On the CD-Album
I'll Think of Something
"I'll Think of Something," the CD album, differs from most independent CD productions since nine "cover" songs have been included in the program. Independent CD productions often shy away from including so many covers, if any at all, due to the cost of "covering" the licensing fees that go along with using someone else's already-popular song. However, Soaring Music Publications is pleased to pay the "cover" licensing fees associated with the "I'll Think of Something" CD, considers it an honor and privilege to have access to the distribution rights for so many fine songs, and holds a market strategy that the inclusion of the concerned covers greatly enhances the value of the product.
Yes, the licensing/processing fee cost is real. Well over $1.00 per CD has been paid in licensing/processing fees for the distribution rights to the first manufacturing order of the "I'll Think of Something" CDs. The concerned publishers of all the songs requiring licensing fees are aware of Soaring's use of their material and the exact words being sung. Although a few publishers had questions regarding changes to lyrics, the album's artists managed to maintain full artistic expression. The copyright owners of the album's program imposed no restrictions on the artist's desires for the presentation. This outcome is a happy report, and Soaring is thrilled to share with you that the freedom associated with jazz creations (hence the red-white-and-blue theme of the "I'll Think of Something" CD) has not in the least been marred.
Six of the covers programmed on the "I'll Think of Something" CD are from 1930 - 1944. and there is a cover from 1955, 1960, and 2001. "My Own Man," written by Greg Nathan, was composed in 1976 but not released until after some 2013 lyrical edits. The title song, written by Greg's father, Charles Nathan, was composed for the musical "Where the Heck's the Plot?" in 2005, produced and released in 2009.
Charles said many times that great writing stands the test of time. Soaring agrees with this and is once again thrilled to add a different type of product to the market, one that disagrees with the common notion that “new is surely good.”
Charles believed the music element "melody" to be music's most important element. He was discouraged that the evolution of twentieth-century music and modern jazz devalued the role of melody in the "new" music being presented. The production of the CD "I'll Think of Something" is intended to strengthen the health of melody in today's music market, showing, clarifying, and supporting the idea that, regardless of the year it was composed, a good melody is a good melody.
Adding value to the "I'll Think of something" CD, and setting it apart from most other independent CD productions, is the inclusion of a 12-page booklet. Many independent CD productions limit their costs by offering a smaller text inclusion. However, the front and back pages of the concerned CD's 12-page booklet are in color, whereas the back cover is an eight-picture collage including notes. A "details page" inside the booklet's back cover includes publisher/composer information, song-origin dates, and various production credits and rights-protection notices.
All of the words to the songs are included in the booklet; something Soaring feels consumers have been missing. Soaring likes the idea that their consumers have, at their fingertips, answers to any questions they might have on the lyrics to the CD's songs. Also, SMP enjoys knowing their listeners can enjoy the visual presentation of the words to the songs that are sung, similar to reading poetry.
There are four pages in the booklet dedicated to notes. Two of the notes pages honor songwriter/composer Charles Nathan, Greg's dad, born in April of 1921 and passing on at the end of September 2012. There are two pictures of Charles on the inside of the booklet. Also in the "notes" portion of the concerned CD's booklet are several paragraphs in tribute to Leroy "Slam" Stewart, along with a picture of Slam and Greg together. The booklet notes continue with a paragraph in gratitude to Mike Denny and then finish out.
Today, Soaring would be less "in the know" if it weren't for the education it received from record-liner notes. Good liner notes to the concerned CD are something upon which Soaring insisted.
Soaring also wants to acknowledge the performers' musical efforts and the engineers' technical resources in adding value to the product. We are very pleased with our new ability to offer the "I'll Think of Something" CD album to the public. Thanks so much to all involved for your help in bringing a quality, finished project to the market!