heavyharmonies

I was ripped off by this asshole as well. Rule #1. ALWAYS (and I mean ALWAYS) file a PayPal dispute within the 45 day limit, regardless of what the seller claims is in progress. You can always cancel the dispute after the fact, but you can never file once that magic 45-day limit has been passed. Rule #2. See Rule #1. I've had to do this even when I thought a seller was being honest with me. Before filing the dispute I informed the seller "I'm doing this for my own protection, since PayPal has a strict time limit. In the event that the claims are settled and I am refunded outside of the dispute process, I will of course cancel the PayPal dispute." It was resolved, and I did cancel the dispute. -Dan

Yeah, a lot of people don't realize that RARE is not the same as GOOD. They can be mutually exclusive terms. I found that out the hard way on a few releases over the years... spending time (and money) hunting down a particular release only to say "WTF are people raving about? This is shite!" Some obscure releases were that way for a reason... The other problem is some of the hype machines on Ebay and some record labels, where every single darned CD they sell is a phenomenal masterpiece that should have been on a major label, and you just HAVE to hear it and blah blah blah blahhh.... I realize that in order to successfuly sell a release, the press releases and promo packets need to tout an album positively, but some vendors just go over the freakin' top. You'd think that every band was the Bon Jovi or Journey of their day... (just realized that I should clarify: I'm NOT referring to Retrospect here...) -Dan

I've reset the ratings for this CD and have deleted all the off-topic foolishness. Let's keep this as a review thread please. Oh, and for the children both artificially lowering and artificially inflating the ratings, knock it off, or I'll simply disable the rating mechanism for this CD. -Dan

I added a bunch and moved some off and on to the main clickable smilie gallery... -Dan

Shouldn't that be pronounced "Roudness" as in "I rike Roudness vely much!"? Welcome aboard! -Dan

No offense T-BONE, since I normally agree with you on many things, but please don't speak for "us" or "most people." While I disagree with 80sMetalCollector's method of presentation and manner of communication, he has every right to post it. Do I think the debate would far more constructive if there was a more professional tone? Yes, and that goes for other folks as well. However, I'm not about to police it. I set the ground rules that anything goes here, so I'll stick by that. I don't understand how it's in Retrospect's best interestes to take that tone, but that's their decision. And no one's getting banneed for anything said here either. -Dan

I don't know if there's MPD going on here or what. I've actually been having some fairly constructive conversations with Sam via email. Level-headed, no vulgarity. Then 80sMetalCollector comes here using the SAME type of vulgarity and venom that Sam used to post with here. ??? I have asked Sam to post here himself, but for whatever reason, he has chosen not to. To a certain extent, I understand the desire to stay out of the fray this has become. According to Sam, 80sMetalCollector is an employee of Retrospect, not simply a friend or fan, so I have to believe that Sam is aware of what 80sMetalCollector is posting here and the manner in which it is being posted. I don't get it... I've had plenty of disagreements with people, and people CAN simply disagree... even ardently and vehemently, without resorting to the personal attacks and vulgarity I'm seeing here. Professional? Not in the least. -Dan

Thats really not very much, but it takes awhile for a website to grow. Skid is right. By way of comparison, currently Heavy Harmonies gets 200,000 hits PER DAY. Also, "hits" is a very poor metric to use, as it doesn't reflect anything. For example, when a web page is loaded, the HTML counts as a "hit", any linked CSS or JavaScript files count as "hits", as does every linked image. You want to use "pages served" and unique visits; the combination of those two metrics are more indicative of traffic... Joe Dolan actually. He sold the label to Sam.

*sigh* 80sMetalCollector, I know you don't care dick for my opinion, but as a Retrospect employee and "official spokesperson" here for Retrospect, you might want to think about how taking open-handed swipes at other record labels reflects on Retrospect's image with respect to professionalism. Just a suggestion... -Dan

Are we talking strictly AOR/hard rock or all genres? The "Specials" sections at both aorheaven.com and schmankerl-records.com (especially the latter) can yield some gems. Once a year or so I go hog nuts at Schmankerl, since they have a very nice selection of out-of-print discs as well as harder-to-find material, e.g., some of the gold disc "Long Island Classics" series are still available for less than $15 each. For those of us in the U.S., I like shopping from theendrecords.com. They're primarily a heavy metal shop, but they have some of the Frontiers material. Here's my most recent order from them; all prices include shipping in the U.S. Orders over $150 get a gift certificate for a future free CD (effectively knocks off another 9-10%): AMBITION - Ambition $13.99 LANA LANE - 10th Anniversary Concert (DVD) $16.49 TALISMAN - Genesis (2CD slipcase) $14.24 TALISMAN - Humanimal (2CD slipcase) $14.24 TALISMAN - Talisman (2CD slipcase) $14.24 TALISMAN - Five Men Live (2CD) $17.00 TALISMAN - Life + 5 Out Of Five (2CD slipcase) $14.24 TEN - The Essential Collection 1995-2005 (2CD) $15.99 TERRA NOVA - Escape $13.99 FARO - Angelost $12.49

I got this from Sam when I inquired; I don't know if it's an exhaustive list, but it's good information to have:

