Hello Richard!
I'm new to the board and Matt Monro's music. I noticed on some of my Dad's albums, that they were issued on Liberty and Capitol. How were these albums different from the ones in the UK? Are these lps similar to how the British Invasion albums of the Beatles, DC5, Herman's Hermits were issued? Have to also know if the American albums were remixed like they did the Beatles. Also when did the company issue the same standard releases with the UK. I noticed that the Capitol lps are the same as the ones issued in the UK along with the same covers. Apologize for all the questions.
Thanks
Eman
Matt Monro - The American Lps
Re: Matt Monro - The American Lps
No apologies needed Eman, that's what this section of the forum is all about - and welcome to the board!
Great question!
Matt's American releases were different to the UK up until 1966 when Matt signed to Capitol where (apart from one exception) the releases were identical - at least in the USA & UK. There were still plenty of variation around the rest of the world. There is a major discography in the Special edition of Michele's book and even after all of these years (and the book's publication) Michele is still finding releases she knew nothing about!
Back in the 1960's Capitol - the US arm of EMI - were under no obligation to issue material from UK EMI owned Labels. If Capitol didn't want to issue something then the UK label bosses were allowed to licence the material to other labels.
Matt's first US releases were on the Warrick label owned by Morty Craft - a few singles an one album. The album was a mixture of songs from Matt's first Parlophone LP and single tracks. This became the blue print for most releases up until 1966.
After his recordings started to get attention in the US, the larger Liberty records picked up Matt's catalogue. They were also allowed to put together their own compilations - some included songs recorded especially for the American market that weren't issued in the uk until the 1990's. As a whole the mixes were identical to the uk releases, but there were occasional oddities like Unchained Melody and How Do You Do which have differences - both recordings were from two takes edited together and have different edit points or half come from a completely different take. There may well be more, but I have yet to do a complete comparison between all the releases.
Why were the US albums different? It was all to do with publishing royalties. The rule in the US at the time meant that including more than 12 songs on an album suddenly put the royalty rate to a much higher level, so the UK albums - often having 14 tracks - were too expensive to be used.
As it happens the US rights STILL belong to Liberty for these songs, however as Liberty became United Artists and in turn was bought by Capitol, all of Matt's EMI recordings are controlled by Capitol in the US now.
I should just mention that in Canada Matt's early recordings WERE issued by Capitol, but once again on their own compilations.
The one Capitol years exception I mentioned earlier, was "We're Gonna Change The World" which was issued in the US as "Close To You"
with the track "Hava Nagila" subsituted by "Why Can't I Touch You"
The Liberty Exclusive tracks were:
Unchained Melody
Till The End Of Time
The Green Leaves of Summer
The Second Time Around
- From Hollywood With Love (also released as From Russia With Love) - (Liberty LRP-3356/LST-7356)
Fly Me To The Moon
As Long as She Needs Me
- All My Loving (Liberty LRP-3423/LST-7423)
As Long As I'm Singing
Ebb Tide
Spring is Here
- Yesterday (Liberty LRP-3437/LST-7437)
Hope that helps!
Richard
Great question!
Matt's American releases were different to the UK up until 1966 when Matt signed to Capitol where (apart from one exception) the releases were identical - at least in the USA & UK. There were still plenty of variation around the rest of the world. There is a major discography in the Special edition of Michele's book and even after all of these years (and the book's publication) Michele is still finding releases she knew nothing about!
Back in the 1960's Capitol - the US arm of EMI - were under no obligation to issue material from UK EMI owned Labels. If Capitol didn't want to issue something then the UK label bosses were allowed to licence the material to other labels.
Matt's first US releases were on the Warrick label owned by Morty Craft - a few singles an one album. The album was a mixture of songs from Matt's first Parlophone LP and single tracks. This became the blue print for most releases up until 1966.
After his recordings started to get attention in the US, the larger Liberty records picked up Matt's catalogue. They were also allowed to put together their own compilations - some included songs recorded especially for the American market that weren't issued in the uk until the 1990's. As a whole the mixes were identical to the uk releases, but there were occasional oddities like Unchained Melody and How Do You Do which have differences - both recordings were from two takes edited together and have different edit points or half come from a completely different take. There may well be more, but I have yet to do a complete comparison between all the releases.
Why were the US albums different? It was all to do with publishing royalties. The rule in the US at the time meant that including more than 12 songs on an album suddenly put the royalty rate to a much higher level, so the UK albums - often having 14 tracks - were too expensive to be used.
As it happens the US rights STILL belong to Liberty for these songs, however as Liberty became United Artists and in turn was bought by Capitol, all of Matt's EMI recordings are controlled by Capitol in the US now.
I should just mention that in Canada Matt's early recordings WERE issued by Capitol, but once again on their own compilations.
The one Capitol years exception I mentioned earlier, was "We're Gonna Change The World" which was issued in the US as "Close To You"
with the track "Hava Nagila" subsituted by "Why Can't I Touch You"
The Liberty Exclusive tracks were:
Unchained Melody
Till The End Of Time
The Green Leaves of Summer
The Second Time Around
- From Hollywood With Love (also released as From Russia With Love) - (Liberty LRP-3356/LST-7356)
Fly Me To The Moon
As Long as She Needs Me
- All My Loving (Liberty LRP-3423/LST-7423)
As Long As I'm Singing
Ebb Tide
Spring is Here
- Yesterday (Liberty LRP-3437/LST-7437)
Hope that helps!
