Post by Chris Barratt on Aug 24, 2008 15:41:18 GMT
The reality is having the majority of his catalogue completely unavailable for the majority of the past 35 years less a couple of limited availabilty best of's hasn't done his legacy any favours and represents a missed opportunity - kids have been unable to discover the merits of their music through the usual routes (and perhaps making that reputation actually grow rather than merely creating myths) and the baby boomers haven't had much chance to replace their vinyl with cd. Given that, much like his band, that generation (and thus customer base) is slowly dying off would suggest to me a massively missed opportunity. Has mass long-term availabilty done the reputation of The Beatles, Stones, Hollies or even Herman's Hermits any harm? No - it has enabled millions to re-buy what they already have and generations of kids not around in the 60's discover what they missed out on first hand! There's a place for their music in most collections and indeed on the radio, but when did anyone last hear the likes of Everybody Knows (a more or less forgotten UK #2), Red Balloon or Everybody Get Together (great arrangement & a UK #8) on oldies stations or Radio 2? This is important because this how yesterday's music is rediscovered, and I can't see how the ridiculous limiting of DC5 music over the years he has done either himself as owner of these recordings and publishing any favours, nor that of Mike Smith & Lenny Davidson by making sure songwriting royalties were minimised? I cannot see, given the 20 year market in 60's re-issues, not just with mainstream labels & acts but the 'See For Miles' type ep collections, how anyone can reason that Clark has enhanced his legacy - it is a tragic missed opportunity.
I've not once slated Clark for the RSG footage myself, but agree with most how the way the Ed Sullivan performances were put forth as part of RSG and intersped with those looney overdubs just serve to make him look like he has something to hide - he could have made a half hour 'DC5 in America' special and it would have been lapped up! Of course we should be grateful for the preservation of what we have seen but his reclusive reluctance to communicate in anything other than hyperbole and 'official statements' (plus of course his legendary way with a writ) has not endeared him to many. I am not attacking the man but merely discussing him and trying to understand his skewed logic regarding his own bands legacy.
I've not once slated Clark for the RSG footage myself, but agree with most how the way the Ed Sullivan performances were put forth as part of RSG and intersped with those looney overdubs just serve to make him look like he has something to hide - he could have made a half hour 'DC5 in America' special and it would have been lapped up! Of course we should be grateful for the preservation of what we have seen but his reclusive reluctance to communicate in anything other than hyperbole and 'official statements' (plus of course his legendary way with a writ) has not endeared him to many. I am not attacking the man but merely discussing him and trying to understand his skewed logic regarding his own bands legacy.