An Open Letter *From* Thane
cuchula...@my-deja.com
I've tried to post some version of this message about three times now,
but each one seems to go out into the ether (and not onto the group),
which has become an increasing burr in my saddle. This time I'm writing
during the day, when my faculties are more, well, functional.
First off, I want to express a debt of gratitude to you all, inasmuch
as this set wouldn't have been what it is without the community of
people who so generously support and promote Gord's work. My initial
research took me to Matthew Fifer's site, which in turn led me to Wayne
Francis'. I wound up speaking with Wayne on the phone, since he is a
Maritimer like myself, and his contribution to the set cannot be
overstated. Then I engaged in an ongoing series of conversations with
Valerie Magee, who has been very insightful on the marketing and
promotion end of things. And I corresponded occasionally with others
who frequent the newsgroup, such as Doug Kirk and some others.
This project has been a labour of love for me from the outset, and even
though there were some days when I was ready to tear my remaining hair
out (through no fault of Gord's, by the way), I am completely thrilled
that it's out there for you to hear. I tried to assemble a package that
gave good value, knowing it wasn't going to be cheap to buy. If there
are errors of commission or omission, they are certainly mine and not
my co-producer's.
I am in awe of the support I've gotten from my fellow Rhinos,
especially Sevie Bates (the designer) and Bill Inglot (the sound
producer). They have buffed the release to its high sheen. As I have
said before, our freelance man in Toronto, Nicholas Jennings, did a
tremendous job on the notes. Just fab. He's a great writer and a big
music fan.
It is a little awkward for me see shots taken at Warner Bros. Records,
inasmuch as I worked there for five years and still have many friends
there. And it was through the generous indulgence of Warner Bros. that
we at Rhino were permitted to compile Songbook. So if you believe that
a box was perhaps somewhat overdue, please note the happy coincidence
that their not having done it earlier made this possible now.
I would love to speak with each of you at length about the project, but
there are many of you and only one of me, so I apologize in advance if
I am tardy in replying to a query, or if I don't reply personally at
all. [After all, I am in the sales department here, and producing the
set was something I did in addition to, not instead of, my "9-5" job.]
To head off some of the potential flood of e-mails, yes, I know about
the "final four." (Or five, with the disappearance of Waiting For You
from the active catalogue.) Let's -please!- leave it at that for the
time being. :-) Please remember that I, too, am a fan and want to see
every practicable bit of Gord's work in the marketplace. Please don't
ask me to divulge timetables, sales and shipment figures or Gord's
phone number. I'm not trying to be a jerk or to be coy, I just won't go
into those areas, and I'm sure you can understand why.
Thank you to all of you who have given me words of encouragement
directly, or, through the newsgroup, indirectly. It is a joy and a
relief to have received such an overwhelmingly positive response to the
set. I feel indeed fortunate to give something back to someone who has
given me so much, and to be able to share the love -and the music- with
all of you.
Best Regards,
Thane
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Dave McCormick
Great job sir, Thank you! for your enthusiasm in working on the Songbook
project. Only a Lightfoot fan could have done so well! If not for you,
Songbook probably would have never happened. Please continue your fine work!
Thanks again!
Dave
<cuchula...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:7ks4kb$p0e$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
Aq10222
>directly, or, through the newsgroup, indirectly. It is a joy and a
>relief to have received such an overwhelmingly positive response to the
>set.
>I feel indeed fortunate to give something back to someone who has
>given me so much, and to be able to share the love -and the music- with
>all of you.
Add my Thank You to all the others, Thane,
for your work on "Songbook".
I've been a Lightfoot fan for 29 years, through thick and thin. The newsgroup,
however, has enabled me and so many others to discover our common thread,
Gordon Lightfoot. There's probably a book there, you know.....
My personal favorite things about "Songbook", are the comments Gord makes about
each song. And the pictures,
especially the ones of Gord smiling, you know I never saw so may pictures of
Gord smiling!
The first 2 songs of disc 1, and "Forgive Me Lord", I feel like I've struck
gold.
I'd better stop here before I ramble on for pages. Somehow, I KNOW you
understand.
Thanks, again!
Angie
Beavercreek, Ohio