YTSEJAM Digest 921
Today's Topics:
1) I'm from Western Canada!
by Darren Freed <freedd@andrews.edu>
2) Lurking adoptee
by james@tekelec.com (James Garrett)
3) various comments (F**K, Christianity, etc).
by clarke.woodfin@gsfc.nasa.gov (Clarke Woodfin)
4) Some real enigmas...
by "Craig Newmeyer" <usfmczdd@ibmmail.com>
5) Re: stryper
by Tymoteusz Altman <altman@sfu.ca>
6) Tentacles
by Aviad Shkolnikov <shkola@mail.snunit.k12.il>
7) PLEASE SUBSCRIBE
by John Nguyen <nuprin@wichita.fn.net>
8) Re: YTSEJAM digest 920
by mjnewb@basenet.net (Monty)
9) Stryper and Rotten Melons
by kylania@mail.top.net
10) Blind (Deaf?) Melon
by mer@sol.iii.net (Marc Respass)
11) Mili-Vanili's hair
by mer@sol.iii.net (Marc Respass)
12) DT Cover Songs
by "Patrick H. Davis" <75463.2253@compuserve.com>
13) That Blind Melon Thing
by Jarrod N Ramseylewis <sac73479@saclink.csus.edu>
14) ethnicity, religion
by "Dan Tshin" <danman@orbonline.net>
15) You know just *one* female fan??
by JennieBear@aol.com
16) DT Trivia - question 2
by Erik Wolfe <71473.371@compuserve.com>
17) ACOUSTIC DREAMS UPDATE
by Michael Bahr <garion@indirect.com>
18) CYGNUS UPDATE, CDS ARE HERE!!!!
by Michael Bahr <garion@indirect.com>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 11:06:26 -0400 (EDT)
From: Darren Freed <freedd@andrews.edu>
To: ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com
Subject: I'm from Western Canada!
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.950814104440.5594A-100000@orion>
> Also, something I've always been curious about. Are there any DT fans from
> Western Canada? If so, have you seen them live, and where? I'm from
> Winnipeg, and they have never played here.
I'm from Edmonton, even though I am currently in MI (for one more week -
Yippee!) I have never seen DT live, let alone in edomonton. I don't
think that they will come out there, at least for a while (maybe when
they get more comercial success) I can't even get the local radio
stations to play them. The DJs say that DT is an "eastern"
thing! Figure that out. What makes them an "eastern" thing?
That they're from the east? Anyways....
BTW, I'm 1/2 swedish, 1/4 german, and the rest is a mix of irish,
english, NA indian, spanish, etc.
Darren
dfreed@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca
freedd@andrews.edu
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 95 10:19:51 PDT
From: james@tekelec.com (James Garrett)
To: ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com
Subject: Lurking adoptee
Message-ID: <9508141719.AA12095@sunbeam.ca.tekelec.com>
Hey Jammers,
Hairball wants to know if anybody here is adopted.
I am. The only thing I know about my biological parents is that my mother was
a mostly-German college student in Iowa. My adoptive mother is 100% Italian and
my adoptive father is French/Irish. I think that I am mostly confused!
Was "Live at the MArquee" released again? I saw it for the first time (and snatched
it up) last week.
Although I'm no musician(it's not that I know nothing abpout music, I just have no
talent for it) , I find that the technical talk here helps me appreciate the
greatest band in the world even more. KEEP IT UP!
At the risk of sounding like a geek, has anybody noticed the similarity of a lot
of DT material to classical music--especially Bach or Handel? The counterpoints
in Metropolis and TTT seem very baroque. Could we call DT Baroque Metal?
So much for my .02,
Later. . .
James Garrett
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 09:54:24 -0400
From: clarke.woodfin@gsfc.nasa.gov (Clarke Woodfin)
To: ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com
Subject: various comments (F**K, Christianity, etc).
Message-ID: <199508141354.JAA15172@popa.gsfc.nasa.gov>
Hi Jammers,
I'm back on the 'Jam after a 3 month hiatius (new job). It's interesting
to hear some of the new stuff going on, especially comments on the upcoming
ACOS (I can't wait).
I have to throw in a few comments (as usual, these are all IMHO and YMMV):
1. Leave the profanity out. I hear F**K too often as it is. I certainly
don't need it in my music. I personally think profanity is a bad habit and
shows a poor grasp of the English language (I'm not judging any of you guys,
just stating my personal beliefs and opinions). I was relieved to find
that they took F**K out of the song. Way to go, DT.
2. As a Christian, I really like the Christian references in DT's music.
IMHO, it's another one of the many things that separates DT from the hord of
bands out there today.
3. I saw a post a day or so ago about someones criticism about being
"anti-choice". For the record, I'm Pro-Life, but can we keep abortion
comments off the 'Jam? It's too controversial - and there are other
places on the Net for that.
4. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE - let's not get into a Win95 vs. OS/2 debate
here. There are a TON of places on the 'Net for that. NOT HERE!
5. It's good to be back.
As you guys can see, I'm pretty conservative. Most of you are not. Don't
bother sending me flame messages if your views don't agree with mine. I
won't flame you for yours either, OK? Let's discuss something more
worthwhile, like
how cool DT is.
Clarke Woodfin
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 14:53:18 EDT
From: "Craig Newmeyer" <usfmczdd@ibmmail.com>
To: internet@ibmmail.com, ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com
Subject: Some real enigmas...
Message-ID: <m0si4cq-0001qxC@donews.cts.com>
Hello all!
I've been thinking recently about some of the toughest questions mankind
has ever pondered....
Which came first? The chicken or the egg?
Big Bang or Creation?
Where can someone find (or information regarding) Ytsejam T-shirts???
Just wondering...
.... and since we're on this getting to know everyone better kick....
I'm 25 (almost 26 now). My roots are from Germany, England, Hungary,
and Czechoslovakia. I was born and raised in Ohio but currently reside in
Michigan where I work as an Engineer for Ford Motor Co. I started listening
to Dream Theater when I&W came out. I had heard PMU a couple of times, and
it got me curious, but when I heard TTT for the first time late one night...
Wow! I was hooked from there out!
I'm Catholic, but don't practice as much as I should. I'm a big hockey
fan. (The Penguins rule!). And I dearly miss my role playing group from
back in Ohio. Some of my favorite things...
Concert: Trevor Rabin (of Yes fame) solo, in the Flats (Cleveland)
Awesome!!!! (I haven't had a chance to see DT yet...)
Movie: The Crow! Brandon Lee was brilliant!
Book(s): Frank Herbert's Dune series... far & away the best story
ever written!
Album: Queen II (That is one helluva good album, but I have run I&W
and Awake ragged!)
Other favorite bands: Rush, Queen, Yes, Queensryche
Dream Theater is tops in my book. I haven't heard such intelligent and
beautiful music in a long, long while! Let's hope the guys are going to
stick around for a long while!
Sorry if all that put you to Zzzzzzzzz.... but I thought I would get it out
of the way...
Later :)
Craig
..............................
"Adesso che ho perso la vista,. Ph: 313-337-5671
..ci vedo meglio e di piu".... Fx: 313-323-0582
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 12:59:49 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tymoteusz Altman <altman@sfu.ca>
To: ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com
Subject: Re: stryper
Message-ID: <199508141959.MAA09447@malibu.sfu.ca>
> 2. The song that I would like to see Dream Theater do (And I know that I will
> get over a thousand flames for saying it) would be Strypers "Soldiers Under
> Command" I would love to see John Petrucci Re-Interpret the Dual Guitars on
> that song, with Myung and Portnoy doing the same. Hearing James Labrie sing
> the Harmonies that Stryper used on that song would be pretty Wild. I would
> love to hear that song redone.
even though i said that i don't like bands that are preachy, i do like this
particular song (i haven't heard too many other ones)...it has a killer
guitar solo! it was one of the first "metal" songs i taped off the Much Music
Power Hour show when Much Music first came into existance.
i wonder why they ended up dropping that Christian preaching in their last
album....at least i think they did...i seem to remember they weren't yellow
anymore, but blue...
>
I think DT would do a great version of the song.
tim a.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 95 23:37 +0300
From: Aviad Shkolnikov <shkola@mail.snunit.k12.il>
To: ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com
Subject: Tentacles
Message-ID: <m0si6LE-0002U9C@donews.cts.com>
Hey People!
I have two questions for you.
1. I finally got my dubbed Subconcious (thanks Jack!!), and I love it.
Can anyone send me the little insert that was posted to the Jam a few
weeks ago? I just need a few details about the tracks.
2. I came across five or six Oziric Tentacles (probably a spelling
mistake there...) CDs in Tower records (the Jerusalem shop!). Is any of
them really good? I want to get into some new prog stuff...
just one little thing - I saw Derrek with his long hair. Quite
rediculous, In my oppinion.
- Aviad
*****************************************************************************
"We went shoping for God, * "See my diary on the news stand,
and got the God of Shoping..." * Seems we lost the truth to quicksand"
Galiano * Dream Theater, "Voices"
*****************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 16:14:00 -0500 (CDT)
From: John Nguyen <nuprin@wichita.fn.net>
To: ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com
Subject: PLEASE SUBSCRIBE
Message-ID: <Pine.BSD/.3.91.950814161300.24694B-100000@wichita.fn.net>
COULD YOU PLEASE SUBSCRIBE ME TO THE JAM. I've Been on before, but I
just changed serevrs, so I will send another message cancelling my old
addresss THANX.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 16:07:30 -0500
From: mjnewb@basenet.net (Monty)
To: ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com
Subject: Re: YTSEJAM digest 920
Message-ID: <199508142107.QAA14515@basenet.net>
>First of all, as one of the "sound engineering types" on here, let me
>emphatically state that EVERYONE should wear earplugs at concerts. Period.
>Even if it's something as "cheap" as cotton stuffed in your ears, or those
>really nice earplugs mentioned elsewhere, you should protect your hearing.
I agree. Before I first bought earplugs, I used cotton balls or
napkins/toilet paper (unused, of course:), whatever. It did help.
>
> 2. The song that I would like to see Dream Theater do (And I know that I will
>get over a thousand flames for saying it) would be Strypers "Soldiers Under
>Command" I would love to see John Petrucci Re-Interpret the Dual Guitars on
>that song, with Myung and Portnoy doing the same. Hearing James Labrie sing
>the Harmonies that Stryper used on that song would be pretty Wild. I would
>love to hear that song redone.
