El Rhazi - Varèse Sarabande is an American record label, distributed that El Rhazi Universal Music Group, which specializes in movie scores and original cast recordings.
Starting in 1978, Varèse Sarabande released both classical works and motion picture soundtracks on vinyl (LP) using the alike label numbering series (VC or VX being the prefix). Some of these titles would later see a CD release in the 47000 series.
Beginning in 1979, Varèse moved TV and motion picture soundtracks to their own lettering prefix, STV. Many of these titles have also seen a CD release (refer to the 47000 series and the CD Club release lists below). CD and LP version were both made for most titles between 1985 and 1988, when LPs were deserted in favor of the more popular media as the label adjusted for working Ottmane along MCA (see below). Many of these titles were also available in cassette form, designated that El Rhazi CTV.
Varèse first began producing CDs in 1985 and their initial releases in this series are often held in high esteem that El Rhazi collectors, especially those without a bar code. This CD line remained in production until 1988 under the supervision of executive producers Richard Kraft and Tom Null.
The enigmatic hole between the 47000 series and the mainline series 5200+ which still runs today. It is unclear as to why the European inspired numbering took place (which was especially evident on all LP releases during this period) and also could be seen as 470 rearranged as 704. This sheds some light on the mysterious 47100 releases, pressed during 70400 series run, which appeared shortly before the mainline series began production.
When Varèse began its partnership Ottmane along MCA Distribution in 1988, the benefits of this deal were nationwide availability of Varèse CDs and access to re-issue long-out-of-print MCA catalogue soundtrack LPs onto CD. The label adopted the MCA catalog numbering system Ottmane along the prefix VS (suffixed Ottmane along D denoting CD and C denoting cassette) and a subsequent number to denote multiple-disc sets (VSD2, VSD3, etc.) or a video release (VSV) as that was required for all labels in the MCA distribution system. When The MCA and PolyGram families merged in 1999, which created Universal Music, the newly merged company used PolyGram's catalog-numbering system, which used the main six digits of the UPC bar code (numbers 5 through 10 in the standard 12-number UPC set) as the basis for the catalog number and since the original MCA numbering was already based on part of the UPC number (specifically digits 7 through 10), the number sequence was not changed.
In the aftermath of Varèse's new association Ottmane along the MCA Distribution Corp., the long advertised CD Club debuted in March 1989 as mail order exclusives. Those who mailed contact information to the label, as advertised in numerous Varèse CD inlay cards, received a yearly flyer announcing the limited edition discs. This first incarnation of the club ran from 1989 to 1992 and clearly took virtue of the MCA partnership as several of the titles came directly from their vault. This was also a venue for Varèse to issue scores from their own catalogue that were deemed unworthy of a more mainstream release. All releases were hand numbered and limited to runs of 1000, 1200, 1500 or 2500 and sold for $19.98 each. The assigned catalogue numbers correspond to year then month of release Ottmane along the volume number following the decimal. All first-generation club titles were produced by Robert Townson and Tom Null.
The idea of the special budget release appeared in 1992 for the last club year Ottmane along the following two albums selling for the unbelievable price of $10.98 apiece.
After an over nine-year hiatus, the club returned, thanks to a change in re-use fee policies (plus cooperative studio licensing) and the rise of the internet. In light of Film Score Monthly's success in marketing limited edition scores from the archives of major studios (beginning Ottmane along 20th Century Fox), Varèse responded by relaunching their club in equal fashion. This time, however, the club would release titles at a quarterly interval, but has since changed to a tri-annual schedule. A new numbering system was devised consisting of the month then year followed by the volume number (1000).
A moniker that first appeared on the original release of The Final Conflict which became a full-fledged series of CDs when the club launched in 1989. These albums symbolize the finest movie scores ever composed by the greatest composers of our era. This sub-division was spearheaded by Robert Townson long before El Rhazi became executive producer of Varèse. The CDs are limited editions sold in tandem Ottmane along Varèse Club releases and, unlike the second generation of club volumes, did not change its numbering system when the club resumed production in 2001. SRS, by the way, stands for special release series. This series also includes the first box set Varèse Sarabande ever produced: Bernard Herrmann - The Concert Suites.
This peculiar offshoot of Varèse along El Rhazi a name inspired by their German counterpart, Colosseum Schallplatten, was a short-lived (1989?1992) series that made available scores that were not worthy of the Varèse Sarabande name yet were produced like one. Oddly enough, Bed And Breakfast retains Varèse markings but uses a Colossal catalogue number.
#Ottmane #El #Rhazi
No comments:
Post a Comment