London Calling or a remake of a bad Tom Hanks Movie (Joe vs. the Volcano)

For full diclosure I started writing this post yesterday before the news of air travel chaos fully erupted (ouch that was bad).   I think it holds up more so, even with the outcome not yet determined.  I am eagerly looking forward to the London Book Fair.  Looking back, 2009 was a poop sandwich for most people, served without the bread.   The expecations for LBF in 2009 were appropriately reduced along with the number of staff from most organizations.  Well a funny thing happened, people who were at LBF to do business, did business.  Maybe it was not a record year of deals, but all things considered it was a great show.  My evidence is the fact that BEA signed up 7 companies that took nearly 1,000 sq. ft. for BEA 2009, which was a mere 5 weeks away.  People had started deals in LBF and looked to BEA to maintain momentum.  The fact is to be succcessful at any trade event, your organization has to plan and set meetings that will lead to productive business.  Showing up, standing in a well appointed booth and expecting that business will find you is not much of a plan.   No matter how dire the business climate or conditions of the airspace, people that will make the effort to attend a trade event under those conditions are the ones that will be the most prepared to make that event worth while.   This was also proved true at BEA 2009 when the expectations were at a nadir.   BEA 2009 turned out to be a great show.   Maybe it was not the best BEA ever, but it was busy, books got made, deals were done and it gave the BEA the opportunity to continue to evolve in a way that will serve the publishing industry in a meaningful way.

I am sure I will have more problems with the Van Wyck Expressway and American Airlines than I will conducting business at London Book Fair.  My fingers are crossed that airspace will clear and I will be enjoying pint with my friends from Combined Book Exhibits.

Anybody need a ride to BEA??? I am not kidding if you live in Central PA

Fox Chapel Publishing and Stackpole Books are organizing a bus from Lancaster (which I learned years ago from locals is pronounced LANK-a-stir, opposed to lan-CAST-er) Harrisburg area.  BEA is a community - this is one way to get to know your neighbors.  Thank You to our friends at Fox Chapel Publishing  and Stackpole Books for organizing and sharing this great option for getting to and from BEA. 

Central PA Booksellers, Librarians and Publishers - ride in a luxury motor coach to and from BookExpo for $50 per person roundtrip. Wednesday May 26th. By leaving at 7 am from the Lancaster/Harrisburg area and returning at 9 pm - you'll get a full day in NYC ( 10 am- 6 pm) without the expense of hotel rooms. This is a co-operative, shared cost arrangement - currently Fox Chapel Publishing and Stackpole Books have reserved 12 seats for the 26 passenger coach. Interested? email Wendy Calta at Fox Chapel Publishing. wendy@foxchapelpublishing.com with CC info and number of seats needed.

Exile on Main Street being revisited....again...

This post has little or nothing to do with BEA or publishing.  Although it might be fun pondering the idea of publishers aping the music industry gimmick for fresh revenue from old content by re-issuing cherished fan favorites the way the music industry does, tweaking albums ever so slightly and labeling it re-mastered, alternate takes of classic songs or the true gems - previously unreleased material.   Think about re-mastering Holden Caulfield's adventure into New York City from Catcher in the Rye - a fresh editor might choose Las Vegas for a back drop for coming of age.  Publishing did pick up on the concept music mash ups with Pride Prejudice and Zombies as a working model -  Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter shows the pony has at least 2 tricks.  If you have not knowingly experienced a music mash up - there is far better, but here is idea:  The Beatles vs. Guns N’ Roses Sgt Pepper’s Paradise City 

I am both excited and annoyed by the pending re-issue of the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street.   It is exciting to discover the 10 previously unheard tracks, finding of loads of film from the recording sessions will be a treat and Jimmy Fallon will dedicate a week of bands doing covers from the classic album, including Phish for 3 nights the week before it will be re-released on May 18th (the Late Night shows are May 10-15).  

I am annoyed because Exile on Main Street is more an institution than an album for me.  The idea of it being adulterated in any from than the original is akin to doing a touch up on the Mona Lisa or dropping Holden Caulfield into Las Vegas or one my wife's greatest fear - that someone would attempt to remake the Wizard of Oz  I have Exile on vinyl, it was one of the first CDs I ever bought in 1980something.  I literally wore it out and had to buy replacement copy and then bought the 1994 Virgin original remastered version.   It is brilliance out of what should have been disaster.  The circumstance of the Stones literally fleeing the UK in the face of mounting tax debts - to a villa named Nelcote in the the south of France.  It is well documented that Exile on Main Street debuted to mediocre reviews - even getting panned by Rolling Stone.  Over time it became recognized as one of the great and most influential rock albums of all time.   Legend and fact blend as to who sat in on what session.   Keith Richards' heroin fueled creativity was at its peak, the erosion of his musical powers due to addiction started showing in the subsequent Goats Head Soup and was truly evident in Its Only Rock and Roll.  


Anyway I am starting to rant and the fact is on May 18th I will be out and likely buying a physical CD for the first time in 3 or 4 years.