>
> Bracing myself for the Anti-Stryper flames
>
No flames here. While not the biggest Stryper fan (used to listen
to them some back in Junior High and High school), this would be an
interesting, and rather unexpected cover. Hmmmmm......
>Long songs - Someone mentioned Trilogy of Knowledge by Believer -
>Singularity is also on the second side of the tape, but I believe that
>the entire album is over an hour long (if you have the cassette, take a
>look at how much tape is stuffed in that thing). Kurt Bachman has said
>it's a half hour long or so.
That was me. I was actually borrowing the tape form a friend of
mine. I copied this track off on to a 100 min. tape and it took up about
half of one side (25-30min.). Unfortunately, I missed my chance to get this
in the bargain bin at a local store a while back for $4.00 on CD. Boy am I
stupid!
>Someone mentioned Veni Domine's epic effort. I'm so disappointed. I saw
>the album once and was going to buy it but decided to wait. Now I can't
>find it anywhere.
I wasn't the one who mentioned it, but i know what you mean about
waiting to get it and not finding it later (see above - Believer). I did
decide to wait to get Veni Domine's "Fall, babylon Fall" album for $1.99
used at a local new/used store (Now Hear This - St. Louis area - Fairview
Heigths, IL to be more specific). I haven't been back to get it yet, but do
plan on making the trip soon. I recently got a Veni Domine update in some
magazine, but can't find it. If I can, I'll let you know via private E-Mail.
On lefty players, wasn't Paul McCartney a lefty bassist? Not sure,
but i think so.
There was something else I wanted to comment on, but forgot what it
was (you know how that memory can be). Oh well, I guess I'll remember it
sometime, and if I don't, well, I guess it wasn't that important. God bless.
Definitely NOT a Blind Melon fan (this is NOT a flame),
Dale R. Newberry
"Taste is the enemy of art." -U2
Oh yeah, I just remembered what I wanted to ask. Could anyone
PLEASE let me know if I can get a copy of DT doing "Red Hill Mining Town,"
by U2? I am also on the U2 list (Wire), and I think this would be a GREAT
way to introduce U2 fans to DT (some have been rather inquisitive about DT).
PLEASE let me know if I could get this. I would GREATLY appreciate it.
Also, could anyone copy the Majesty demos for me? I have heard a lot about
this, and would really like to hear them. If anyone wants to send their
boot lists here (my E-Mail address, not the 'Jam), please do so. Thanks.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 18:26:25 -0500
From: kylania@mail.top.net
To: ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com
Subject: Stryper and Rotten Melons
Message-ID: <199508142326.SAA26350@dns.top.net>
Hi all!
I've been lurking for quite a while... :)
In responce to:
Michael Pomerleau
>2. The song that I would like to see Dream Theater do (And I know that I will
>get over a thousand flames for saying it) would be Strypers "Soldiers Under
>Command" I would love to see John Petrucci Re-Interpret the Dual Guitars on
>that song, with Myung and Portnoy doing the same. Hearing James Labrie sing
>the Harmonies that Stryper used on that song would be pretty Wild. I would
>love to hear that song redone.
I agree! I loved Stryper. They were (are) great musicians. The
stuff they played was great! Even though they were a Christian band, they
weren't overly so. DT could do wonders with their stuff. :) There was a
time when I had Iron Maiden and Stryper both sitting in the same CD player.
Talk about Heaven and Hell!
Another Stryper/Maiden odity...listen to the end of the guitar solo
of "Duellist" from Maiden's POWERSLAVE and then listen to the end of the
guitar solo of (4th song 1st side)* from Stryper's TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL.
They both contain the same "bridge" instrumential part.
>CHRISTOPHER: I can't even be fair to this music because I hate it so
>bad. I can't even sit through one song. I know I'm not being fair but I
>think it is complete garbage. That sort of GUITAR PLAYING is just stupid.
Umm....what do the "guitarists" (term used loosely) of Blind Melon
know about guitar playing? When I read this article back in '94 I was
ashamed that I'd gotten the Blind Melon CD free! Had I paid for it I might
have ended it all then! :) Oh well...at least they're gone now and DT's
not! (At least I hope they're gone)
oh well, sorry bout the length,
dave
*=sorry I forgot the title and can't find my tape! :P
V. EXODUS
When I go back again, will it be the same?
I've stopped the crimes, but now they know my name.
The sea is calling me, my spirit must return.
As I get closer, was it really worth, what I have learned?
J. Petrucci - The Killing Hand
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 19:35:04 -0500
From: mer@sol.iii.net (Marc Respass)
To: ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com
Subject: Blind (Deaf?) Melon
Message-ID: <v01510103ac559ada2983@[199.232.46.229]>
> ROGERS: This is just our opinion. There's a lot of people
> that like Dream Theater and that's fine. They get off on
> it-good for them. They probably hate us, maybe they won't.
No. We hate you.
> CHRISTOPHER: They probably do because we sound like were
> playing sloppy. But that's alright, it's just a different
> thing. We're just coming from a different space.
Actually, I don't think Blind Melon sound sloppy at all. Shitty, yes.
