For all of us completist geeks out there (myself included).

A friend of mine just forwarded this to me:

"The legendary New Zealand / Australian art-pop band featuring Tim and Neil Finn (Crowded House) are back together for ONE sellout tour of Australia.
Their entire back catalogue is being reissued in deluxe digipaks..... more news to come.
Due for release early May."

CONFLICTING EMOTION (LIMITED EDITION DIGIPAK)

CORROBOREE (LIMITED EDITION DIGIPAK)

DIZRYTHMIA (LIMITED EDITION DIGIPAK)

FRENZY (LIMITED EDITION DIGIPAK)

MENTAL NOTES (LIMITED EDITION DIGIPAK)

SECOND THOUGHTS (LIMITED EDITION DIGIPAK)

SEE YA 'ROUND (LIMITED EDITION DIGIPAK)

THE BEGINNING OF THE ENZ (LIMITED EDITION DIGIPAK)

TIME AND TIDE (LIMITED EDITION DIGIPAK)

TRUE COLOURS (LIMITED EDITION DIGIPAK)

But if they're not actually *remastered* then it's going to be a waste of time...

quote:

Originally posted by Steve W:
Their entire back catalogue is being reissued in deluxe digipaks..... more news to come.
Due for release early May."

OK - now the million-dollar question. Are these the remastered versions we've been hearing about/promised? Last we heard from Jaffaman was that "Frenzy" was being worked on, with the others to follow - I sort of got the impression that there would be a staggered release. If they're coming all of a sudden in one group, then that is indeed good (and unexpected) news.

Bonus tracks??

quote:

Originally posted by Steve W:
Their entire back catalogue is being reissued

Further proof that "The Living Enz" has been consigned to oblivion.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: David Goldsmith,

The solicitation information didn't not identify them being remasters. So, it's just the limited packaging. I think they will do a few runs of each title and let them sell out.
Peter will know more about this.
Peter?

This is the first I've heard of these digipacks. This would explain why stock of CDs like "Mental Notes" has been low recently. They'll definitely be the same old digital masters you've already got (unless Eddie's burnt the candle at both ends recently and no one's told me!)

quote:

Originally posted by Jaffaman:
This is the first I've heard of these digipacks. This would explain why stock of CDs like "Mental Notes" has been low recently. They'll definitely be the same old digital masters you've already got (unless Eddie's burnt the candle at both ends recently and no one's told me!)

It's going to look pretty bad if proper remasters do appear over the next few years. There might be a few new converts after the Split Enz concerts who go out and buy the lot, only to discover remastered versions are on the way.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: David Goldsmith,

I'm sure the remasters with Eddie are in the works.

They should have also repressed the two Enz boxes for the tour.
I am missing one. *sniff*

I think the reason why SE albums have been in short suplly in the shops is that Warners have now taken over the Mushroom catalogue so the changeover is going to emphasise albums that are regular sellers (such as 'History Never Repeats" best of) rather than simple back catalogue.

If the re-issued albums have been remastered by Eddie Rayner then I'm up for it (really wanna get a decent sounding Time And Tide on CD) but if it's just repackaging in a digi-pak to cash in on the reformation tour then forget it. Much as I love the band, I'm not going to pay for a flimsy piece of cardboard and a plastic tray.

Maybe now Warners is in charge of Mushroom, the marketing people can do something about representing SE on CD the way they deserve to be. It would be the perfect time to do something about it now.

Since making Enzology, I've found Neil's home demos for "See Ya 'Round", such as a gorgeous acoustic guitar and vocal demo of "Years Go By". I'll be sad if "See 'Ya Round" ever comes out in remastered form without this as a bonus track.

quote:

Originally posted by Jaffaman:
Since making Enzology, I've found Neil's home demos for "See Ya 'Round", such as a gorgeous acoustic guitar and vocal demo of "Years Go By". I'll be sad if "See 'Ya Round" ever comes out in remastered form without this as a bonus track.

I would love the hear that, Jaffa.
It would be such a missed opportunity if future remastered editions didn't contain bonus tracks. I was disappointed True Colours didn't have any bpnus material.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Steve W,

quote:

Originally posted by Jaffaman:
Since making Enzology, I've found Neil's home demos for "See Ya 'Round", such as a gorgeous acoustic guitar and vocal demo of "Years Go By". I'll be sad if "See 'Ya Round" ever comes out in remastered form without this as a bonus track.

Wow, so will I! I would love to hear that.

I wouldn't mind betting that it's a mass back catalogue re-pressing by the new owners. BMG did the same thing when they (briefly) took over the Mushroom/Festival catalogue in 1997 - CDs from that period feature catalogue numbers with the "MUSH" prefix.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Semi-Detached,

Ooh I hope they don't do this just for the sake of it

That kind of thing usually looks cheap and tacky, and has a nasty way of ending up reflecting back on the band, when people rush in to buy the stuff, then realise there's nothing new.

All I can say is: do your homework. If you don't think its worth it, don't buy it. I wouldn't like to see people bagging the guys here for what is perceived to be a money grab, for a decision which they may have had nothing to do with.

I would definitely buy something which has been remastered, and all my CD's are looking pretty tacky now, and even new piccies of the guys in packaging is usually enough to spur me on, but having said all that, I would be proceeding with caution - I'm hoping that if we wait long enough the remastered versions will one day see the light of day

Are decisions like this usually discussed with a band Jaffa, or do the owners just do whatever they see fit?

Somebody would have to be realising what a beautiful opportunity this could be (and by the sounds of it they obviously are). A reformation of the band providing an opportunity to sell a lot of records. What a shame the remastering hadn't already been done. It could have been a really classy examply of timely marketing.

I have always wondered who has the say regarding back catalogue re-issues?

Is it the members of Split Enz from the time that the material was first released or the most recent incarnation of the band?

How do the decide creatively or is it all just some suit in the record company deciding that the cash register should get a workout?

This is more likely a suit in a rcord company deciding it's time to cash in. SE don't own the copyright to their recordings so they really have little or no say in the matter having left Mushroom years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by dazz:
This is more likely a suit in a rcord company deciding it's time to cash in. SE don't own the copyright to their recordings so they really have little or no say in the matter having left Mushroom years ago.

Yes, they are cashing in, however they are in the business of making money. There's nothing wrong with leveraging the Enz tour and media to help drive the sales of these limited reissues. Also, I think it's good they didn't do a hack, rush remaster in time for the tour. Imagine with potential for missing opportunity. Sounds like Eddie is remastering the back catalogue in his own speed. I'll wait for Eddie over someone outside the band.


Copyright ownership notwithstanding, record companies always welcome artist participation for reissues. In some cases, they won't reissue product without.

Well said, Steve.

Point taken Steve but if Australian record companies are anything to go by in the past, these digipaks won't be of any real interest to fans unless having a copy of Frenzy in a cardboard folder is a lifelong ambition. What I mean is that these could be a simple repackaging rather than remaster.

It would be nice to be proven wrong. Eddie is taking his sweet time since I've been on an engineers website which features top mastering engineers (eg Bob Ludwig, George Marino, Bernie Grundman etc.) and they say it only usually takes a day to re-master any project. Unless Eddie is remixing every sodden thing, I suggest the remastering is a little overdue. Lots of talk but I see bugger all action (one album re-mastered, whoop-de-do).

quote:

Originally posted by dazz:
What I mean is that these could be a simple repackaging rather than remaster.

These are exactly that.

Eddie's remaster of True Colours was void of any bonus material. I hope this is not the case for future remasters.

quote:

Eddie's remaster of True Colours was void of any bonus material. I hope this is not the case for future remasters.

Why mess with a classic?