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Post by Mark on Mar 14, 2007 20:31:31 GMT
Hi Caite
I am pleased that you got your copy fairly easily. Good old Walmart ! I remember them well from my trips to the states. Enjoy it.
Mark.
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Post by socalboy on Mar 14, 2007 21:11:43 GMT
Chief Dark Cloud here again. Someone sprinkle some Hayley dust in my direction. I really need it.
I just returned from not one, but two Borders stores where I SUCCESSFULLY purchased Celtic Treasure at the second. The first store in Pasadena, California did not have the album at all. I should have checked the Borders website first which indicates that Celtic Treasure is on "order" which means it is “temporarily out of stock” at that store. Something of a misnomer since the manager there told me it simply had not arrived yet.
I had a nice chat with the manager at Borders in Glendale. They had the album displayed beautifully with numerous copies and the same poster that appears in James’ photo. He told me the poster is mandatory at all stores per headquarters. He also said that Hayley was “it” this week, meaning that Celtic Treasure is numero uno for in-store promotion. I liked that a lot. He was also familiar with her and said she was “spectacular.” I liked that too. One of the store clerks overheard our conversation and shuffled over to examine a copy of Celtic Treasure. He said he was going to play it on the storewide audio system, which at the time was playing Loreena McKennitt. Sometimes, it’s not all about focus groups and market surveys. A little human interaction can work wonders. The manager asked if I was a rep, and I told him no, just a fan.
This manager also shared with me that “nobody buys records here anymore,” - blatant hyperbole, but you get the point. I asked if he meant this particular store, and he said everywhere. He had moved from Borders in Hawaii and worked at 4 different stores in California. We agreed that the big retailers were cannibalizing record store sales, but that ultimately young people will be downloading everything.
Borders is doing an admirable job promoting the album as the evidence shows. At my local Barnes and Noble Celtic Treasure was not quite as prominently displayed, but at least they had the album stocked. Happily, Caite found Celtic Treasure at both Walmart and Target in Minnesota. I don’t know what’s going on in California because they weren’t there yesterday and there was no indication of an imminent arrival. If someone else has a different experience in California I'd like to hear about it.
I found the following quote from an article reposted by Katie to be particularly telling. It describes Decca’s approach to the promotion of Odyssey in 2005:
“Hayley Westenra’s target audience is probably the broadest of any cross-over artist with whom we deal,” he says. “Her potential consumer is typical of the massive passive of occasional middle-England music buyers…”
Sounds a lot like the British equivalent of America’s Walmart shopper.
Hayley will crack this great big country wide open one way or another because she is just that good. Maybe West Side Story will prove to be a pivotal event. In the meantime, I’m steamrolling anyone that gets in her way.
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Post by toronado on Mar 14, 2007 21:23:17 GMT
Well, I was wondering a bit, and I thought of this. I know, for instance, in Orlando, that our Wal-Marts and Targets cater quite a bit more to the large hispanic population we have. I would imagine the same could be said in Los Angeles. I wonder if the store managers in those areas simply don't believe Hayley will be popular with their demographics. I know as someone that has negotiated with Wal-Mart in the past that the store managers have quite a bit of autonomy in deciding what and how much they stock.
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Post by socalboy on Mar 14, 2007 21:50:07 GMT
Well, I was wondering a bit, and I thought of this. I know, for instance, in Orlando, that our Wal-Marts and Targets cater quite a bit more to the large hispanic population we have. I would imagine the same could be said in Los Angeles. I wonder if the store managers in those areas simply don't believe Hayley will be popular with their demographics. I know as someone that has negotiated with Wal-Mart in the past that the store managers have quite a bit of autonomy in deciding what and how much they stock. A quite plausible explanation. The Walmart store I visited was in Duarte, a rather typical bedroom community in Southern California. I did see a fairly substantial Latino section in the CD racks. Yet there were “massive-passives” galore wandering the isles. If what you say is true, there is good news and bad news. That kind of autonomy means that a single individual can keep Hayley out of his store entirely. On the other hand, it also means that my experience may be isolated. One hopes.
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Post by roger on Mar 14, 2007 22:04:44 GMT
I have just received an Email from Amazon.com advising me that they have overcharged me for my copy of the album So they're sending me a credit of $0.02 Now let's see...... what can I buy with that Grant Hi Grant, For the third time today, we are in the same position. I guess we could combine our newly acquired wealth and go out and blow 4 cents on something! But will we incur a fee for the currency exchange? Roger
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Post by kmsmith8 on Mar 15, 2007 0:44:54 GMT
I am happy to hear that Caite had success in finding Celtic Treasure. I just returned from the Best Buy that said it had copies online. I couldn't find the CD, so I asked an employee. The computer said that they had three. After looking for it for about ten minutes, there conclusion was, "I don't know." On a positive note, I did find a lonely copy of Odyssey. I moved it to a more prominent shelf.