Sloppy, no. What a bunch of arogant, no-playing, jerks. What's up with a
smidgen of success and a chick-in-a-damn-bee-outfit video that makes these
dumb asses wanna put down other bands in an interview in a national
magazine? The funny thing is that Petrucci's comment (I'm sure someone has
the article - I'm going by memory) was like it's funny that they put us
down because we can play our instruments. I have to go on here. It's funny
that they think they sound sloppy and that they think it's OK. What's with
the mentality of NOT being able to play your instrument? Why is sloppy
good? If someone with more knowledge can post some examples of classic,
long lasting bands whose names we'll remember for many years to come yet
played sloppy and we're very good on their instruments, I'd like to know. I
can't think any. Where the hell is Blind Melon now? I'll bet that DT is
around a lot longer and has much more loyal fans than Blind fucking Melon
heads.
Sorry to go on so much but that really burns me up. Damn no-playing mo-fo's
putting down other bands because those other bands know more than two
chords and they aren't all open chords (where's my capo? I can't play
without it!).
----------------
Marc Respass
mer@sol.iii.net
http://www.iii.net/users/mer/Welcome.html
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 19:35:09 -0500
From: mer@sol.iii.net (Marc Respass)
To: ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com
Subject: Mili-Vanili's hair
Message-ID: <v01510104ac559b6349d9@[199.232.46.229]>
> P.S.: To all of you discussing the fact that Derek has
> short hair. Who the Hell Cares? I want to hear him play
> music, not sleep with him. I mean I could care less what DT
> looks like, as long as they produce good music. Maybe you
> should go buy a couple of Milli-Vanilli albums, they did not
> sing, but they had "Cute Hair"
I really don't think Mili-Vanili had "cute" hair. It was kinda long so that
was cool, but I didn't really like it. Too much stuff in it. I don't want
anyone to think that I want to sleep with Derek so I'll just say that I
don't - I have a girlfriend (otherwise... heh, heh - sometimes people is so
serious).
----------------
Marc Respass
mer@sol.iii.net
http://www.iii.net/users/mer/Welcome.html
------------------------------
Date: 14 Aug 95 23:13:53 EDT
From: "Patrick H. Davis" <75463.2253@compuserve.com>
To: ytsejam <ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com>
Subject: DT Cover Songs
Message-ID: <950815031353_75463.2253_FHQ71-1@CompuServe.COM>
I agree with Michael Pomerleau. I would love to hear DT do Stryper's "Soldiers
Under Command". I hope there are not too many flames of this stance. Stryper
was a great band when compared with some of the popular, no talent bands
presently gracing our airwaves.
By the way, has anyone heard when we can order "Acoustic Dreams" from Michael
Bahr?
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 20:23:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jarrod N Ramseylewis <sac73479@saclink.csus.edu>
To: Dream Theater <ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com>
Subject: That Blind Melon Thing
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9508142020.A23433-0100000@saclink1.csus.edu>
That article posted in the recent jam with Blind Melon is narrow
mindedness crap on the part of Blind Melon. We all know that, I won't go
on. But, what I would like to talk about is JP's response to the article.
Before I read JP's response I was an avid DT fan. After I read the
article I became a full blown DT nut. Before I liked the music, but after
the article, I knew I liked the band for who they were, or at least I
knew I liked JP. The others were guilty by association. The response was
nothing but pure DT class all the way. They aren't going to play the
games of inferior bands, they don't need to. Way to go guys. Don't sink
to their level The proving factor is, how many used Blind Melon cds do
you see for sale as opposed to used DT cd's? Rock on guys.
Jarrod Ramsey-Lewis
University of Portland
Oh, and when I fill out the ethnicity box on an application I
check the "other" box, because does it really matter?
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 1995 00:07:48 -0500
From: "Dan Tshin" <danman@orbonline.net>
To: ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com
Subject: ethnicity, religion
Message-ID: <m0siDIX-000g6sC@george.orbonline.net>
From: rosenzwe@stu.beloit.edu (Stacie Rosenzweig)
>Hey, that spawns another interesteing question: How many religions are
>represented here? It's interesting because DT, while not a "christian
>band," per se, (not like Stryper [hehe] or even Galactic Cowboys[who I do
>like, even though they're anti-choice (OH NO!! PC-ISM!!!), anyway),
>has lots of religious (or is it spiritual?) imagery.
>For some reason, I
>don't feel left out, though -- I still appreciate the images. How many
>other non-Christians, or non-religious people feel the same way?
Well, I'm Christian (born again) and do appreciate the spiritual
imagery that DT represents and produces. Although they're not
"Christian", they do address some issues that concern Christians and
many non-Christians. Although some of the lyrics and themes are not
"positive" (for example Space-Dye Vest or ACOS), they are very poetic
and intelligent. Their whole style of playing and choice of words
produce a rich imagery consisting of spiritual themes and what-not.
Anyways, on the ethnic background theme, I'm a Chinese born in
Canada, and am 19 years old. I don't know very many Chinese people
who are into DT or prog rock/metal in my peer group except for these
two guys on my block! Most Chinese/oriental youth are into the dance
music scene, which I think is really a trend that's starting to make
me a bit sick. Now I'm just beginning to find Chinese ppl into my type
of music, which is pretty cool.
Enuf rambling... on with the YtseJam.
