DownBeat March 1991 [antikvár]

on the beat PUSHING THE ENVELOPE by Dave Helland Once upon a time there wasn't such a thing as record stores. You bought records in furniture stores in the city and at crossroads stores in the country. Why furniture stores? Because the same folks who made couches, tables, and automans were also the earliest makers of record players and they needed to insure a supply of discs. Why at crossroads stores? Out in the country you bought everything at a crossroads store. All that was a little before my time, but I do remember, at one time or another, buying records in music instrument stores, drug stores, and supermarkets. I also Jerome Callet Rewards Rejection! Jerry Callet says its impossible for a trumpet player to try his new trumpet he calls without buying it that's right as a matter of fact, you won't be able to put it down when you play it, let alone return it. But if you can reject the horn, Jerry will reward you with a hand made, just for you Free $100.00 Custom Mouthpiece! Piece of cake right? Try the horn Send it back Keep the piece No sweat. Wait a minute you're thinking, whats the catch? Even Callet is not that crazy. There's no catch, honest! Try the horn. Send it back no questions asked and keep the $100 mouthpiece for your trouble. Oh, yes maybe we should mention that the return rate so far is almost zero, but don't let that stop you maybe you'll be able to reject the horn then again, maybe you won't. Anyway here's the toll free number you can call for more information. 1-800-JCS-HORN Jerry's ready and waiting for your call so he can cut your custom free mouthpiece. ^^ i OR I ol/A Air^nii setting new standards in trumpet and mouthpiece technology 125 Lake Avenue • Staten Island, N.Y. 10303 remember when record stores had soundproof rooms so you could listen before you bought and record stores didn't put the records on display—just the covers. The records themselves were behind the counter in heavy green sleeves, hence the name "green stocking" for this anti-shoplifting practice. The point of this little history is to ask who needs the CD longbox, which the most profound thinkers of Western civilization agree is an abomination before the Lord; and, if you're as slippery fingered as I am, you probably don't think much more of those easily-broken, plastic jewel packs either. The fine points of the argument for and against long boxes needn't concern us here. Enough said that small valuable objects need big packages to discourage shoplifting and that retailers have spent millions in remodeling their stores, cutting back on LP bins to make room for CDs and cassettes. On the flip side, environmentalists object to the waste inherent in a package that is ripped apart and thrown away upon purchase, is difficult to recycle, and adds a buck or more to packaging costs. I've been led to ponder this problem, not out of concern for the environment nor the effect of theft on the merchant's bottom line, but because my stereo room looks like Imelda Marcos' shoe closet. I've got shoe boxes full of CDs all over the place. In addition, there are the albums I've replaced with CDs but haven't gotten rid of because of the suspicion that greenhouse-effect gases aren't good for CD longevity. This doesn't leave much room, especially if you include the books on music, the videos, the electronics to play all this, my lover, our dog, plants, bookcases, and, in the winter, an exercise bike. And then, compliments of New World Records, came the answer to my space problem. CDs by the Jazz Passengers and the Kamikaze Ground Crew came in little plastic envelopes with just the booklet and a soft sheet to protect the music surface. The envelopes, produced by Univenture of Dublin, Ohio, took up about a third of the depth of a jewel pack. Well, one thought led to another and I wondered why buy CDs in long boxes at all. Bring back green stocking—some stores I've seen already have—and the listening rooms. Or at least headphones. That'Q be the day. Meanwhile, I have a couple modest questions. What need is there for record labels sending discs to djs or for mail-order houses to use either long boxes or jewel packs? Why replace a broken jewel pack with another bulky, breakable jewel pack? Why take home a longbox you're just going to throw away? Rip it open at the store and hand it to the clerk. Sting would approve. DB B DOWN BEAT MARCH 1991