Katie
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Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,715
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Post by Joe on Mar 15, 2007 2:48:45 GMT
Did it look anything like this one, Joe? The above image was taken and supplied by James Esquivel, HWI's West Coast Correspondent. It was taken in his local Borders in California a couple of days ago. If it is similarly displayed in Borders stores throughout the States, it should do rather well! Roger YES !!! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifMy store had CW dvd's and cd's below the first rack of CW. I had thought about taking a photo of the sales display, but many shops aren't very keen on ppl taking photos of the goods. :wink: There's that darn camera police again. They might think that I'm the competition!
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Post by Lothar on Mar 15, 2007 20:28:40 GMT
Hi all, Today I’ve got my copy of „Celtic Treasure“. I like the song “Last Rose of Summer” which Hayley is singing together with Méav. But when I remember my impressions of the DVD “Celtic Womon” - I would prefer a duet with Chloé or Lisá. cu Lothar
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Post by kmsmith8 on Mar 17, 2007 3:38:10 GMT
Happy to report that I found Celtic Treasure in a Wal-Mart near me (after going to several). It was in the new releases section, which was located on a prominent end cap. There were seven copies, one of which I bought (I now have now purchased 5 copies of some form of Treasure, but I gave three of these away to people that I hope will catch on to Hayley's music). I was surprised that I found it there, even though Caite has already found it in a Wal-Mart.
Katie
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Post by alien on Mar 17, 2007 17:42:28 GMT
Hi Oksana, Where did you get your copy of Celtic Treasure? I checked local HMV and futureshop and they don't have the CD in stock. Been having 12 hours days lately so haven't been able to check other stores It's St. Patrick's day today, they should be promoting the album! Regards, Allen
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Post by Oksana on Mar 18, 2007 21:45:44 GMT
Hi Allen! For the moment, I only have a download because I really want to get either the Walmart (extra-track) edition or an import version, so I need to save up money! It's a good thing I made that choice, because we had a bit of a snowstorm this week, and I couldn't go shopping -- so if I hadn't downloaded it, I wouldn't even have it yet! Oksy
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Post by milewalker on Mar 18, 2007 22:41:50 GMT
For the record, my local Target (southwest St Louis MO) had two of them in stock, and Best Buy had six of them. On the other hand, these particular stores have always been fair to good at keeping her in stock - Best Buy also had a few each of Pure and Odyssey, and Target had two of Odyssey. I dont do Walmart Jon
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Post by jeeper on Mar 24, 2007 19:46:15 GMT
Just to give those that have yet to see the cover of the Wal-Mart version here is my crude scan of it. BTW Wal-Mart and the others like them have hurt our ability to purchase decent music here.
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Post by Dori on Mar 25, 2007 0:01:26 GMT
I have one question: Why do they have to put a different cover and title for the American version, but the NZ version - with the same tracks - have the UK title and cover? I'm so confused! Dori
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scott
Junior Member
Posts: 50
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Post by scott on Mar 25, 2007 19:28:46 GMT
This review pertains to the US version - 'Celtic Treasure'.
I liked the cover for this version, and the booklet inside was beautiful. But, just like with 'Odyssey' there are no song lyrics printed - which on this CD is truly unfortunate, since these songs were for the most part very well-written.
The US-only tracks are recordings that were on previous Hayley releases. I will never be satisfied that such a move was necessary. But more on that later.
Of the non-exclusive tracks, the following are some comments specific to selected tracks:
Let Me Lie - The "Celtic" motif is introduced in this first track, by use of a flute. But the song transcends that, and with gentle soothing lyrics ("...heal me through, as I lie here with you, heal me through...") it declares a unity of spirit and surroundings. To me, it is truly a gift to hear Hayley sing such a beautiful song.
Summer Fly - When I first heard this song, I was....disappointed. It was not quite what I had in mind when I bought the CD. After a number of listenings, I have come 'round to thinking that this song isn't that bad. I'm still not convinced that it was the best song for this CD, but I can accept it now. Of all the songs from Hayley that I have heard, I think this is the most "distinct."
Summer Rain - Best performance on the CD. I loved the lyrics ("...breathe love into my soul, I am waiting for you to show, come and hold me so...") and what to me was the most Celtic arrangement on the entire CD (please excuse the bias of someone who has been an Enya fan for 17 years!!).
Sonny - Hayley and a piano. Very sad lyrics ("...his dad was a sailor, never came home, sometimes he wonders what his life might have been; still from the grave mama's voice haunts his dreams...") give a true depth to Hayley's voice.
Abide With Me - Maybe Hayley's best singing on this CD, combined with another well-written song, make for a gorgeous listening experience.
Although the US-only tracks are good in themselves, the UK-only tracks, especially E Pari Ra and Bist Du Bei Mir, were absolutely magnificent as samples. I look forward to eventually hearing all of the UK tracks. Who knows, maybe she'll include them on her next US release...
How does 'Celtic Treasure' rate among the Hayley CDs? It took a few listens for me to absorb the feel of this album, and I would probably have changed the playlist order for the songs that were included. Still, it is a Hayley album, through and through, and although not IMO quite on par with 'Pure' and 'Odyssey' it is still a good CD with several truly excellent and heartfelt songs.
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