>Dan Tshin <danman@orbonline.net> Shad Valley Carleton '94 SuRvIvOr
Web Site URL: http://www.orbonline.net/~danman | _ _ |
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what | ( /V\ ) |
he cannot lose." -- Jim Elliot | M |
"Love is not just a passing word, it is a state of heart | | |
that goes on forever." ACOS by Dream Theater | | |
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 1995 01:07:01 -0400
From: JennieBear@aol.com
To: ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com
Subject: You know just *one* female fan??
Message-ID: <950815010700_74784856@aol.com>
The following appeared in Ytsejam #915:
>Hello, Michael Martin! I also know a female DT fan: my girlfriend. I made
her listen to all three albums and that was it.<
Uh-oh...you don't want to offend Jaime, Babs, myself...and the many female
lurkers, do you? <g> We're here, and we're vocal - right, ladies? :) And I
know female DT fans who aren't on the 'jam, too...
Jen
-- "Could we see clearer in a virtual reality?" - Magellan "I am the beat of your pulse/the computer word made flesh" - Queensrychejenniebear@aol.com kethry@netcom.com
------------------------------
Date: 15 Aug 95 01:19:05 EDT From: Erik Wolfe <71473.371@compuserve.com> To: "INTERNET:ytsejam@arastar.com" <ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com> Subject: DT Trivia - question 2 Message-ID: <950815051904_71473.371_CHU122-3@CompuServe.COM>
To Hairball: We have a winner!! Correct...Innocence Faded has 6 guitars parts in it, making it the most guitars on Awake.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 1995 02:43:02 -0700 (MST) From: Michael Bahr <garion@indirect.com> To: ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com Cc: garion@indirect.com Subject: ACOUSTIC DREAMS UPDATE Message-ID: <199508150943.CAA27589@bud.indirect.com>
DREAM THEATER: "ACOUSTIC DREAMS" Information and Update Current to 8/15/1995
Hi all! This is the latest information on Acoustic Dreams, the new LIMITED EDITION Dream Theater CD I will be producing. It will be a numbered, hand-initialed limited print just like Subconscious was.
============================================================================ DISCLAIMER: Acoustic Dreams falls into a grey area of law as an uncopyrighted recording produced in such a manner that at least one facet of the production occurs in a country (namely Italy) in which it is legal to do so. In the USA, it is permissible to sell used import CDs only if they are labeled as such. This is such a CD. Be aware that the various powers-that-be are collecting nothing for this. ============================================================================
Of course, that's all cover-my-butt lawyerspeak. I hope you all will want to be a part of this. I make roughly minimum wage doing it, so you know I'm not out to scam you. In all humility, I appeal to anyone who might not think too kindly of my endeavor, and ask that they might give me the benefit of the doubt on this one. Friends? :)
1. What is Acoustic Dreams? 2. What is the release schedule? 3. How can I get my own copy of Acoustic Dreams? 4. Orders received. ============================================================================
1. What is Acoustic Dreams?
Hi all! Allow me to introduce myself, if you aren't familiar with me yet. I'm Mike Bahr, humble maker of special-edition CDs. I noticed a lot of the mass-manufactured bootleg offerings were spiralling quite high in price and yet offered little for the die-hard fan, and I concocted a scheme by which I could make around minimum wage by producing CDs on my own, CDs that would fill the demand for REAL rarities and special songs, unreleased items, live shows, and the like.
Basically, since no CD plant will print them for me, I have to rent studio and equipment time and do it myself. So far, it's working. :)
Fortunately, and for this I am very relieved, my CD efforts so far have been incredibly well-received by the net community, especially the Ytsejam mailing list. I just do what I can do and leave the rest up to God, and I guess the Almighty isn't disappointing you folks. People from all walks of life, all countries of the world, both sexes, all races, and all religions have joined in on the Subconscious and Cygnus projects, and I am very happy to have you all along for the ride. I'll keep making CDs as long as you folks are willing to keep buying them. Thanks so _very_ much... :)
And now, it's time to get Acoustic Dreams together.
Well, this is the next CD I'm doing, also known as Dream Theater Unplugged. We were given a VERY high-quality soundboard tape of DT's recent Unplugged performance in Europe, and it can only be fully expressed in the form of a CD. Trust me. :) I am fervently hoping that the finished product is well-liked. I've created the master DAT and submitted it so I can get the glass master made.
Here's the final tracklisting from Acoustic Dreams. I know many were hoping I'd find more stuff, but I've pretty much scraped the barrel dry at this point. The only other things of similar sound quality I could find were in soundboard shows that ought to be released to CD in their entirety.
Acoustic Dreams 1. Another Day 2. Lifting Shadows off a Dream 3. Wait For Sleep 4. The Silent Man 5. Lie (boogie version) 6. Tears (Rush cover) 7. O Holy Night
Electric Extras 8. Perfect Strangers (with Bruce Dickinson on vocals) 9. 6:00 (performed in session with a much better mix) 10. Caught In A Web (another better performance)
Bonus Tracks (acoustic) 11. Voices (just a small part of it was all there was) acoustic 12. Bad (U2 cover) acoustic
I hope that once you've heard it, you will, like me, have your breath taken away by the beauty of the acoustic tracks and the clarity and sharpness of the electric mixes. As good as Cygnus sounded, this is easily and by far the best sounding CD I will have ever made.
