Gary Numan Digest Thu, 17 Apr 97 Volume 1 : Issue 322 Today's Topics: answer me this Gary Numan Digest V1 #321 Gary Q's Numan and Dramatis wants point of view Random - missing four reviews of Premier Hits Video Formats Video Transfers WILL IT EVER BE HEARD? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Wed, 16 Apr 1997 01:49:49 -0500 From: paddygav@kcnet.com (Paddy) Subject: answer me this To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Why is it that, even in England, where Numan has had countless hits (though I had thought he had more #1s than the Premiere Hits Comps said) it still seems that the emphasis is on Cars? I mean, sure it was a runaway hit, but was it that much more popular than "We Are Glass" "I die:You Die" or Complex"? I mean top 5 ain't no slouch either. Yet I continue to read about Gary being asked to play "Cars" again. Also, if someone would be so kind as to send me the post Beggar's chart info (albums and singles), that'd be super cool. My maching keeps shutting down when I try to access the whole discography. I really just want the stuff that charted (solo, Sharpe&, Radio Heart). Thank ye! By the way, is it safe to assume that since Gary's stuff came out on the huge Asylum set that he is still hot in Japan? Get on uP! http://kcnet.com/~paddygav/images.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 15:39:47 -0700 From: Ronald Cole Subject: Gary Numan Digest V1 #321 To: numan@cs.uwp.edu (Gary Numan) theartdept@worldnet.att.net writes: >I ordered two videos (Shadow Man and Dream Corrosion) from NuWorld and they >arrived several weeks later. Both of them work fine. Perhaps, perhaps not. All the NTSC videos I bought from Numa a year ago were mono, despite the word "Stereo" appearing on the cases. I didn't complain about it, though. Have they fixed this "flaw" or has it still gone unnoticed?? -- Forte International, P.O. Box 1412, Ridgecrest, CA 93556-1412 Ronald Cole Phone: (760) 499-9142 President, CEO Fax: (760) 499-9152 My PGP fingerprint: E9 A8 E3 68 61 88 EF 43 56 2B CE 3E E9 8F 3F 2B ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 10:10:43 -0800 From: alexander way Subject: Gary Q's To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Dear Gary, I keep remembering an article about you in 1980 in which you had supposedly singled out Can's "Tago Mago" as being one of your all-time favorite records. Is there any truth to this? Along those lines, do you find it difficult now to listen to the music that you enjoyed when you were a teenager or younger simply because your life has changed so much since then? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Apr 97 07:58:00 PDT From: Clive Jones Subject: Numan and Dramatis wants To: "'numan@cs.uwp.edu'" Hi Everyone, I'm still looking for a VHS original/copy of 'The Touring Principle' - if anyone can just copy me a PAL 'B' (UK) version I'll pay well! Also looking for Dramatis singles/12" releases. BTW, GN appeared briefly on VH-1 last week introducing one of his fave tracks (sorry I can't remember what it was - I was half asleep!!). TIA Clive ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 16 Apr 1997 06:31:28 +0100 From: "marcus denton" Subject: point of view To: Hi to all Numan fans out there, First may I say I have been into Garys music since his career began and I can appreciate his contribution over the years as more than enough reward for my support. I was therefore less than happy with ref: Nick Fox/Austin Baggett issue 321 vol 1 It is not my intention to turn this digest into a personal flame but felt the articles were totally negative and therefore deserved further debate. I will concentrate on Austins remarks as I have already written to Nick Fox via direct email. Anyway Austin creatively spent the best part of his article knocking Garys past image changes. What Austin fails to understand is that each and every one of them suited the period of time they were conceived for. Ok not all them suited every last Numan fan but in general at the time they were perfectly acceptable. (to borrow a phrase) Besides I cant remember too many complaints as we were all too busy having a good time. :) Austin also remarked that the Numan/Sharpe collaboration in his opinion was a mistake. I may be alone on this one but I felt they fused perfectly on Change your Mind which in my opinion was a superb release, furthermore it proved very successful to non Numan fans now that cant be bad surely Austin ? Gary may have had problems in identifying his target audience but he hasn't given up. Austin says himself he has no idea how Gary could be more effective, but goes on to take a pop at the management. After reading Austins article I was left with the impression he felt he could do better. (another armchair expert :-) Whatever Its just not a simple matter of being seen on the right TV shows etc. Ok Barry Neeve from basildon might not go out and buy the Exile but one appearance can lead to another. As they say in showbiz any publicity is good publicity. As to what Gravity kills fans think of Gary I couldn't give f*** Before I end this I would like to point out that Garys music is the most important thing as far as Iam concerned. I understand Austin probably means well but how his comments can possibly help are beyond me, especially as most of them are based on history which until now I was led to believe is something that you cannot change. If Gary is reading this debate I would like to say "cheers Gary you are appreciated" Marcus Ps Bary Neeve is innocent :) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 19:46:48 +0100 (BST) From: "P.G. Whalley" Subject: Random - missing four To: numan@cs.uwp.edu Hi everyone, I absolutely agree with Austin's concern about the current list of artists on Beggars' Random website. The likes of Jesus Jones and EMF haven't been heard of since 1991, when they both had massive years, but both very quickly faded thereafter. The participation of the likes of Beck, NIN and Tori Amos is vital. I'm sorry to say that without these, the list mainly comprises of new, up-and-coming bands and mixers using the project to make a name for themselves, and has-beens using the project to haul their name back in the spotlight. Presumably, BB are pulling out all the stops to get the likes of Beck involved in Random, let's hope they manage it. Keep the faith, Phil. ------------------------------ Date: 13 Apr 97 08:19:02 EDT From: Michel Lafontaine <102162.2077@CompuServe.COM> Subject: reviews of Premier Hits To: "INTERNET:numan@cs.uwp.edu" Here are 2 reviews I found in our local papers. The first one is from a free cultural weekly(circ.50 000) under the section called `` teeny tiny reviews``: PREMIER HITS : all killer and no filler.New wave at it`s best. 8/10 Not much as you can see but better than nothing The second is from the largest daily in the province,in it`s saturday supplement ,translated from French : GARY NUMAN`S REHABILITATION ? Does the album Gary Numan Tubeway Army, Premier Hits serve to rehabilitate this British musician,one of the most controversial artist of the new wave movement or is it simply a marketing ploy to make money with a few hits? Let`s be clear one one thing: Gary Numan was not a pale imitation of David Bowie, like so many of his detractors have (and still) say. But he wasn`t a revolutionary artist either,the precursor of techno,like the liner notes of this British label Beggar`s Banquet which released the compilation this week would have us believe. Between being a copycat and a genius is a large area that has been explored by Gary Numan during his years in the business, first while in Tubeway Army ( from `78 to `80), and then as a solo artist ( up to his first retirement in `84). It`s this period, during which Numan released 8 recordings on Beggar`s Banquet (4 as tubeway Army) that is covered by this compilation. It is with an immense pleasure that people my age will find 2 titles that were new wave anthems : Cars ( in 2 different versions ) and Are Friends` Electric? and to a lesser degree I Die : You die. It`s with curiosity that occasional fans can hear the first 3 singles by Tubeway Army ; That`s Too Bad, Bombers and Down In The Park , songs that form a bridge between declining punk music at the time and the emergence of new wave. But it is with consternation that you realize the limits of Numan`s talent, because apart from the titles mentioned above there are no other great songs on this compilation. Including a remix of Cars,this CD contains 18 titles, all remastered.Six are excellent, even argueably must have; six are simply interesting while the last six are insufferable. Is this enough for you to buy this record? It`s up to you to decide. So those are the write ups I`ve seen until now.I`ll keep my eyes open for more and don`t forget to go buy it even if you`ve got the UK pressing already... Imagine if sales are brisk in the US and Canada....I wish there was a smiley for ''keeping my fingers crossed''. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 02:39:39 -0400 From: brezniakdavid@webtv.net (David Brezniak) Subject: Video Formats To: numan@cs.uwp.edu For all that answered the question about video formats, (PAL or NTSC): in case none of you knew this: NuWorld offers both types of formats on video, as well as CDNow. You'll find alot of import videos are available on both formats. Just a bit more info from me to you! Take Care!! David P Brezniak Subject: WILL IT EVER BE HEARD? To: gary numan digest Dear Numanoids, What is it with the rise of testiness between British and North American fans? Who has suffered and perservered the most? For the British Numanoids, dealing with the open hostility of the press and the "attitude" you get from those who dislike what Gary stands for. For the North American Numanoids, dealing with isolation and the extreme difficulty in obtaining his work or seeing him live. For those outside of these territories, the access to Gary's work and anything about him is essentially nil. As I read some of the previous postings, even finding Gary's CDs in Britain can, sometimes, be a challenge. All of those who criticize Gary for not releasing EXILE and waiting to secure a record contract should think twice before the moral indignation face is put on. Gary can only go on for so long losing money on touring and having limited releases of his work. It does not take a financial genius to know that year after year of only moderate record sales combined with expensive, money losing touring will soon make it impractical for Gary to continue in the music business. Therefore, we have a choice, should Gary listen to those who insist he end his "greed" and release new material now, or, does finding a record deal(s) serve us better? I, for one, believe Gary must seek out record deals. As a fan of his music, being able to buy his music makes it easier to be a fan, plus, introduce it to friends and acquaintances. If it is very difficult to buy his music, then it becomes more difficult to keep fans. What if the worldwide deal never comes through? Record companies seem to behave very differently now than when Gary started in the business. If you're not a muti-platinum seller, or seem to be one, the majors want nothing to do with you. When Gary started in the business, record companies were buying up any new material they could get their hands on, in hopes of signing up the next big thing. Nowadays, only established artists get the notice of the majors. That is why companies like SubPop out of Seatlle and Nettwork in Vancouver and other myriad new players have become so prominent. They are just about the only ones willing to take chances on new or innovative artists. When SubPop hit big time with grunge, the majors were leaping all over each other to sign up any and all Seattle based grunge bands, but, only after they had proven themselves on smaller labels. Gary's music is profoundly unique. That is probably the overriding aspect of his music that makes us such dedicated fans. While the market for his music is by no means guaranteed, there are enough music lovers out there who are searching for something to pique their interest, to get them back to listening to a CD over and over again, trying to decipher the lyrics or listen to the unique sounds and production. That market, I believe, is a Gary Numan market waiting to be tapped. It may not be huge, but I believe there exists the potential for Gary to achieve sales of approximately 2 million units per worldwide release. To do this will take a lot of deal making, but payoff in the end. How is this possible? Stay tuned to the next Digest for The Plan, at least as I propose it. Let's hope this becomes the year things really move forward for Gary Numan and us Numanoids, all over the world. Thanks, Larry B. DOBSON Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. ------------------------------ End of Gary Numan Digest ******************************