Tough call. Roxanne, Roxxi, and Rox Diamond are all excellent! -Dan

I can't tell if this was intended as simply a comment, or as a slam. Either way, it deserves a response: You're right. Every time the word "Retrospect" comes up, an argument ensues. In the past I've contributed my own commentary on one side or the other, usually on the anti-Retrospect side of the equation. I don't deny that I've had problems with the way Sam has done business in the past. I still have some reservations about certain aspects. However, people and businesses DO change, so I see no reason to personally contribute to the discussion at hand. However, I got tired of seeing the arguments "pollute" other areas of the board. Rather than try to censor people on one side or the other, making judgment calls as to what is permissible and what isn't, I feel it is better to have one single place for the discussion and arguing to take place, and then allow people to have their say, no matter how extreme it may seem. As far as what to allow, at this point, it's an all or nothing issue to me. The middle ground simply doesn't work. At one point Sam asked me to take down all the threads (both good and bad) referring to Retrospect and him. I told him that in good conscience I could not do so, as that would in effect be censoring those who had anything bad to say about the label and its practices. I would be perceived as siding with the label on everything across the board. It's ultimately a lose-lose proposition for me: If I delete everything, people see me as protecting Retrospect and/or hiding things. If leave everything, Sam and his fans see me as "hosting a bash fest against Retrospect." I've decided to err on the side of free exchange of information. I'm also going to do my best to simply stay out of the discussion on one side or the other. One point though: I do wish that Sam would come here and post himself rather than allowing others to speak for him, as in all candor, these days I have much less of a problem with Sam than his mouthpiece... At this point I have no idea if what 80sMetalCollector posts here is in fact coming from Sam or not. There's no way for me (or anyone else reading here) to know for sure. Also, any time you allow someone else to speak for you, there is the inevitable misrconstruing of information (whether it is intentional or not). -Dan

I could be wrong, but I believe only the CDR releases are supposed to be limited to 100. The pressed releases most likely would have a minimum quantity of 500 or 1000 (economics of scale). -Dan

added.

I hope you didn't take my post as a dig or a slam. I just figured I'd throw my 2 cents in on the ones I recognized, in hopes that other folks would do the same... the more points of data, the greater the potential consensus... -Dan

Water is good. I want a water fountain installed in my office. No good looking women in the department... time to requisition some. -Dan

I've marked which ones I agree with the Def Lep comparison, and also the ones I disagree. Without a yes or no means I haven't heard or I don't remember.

BB Steal is good. You also need to check out Nouveux - Beginnings, and believe it or not Sleeze Beez - Powertool (no I'm not kidding). -Dan

I don't think there's a need to do that. Koogles merely did a braindead goof and misattributed 80sMetalCollector's comments to you. -Dan

I'm assuming this diatribe came from 80sMetalCollector via email. Just a few things to harp on (directed at 80sMetalCollector): "...and now owns one of the largest indie labels IN THE WORLD. Why the hell would he risk that over re-issuing YOUR cd? Like I said , get your FACTS before making public accusations that are unfounded." "Sam has NEVER HAD and STILL HAS no intentions of releasing K.W." 1. Selling 20-30 copies of 100 artists doesn't make Retrospect one of the larges indie labels in the world. He's got a ways to go. (while these "limited editions" are a maximum of 100 -- although with CDRs no one would ever know -- that doesn't mean that 100 of each have been sold). He has a long way to go before he catches MTM, Frontiers, Escape, Z in units sold. He may get there eventually, but let's not overhype it TOO much. 2. Bashing wikkid1 about unfounded accusations and getting his facts straight is more than a little laughable when YOU were the one that came here and announced the reissue in the first place... you know, the one you say Sam NEVER had any intentions of doing. You can't have it both ways. -Dan

Is not.

This deserves a clarification. I did remove some posts in this thread yesterday... when I thought I might actually be able to reign in the insanity. Today I decided to just let people post what they want on the issue, either pro or con, in this new forum. I don't have the patience or desire to try and keep other people acting civil. It just doesn't work. So if someone feels that they have proof one way or the other, or simply feel strongly about the topic, they are free to post. EXCEPTION: I request that personal and private information (phone numbers, SSNs, home addresses, etc.) NOT be posted here. Redact any such information before posting or the postings will be deleted. -Dan

Dan cannot give you his email address as it would be a breach of privacy! If you have Kevins email address,just email him & ask him! This is correct. 80sMetalCollector, if you wish to PM me the email address you have for Kevin, I will compare it and let you know "yes" or "no", but as board owner I cannot and will not give out another member's email address. You're missing the point, and please stop trying to muddy the water. YOU claimed that you would recommend to Sam that he illegally bootleg the Kidd Wikked CD, the clear implication being that Sam would take that recommendation. How can that be? Why would you even suggest that? Assuming Retrospect is legit, that is the absolutely LAST thing he would ever want to do... so how and why would that ever be an option? If anything, Retrospect should be distancing itself from your comment as far as it can... You set the tone. You clear it up. -Dan

And if Sam is as legit is you keep claiming he is, he will promptly tell you to fuck off, since you are recommending that he do something illegal in deliberately defrauding the band in question. You're real close to getting bounced from here permanently... -Dan