Richard
Re: Matt Monro - The American Lps
Thanks Richard,
That explains a lot. I did see some of those earlier Liberty lps on the back of the Matt Monro's Best lp. I think the ones with just the girls on the cover is kinda tacky, but I'm gonna look for them anyway, heck it's Mr. Monro. I could get beyond a really bad album cover.
I do believe that practice of using different songs from UK lps is still the norm here. I actually first noticed it when I started buying Bay City Rollers lps, and then having the UK ones also. My Mom would say why are you buying the same lp again as the covers were identical but the songs werent. I still think they do that with some of the groups from the UK that get attention here .
It's good to know though that Matt's music wasn't remixed like the Beatles. I guess the name Dave Dexter who did the U.S. albums mucked up some key Beatle songs. Yet thankfully I feel safe listening to Matt Monro the way he was supposed to be heard. Great music and really awesome singing!!
On another note, I have some cousins in the Philippines who said Matt's albums were on the Parlaphone label there and then on EMI. So I guess they were the same as the UK as the Beatles records that were issued there were the same as the UK. It will be interesting to see what the variations of Matt's albums around the world are.
One more question, which of Matt's U.S. Liberty albums in your oppinion is the best The ones my Dad has is:
Walk Away (which is a favourite of mine)
Matt Monro's Best
He also has the Capitol lps
This Is The Life
These Years
Matt Monro Invitation To The Movies
I'm gonna search the record shops around the area before I break down and do ebay. I do want to get a copy of "Matt Monro Hits Of Yesterday". That's a pretty cool cover. I think it would make a good t-shirt also! I can just picture going to a rock concert wearing a Matt Monro t-shirt.
Hey Matt Monro to me is cool and just like I wear a Morrisey shirt sometimes, why not Matt?
Thanks again for the info Richard.
That explains a lot. I did see some of those earlier Liberty lps on the back of the Matt Monro's Best lp. I think the ones with just the girls on the cover is kinda tacky, but I'm gonna look for them anyway, heck it's Mr. Monro. I could get beyond a really bad album cover.
I do believe that practice of using different songs from UK lps is still the norm here. I actually first noticed it when I started buying Bay City Rollers lps, and then having the UK ones also. My Mom would say why are you buying the same lp again as the covers were identical but the songs werent. I still think they do that with some of the groups from the UK that get attention here .
It's good to know though that Matt's music wasn't remixed like the Beatles. I guess the name Dave Dexter who did the U.S. albums mucked up some key Beatle songs. Yet thankfully I feel safe listening to Matt Monro the way he was supposed to be heard. Great music and really awesome singing!!
On another note, I have some cousins in the Philippines who said Matt's albums were on the Parlaphone label there and then on EMI. So I guess they were the same as the UK as the Beatles records that were issued there were the same as the UK. It will be interesting to see what the variations of Matt's albums around the world are.
One more question, which of Matt's U.S. Liberty albums in your oppinion is the best The ones my Dad has is:
Walk Away (which is a favourite of mine)
Matt Monro's Best
He also has the Capitol lps
This Is The Life
These Years
Matt Monro Invitation To The Movies
I'm gonna search the record shops around the area before I break down and do ebay. I do want to get a copy of "Matt Monro Hits Of Yesterday". That's a pretty cool cover. I think it would make a good t-shirt also! I can just picture going to a rock concert wearing a Matt Monro t-shirt.
Hey Matt Monro to me is cool and just like I wear a Morrisey shirt sometimes, why not Matt?Thanks again for the info Richard.
Re: Matt Monro - The American Lps
I have a soft spot for all of Matt's US recorded LP's
This is the life
Here's to My Lady
Invitation to The Movies
Invitation to Broadway
These Years
Everything else was recorded in the UK.
As for the Liberty Albums
Which are (if i remember correctly)
Matt Monro
Walk Away
From Hollywood With Love
Yesterday
All My Loving
Monro's Best
However I can't really comment on which is best as i have never actually listened to them as a whole! I am very familiar with the UK albums, but not the Liberty ones.
Yes the Phillippines often issued identical versions of UK material, but it wasn't unknown for them to put their own versions together either!
Richard
This is the life
Here's to My Lady
Invitation to The Movies
Invitation to Broadway
These Years
Everything else was recorded in the UK.
As for the Liberty Albums
Which are (if i remember correctly)
Matt Monro
Walk Away
From Hollywood With Love
Yesterday
All My Loving
Monro's Best
However I can't really comment on which is best as i have never actually listened to them as a whole! I am very familiar with the UK albums, but not the Liberty ones.
Yes the Phillippines often issued identical versions of UK material, but it wasn't unknown for them to put their own versions together either!
Richard
Re: Matt Monro - The American Lps
So true Richard. A classic case would be the "Complete Hits" double cd that I asked a cousin to send me. They did the same series for The Lettermen and Cliff Richard also.
Re: Matt Monro - The American Lps
Eman,
I thought I was the only one who asked tons of questions......Welcome to the club....I know this does not answer your question to Mr. Moore, but I have, as I say, an opinion, too. Sorry to have interrupted, but could not keep quiet on an apology.
Elena
I thought I was the only one who asked tons of questions......Welcome to the club....I know this does not answer your question to Mr. Moore, but I have, as I say, an opinion, too. Sorry to have interrupted, but could not keep quiet on an apology.
Elena
Re: Matt Monro - The American Lps
Elena, apology for what? Please explain. Thanks Eman