Bad news re POB/Sony Germany

[Mooger Fooger]

I really, REALLY hope I'm wrong, but it appears all the major storefront retailers in Germany are not stocking the new POB release. In many cases I get blank looks and stares when inquiring about the reissue. If you want the CD you have to specially order it.

Now that reeks to me of a complete lethargic attitude by both retailer and label. Surely Sony has a bit more faith than that in a CD. At least one tokewn disc in the shop??? Of course I realise it is a reissue, but given the amount of rave reviews I have actually been reading in this country, it strikes me as odd that the few days after official "release" there is no CD to show for it. Heck some specialist shops suggested it  hasn't even been released here!!!

Does anyone in the know have a possible expolanation?

[Shady]

As it turns out some stores in Europe are getting the Album late, so you may have to wait a few days

[dogear]

WOM and Saturn in Wiesbaden/Germany didn't have a clue on Saturday, when I was inquiring about POB.

[Susan]

Here in the US, as of Friday, Barnes and Noble still had it on-line.  Check out www.bn.com.  It was also very reasonably priced at $20.99 or something like that.

Good luck, guys!

[elnombre]

www.play.com will have it at a great price and postage is free within Europe.

[BiNNS]

I live in a relatively big Canadian city, and yet NO one is carrying POB! But apparently TONS of people are asking the stores about the release date. That made me really happy to hear. 

[roll plymouth rock]

I also live in a big Canadian city and I went to 4 stores to find the CD on the 17th with no avail, I was bummed, but quite frankly not surprised. So thank goodness for the internet and digital files to tide me over until my 3LP arrives

[TonyW]

Hey Dwight - back in your old home town I checked around in the month leading up to release if it was listed - nada - checked again a week before release and still nada. None of the majors have it listed and haven't bothered to check the brick and mortar as futility is not on my agenda. Just did another online check and still nothing except for good old Red Eye who have it on import and in stock and have it as their "Album of the Week".

[Mooger Fooger]

Having read all the responses I will have to reinforce that the online stores such as Amazon, CDWow and a few others do have it. I'm was more shocked that Saturn, who prides itself on having the world's biggest selection of CDs would neglect to have this CD. Considering they had the GV reissue, the Pet Sounds repackage, and the 50 variations of Kenbworth, no POB is unsettling. You'd think a CD with preorders would motivate someone in the same store to think perhaps more people would be interested.

[Awesoman]

Does anyone in the know have a possible expolanation?

It's a reissue of a little-known album that never sold well to begin with.  Sony is not going to invest in a wide release of album no one has heard of.  I'm not knocking the album itself; it's just the nature of the business.  The fact that it got re-released at all is noteworthy.  You should be able to find it online.   

[punkinhead]

 

wow, we get something before the UK? noway, that never happens

[Malc]

Well - hopefully the fact that it has just hit Top 20 in the UK charts will make some folk sit up and take note !

[Mooger Fooger]

That's what I'm hoping. While I've been a BB fan long enough to not expect the same attention as current acts, I have always maintained the delusion that a CD is made available to buy.

If Sony are so disinterested in plugging the CD, why go to all the trouble of video interviews, video clips and a leased vinyl? Someone has a slightly warped view of too much expenditure on a "dead-end product" so to speak.

Heck and the execs scratch their scalps trying to work out why pirating is so rife when the legit CD is no-where to be found.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Sony is not going to invest in a wide release of album no one has heard of.  I'm not knocking the album itself; it's just the nature of the business.  The fact that it got re-released at all is noteworthy.  You should be able to find it online.   

Take it you've managed to avoid seeing the dozens of stories and reviews of the album in both the UK and US press ? Not to mention the official website and the wonderful EPK on amazon ? Here in the UK there have been major features in daily newspapers, and that investment has been rewarded by a Top 20 album. Sony/Legacy have invested time and money making this a benchmark reissue. I'd be very surprised if it wasn't nominated for a Grammy.

