Intrada Soundtrack Forum

Varese Sarabande seem to be somewhat less active in a lot of ways, but they are still putting out something on occasion, such as the Karate Kid scores and Spartacus, as well as some new titles for current projects (Fringe, for example).

It has been a while since I've purchased anything new in the limited edition / library category from them, and it seems that their collectors releases are taking a back seat for them, and they have a couple of interesting ideas with DVDs etc. (The Alien concert DVD/CD releases for instance).

I suspect the lack of Club releases is due to the re-use fees to multi-disc sets like the "Karate Kid" and "Spartacus" (which the re-recording love theme CD may have cost some, too), and that also -- I strongly suspect -- many newer regular releases, aren't selling that well and that may account for the stock offload to stores like Family Dollar (not a place any score collector goes to shop for scores EVER; FD got screwed here, and they'll probably trash the unsold lot).

This is pure speculation, but I suspect even new Horner and Williams score CD's aren't selling like they used to ten or more years ago (still, they probably out-sell other composers).


Somebody here will no doubt remember the title I am referencing, but Varese's reputation certainly wasn't helped about two years ago when one of their releases (wasn't it a Silvestri score?) was lossy based; MP3.
I recall one FSM member contacting them and Varese basically didn't give a crap. Classy.

I just can't say what's wrong with them as of late. I would guess there's crap going on behind the scenes, and financial solevency issues. They're still a good, trustworthy label that cranks out some great stuff when their Club releases do happen, so I cannot write them off at all. But that in perpetuity crap is the boil on the ass of score lovers that just keeps getting more & more annoying.


There's a running thread at FSM for confirmed and rumored "in perpetuity" Varese Sarabande titles:
http://filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts ... &archive=0

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It needs to be pointed out that while the "Encore Series" is only re-issues, Varese has put out several important releases that must have been extremely time-consuming to assemble, including the Bernard Herrmann at Fox collection and the three Alfred Hitchcock Hour sets. Some things they do may be disappointing (I'm going to keep my old edition of Chinatown and get rid of the new one which doesn't improve the sound and has less interesting artwork, and I have no idea what the hell was up with the G.I. Joe master), but "fat and lazy" doesn't account for what they have done, and done well.

I am very happy to have the Herrmann and Hitchcock sets.

I'm sure Varese understands what works well enough for them in coping with this dying market. The owner has been in the business for a long time and he certainly knows the company's financial situation. We have no idea how much it costs to produce these newer scores, and what the overall CD/digital sales of these scores are truly like.

We do know that we want another Club batch announced, damnit!

_________________
"Questions are a burden to others; answers a prison for oneself"
"Unlike me, many of you have accepted the situation of your imprisonment and will die here like rotten cabbages."
"Everyone votes for a dictator."
THE PRISONER

Yes, for as much as people dislike the Encore series the discs have been selling well. The CDs sell out and Varese gets a bit more money through download sales (the Encore versions of Crimes of the Heart, Tai-Pan and Eye of the Needle are currently on iTunes/Amazon).

I can't argue against advice that Varese works on more classic TV series releases, but that's mostly because I really want a lot of them and Intrada can only do so many.

_________________
"Questions are a burden to others; answers a prison for oneself"
"Unlike me, many of you have accepted the situation of your imprisonment and will die here like rotten cabbages."
"Everyone votes for a dictator."
THE PRISONER

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Karl Morton IV

"Enjoy every sandwich."
-- Warren Zevon

This is certainly an interesting thread. Years ago, the Varese Sarabande CD Club was practically the first of its kind, producing limited editions for fans, distributed via mail order only (before the Internet changed everything).
Today, labels like Intrada, FSM, LalaLand, and quite a few others produce high quality releases of soundtrack special editions, and in that area, Varese Sarabande is just one among these players.
I don't know how much some of their current regular releases sell, but not all who buy soundtracks are aficionados or collectors. One must not underestimate that releases like ICE AGE 4 are movie tie-in releases, and as such, they are extremely high profile releases (in comparison to any classic Hermmann or Goldsmith score, which appeals to us as we share our thoughts here, but not to the mainstream buying public).
I skipped their Encore edition of CHINATOWN (since I own the previous CD release and did not expect a considerable boost in sound quality), but I can understand why they released it that way: the original release was already pretty darn good. Yes, an additional release, remastered and expanded, may have been nice, but it's still a very good release of an excellent score previously unavailable.