Yeah we don't get a lot of time to check the Forum at the moment, so sorry if it sometimes takes me a few days. If anyone every has any questions around things like this you can always email me (peter@frenz.com) happy to reply.
cheers
Gryph

Gryphon,

I fully understand what you are saying & also what others have said about this subject. I was not trying to upset anyone, that is why after some thought about what I originally wrote, I decided to apologise to anyone who would be offended by my thoughts at the time. I clearly do apologise because I do understand that my comments were a bit one sided without giving too much thought to go a bit deeper & see why the club would purchase 2000 cds. I am all for it, for the Mental Notes line-up to get a Gold award as I do realise that you may have had other plans with 2000 cds than what I first thought.

As for Savage Garden, I was not implying that they had received "false" awards. I was just giving an example of a band like Savage Garden with only 2 studio albums with all the fame & millions in sales that they had achieved as well as all their awards in such a short period of time, they simply do not come close to what the "Split Enz" legacy has achieved with their family tree because so far Darren Hayes just does not have what he had with Savage Garden so they have not sprouted very far at all (yes, I know they only had two members). I do admit that I am not big on Savage Garden but oddly enough, I have their two studio albums sitting in the rack (that's the wife's fault).

Nor was I implying that awards are false based on whether they are re-issued with bonus tracks or autographed or issued with a bonus DVD. That is entirely up to the powers that be if they want to re-issue with extras. I welcome any new bonus bits as I myself am interested in unreleased stuff.

As for the Club Charity project, I also stated that I did realise that the amounts raised were made up of voluntary donations. But I know what you mean.

I guess that is it for me on this subject. I have consumed your "Dr Phil" lesson & taken it all in & I will next time try & look at both sides before I make a comment that may offend others.

Yeah it's never an easy thing- and to be honest it's a huge effort to even do this. Every so often I roll my eyes and truly ask the Gods if it's worth the huge effort.

I prefer to look at things like this in a positive way though - and the good outweighs the bad I guess (but hey just my opinion does not mean it's correct).

The good:
The Mental Notes line-up gets a gold record, for some of them (probably most) their first. (and possibly only). I know Phil would love to give his copy to his young son Pete. he probably has one for Counting The beat single but never spotted an Enz one at his house.

They get an extra 2000 units worth of sales money on their royalty cheques

It could keep Mental Notes profile high enough- if there are more chops to what Mushroom-Warner define as low sellers it could keep MN alive in the catalogue. I like the idea that a wonderful CD like Mental Notes is around for many more years to come and this could help.

New fans get a chance to experience this album via the club, especially if it's hard to find in their country.

If all goes well, a chance for fans to own a Mental Notes cd signed by all those guys- very few of us have a fully signed Mental Notes!!! The fan boy in me still loves fully signed CDs.

and who knows sometimes even a gold award can set a pebble rolling down a hill- similar to the Hall of Fame helped get the Enz to tour, it might well add some positive energy into the almost impossible M.N. line up playing... stranger things have happened....

The bad

Could be like what Enz Boy says, sometimes by giving something a nudge it can feel forced and lose some value (in this case 1/17th value)

We end up with a second or 8th copy of Mental Notes but then again that comes down to choice- no one is forced to buy it I guess. saying no is always fine.

PG builds a spare room onto the office from recycled Mental Notes cd cases if not a single copy sells (OK I am sure they will..just from the hundred or so emails I've had from this Forum topic).

Not sure what other bad points there are....

Yeah Enz Boy me too... kind of exhausted it.
Gryph

New Charity Total for those interested is $9620.90

So a mere $379.10 to go.

Thank you to the numerous people who have supported this so far. There is a link to the barometer & thank you list from the Famous for 16 Minutes diary site.

Cheers
Gryph

A huge thank you to the hundreds of Frenz that took part in the recent club auction. It will helps a lot!!! All your goodies are being mailed out now, so many cool things going to good homes.
Thanks again
Gryph.

Go mental, Gryph! I think this is a great idea.

Under The Wheel - with Sam Hunt (Poet) No not that other Poet who tried to steal Sharon who will remain nameless .. still a great poet though.
I stopped to pick Sam up on one really super hot summers day in the late 70's,he had his trusty dog Minstrel with him,he used to hitchhike everywhere (like we all used to do in those times)not so safe to do these days.

Sam,unmistakably visible with his never combed hair and trademark gumboots,it was a privilege to have the guy in the car,especially after devouring a marley,and we laughing so much I had to pull the car over to the side of the road.One would never have thought that the guy comes from a wealthy background - and preferring to live in a boat shed in paramata - his less is more attitude was inspiring to say the least.A Fabulously soft and kind person,a man of his word and his words.A true genius of our time.