2. What is the release schedule?
Here is the current schedule of releases as I see it (all dates estimated):
NOW - Rush: Cygnus released/shipping (this is more or less solid) NOW - Dream Theater: "Acoustic Dreams" ordering begins 09/30/1995 - Dream Theater: "Acoustic Dreams" released/shipping 10/15/1995 - Public Affection: "The Death of a Dictionary" ordering begins 11/15/1995 - Dream Theater: "When Dream and Today Unite" ordering begins 11/30/1995 - Public Affection: "The Death of a Dictionary" released/shipping 12/25/1995 - Dream Theater: "When Dream and Today Unite" released/shipping 02/--/1996 - Rush: To be announced 04/--/1996 - Live or Type O-Negative: To be announced 06/--/1996 - Dream Theater: To be announced
Here are a few descriptions to keep your curiosity satiated :)
Dream Theater "Subconscious" Released 04/03/1995 - Limited print of 500 copies - sold out Contained Dream Theater rarities including A Change of Season. Rush "Cygnus" Released 08/14/1995 - Unlimited print - still available Contains a rare soundboard show from the Hemispheres tour. Dream Theater "Acoustic Dreams" Currently in pre-ordering. To be released 09/30/1995 - Limited print of 500 copies Contains beautiful unplugged performances. Public Affection "The Death of a Dictionary" To be released 11/30/1995 - Unlimited print Is actually +Live+'s little-known first album, released in 1989, two years before their 1991 breakthrough Mental Jewelry. Demand for this one is skyrocketing, and the Jam gets first shot at it. Dream Theater "When Dream and Today Unite" To be released 12/25/1995 - Limited print of either 500 or 1000. Contains the songs from Dream and Day only with James LaBrie on vocals. Collected from MANY sources and optimized for quality.
The following are all "Work in Progress" releases... Rush other titles I'm considering (for any of the given shows): Land's Edge, Storm World, Lifeforce... Rush "A Symptom of Life" - from 12/20/81 2nd gen soundboard Contains a LOT of neat stuff. a LOT. But very long... 2 CD set? Rush "Concordant Crossroads" - from 3/24/81 audience MASTER in stereo This one has unbelievable good sound quality. It's a tossup whether to take this or Symptom, since both are so good but so similar. Rush "Sleight of Mind" - from a remastered 6/25/75 Toronto This tour has been very underrepresented in available material, so who knows, if S.H.'s cleanup efforts turn out good... +Live+ "Disenchanting Discourse" - from a 10/25/94 audience MASTER in stereo It might be released, it might not, depending on many things. If you would like to see it released, please let me know and let as many people know as you can. I tend to find ways to release things when I find an overwhelming demand for them. :) Type O-Negative "Deathgrip" - from a 5/30/94 audience MASTER in stereo A great setlist and decent sound. Only my worries about how many copies I can sell prevent this. I can't undertake anything less than a potential sellout project or I risk going under. Again, if this is a title you'd like to see, you can make it happen. All I need is a lot of interest, and away we go! Dream Theater... oh who knows, there's so much good stuff. Possible shows: Osaka soundboard from late 1992 Hamburg soundboard from spring 1993 Vocalist auditions various excellent DATs recorded in Texas
3. How can I order a copy of Acoustic Dreams?
Finally, I am going to go ahead and let the ordering begin, because I can tell everyone's excitement level is peaking at this point. :) I will say this in advance: I expect it to come out 9/30 or thereabouts (I'm going to try and beat my own schedule) and that's two months away, folks. If that dosen't bother you too much, I guess it won't bother me either. However, I'm one of those guys who hates having things take too long. :)
I say this because Subconscious took an unbelievably long time to turnaround due to delays in the making of it, and despite my best efforts, Cygnus is going a bit too slow for my taste as well (though it's still within the predicted schedule, it was a schedule I had been planning to beat). So I am trying to jumpstart Acoustic Dreams so there's NO DAMN WAITING. :)
Here's the nitty gritty then:
RESERVATIONS. I'll take them, to save you a COPY, but not necessarily a _specific copy_. In many cases, people who request special numbers such as birthdays and so on will get them. But people requesting a specific low number are going to find that they're all sold. Which brings me to the next point: ORDERS. The numbering, excepting special requests when possible, will fill in the order I receive the mail orders. It's only fair after all. I'll reserve a copy for someone over e-mail, but if thirty people get their orders in before he or she does, it's not fair for me to still hold copy #014 or whatever. You all get the idea... these decisions are just in the effort to make it fair for all.
Please, I stress to all of you, don't miss this if you missed Subconscious. It really does pain me to have to tell a fellow DT fan that there simply aren't any more Sub discs to be had, especially because I would be MORE than glad to sell one if I had it.
Blanks, materials, studio time, etc is cheaper per unit for a production line of 1000 than for 500, which is why Cygnus was cheaper for the Ytsejammers. Acoustic Dreams, alas, must remain $25. I was hoping to bring it down to $21 or $20 but that wouldn't be cost effective. I think I may be able to do that for the Public Affection CD, however.
Things are pretty simple from here. Send along a money order for $25 bucks to my address, being sure to include a note with your name, the address to ship to, your email address, and WHICH CD you're ordering (after all, Cygnus is still in ordering) and HOW MANY you're ordering. As before, international customers may use whatever means of payment is most convenient for them, though I stress that sending cash is risky and should not be a first option, but a backup plan. :) Also, to pool opinions: would you all want me to include a number list as orders are received?
