Many people were involved in the production of the new 8 CD set. I should know. I produced it. Not Steve (though radio listeners would never have known that). Not a note got played without my approval. I chose the repertoire, decided on the treatment, hired the musicians and arrangers and background singers and engineers. I worked with my longtime engineer David Lawrence to clean up the masters, assembled the photos, wrote with my daughter Sara the liners, supervised every aspect of the layout and produced a collection which I think will be treasured by fans for years to come.
NONE of this was mentioned yesterday. It was all about my esteemed UK partner and you. Something is wrong with this picture. Only ONE Jim Reeves song was played from the new set. Despite the marketing efforts you cite, I have made no secret of my view that JIM is the star. Not you nor anybody else.
I am privy to other interviews that have been done over the years and the talented people I've recruited to help me on these CDs -- of whom I'm very proud -- are NEVER given any credit and I think that's inexcusable. I remember one Thanksgiving when some of my singers came back from out of town trips with their families just so they could re-do a vocal backing on a track that I wasn't satisfied with.
Scott Graham, who has a degree in studio engineering and has worked in the big leagues, is also a talented musician. On the day that he proposed to his girlfriend, after she accepted his proposal, he dropped her off at her residence to rush back to the studio to stay up all night finishing some tracks I needed done!
Scott Barnett, one of the nation's top mastering engineers, called me up when he heard through one of my orchestrators, Danny Crawford, that my usual engineer had been called away. Scott said he heard I needed help and although he was booked for several months in advance, he said "I'm willing to work nights and weekends to get this project done for you." And he did. Mr. Barnett gave this 8 CD set its final polish.
I could go on and on. I'm not expecting all these stories to get told in a half hour interview, but even a brief acknowledgment that other people were involved in this project would have been nice. But I heard nothing from you or Steve along those lines.
You did not play on the new overdubs. Arne Benoni did, as did his band members. But of course none of them were mentioned on the radio either.
I believe in giving credit where credit is due and so far I haven't seen that happen -- with only one exception.
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