Macadamia

Red Box...wow. I don't think I've heard "For America" since the eighties, but now I've got the catchy "Ye-di-di-yeh, ye-di-di-yoh" chorus bits running through my my head on continuous loop.

I suppose I could order the import from Amazon or wait until a copy comes up on eBay, but that seems like too much effort (and expense) just to listen to a single song again. Isn't this one of the holes music download services ought to be filling? (Kazaa...mumble mumble...but I'd prefer a legitimate solution.)

I believe the import's not actually available (the amazon.com listing has the depressing sidebar 'Sell Your Copy; 11 buyers waiting!). I joined the Red Box Yahoo Group, who mentioned that amazon.de has the import listed on '4-6 weeks delivery', and invited members to report back if they actually got hold of a copy by this route. Back before I had Enough Disposable Income, I specifically rejected buying a Japanese import from an American website; I regret that decision now.

My one Napster experience was my attempt to get hold of tracks by Red Box. I spent about a week on it (this was before we had broadband), and got really quite good versions of four songs, and partial versions of two more. "Not Worth The Candle" was my tentative conclusion.

And yes, it's a great mystery to me why every record company in the world isn't trawling through its back catalogue, putting everything online that anyone might conceivably be interested in as fast as possible. Money for old rope. It seems like the natural way to sell music which isn't sufficiently commercial for a re-release.

In the case of The Circle and the Square, Simon Toulson-Clarke has the master tapes in a cupboard in his flat, so it might be tricky; but there's certainly enough interest to justify an e-issue of this CD and the second Red Box CD, "Motive".

I just found the CDs on eBay: Circle And The Square (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2534335771&category=1573), currently going for about £30, and Motive (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2534330350&category=1057) for £16. Both have a few days left to run, so chances are the prices will go higher.

I never seem to have much luck with music on eBay. Books are fine, but I always seem to get outbid on CDs. I've been trying to track down a copy of Steve Booker's "Dreamworld" for ages now, and I've missed out on all three copies I've seen. I suppose the answer is "bid more", but goshdarnit, all I want is a *listening copy*. I'm not after it for its collectable value. I just want to replace my worn-out tape.

Good choice of thread my people.

Please join the Red Box group and browse the website. Happy hunting,

LewisXX

A good place to look for CD issues of apparently deleted music is Andy's Records in Cambridge and elsewhere. Through their second hand record business, they've sometimes put together a CD from tracks salvaged from several discs with master tapes when they can get hold of them. (E.g. their reissue of Kip of the Serenes by Dr. Strangely Strange, where there was clearly one unrecoverable track at the start of what would have been side 2 of the LP; it goes graunch scrumble for a second or two -- perhaps this is also why there are 10 tracks listed on the insert and there are 10 tracks on the CD, but they are not exactly the same ones.)

www.gemm.com has lots of old CDs. I tried there to buy a Japanese import (Japan was the only place that ever got The Circle and the Square on CD, I think), which was listed with two sellers at about £35. Nothing came of it. They are as rare as hen's teeth. I might have an electronic copy of the album somewhere, though.

Would the person who wanted the artwork for the Rosemary's Sister album like me to send it to them.

Huw Williams

Gosh. Huw Williams, posting in my little blog. {wipes front of pinny, checks hair, and wishes she'd thought to put a batch of scones on}

I have an original LP of 'The Circle and The Sqaure' which I have transerred to CD and removed the crackle with software. It sounds quite good, but I'd still like to buy the CD someday!

I am always interested in support for a re-release of The Circle and The Square. It's true, the masters are in my attic, but I need two 2" 24-track tape machines to revisit this album with any degree of control. Alternatively, the mix masters (finished stereo mixes ) will still be at WEA records or East West records. Those are the guys to make aware of the demand and current rarity of the CD. Also Max Hole now at Universal records in London was a supporter and could maybe make it happen. Suggest writing to these 3 parties- oh and request the songs on radio stations; that's how to keep a supply of oxygen

trickling through the material. And thanks for such ardent love for a record into which I put heart and soul.

Simon Toulson Clarke

Hi Simon,

I found your comments on your fantastic album whilst trying to find a copy of it somewhere in the ether. I had the album on tape and for months when I was in my teens I went to sleep listening to it. Sadly and stupidly it went with a load of tapes to a boot sale whilst making space for CD’s. I have been searching for a couple of years with no luck. At the moment there is a copy on Ebay for £62.00 with a day and a half to go so it will go for more. It’s the same everywhere I look people are looking for your album. I don’t know the politics of the music industry but you created a masterpiece which should be heard by many more people and if it is in your power please consider doing something about it.