So, Taylor came out with the news that he is re-releasing his previous two albums as a single CD (well sort of – two songs are missing).
I gotta be honest: I’m feeling rather conflicted over this. I mean, I have to question whether or not he had intended to do this for a long time and either hadn’t been able to fund it or just hadn’t gotten around to it. The fact that you could buy UTR during his run on Idol (which appears to have been due to some loophole in his AI contract, but I have no details on that) clearly shows that he wanted the material “out there.” I suppose that’s a “duh” though. What artist doesn’t want their material in the hands of music lovers? And IYT was available via Gray Charles as digital downloads. So it’s not surprising that he would want to release this music now.
Which brings me to my “issue”: why sell IYT for the exorbitant amount of $30 (sometimes $25) at your concerts if you are going to turn around and sell it and UTR on a single disc for a third of the price? And yes, I do feel that price is exorbitant. IYT has only seven tunes on it and three of those are covers. Not worth 30 bucks, Mr. Hicks. And for Pete’s sake – we can’t even get a real live Jewell case for our 30 bucks? A cardboard sleeve? Really??
And yes, I bought one (before anyone asks). Perhaps that is why I am wrestling with this right now. It’s not as if those IYTs sold at the shows are numbered. They don’t have an imprint from the particular venue where it was purchased. The majority weren’t signed (the ones that were cost more – don’t know how much ’cause I ain’t in the market for autographs).
I wrestled with my decision to purchase an IYT. It was debated and discussed on The Boogie and in e-mails. In the end, I bought it because as Thackeray said, “I’ve been listening to these songs free for at least a year now. I suppose I should go ahead and pay for that right.” I still thought it was overpriced, but I went ahead and bought it because my conscience demanded it.
I would not have bought it had I known that this Early Works was going to come out. And I think Taylor knew that. And that bothers me. Obviously I don’t know what goes through the mind of Mr. Hicks, but I can’t help but wonder if he had this planned out all along. Right or wrong, that’s where my mind is going. And I hate that I am thinking like this.
It’s ridiculous really. When I think about all the money I spent to go to the shows – the tickets themselves (outrageous prices on those), travel expenses, accommodations, time off from work, etc. – 30 bucks for a CD is a drop in the bucket. Right? Reminds me of when I would travel to see the Headstones. Trent would often put my sister and me on the guest list. I told him he didn’t have to do that (that it seemed silly we couldn’t pay for a $40 ticket after spending so much just to get there), but he insisted.
I guess it all comes down to our own personal ideas of value and worth for particular items. Is an hour and a half of LIVE TAYLOR worth roughly twice as much as a CD that I can listen to again and again and again …? Is that CD more valuable to me than a tank of gas?
I went to Target a few weeks ago wanting to buy I Am Legend. The Director’s Cut was nearly the same price as IYT. It has WAY more content than IYT and includes an alternate ending. I really really really want this DVD, but I couldn’t bring myself to buy it. It’s too pricey. When I think of all the other things I have to pay for, it just seemed indulgent to buy a $30 DVD. So, is that CD worth more than this DVD?
Bottom line (I guess) is that I don’t know why I am having difficulty with this. I just am. Kinda like the whole Grease thing. I don’t know why my reaction was so GAH! but it was. Glad I worked through that one because the Teen Angel seems to be doing wonders for Taylor’s rep.
I hope the Early Works launch goes smoothly and he sells a ton of copies and makes a couple million new fans. He needs to get those people in line and salivating for his NEW album (still releasing in the Fall, Taylor?)
I won’t be one of the people buying Early Works, but I doubt Taylor’ll cry over that. If he does, send him my way – I’d be glad to wipe his tears. (What? I may be annoyed with him but my crush is still intact, okay?)
