OUT OF PRINT - Rare Ambient/New Age/Space not available in digital formats

[happydogs]

I've been hunting down some rare music, often called "orphaned works."  These are recordings that have been abandoned by their owners (artists, labels).  Many of these have never made it into the digital age (cds, digital downloads).  Or, they were released briefly on cd or online but have now long been out of print. 

I'm learning that there seem to be a group of digital "monks" out there that are trying to save some of these recordings from being lost to time.  Some seem to be gathering in out of the way online "rooms" (IRC) and file-sharing programs (Soulseek), trying to keep this music available and not forgotten.  Sadly, the artists don't get the rewards for their hard work.  But there's not another alternative for those who love some of these recordings.

I'm wondering if there are others out there looking for some rare items.  And if you would share your list of those items you've been looking for forever.  Or that you have saved on vinyl or cassette, trying to keep them safe before their physical format tires or expires.

Here's my list as a conversation starter:

Usha - Die Morgenrote
Michel Genest - Harmonic 33
William Linton - Wayfarer
William Linton, Tony Gerber, Mason Stevens - Cosmic Flight
William Linton - Traveler's Tales
Cyrille Verdeaux - Love & Ecstasy
Don Robertson - Celestial Ascent
Don Robertson - Starmusic             ... and several other releases
Don Campbell - Crystal Meditations
Don Campbell - Lightning on the Moon  ... and others
Malcolm Cecil - Radiance
Mychael Danna - planets, stars and galaxies
Mychael Danna - mars the journey begins
Jordan De La Sierra - Gymnosphere: Song Of The Rose
Klaus Schønning - Lydglimt
Hiroshi Yoshimura - Green
Hiroshi Yoshimura - Mori No Yoake
Didier Bocquet - Eclipse
Lorq Damon - Journey To The Land Of Forgotten Dreams
Ryuichi Sugimoto - The Arctic II

Let's keep this music alive!

If only we could do something to get these at least online and available (iTunes, CDbaby, Google Music, Amazon Music, etc.).......

[drone on]

This is a good topic.  Yes, it seems like there are some great releases that just disappear and you can only find them on CD for outrageous prices (or not at all!).  My list includes:

Suso Saiz-Hypnotics.  Amazing guitar drone album.  Should've been huge, but sadly, not many heard it or had access to it. 

Solitaire-the pre-"Ritual Ground" releases that were on Musique Intemporelle in Germany.  Also, their Recycle or Die release "Fearless" from 1995.  BTW, what happened to Elmar Schulte???  I thought he was supposed to be resurrecting Solitaire several years ago with new music...
 
Yagya-Rhythm of Snow.  The fact this was not re-printed or reissued by now (or even on iTunes) is getting very annoying now!  My most wanted item. 

em:t label (Woob 2, Miasma, Qubism, etc.)  Never understood why these have not been re-issued or at least available somewhere (and I don't mean those free illegal download sites)

[hdibrell]

I like the idea of this, but I do have some  concerns about copyrights and such. Also there are some artists that don't want their works rereleased for some reason such as limited editions, etc. That being said there are several releases I would like to have copies of. Interesting idea. 

[mgriffin]

Just want to make sure to remind everyone to please not post links to file sharing or pirate download sites. Discussing out of print stuff is perfectly OK.

[ffcal]

I think putting digital versions of an out of print release can tread an ethically (and legally) slippery slope, especially if the artist is still around.  Sure, it would be nicer not to pay an astronomical price for an old copy of Michael Stearns' Planetary Unfolding, but the right to distribute that release lies with someone else (either Stearns or his former label) and not the uploader.  Uploading such releases may actual diminish the likelihood that an artist would find it worth the trouble to reissue the album.

Drone On, I read somewhere that Yagya's Rhythm of Snow is being reissued soon on vinyl.

Forrest

[happydogs]

Just to be clear, I wasn't suggesting that anybody pirate or illegally distribute anything.  Just stating the fact that it's already happening to some degree.  That's why I ended the post with "If only we could do something to get these at least online and available (iTunes, CDbaby, Google Music, Amazon Music, etc.)......."  That is, pay sites.

For example, I think artists pay $99 a year and CDbaby will host your music for downloads or cd sales.  It's a great self-starter site.  No, I don't work for them...just reporting.  There may be others.

I would just like people (artists, labels, distributors) to think about pulling some of these great back catalog titles and making them available at least through digital distributors.  And if any of us can help catalyze that, that would be great. 

Just trying to generate thoughts, ideas, and a list of releases that are being (sadly) ignored.

happydogs

[mgriffin]

Just to be clear, I wasn't suggesting that anybody pirate or illegally distribute anything.

Right, I didn't think any of the initial posts in this thread were a problem. Just reiterating forum rules in case someone later decided to come along and post links to free downloads of some of the titles in question. Carry on...

[happydogs]

And you were smart to do so.  Thanks, Mike.

I will point out that this is a Hypnos forum.  Maybe Hypnos will pick up the flag and re-release all of these!!!  I can wish, can't I?  I know, some of these releases from back in the 70s and 80s especially just would never be big sellers.  That's part of the problem.

But, seriously, if anybody will make these available for purchase, send me a PayPal invoice and I'll seal the deal in a minute.

