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| Alan Reed in 2011 |
We all know amazon.com these days, yet sometimes, when you order a CD from them, either direct or a third-party seller, it may be on a pro CD-R. It's an authorised, licenced product, but you look underneath, it looks like the kind of thing you'd burn yourself twenty years ago (yes, it's been that long!). I just bought the second solo album from the late Ray Thomas of the Moody Blues,
Hopes, Wishes and Dreams. It has been approved by his estate and label, and it may be a way to make product available, and this was done well before the current COVID supply chain catastrophe made it an issue. Even Alan Reed (pictured), late of Pallas, had his début full length solo release, First in a Field of One, sent this way when I ordered my copy, and he insisted that I order his CDs through the Merch Desk instead (can't always order directly outside the US). Even his former day job at the BBC (news producer) hasn't covered this lesser known practise of pro CD-Rs, I bet. MIA indie artist Al Chantrey (né Alan Williams) had some of his DIY releases available through here, but are now as scarce as hens teeth, having had less trouble finding Robbie Williams and Take That in my area, but anyway. Even Procol Harum have one. Can't come up with others, but they are out there.
I have, however, told you before about a similar scheme called The Disk Kiosk, which drew heavily on Universals catalogue. That unceremoniously went into obscurity along with some of their titles.
Maybe if some artists did allow their CDs to be pressed on pro CD-R, then regular ones, new or used, wouldn't be so rare and/or expensive. I need most of Jadis's CDs as that's my new thing this year. I guess if I'm desperate enough, I'll get the albums on CD-R if it's all I can afford and it's what's offered.
