7 inch Singles
The latest part of the 20th century has been hijacked by science; and in the UK we had another villian of the peace, the Thatcher inspired 'market forces'.
In music industry terms that means FM radio, CD Players, video promos and a business that feeds on itself, mostly money taken from our own pockets.
And what does this insatiable parasite mean in real terms? A dead and decaying business that orgies on it's past and re-cycles former glories.
I accuse you - the people who have forsaken the record deck (turntable as it was) and bought a shiny CD player. I was amzed when Clive told me he couldn't sell his, then current, LP to people because thay didn't have a record player and "was it available on CD?" What's the matter with you people?
You will no longer be able to enjoy the beauty of a 7 inch single and THIS DOEN'T WORRY YOU! Unbelievable. Sure they go pop, fart and crakle but so what, does it really matter? They are simple, they are loud; cut a 2 min 45 second song across the full length of a 8 inch and ther's no need to stamp Play Loud on the cover. Check out the Black and Silver London Americans 45's. They encapsulate the beauty of a 3 minute song - " a lovely ant farm" - Ray Davies.
This isn't a nostalgia trip though; you don't have a record deck buit you havn't wiped clean your rock n roll memory have you? Oh no, you now have to buy all those albums and singles compilations on CD so the record makers re-cycle their old catalogues endlessly just to please you; one A&R man once told me his company ( a major one) didn't really need new talent while it's back catalogue was selling so well, and there lies the real problem.
I was once party to a various artists CD that sold for £3.49, went all round the world, more than covered costs and everyone was happy until a national distributor got interested and wanted the price lifted to be more in line woth other product and also to allow their normal margins. Market Forces allow the music industry to re-package its past, with only the overhead of packaging and marketing, yet sell it at an inflated price and get fat and lazy on the profits instead of re-investing them in the future.
Don't place rock n roll history on a pedestal - it's not that important, it's FAR more important; enjoy the moment, if a band only makes one mighty 7 inch single then rejoice in those 3 minutes, don't expect an album, a career, a future. The 7 inch single is pivotal to the history of pop music, it should be pivotal to it's future, with or without a picture sleeve, and if there's a CD in there too all the better, but don't deny yourself the option.
Some of our friends' websites
cliveproduct.com
kevincoynepage.tk
9-pmrecords.de
trashville.co.uk
lovelyrecovery.com
kioski.de
