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These days, I'm too busy to follow all that many web arguments about this or that, and, as it happens, I have missed this one completely. (Not that I like arguing for arguing's sake anyway.)
Is the price for Spellbound considerably higher then the one for Jason And The Argonauts or Julius Caeser or Ivanhoe? Yes, it is. But you know what? I have always considered the prices for these Excalibur releases incredibly cheap. I was thrilled when Jason And The Argonauts came out and could hardly believe that it didn't cost more than any other regularly priced CD. I'm as much on a budget as the next guy, and I have to consider where I spend my money on, particularly as I am not just buying film score CDs but many other CDs as well, not to mention that buying CDs is not my only hobby. I am saddened to hear that such fine releases as Jason And The Argonauts may not even recover their cost. Those were such quality products.
A new Spellbound recording is now coming, I'm thrilled again and can only support such fine efforts to record such scores. If one cannot afford it, or if one thinks the price is too steep, that's understandable. Then don't buy it.
But, keep in mind this: these are specialty products that cater to a niche market. Lower price does not equal higher sales in niche markets. You could offer Jason And The Argonauts in most record stores for $9.99 and it would linger, simply because most folks don't know what it is and don't care to know either and even if they sampled it, they'd forgo it for something else. You cannot compete over price with stuff like this, because there is only a limited audience. Look how long it takes for some "limited to 3000 copies" special editions, priced no higher than any Deutsche Grammophon CD, to sell out.
And "ripoff" is not just a bad choice of words, it's a lowball accusation. A "ripoff" is a cheat. It's a swindle, an exploitation. Nothing about Spellbounc is a "ripoff".
It's a brand new recording of a classic film score a few people in this world care about. Via the Internet you could glimpse at the recording session. You could hear audio samples. You get background details. You get all the information you could possibly want to know exactly what you would spend your money on if you bought it. If you think $23.- is not worth it, okay, I don't think anybody has a problem with that. Don't buy it. And if you wonder why it's more expensive that previous Excalibur releases, I think the questions have been answered.
But this is obviously a labor of love, and nobody is "cheated" or "ripped off", because what you get for your money is all out in the open. There are not "catches", no "fine print", no "hidden costs". I intend to buy this release, and I feel I know exactly what it is that I'm spending my money on. Which is why I won't feel cheated or "ripped off". I wish this release will sell enough units to encourage Intrada and others to produce more such recordings. It's a dim hope, I guess, but I wish it nevertheless.
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