SV: Transparency, Michael Shepard, Lost Reel Collection, and Me
SV: Transparency, Michael Shepard, Lost Reel Collection, and Me
Very good to hear this. Transparency is spreading the Sun Ra message very nicely, even to us = long away from where it was produced, and Michael is a nice guy, = obviously. If the Arkestra is satisfied, that=B4s it. I got all those CD=B4s and they are very well worth the price and more. Claes B, Sweden=20
-----Ursprungligt meddelande----- Fr=E5n: Sun Ra and his Arkestra [mailto:SATURN@NIC.SURFNET.NL] F=F6r lee = santa Skickat: den 18 september 2010 19:45 Till: SATURN@NIC.SURFNET.NL =C4mne: Re: Transparency, Michael Shepard, Lost Reel Collection, and Me
He has the Arkestra's blessing to put out all he can find, wherever he = can find=20 it. In other words, Michael is doing what the Arkestra wants him to do. = End of=20 discussion.
From: Stephen Antonelli theant99@yahoo.com To: SATURN@NIC.SURFNET.NL Sent: Sat, September 18, 2010 5:48:24 AM Subject: Transparency, Michael Shepard, Lost Reel Collection, and Me
Transparency ....... I haven't posted here for quite a while, but this = morning,=20 I have something to say.....
His name is Michael Shepard. He runs Transparency as many of you know. = He has=20 been selling Sun Ra materials for I would say the past 5 years or so. = Many of=20 you question his approach and ethics, as I do. For a record company, you = would=20 think that they would have a web site to sell and promote the music. = Googling=20 will not bring you to a Transparency home page. Sure, you will find many = links,=20 mostly to distributors of Transparency's releases. I think this is a = telling=20 sign of what this company is all about.
What I don't like about Michael is that he takes material that is = floating=20 around the trading circles and sells it as his own. In some cases, he = has had to=20 buy music that is not available anywhere else like the Lost Reel = Collection, for=20 instance. He then produces the CD's. I am ok with those situations. But = overall,=20 he is a loose cannon.
Yes, I am the person who was fortunate enough to pay for the Lost Reels. = I then=20 had the music transferred to digital form with help from others. I = wanted the=20 music to be heard by all, and I wanted to recoup my personal investment. = I=20 sought out some reputable people in the record business, but there were = no=20 takers. I was later contacted by Michael, and he and I worked out a deal = where I=20 was able to break even, and he was able to produce the CD's for that = collection.=20 It was important to me that I did not profit from this. I worked it out = so that=20 the money I got back equalled the money I had to pay to get the reels in = the=20 first place.
The reels were truly lost for about 10 years. They were stored in a = record store=20 in the Philadelphia area. I know for fact that members of the Arkestra = sold the=20 reels to that record store in the mid 90's. I never inquired as to who = those=20 members were, and I really did not want to know. My intent was always to =
preserve the reels, and keep them together as a collection. I think I = have=20 accomplished that.
There were friends of mine (at the time) who were very upset that I made = a deal=20 with Transparency. As a result, friendships were lost. To me, unless = they had=20 invested thier own money in this venture (which they did not), they have = no=20 right to judge what I did. You know who you are.
There was never a guarrantee to me that the reels actually contained = music. As=20 it turned out, they did! I have no regrets for how this all played out, = except=20 that I would have been better served if I was able to work with someone = other=20 than Michael. But what's done is done, and I sincerely hope that all of = you have=20 enjoyed the Lost Reel Collection.
Steve Antonelli theant99@yahoo.com