The address and so on is me at:
Mike "Acoustic Dreamer" Bahr 3175 N. Price Rd. #1066 Chandler, AZ 85224
My home telephone number, available as a courtesy to you, is 1-602-777-0501. I am usually not home on weekends (band practice) so try during the week, between noon and 9pm pacific time, for best results. Also, please use discretion when handling this number, as it is, after all, my own home phone, and I will be very confused if a stranger calls at 3:00 AM. :) I trust you Jammers to be cool about it, as you always have in the past.
4. Orders received.
I'm going to post a condensed listing by number, as overwhelmingly requested by you Jammers. I'll have the initial listing (of _only_ the first 100 orders or so) as soon as I can finish sorting the orders I've received so far in the order they came, since it does take time. So don't fret, the information will be forthcoming shortly. I got no less than 50 envelopes full of orders over this 4-day weekend (Fri-Mon). Wow!
Expect to see a listing of some sort in this space, the next time I post the updates.
-Mike Bahr, garion@indirect.com Magic: The Gathering - blue manipulation decks rule! :)
"Belgarath, you're lazy." Durnik asserted. "You're just now noticing that? We've travelled together for some thirty years. I'd expected higher intelligence of you."
-from Belgarath The Sorcerer by David Eddings
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Date: Tue, 15 Aug 1995 02:43:17 -0700 (MST) From: Michael Bahr <garion@indirect.com> To: ytsejam@anthor.arastar.com Cc: garion@indirect.com Subject: CYGNUS UPDATE, CDS ARE HERE!!!! Message-ID: <199508150943.CAA27669@bud.indirect.com>
CYGNUS CD PROJECT UPDATE / SUBCONSCIOUS CONCLUSION current to 8/15/95
This is an update on the status of orders and such things on the Rush "Cygnus" CD... made available exclusively to the members of the Ytsejam list before anybody else. :)
EVEN QUICKER UPDATE: FINALLY! IT'S HERE! The Cygnus CDs showed up on today (Tuesday's) shipping manifest at the CD plant, so I'll be heading up there every 12 hours or so and catch the UPS man as soon as they show up. Once it's listed on that manifest, it's due within 36 hours, and they got the listing Monday. Oogola oogola oogola! I'm pretty pumped about this.
They attributed the slow shipping time to the closure of the blanks manufacturing plant in Santa Barbara due to a threat from the Unabomber. Of all the fucking things... even the TERRORISTS don't want you folks to get this CD! I think we've finally seen it all.
Here's the no-wait address and cost. Read on for further info on the CD.
$23 check, money order, or cashier's check/traveler's cheque to: Michael Bahr 3175 N. Price Rd. #1066 Chandler, AZ 85224 PLEASE SPECIFY that it's Cygnus you want. I do a lot of mailing and may not realize what it is that's being purchased.
SUBCONSCIOUS: The CDs are finally _gone_. Every copy has been sold. I've even sold my own personal extra copies. I can't believe this was so popular! Will Subconscious ever be made again? Unless some Italian company copies it, I am sorry to say it will not. One of the explicit conditions I set forth when I made the disc was that it would be very special and limited, and I would be breaking my confidence with the people who have bought it under the understanding it would be a unique, rare release. I swear I don't mean to make people miss out... but a promise is a promise. Would people trust me when I say "get it now" if they could get it a year later? I calculate not. :)
THANKS EVERYONE for being a part of this! You all RULE! :)
DISCLAIMER: Cygnus falls into a grey area under law as an uncopyrighted recording produced in such a manner that at least one facet of the production occurs in a country (namely Italy) in which it is legal to do so. In the USA, it is permissible to sell used import CDs only if they are labeled as such. This is such a CD. Be aware that the various powers-that-be are collecting nothing for this.
Of course, that's all cover-my-butt lawyerspeak. I hope you all will want to be a part of this. I make roughly minimum wage doing it, so you know I'm not out to scam you. In all humility, I appeal to anyone who might not think too kindly of my endeavor, and ask that they might give me the benefit of the doubt on this one. Friends? :)
1. What the hell is Cygnus? 2. When can I order and how? 3. Orders received. =============================================================================
1. What the hell is Cygnus?
Hi all, I'm Mike Bahr, humble maker of special edition CDs. Earlier this year, I made available a special, _very_ limited edition Dream Theater CD called Subconscious. I didn't know if the project would work at all, since I had to use my own money to finance the project, and had to be very close on costs to even make it a non-loss financially. But you responded, Ytsejammers!
The CD sold, sold, and sold some more. In fact, the entire limited edition print of 500 copies, each hand-numbered and signed in gold by myself, sold out entirely to you, the most devoted fans of Dream Theater on earth.
And I do mean _Earth_! I got orders from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Austria, Great Britain, Ireland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Israel, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Greece, and a few more countries I am sure I have forgotten to mention. Truly, the WORLD made Subconscious a success for me and for the Jam, so I'm going to hope that Cygnus will be another one! My heart goes out to all of you in every country of the world for joining in!
What I did was work with a pressing plant using rental equipment and some of my own as well, and an exhausting three months of preparation, packaging, and mailing, not to mention production of the CD, and a million other things, and made it a reality. I was relieved beyond words when I read the positive comments people had for it online.
