When I sold prerecorded music for a living in the pre-Napster era, releases like John Proulx's new album The Best Thing For You allowed me to make a small but meaningful impact on the industry. While my bread and butter was simply facilitating reorders of strong catalog and making bank on obvious forthcoming bestsellers, playing an active role in breaking artists provided me with a great deal of satisfaction. The new effort by Proulx fits my parameters:
- Can I succinctly pitch the album with genuine enthusiasm? Yes. John Proulx is going to the be the male version of Karrin Allyson! Or, if you will, an earthier version of Michael Feinstein! In fact, Feinstein is on the album! We're going to sticker the album with that! And if you're into jazz, you'll want to know that the album also features Sara Gazarek, Bob Sheppard, Bill Cunliffe and Joe Labarbera. In addition to standards and originals, Proulx covers material by Billy Joel, Sarah McLachlan and "Sing"- the Joe Raposo song everyone knows from the Carpenters' version. Let's get this title set up in every listening station and in-store play opportunity available! Anyone who likes Michael Feinstein, Michael Franks, Basia, Sade or Oleta Adams will buy The Best Thing For You if they hear it! Let's get behind this album and make it a hit!
- Is the album released by a record label with marketing dollars? Yes. MaxJazz is operated by smart people who stand behind their product.
- Is the packaging appealing? Yes. As with all MaxJazz albums, the handsome packaging immediately conveys the type of music it contains.
- Is there a definable audience for the album? Yes. gay/straight, male/female, black/white, ages 30-70. People who like jazz vocals, easy-listening and smooth jazz are potential buyers.
- Does the artist tour? Yes. He's in Michigan, New Mexico, California and Washington this month.
- What's that? You want to know if I like it? Well, I respect it. Say, let's go out for drinks before tonight's game. What's your favorite place near the stadium?
And it'd work. The buyers at Borders' headquarters in Ann Arbor would buy in. So would mom-and-pops that catered to adults throughout the Midwest. I'd make a few hundred additional dollars. Just as importantly, I'd feel as if I was doing something meaningful.
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I reviewed Chase Compton's Elevated Preview.
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Steddy P's new mix tape is titled While You Were Sleeping 2: End of the World Party.
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Trampled Under Foot has a Kickstarter campaign.
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Tech N9ne is "Alone".
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The Led Zeppelin concert film Ceremony screens again on Tuesday, November 13 at Town Center 20 with IMAX- Leawood, Barrywoods 24 with IMAX and ETX- Kansas City and at Cinemark 20- Merriam.
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Elliott Carter has died. He was 103.
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Ted Curson has died. Dig the sound of genius.
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Vieux Farka Toure and Idan Raichel reveal What's In My Bag?.
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Here's my Record Store Day/Black Friday wish list, in case you're in a gifting mood: 7" Clark,Gene- "Echoes/I Found You", LP Judas Priest- Screaming For Vengeance [Picture Disc] and 7" White Stripes- "Fell In Love With A Girl" [Opaque Red].
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"Things To Do In Wichita."
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There Stands the Glass readers partial to Adele, the the Shangri-Las, Duffy and Beach House will flip their lids over Kirby Kaiser.
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Kansas City Click: My official picks are published here.
(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)
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