is Hi-Bias's Retro Active series done?

[budaniel]

This amazing series was coming out pretty regularly, but after volume 7, it's been quiet a few years with no further notice. Really, other than any other 12"-on-CD series, this one most often didn't go for the obvious and dug up some great archival stuff I never expected to see on CD.

While Ben Liebrand's Grand 12 Inches series has been a winner as well, his song selection, supposedly based on his own personal tastes, has been hit or miss. But his mastering and dedication to the cause is so incredible that I wish he would expand the movement and make 4-disc sets in genres, disco, 80s club (soul, R&B, house), new wave, synthpop, etc. Just think of the number of rarities he could knock off with ONE 4-disc set of 80s new wave. Not sure if he still has it, but at one point, he had a HUGE list of requests on his site from fans, which covered so much of what we're all looking for.

And of course Blank and Jones have also been digging into the goodies with the so80s series, so I hope they continue the effort.

[omar]

The Retro Active cds were really great. Really cool rare mixes and of course excellent remastering . I hope they start a 7" mix series as well when ever .

[Bellenger1981]

I really enjoy the "Retro:Active" discs, mostly because original masters are always used and the track listings are very well done. I have all 7 volumes in my collection and would happily buy more! I think that licensing is the main issue when putting these rarities on these discs. For the most part, the "Retro:Active" collections are a bit on the harsh side in terms of mastering, in my opinion, but I still love them. Does anyone have any ideas about any possible future volumes?

Grand 12 Inches, likewise, are very well done. Like you, I wish that these collections could be expanded by tackling different genres. Liebrand is brilliant with his mastering and hunting down the best available sources.

I love what Blank & Jones have been doing as well -- although the mastering has been way too loud for most of the volumes. However, with later volumes, the extremely loud mastering has been addressed! At least they listened!

[Sean]

Alex, you gotta make an appearance. Like Omar, I also support the 7" mix idea. The only suggestion that I am making is if there is another (don't hold your breath), let's just make it all rare tracks from the first to the last. The only people buying cd's nowadays are hard core collectors and that's all we want.

[cork]

I am a great fan of the Retro Active series.

A lot of tought was put into these & they were 100% quality.

Would love to see more.

[wvrs158]

truly excellent series. unlike the sh*tty, run-of-the-mill, repeat, repeat, repeat series we were left to endure. really wish they'd make a come back.

[obs]

[i]> because original masters are always used[/i]

Except for Simple Mind's Someone, Somewhere (In Summertime). From what I've read, Virgin/EMI sent him the wrong master (LP mix), so it was sourced from a CD rip, thanks to the dude who runs the Dreamgiver site. Hope it was a secure rip, and not an Itunes special [:D].

Yeah, it was a nice series. Bought the two remixes compilations, as well, which does have a couple of modern mixes that I enjoy (most notably Spoon's Nova Heart).

And agree with the original post's comments regarding Ben Liebrand's Grand 12 Inches. There's rare gems on there, but most of the tracks aren't my style, so I wouldn't buy them, but if he did an 80s wave set, I'm more likely to buy.

[swerve]

If memory serves I believe Alex mentioned that the last volume was going to need to sell well to be able to continue.

[obs]

I did my share. Bought two copies of each: one for me, and one as a gift. A couple of them, I even bought a third time, since I saw them on clearance for 50% off. [:)]

[DJ Wave]

Alex has been busy remixing a new single featuring John Taylor.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Koishii- ... 8574056217

[obs]

Speaking of John Taylor, it would be nice of I Do What I Do 12" appeared on a CD somewhere.

[pinkyblue82]

The Final Cut version is on Blank and Jones So80s Vol. 3 set.

[obs]

Thanks for the tip .

[Jeffrey]

The Retro Active series is probably the most exciting and innovative compilations to ever see the light of day. The care that was taken and the involvement of everyone was to be commended. What a loss our industry has suffered because of the halting of this wonderful series. I can cry...really. It's devastating that no more will be released. Maybe it was because one really had to look for compilations like this one. I discovered it only by accident at the beginning of its first two releases by searching Amazon for 12-inch 80's collections. Hi-Bias did a great gift to us. Too bad that it has to stop. I wish I had the personal fianances to continue the realeases. Money, seems to be everything. No love for just the music. Yes, I sort of understand the politics, but I find this a painful reality. I will always, AlWAYS hold Hi-Bias and these releases in high esteem. I'm blessed to have these seven <treasures> volumes.


Jeffrey