Custom CDs (Folktrax,Topic, Folk-Legacy)

Subject: RE: Custom CDs (Folktrax,Topic, Folk-Legacy)
From: Howard Kaplan
Date: 21 Mar 11 - 12:02 AM

Joe Offer mentions "terrific notes", but most digital downloads I've encountered (except for Folkways/Smithsonian) seem to be from sources that don't offer the original liner notes. I'm particularly interested in the notes that belong with some of the older material that Topic has re-released for download. Does anyone know how to get those notes?

Alternatively, is it even possible to contact Topic Records? I can't find any email address on their web site, though they seem eager to collect my email address so they can send me newsletters.

Subject: RE: Custom CDs (Folktrax,Topic, Folk-Legacy)
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 09:50 AM

THose searching for field recordings should also take a hard look at the Veteran CD line, as well as Musical Traditions and Kyloe. If you're unfamiliar with the material, give me a ring (800/548-FOLK in the US and Canada) or 609-371-1707 if you're overseas. I carry a very wide selection of less-well-known artists and field recordings.

Subject: RE: Custom CDs (Folktrax,Topic, Folk-Legacy)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 04:25 AM

There's one very important Folk-Legacy CD that's not on the Folk-Legacy label. It's Brave Boys: New England Traditions in Folk Music. The album came out on the New World Records label in 1995, and Folk-Legacy Records owner Sandy Paton was very proud of it. I don't recall why he put it out on the New World label instead of on Folk-Legacy. Whatever the case, it's a wonderful production, with Sandy's characteristic scholarship in the notes.

Sandy was also very proud of a 1999 album titled Ballads and Songs of Tradition, another collection of Sandy Paton field recordings with Sandy's terrific notes.

From my conversations with Sandy Paton, I would gather that of the albums he produced in the last ten years of his life, these were the two he was proudest of.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Custom CDs (Folktrax,Topic, Folk-Legacy)
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 11:42 PM

Guest Steve-
Three Robert Cinnamond CDs are available, as well as one of Paddy Tunney and on of Briugid Tunney, all from CAMSCO Music. All of Folk-Legacy's titles are available, as well as all of Folkways.

Subject: RE: Custom CDs (Folktrax,Topic, Folk-Legacy)
From: GUEST,steves
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 10:42 PM

Thank you everyone. By "custom CD" I mean mostly a CDR of an album that has long since been out of print or never released in CD format. For instance, Folktrax has a few albums of Robert Cinnamond and the Tunney family which I would like to purchase. I don't really care about recording quality. I want to hear more than one track on a compilation. Topic also released many albums I want to obtain, but only a fraction of their catalog is available. I am mostly interested in source singers and field recordings. As for Folk-Legacy, I am interested in hearing the field recordings they have collected. I am mostly interested in field recordings in New England, the maritimes, and Upstate New York. By "custom CD" in this case I mean a CDR of some of these recordings that were not realeased commercially. I like Voice of the People and other compilations, but they usually leave me wanting to hear more. I've also found that many great songs are excluded from being released because of poor quality or skips that many listeners frown upon. Thank you all very much for you helpful responses.

Subject: RE: Custom CDs (Folktrax,Topic, Folk-Legacy)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 02:41 AM

Hi, Steves - if by "custom CD," you mean CDs recorded to your specifications, I don't know of any company that does this. But Smithsonian Folkways, Rounder, Topic, and Folk-legacy have remastered many old recordings and will burn them to a disc for you on demand, it they don't have them in stock.
Smithsonian Folkways has remastered its entire catalog for CD, and Folk-Legacy has almost completed remastering its complete catalog. Rounder and Topic are catching up, but are coming out with new reissues all the time.
Jean Redpath and Lisa Neustadt did three legendary albums (2 gospel, 1 Christmas) for Rounder's Philo label. I wrote to them a couple of times, asking them to reissue these albums; and they said they didn't have funding. Well, two of the three albums came back this year.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Custom CDs (Folktrax,Topic, Folk-Legacy)
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 19 Sep 10 - 09:00 PM

Topic is, I understand, planning a "Best of" compilation. I've received a verbal OK to do a "Rest of" when it's released. Meanwhile, CAMSCO Music has been authorized (by the late Peter Kennedy) to release some 70 or so Folktrax titles. My plans for releasing the entire series were interrupted by Kennedy's death. You can check camscomusic.com for a listing of what's available.

Subject: RE: Custom CDs (Folktrax,Topic, Folk-Legacy)
From: GUEST,folkiedave
Date: 19 Sep 10 - 05:14 AM

Mustrad does a lot of traditional singers but another resources is Veteran Tapes.

Folktrax as such no longer exists. My understanding is that Topic will be releasing material from the archives.

Subject: RE: Custom CDs (Folktrax,Topic, Folk-Legacy)
From: Reinhard
Date: 19 Sep 10 - 04:43 AM

Lately for the VOTP series means twelve years ago...

Topic has released a bunch of old albums as digital downloads starting last autumn.

Subject: RE: Custom CDs (Folktrax,Topic, Folk-Legacy)
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 19 Sep 10 - 04:35 AM

Rounder do some nice editions of individual singers from the Lomax archive. Topic used to do such things but have lately favoured mashing them up for easier cunsumption on the VOTP series. I believe the Folktrax archive is presently undergoing a similar fate...

Subject: Custom CDs (Folktrax,Topic, Folk-Legacy)
From: GUEST,steves
Date: 19 Sep 10 - 03:30 AM

Does anyone know if Folktrax, Topic, or Folk-Legacy make custom CDs. I am interested in the entire repertoires of traditional singers and musicians. Most of what I have seen released on CD is compilations. Thanks.