Gong - Radio Gnome Trilogy Remastered

[Bazcrim]

Looks like the whole Gong Trilogy is being remastered as per the Camembert Electrique reissue of last year. Flying Teapot at last properly issued on CD? Surely that is something to be excited about!

http://hifipig.com/gongs-radio-gnome...vip-treatment/

[Phlakaton]

This looks tasty!!

[Mister Triscuits]

This looks expensive!!

[soundsweird]

Finally!!! ...or is Charly pulling our chains? It does say from the original masters, but we've heard for years that the Flying Teapot masters were missing/lost. I haven't heard the Camembert remaster yet, but it did get good reviews. I'll get this if the reviews are similar, and that bonus CD should seal the deal.

[strawberrybrick]

I got this from Jonny GAS today:
"There will be a statement from the band about that release before it's release date. I can't say anymore right now."

Also, from Steve Hillage (FB)
"Steve Hillage: Hi Shankara Andy Bole Charly did NOT get the masters from Virgin (now owned by Universal). How do I know? A. I'm a member of the band B. I personally checked this with the Head of Catalogue at Virgin/Universal. We the surviving Gong members do Not Endorse this!"

So you know what that means. Gong won't get any $$$ off of it. God damn shame.

[polmico]

Yeah. I kinda figured that might be the case. Rats.

[strawberrybrick]

Just popped over to planetgong.co.uk to look up whether they had the Madfish Camembert Electrique reissue; they do, but here's the caveat:

"Note: Unfortunately, the only way the musicians will benefit in any way from sales of this release is if you buy it here - otherwise they can expect no royalties on sales or publishing. "

Wait and see.

[Rand Kelly]

NO SALE!

[Mister Triscuits]

Son of a bitch. I was saying "expensive" because it looked like I needed both the vinyl and CD versions. But if this is the rip-off it sounds like it might be, I may have to resist altogether. A damn shame indeed, as I thought the Camembert vinyl reissue was awesome.

[zombywoof]

Just popped over to planetgong.co.uk to look up whether they had the Madfish Camembert Electrique reissue; they do, but here's the caveat:

"Note: Unfortunately, the only way the musicians will benefit in any way from sales of this release is if you buy it here - otherwise they can expect no royalties on sales or publishing. "

Wait and see.

Hopefully they can work a similar deal with this release. Camembert was awesome.

[Bazcrim]

I wondered about the validity if this release. However, if Universal who own the rights to Angels Egg and You have not licensed this, then surely they can veto this release. Charly do say in their blurb, from the original tapes! That is being fairly specific about the origin of these remasters. Interesting to see how this pans out!

[JJ88]

^There's always been a bit of a snafu over this. In the UK at least, Angels Egg and You have CD releases by both Virgin and Charly. Flying Teapot has only seen release on CD here by the latter, and I understand this is different to the original Virgin record.

[calyx]

This seems to be a particularly nasty situation - Virgin (now part of Universal) still own the master tapes, but since the Virgin v/s Charly settlement of 1974 no longer hold the rights to reissue "Flying Teapot", while Charly and its heirs own the rights but not the masters. This is what Hillage's post seems to say, although he also seems to imply that Charly should have asked Virgin for the masters, but would such a request have been granted ?

[schlep]

Not a very settled settlement. I was happy to read (again, from Steve Hillage) that the Camembert reissue was a different kettle of fish - because it's from the BYG pre-Charly era - so presumably some royalties went to the band members, and it was a band-endorsed release.

[calyx]

Not a very settled settlement. I was happy to read (again, from Steve Hillage) that the Camembert reissue was a different kettle of fish - because it's from the BYG pre-Charly era - so presumably some royalties went to the band members, and it was a band-endorsed release.

Was it ? I remember reading the usual thing on the GAS website - that buying it from them would be the only way to ensure that the band made any money on it.

[olivetti]

I got this from Jonny GAS today:
"There will be a statement from the band about that release before it's release date. I can't say anymore right now."

Also, from Steve Hillage (FB)
"Steve Hillage: Hi Shankara Andy Bole Charly did NOT get the masters from Virgin (now owned by Universal). How do I know? A. I'm a member of the band B. I personally checked this with the Head of Catalogue at Virgin/Universal. We the surviving Gong members do Not Endorse this!"

So you know what that means. Gong won't get any $$$ off of it. God damn shame.

Cant find anything regarding this on Hillage FB page!?
Wanna provide a link?

[strawberrybrick]

It's from a post in the Planet Gong group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/plan...comment_follow

[strawberrybrick]

Not a very settled settlement. I was happy to read (again, from Steve Hillage) that the Camembert reissue was a different kettle of fish - because it's from the BYG pre-Charly era - so presumably some royalties went to the band members, and it was a band-endorsed release.

What he wrote was confusing:

"Hi Charles Snider please may I reiterate that the pre-Virgin Byg releases are a different matter. Also please note this is not just a question of royalties or money as I explained earlier. I was not a member of Gong in the Camembert & Banana Moon era and so I, like the other newer Trilogy Gong members, have no real say as to band members' endorsement for re-releases of the original Byg albums."

[olivetti]

It's from a post in the Planet Gong group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/plan...comment_follow

thanks!

[calyx]

What he wrote was confusing...

Yes, confusing, but the situation itself is confused... "Flying Teapot" was released as "a BYG/Virgin production" (as was, incidentally, "Angels Egg", although by then BYG had supposedly already gone brankrupt)... It was recorded for BYG at Virgin's Manor Studios, then some sort of deal was passed so that Virgin would release it, although it's not clear to me whether there was, initially, a French pressing by BYG. In any case, when in 1974 Virgin reissued "Camembert Electrique", a 100% BYG production, selling it for the price of a single, Charly (by now BYG's heir apparent) resurfaced and, if I remember correctly, the settlement involved Virgin relinquishing all rights, not only to "Camembert" but also to "Flying Teapot" - although not, it would appear, the actual master tapes !

[strawberrybrick]

The odd thing is that Charly shouldn't be able to release You without licensing...

Anyway, here's the Madfish release page, with tracklisting:
https://www.burningshed.com/store/ma...duct/534/6959/


1. Flying Teapot (Alternate Mix) [11:52]
2. Eat That Phonebook Coda (Early Version) [3:08]
3. Other Side Of The Sky (Single Version) [4:35]
4. Ooby-Scooby Doomsday or The D-Day DJ's Got The D.D.T.Blues [5:09]
5. Love Is How You Make It (Vocal Mix) [2:30]
6. Est-Ce Que Je Suis? [3:34]
7. Hip Hypnotise You [3:32]

[JJ88]

^Charly have had 'You' out for years over here but with a different cover (same as Angel's Egg).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Radio-Gn...2940551&sr=1-3

Now, some of those extras are surprising- I don't know of Charly ever putting out 'Ooby Scooby Doomsday'! I know it was made in this period but that one didn't get a release until Live Etc, right? It appears on the Virgin CD of Angel's Egg (similar moving around was done to Hillage's Live Herald).

[olivetti]

It's all very confusing! :-)

"Remastered from the original tapes and packaged in a deluxe box set, The Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy maintains the incredible sound quality and repackaging of Charly's critically acclaimed Camembert Electrique reissue."

So, should one asume that they got hold of the original tapes?

[JJ88]

This is a very mysterious release, yes. But I don't want the box, will they just put out the albums separately?

[Mister Triscuits]

So, should one asume that they got hold of the original tapes?

I would not make that assumption, since Hillage seems to be saying it isn't true.