[The Shift]

Take it you've managed to avoid seeing the dozens of stories and reviews of the album in both the UK and US press? Not to mention the official website and the wonderful EPK on amazon ? Here in the UK there have been major features in daily newspapers, and that investment has been rewarded by a Top 20 album.

How widely reviewed has the album been in the US? I used to buy Rolling Stone from time to time but they don't stock it in t'Yorkshire Dales...

[Alf64]

  I work at the local Wal-mart supercenter, and didn't see it in the electronics department... yet. So I am wondering if Denny's music is just a niche market in Wal-Mart's eyes?

[SG7]

I think sadly for a lot  here in the US, it's not a big deal. Kind of sad though 

[Jon Stebbins]

This is a weird thread...is this the one for the people who see the glass as half empty? Must be. A major label has gone to incredible lengths and taken great care in compiling and packaging this release. its one of the best ever. The label and the production team has also spent tons of money promoting it...radio sampler, radio show, promo films, EPK...giant trade ads...they've got it in the top 20 in the UK and the US chart on Wed. will reflect a surprise I predict. The press has been all over this thing for a month, reviews and features in Uncut, Mojo, Record Collector, Guardian, Observer, Q, Blender, Rolling Stone, Record Collector, Boston Globe, The Sun, American Way, Ascap magazine, and on and on and on...its everywhere. If anyone here thinks it hasn't gotten high profile attention then you have not been conscious for the last 30 days. This past Friday POB rose to #2 on Amazon...#2!! My f'n God dude!! That's in Music, not just Rock or Adult alternative...but music overall. It was #2 on HMV as well. #16 in the LP charts in the UK...RIGHT NOW. It didn't even chart there in '77. If some stores don;'t have it or sold out of it it doesn't really matter...people have been grabbing it up on Amazon and other on-line stores for a month now...the whole first pressing has been snapped up, and its pretty much gone...more are being pressed, orders are being filled...and Grammy buzz is in full swing. I can't get into this...gee if only the label had done this or that...not appropriate this time. They did, and will, and are doing a great job.

[Alf64]

  Jon, I understand your excitement. However, Wal-Mart must be seeing this as a one time thing. A niche market if you will. I am keeping my eyes PEELED for a display for POB though. Us being huge BB fans see this bigger than stores like Wal-mart do. I imagine it has gotten HUGE reviews in every major music magazine.  I have it on the original LP, CD and now the remaster. I have suggested it to the Electronics department manager, and they say "Who?" 

[Jon Stebbins]

Jon, I understand your excitement. However, Wal-Mart must be seeing this as a one time thing. A niche market if you will. I am keeping my eyes PEELED for a display for POB though. Us being huge BB fans see this bigger than stores like Wal-mart do. I imagine it has gotten HUGE reviews in every major music magazine.  I have it on the original LP, CD and now the remaster. I have suggested it to the Electronics department manager, and they say "Who?" 

If you are using the manager at your local Wal-Mart as the guage to whether this release is getting a fair shake or not...ummmm...I can't help you. Dennis Wilson won't register with Wal-Mart or most Wal-Mart shoppers until AFTER the Grammy, AFTER the feature on Access Hollywood, and AFTER River Song is a Shampoo commercial, AFTER Beyonce covers Dreamer ...AFTER American Idol has Dennis Wilson night...then Wal-Mart will get a few in stock.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I seriously don't get people posting here complaining that they can't buy it in [insert your local record emporium here]. You post here, ergo you have a PC and internet capability. So...

Why the foda didn't you order it from Amazon ?? Huh, huh ??

[roll plymouth rock]

Dennis Wilson won't register with Wal-Mart or most Wal-Mart shoppers until AFTER the Grammy, AFTER the feature on Access Hollywood, and AFTER River Song is a Shampoo commercial, AFTER Beyonce covers Dreamer ...AFTER American Idol has Dennis Wilson night...then Wal-Mart will get a few in stock.

I hear Beyonce has got Jay-Z to rap a verse on her remix of Dreamer, its going to be on the Wal-Mart edition of POB....you know, with that version of Holy Man with the Foo Fighters and Queen

[TonyW]

I'm not moaning and groaning but it still does not change the fact that POB has not been released by Sony in major western markets such as Germany, Canada and Australia. Is somebody going to rattle the cage at Sony HQ? At least for Dennis's sake.

And yes I have ordered it through Amazon and I am still patiently waiting.

[Mooger Fooger]

My thoughts exactly. I'm (im)patiently waiting as well.

[Rich Panteluk]

Alright folks.  Deep Breath.  I want to be clear. 
I am a huge Dennis Wilson fan (and all of the bb's really).  I bought POB on cd the day it came out back in the early 1990's.  In fact I buy just about every Beach Boys related cd the day it comes out because I am that big a fan (or geek which ever term you prefer).

I do feel that Sony has done a great job with this release in terms of putting together a great product.  Impressive track listing, great liner notes and general packaging.  I am also very excited that the trouble has been taken to do radio specials, promo posters, bookmarks, cd singles 5 track promo cds, websites, podcasts and EPKs.  Very cool.  Heck, I am thrilled because we were not sure all the legal hurdles could be handled to make a release like this happen.  And the fact that it has and that there are a bundle of beautiful bonus tracks and a ton of Bambu material all in glorious sound quality is a dream come true.  As an avid collector it is nice to have a bunch of neat promo stuff to hunt down that the record company cared enough to come up with.  It is clear that this release was put together with love by people who care about the quality of the finished product.

I enjoy your writing very much Jon (I have two copies of both the DW book and the DM book and will be buying the expanded DW book the day it is released).

But that brings me to my one and only gripe about this release (anyone who knows me will confirm that I am a glass half full - bright side of life kind of guy). 

I STILL don't have the new POB / Bambu release yet. 

Is it my fault?  No.  I did everything a reasonable person should do to get it on the day it was released.  I pre-ordered it from amazon OVER A MONTH AGO (two copies actually).  I'll happily forward you my amazon pre-order for those desiring proof.  I also pre-ordered it from my local HMV, and local PLAY too as well as a copy on ebay.  But like most geeks who are excited, on the 17th I wanted it in my hands immediately and realized that ordering on line via mail delivery can lead to delays.  So I checked the following stores on the day of release (and I live in a fairly large city of well over a million people in Canada):
HMV (several locations)
Play
Megatunes
Wal-mart
Best Buy
Future Shop
A & B Sound

No store in my city had it.  I was told a bunch of promising things though.  Most of these stores have it on order and that people have been asking about it.  That is great (I mean that sincerely) but I still don't have the cd and none of the stores could give me a definitive date that the cd would be in.

I am not freaking out or super mad about it, but I am frustrated (and rightfully so).  I suspect that the stores may get it in tomorrow (Tuesday June 24) as I have experience a one week delay in the past for certain releases.  I will continue to wait (as patiently as I can) and  I am certain that fairly soon my ebay copy, or my pre-ordered amazon copy (which I received an e-mail alerting me of the delay) will arrive.  Or that the the majority of the stores will have it in stock soon enough.  But it was unpleasant to have a bunch of people basking in the glory of the new release and feel left out - even though I made every effort to get it right away.

AGD, your comment bothered me because I did order several copies on line (Amazon and others).  And I have heard you complain before about product availability before. 

Are there other countries or areas that do not have this release yet?  I suspect there are.  And in the interests of keeping Dennis' music as high in the charts as possible (or just even to keep the fans happy) it would be best if stores had the cd in stock.  I believe Mr. Stebbins and Mr. Doe would agree with that sentiment.  I feel pretty confident that anyone in my situation would feel similarly.

Oh well, like I said I don't think I will have to wait much longer and I am excited that when I do get it I know it will be worth the wait.  To tide me over I have been listening to the great new podcasts and my old POB cd and for good measure I bought the Criterion 2 dvd version of Two-Lane Blacktop.