to get hold of the copies they want. If the band has decided not to release this stuff (and if you read the EV item, as I've pointed out, it was the band who made that decision, not Island), then we as fans have to respect their decision and reasoning (whatever that was), as Island did, not to do so.


EG
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"However, a consensus of opinion could not be reached on whether unreleased material that had not previously been made available should be included on these CDs. In deference to this, Island made the decision to remaster and release only what has been previously available."

With this passage in mind, I concluded that Island, not the band, rejected the extra bonus tracks. The passive construction "a consensus of opinion could not be reached" is a little ambiguous.

I'm surprised the band disliked the songs. Oh, well. The remasters are great without them.

Hi JFw
Reading between lines is always a tricky task at the best of times. However, in this case, I'm with EG in reading the passage as indicating that it was the band not reaching consensus that is the reason for Island deferring to release the tracks in question. If that is the case, Island would likely have been on dodgy ground releasing material unapproved by it's originators.

Further to what both EG and Rob & Cerise have indicated, record labels still have to invest in a full remastering process for any tracks for re-issues. Further, there is the question of running times for the albums. Extra tracks may mean extra discs, different packaging etc. All has a knock-on financial effect that has to be weighed against possible return of investment.

As to why the various members could not reach decision, the same puzzler may be faced by anyone in any field of life that has to make decisions as to what to go forward with, and what not.

Fairly clearly the tracks weren't released back in the '70's for various reasons known only to the band and label. That they weren't released originally may indicate their merit to those parties.

Personally, - semi-completist though I am - from what I've heard of them, they do seem a little derivative of other music of the time and not as 'original' in content as the other tacks we've come to know down the years.

Just a (long-ish) thought, anyhoo.

Merry Xmas! One and all