Cygnus is the project I've done to fill the gap between Spring 1995's Subconscious and Winter 1995's WHEN DREAM AND JAMES UNITE. Cygnus will be a recording from an ultra-rare Rush show, the single best sounding Rush show in existence, from the mystical Hemispheres tour of 1978-79. It is an unlimited print, but there will likely not be more than 1000 ever made.
Here's the information on the show.
Title: Rush "Cygnus" Source: True soundboard reel-to-reel, original length 81 min Running time: 73 min Venue: Convention Center Arena (TCC Arena) Location: Tucson, Arizona Date: November 20, 1978 Generation: Transferred to 48kHz DAT from a 2nd gen analog. Quality: Beyond comparison. Higher than "Oakland '92" and "Pinkpop".
Setlist: Anthem A Passage to Bangkok By-Tor and the Snow Dog I. At the Tobes of Hades II. Across the Styx III. Of The Battle Xanadu Something for Nothing The Trees Cygnus X-1 Book 1: The Voyage Cygnus X-1 Book 2: Hemispheres I. Prelude II. Apollo III. Dionysus IV. Armageddon V. Cygnus VI. The Sphere Circumstances A Farewell to Kings
Note that La Villa Strangiato had to be cut or else I couldn't fit the Cygnus saga on the CD! I'm sorry about that, I hope it won't kill the experience for anybody. They had some sound problems during that song anyhow, so in a way, maybe you _don't_ want to hear it.
Also on the original tape was a cut-off version of the beginning of 2112, the Overture and then half of the Temples section. In order to make Cygnus fit onto a single CD, I cut those seven minutes out of the DAT. Everyone has a live 2112 on ATWAS album, anyway.
Now that I sort of "have the hang of it" where CDs are concerned, I have put together some colorful art for the CD and cover. For those who didn't get one, Subconscious had a gold-on-black motif, much like the Terminator-2 and Star Wars laserdisc box-sets. It was dignified, and direct. And now, for Cygnus, I want to really make people say "wow!" The cover is pretty wicked looking, I'll try and post a copy.
2. Where can I order and how?
The first 300 orders have a random 30 freebie video montages thrown into them, as promised. I've already taped all of these, so I'm going to leave it up to the computer. A Dungeons & Dragons dice program called KrystalDice is going to randomly choose the winners!
How to order!!!
Remember when Subconscious came out, and I said certain costs were permanent, and had gone into the production cost? I didn't lie... Cygnus will be CHEAPER than Subconscious was. The price will be $23. For anyone in Canada ordering, add only $1 for postage. For anyone outside North America, add $2 for postage (so it would be the same price as Sub) and that will take care of it. There's a lot of bean-counting that I do to come up with those numbers, so trust me, it's what it amounts to. Plus, you can order as MANY Cygnus discs as you want, because you on the Jam are getting a shot at it before I offer it anywhere else. Also, it's still $25 for NON-Ytsejammers. Check out my posts to alt.music.rush and a.m.dt, you'll find it's true. Naturally, if you have friends who want a copy of Cygnus, they can get it at the $23 price, same as you Jammers.
Please use a money order if you can. The reason is simple: it's safe! I know you paid and you know I have it (it's traceable). And you know if you don't get a CD or a refund, I'll go to jail.
For international orders, I will indeed accept cash if you wish. I urge you to be careful, because every order for Subconscious that contained cash made it safely to me, but that might not always be the case. I don't want anybody to lose their money. For orders of 2 or more Cygnus discs, a travellers cheque or international money order is economical to use. If you decide to use cash, please wrap it tight in a thick envelope and try to hide it, so that nobody will steal it.
Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery. It will actually be closer to 2 or 2 and a half weeks, but in order to be safe, I'm giving you the extreme possibility. Understand that, as with Subconscious, I'll be making every effort to get them sent fast and soon.
Here's what to do.
Send your payment, along with your Name, Address to ship it to, Internet email address (in case I need to contact you), how MANY CDs you want, and, optionally, your phone number. I say optionally, because I know some of you want to keep them unlisted.
Send all this to: Michael "Bane of Balance" Bahr 3175 N. Price Rd. #1066 Chandler, AZ 85224 (USA)
As a courtesy, I'm going to provide my home phone number to you. If you wish to speak to me for any reason, including questions, comments, suggestions, or you just want to chat with another dedicated fan of Rush and Dream Theater, you are very welcome to call me at 1-602-777-0501. I am usually home between noon and 9pm Mountain Standard Time. Please use this phone number with proper discretion, however, as I will be very confused if you call me at 3:00 in the morning.
3. Orders received.
This time, I'm in the thick of the AD project, and Cygnus is coming along just dandy as well... and I will be able to confirm that an order was received if you email me about it. I won't be posting a long list to the Jam because of complaints I received about the Sub listing.
For the most part, all orders usually get through. If you want to confirm yours PERSONALLY, feel free to do so, via email or voice.
Well that about wraps it up for this update of the CYGNUS CD project. Everyone be excellent to each other, and party on dudes!
-Mike Bahr, garion@indirect.com
"I had to let her go... because I love her." - Beast
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End of YTSEJAM Digest 921 *************************
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