[ffcal]

Happydogs,

Ironically, I used to have one of the releases on your list (Hiroshi Yoshimura - Mori No Yoake), and probably still have another one (Hiroshi Yoshimura - Green).  The former is a little primitive sounding, with a very prominent electric piano, and not much else.  The latter, though, is pretty nice with more electronics; I would try to find the Japanese version of it, if you can--I prefer that version because it doesn't have the environmental sounds.

I've actually been thinking of going to the trouble of having some of the old master tapes from my earlier releases baked and remastered for possible digital release, so this is something I've been thinking about.

Forrest

[happydogs]

Forrest, it's great news to hear that you are thinking of remastering some of those earlier releases.  I'll be first in line.

I have both of the Hiroshi Yoshimura releases.  I have Mori No Yoake on vinyl (amazing packaging) but it would be nice to have clean digital files without the lp pops and crackle.  And I have Green on a VERY rare cd.  And it's a gorgeous release (Mori No Yoake is "primitive" in comparison...good choice of words).  I know a lot of folks who are still looking for both of these still ...and not willing or maybe not able to pay what I had to pay to get them.  Too bad they are so expensive....and Yoshimura misses out when these pieces sell for $80-$120.

happydogs

[ffcal]

happydogs,

Thanks--glad to hear that there is still some interest in my older releases.  Have you thought about getting a cheap CD recorder for digitizing your LPs and then taking out the clicks via software?  You could also get a USB interface, though that may cost a little more.

Forrest

[happydogs]

I do have a USB turntable and cassette deck plugged into a computer so I can digitize my collection.  I'm doing that right now and that sparked my question for the forum.

I've used both Audacity and Adobe Audition software and they work pretty well.  Nothing like getting a digitally remastered recording on cd (or downloadable FLAC or WAV direct from an artist's website).

happydogs

[Bert/SonicImmersion.org]

I've been hunting down some rare music, often called "orphaned works."  These are recordings that have been abandoned by their owners (artists, labels).  Many of these have never made it into the digital age (cds, digital downloads).  Or, they were released briefly on cd or online but have now long been out of print. 

I'm learning that there seem to be a group of digital "monks" out there that are trying to save some of these recordings from being lost to time.  Some seem to be gathering in out of the way online "rooms" (IRC) and file-sharing programs (Soulseek), trying to keep this music available and not forgotten.  Sadly, the artists don't get the rewards for their hard work.  But there's not another alternative for those who love some of these recordings.

I'm wondering if there are others out there looking for some rare items.  And if you would share your list of those items you've been looking for forever.  Or that you have saved on vinyl or cassette, trying to keep them safe before their physical format tires or expires.

Here's my list as a conversation starter:

Usha - Die Morgenrote
Michel Genest - Harmonic 33
William Linton - Wayfarer
William Linton, Tony Gerber, Mason Stevens - Cosmic Flight
William Linton - Traveler's Tales
Cyrille Verdeaux - Love & Ecstasy
Don Robertson - Celestial Ascent
Don Robertson - Starmusic             ... and several other releases
Don Campbell - Crystal Meditations
Don Campbell - Lightning on the Moon  ... and others
Malcolm Cecil - Radiance
Mychael Danna - planets, stars and galaxies
Mychael Danna - mars the journey begins
Jordan De La Sierra - Gymnosphere: Song Of The Rose
Klaus Schønning - Lydglimt
Hiroshi Yoshimura - Green
Hiroshi Yoshimura - Mori No Yoake
Didier Bocquet - Eclipse
Lorq Damon - Journey To The Land Of Forgotten Dreams
Ryuichi Sugimoto - The Arctic II

Let's keep this music alive!

If only we could do something to get these at least online and available (iTunes, CDbaby, Google Music, Amazon Music, etc.).......

well, years ago I imagined some of this stuff might have has been picked up by the Canadian Oasis/Mirage label with their on-demand digital datafiles online. Those 2 tapes by Mychael Danna are great examples of worthy planetarium music, but I don't see it re-appear in any form. This also goes for the stuff by Mr Bocquet & Sugimoto's nice "Arctic II" release...

[Bert/SonicImmersion.org]

This is a good topic.  Yes, it seems like there are some great releases that just disappear and you can only find them on CD for outrageous prices (or not at all!).  My list includes:

Suso Saiz-Hypnotics.  Amazing guitar drone album.  Should've been huge, but sadly, not many heard it or had access to it. 

Solitaire-the pre-"Ritual Ground" releases that were on Musique Intemporelle in Germany.  Also, their Recycle or Die release "Fearless" from 1995.  BTW, what happened to Elmar Schulte???  I thought he was supposed to be resurrecting Solitaire several years ago with new music...
 
Yagya-Rhythm of Snow.  The fact this was not re-printed or reissued by now (or even on iTunes) is getting very annoying now!  My most wanted item. 

em:t label (Woob 2, Miasma, Qubism, etc.)  Never understood why these have not been re-issued or at least available somewhere (and I don't mean those free illegal download sites)

From what I heard a while ago, Elmar Schulte is still around, and there are signs he and Rudiger are at work on a new Solitaire release.