General discussion

[HWI]

Hi folks,

I hope that you like this new feature on the forum. To discuss anything relevant to a specific album, you should post your messages on the board for that album. To discuss Hayleys albums in general, you can now start a discussion here. Another little feature that will help to make these discussions easier to follow.

Keith.

[roger]

As this post applies to Pure, Odyssey, and probably all future albums, I am putting it under "General discussion".

As we know, a number of tracks were recorded that did not appear on the original versions of Pure around the world but most (perhaps all) of them were subsequently released on bonus discs. We already know the same pattern of events is likely to occur in the case of Odyssey.

Rather than re-release these original albums with bonus tracks, wouldn't it make more sense from a commercial point of view to use those tracks as the basis for an entirely new album?

Provided not too much time had elapsed between the release dates of consecutive albums, there would almost be sufficient tracks in the can for a third album by now without any further recording sessions. I accept one has to consider the development of Hayley's voice over a relatively short period of time, and continuity (within an album), style, and so on but with a little more forethought it seems that three albums could be produced for little more than the price of two. Yet the sales figures, and the more frequent availability of entirely new albums would surely sustain the interest in the artist to a greater degree.

Your thoughts, ladies and gentlemen, please.

Roger

[Richard]

Hello Roger!

You've hit the nail on the head with this one. If the unissued tracks were saved for a future album, it would avoid the situation with "Pure" where many of Hayley's UK fans have got the identical album twice, with one bonus disc, and we still had to buy an imported version from Australia to hear "The Mummers' Dance"!

I've thought of another possible solution, which might sustain the general public's interest in Hayley without waiting for a further full album. How about releasing the "spare" tracks as a separate mini CD a few months after "Odyssey", at a reduced price?

The Forum is going to get busier and busier!!! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Bye for now,

Richard

[Dave]

Hi Roger,

Great topic, I've been thinking along those lines for some time now and as you say, there are several different ways it could be done - many of which would avoid the need to have a myriad of versions of each album across the world.

Andrea Bocelli may have it right - he alternately releases classical and "pop" albums - the "pop" being simply his more middle of the road material that wouldn't qualify for the UK classical charts. Hayley could well have released two pop albums and one classical album from Pure, all its variants and Odyssey. That would have made one album a year and would, I think, have kept many of her fans happier than the way it was done. Total sales may have been higher too, although we will never know. I suspect that may be the way Hayley eventually has to go, as most of her material is easy listening MOR pop/folksy/showtune but she seems to want to develop her classical abilities, too. Singers that can do that well are a rare breed indeed and I love it.

The classical part of her repertoire also gives Hayley kudos by association with people like Carreras, Terfel and Bocelli. It makes it plain to all that Hayley does not need the studio to drown her voice in heavy backing or electronics. So yes, alternate pop and classical albums would be fine with me - using exactly the same range of material she has used over the last two years. However, that looks like being something for the future as it looks like Odyssey will be done in the same way as Pure.

I'm a bit nervous about Odyssey actually, as the UK version will either be more classical than Pure - to qualify for the classical charts - or alternatively, if it's close to the International version, it won't qualify for the classical charts at all. Now, people with my taste in music will love a more classical album - but I don't know if most people who have "Pure" will easily accept it! Time will tell. The proof of the pudding will be in the selling. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif