Guess
Oct 18th, 2006, 12:33 AM
Hi Keith,
What is up with the current trend of artists and labels re-releasing hit CDs by bulking them up with more songs?
This is frustrating to fans like myself who buy CDs on their release dates and then find out that two or three months later, a new track has been added, or in some cases, several new tracks.
So far, I have not succumbed to buying these updated releases after being content with the originals, such as Mariah Carey's "Emancipation of Mimi," Sheryl Crow's "Wildflower," Daniel Powter's self-titled set and Shakira's "Oral Fixation Vol. 2."
However, I am not happy when my favorite artists release one single from a CD, then a second or third single that comes only from the updated version of the CD. What gives?
Jonathan Williams
Hi Jonathan,
I think pretty much every fan shares your frustration.
Usually, there is some convoluted reason why an album gets reissued. In Carey's case, she and producer Jermaine Dupri claimed they were unable to complete "Don't Forget About Us" in time for the original release of the album -- but they felt it was such a strong song, they wanted to put it out on a revamped version of "Emancipation." Personally, I'm not sure if I buy that.
Sometimes, as in Shakira's case, a song just comes out of nowhere and there isn't a home for it, so to speak. One could also say, "Well, Shakira's album was kinda tanking, since the first single did poorly. It's no wonder they tacked on 'Hips Don't Lie' to the album in order to pump up sales."
At the end of the day, labels and artists are trying to make money. Reissues, deluxe and limited editions and the like are all ways of trying to offer more ways for a consumer to part with their money.
Source: Billboard.com (http://billboard.com/bbcom/ask_bb/index.jsp)
What is up with the current trend of artists and labels re-releasing hit CDs by bulking them up with more songs?
This is frustrating to fans like myself who buy CDs on their release dates and then find out that two or three months later, a new track has been added, or in some cases, several new tracks.
So far, I have not succumbed to buying these updated releases after being content with the originals, such as Mariah Carey's "Emancipation of Mimi," Sheryl Crow's "Wildflower," Daniel Powter's self-titled set and Shakira's "Oral Fixation Vol. 2."
However, I am not happy when my favorite artists release one single from a CD, then a second or third single that comes only from the updated version of the CD. What gives?
Jonathan Williams
Hi Jonathan,
I think pretty much every fan shares your frustration.
Usually, there is some convoluted reason why an album gets reissued. In Carey's case, she and producer Jermaine Dupri claimed they were unable to complete "Don't Forget About Us" in time for the original release of the album -- but they felt it was such a strong song, they wanted to put it out on a revamped version of "Emancipation." Personally, I'm not sure if I buy that.
Sometimes, as in Shakira's case, a song just comes out of nowhere and there isn't a home for it, so to speak. One could also say, "Well, Shakira's album was kinda tanking, since the first single did poorly. It's no wonder they tacked on 'Hips Don't Lie' to the album in order to pump up sales."
At the end of the day, labels and artists are trying to make money. Reissues, deluxe and limited editions and the like are all ways of trying to offer more ways for a consumer to part with their money.
Source: Billboard.com (http://billboard.com/bbcom/ask_bb/index.jsp)