Ron S

Lots of samples from the same recordings (in their Brilliant Classics incarnation) here: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=43:120959 Also, for what it's worth, a review that is more favorable than the one on the AMG page: http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=8137

I'll go one further and strongly recommend it. I second that! I third it! Despite Ron's recommendation, I ordered this based on JAW & Sidewinder's thumbs-ups. #3544 arrived here today. Damn! I was hoping that my recommendation would cause you NOT to order it so that there'd be one more left for the COOL kids.

This one's still available for trade. So's the Wolf Biermann CD. I think I'm about to pull the trigger on this trade. One of us will be very happy.

This one's still available for trade. So's the Wolf Biermann CD.

Is that anything like Barnes & Noble?

I haven't gotten anything. I didn't order anything but, still, it's kinda disappointing.

Just to add to that: these days, very few--if any--sets sell out the maximum permitted number of edition copies (e.g., 5,000 for the Parlan). Instead, the lease runs out before the entire potential edition is produced. And to answer Lush Life's other question, Mosaic does have only a poriton of the total potential edition produced at one time, and then reorders more copies as inventory is exhausted (which is why several sets are currently on backorder), so that lease terms typically expire before the entire potential edition is ever produced.

Color me confused. I ordered the Parlan set, and it arrived last week. It's terrific. But how does Mosaic not know whether it is sold out of a set or not? Don't they have inventory control software to let them know what has sold and what has not, ESPECIALLY since every box has a specific number in the limited edition run? And here's what I find doubly interesting/concerning: my box that arrived last week is #3,465 of 5,000. I know they don't necessarily sell them in numerical order, but it raises a little doubt in my mind about the accuracy of their numbering system. How do they keep track of what number to assign a given box? Why didn't they know they'd never sold #3,465? I'm not accusing Mosaic of any shady practices, but it does look a little sloppy and loosey-goosey. Well, the CDs in these particular sets were recently discovered at the plant that manufactured them, not at Mosaic's facility, so it wasn't a case of Mosaic not realizing that it had them. Also, the big box sets (as opposed to the Selects) ARE numbered sequentially as they're sold, and those sequential numbers are maintained and generated by Mosaic's computer system (which is why they appear on the computer-generated invoices shipped with the sets). So in a situation like this, where Mosaic suddenly finds itself with additional CDs of otherwise OOP sets, it's easy for it to pick up the numbering where it left off when the set originally went OOP.

Here's more about the new reissue, including a Podcast about it (that you can also listen to on the web site): http://blog.naxos.com/2009/07/14/podcast-h...of-villa-lobos/ Also, if you click on "Album details . . ." on that page, the Naxos Direct (Naxos USA's online site) pops up with a price of $32 for the box, while that same entity's Amazon Marketplace operation is selling it for $17!

The vaunted box set of the complete Villa-Lobos string quartets as played by the Cuarteto Latinoamericano, which was originally released by Dorian and then reissued by Brilliant Classics, has just been reissued again by Dorian (and distributed by Naxos). But here's the kicker: this time it includes a bonus DVD (don't know what's on it). And I saved the best for last. Because it's distributed by Naxos, Naxos USA's Amazon Marketplace presence--otherwise known as Classical Music Superstore--is currently selling this 7-disc set brand-new for only $16.95: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00...p;condition=new I swear I have no connection with these guys. They just happen to be running some great deals on some stuff I was looking to pick up.

The Bax box is now up to $17.00--they seem to be matching the lowest listed price for a used set, even though theirs is brand-new. Oh well, still a fantastic price--carpe diem! Meanwhile, the Martinu box is still ten bucks.

And while we're on the subject, another good deal from the same seller for a well-reviewed Chandos symphony box--MARTINU for 10 bucks: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00...p;condition=new

In case anyone's interested, Amazon Marketplace seller CLASSICAL_MUSIC_SUPERSTORE is currently selling the well-reviewed Chandos box set of all of Bax's symphonies for $16.15 brand-spankin'-new. For those who aren't aware, "Classical Music Superstore" is actually Naxos USA, and is the US distributor of Naxos, Chandos, and various other labels. They ship immediately and provide terrific customer service (although no shipping notices). This price may not last long, so grab it while you can: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00...p;condition=new

I'll go one further and strongly recommend it. I second that! I third it!

Bill Evans, "The Secret Sessions" (Milestone)

As verified with Mosaic several years ago, the big boxes are sold in sequence, but the Selects are not (in fact, the newer Selects aren't even individually numbered). Thanks. It was an idle curiosity. I've never noticed, do they ever say that a license on a big box is set to expire on X-date, rather than just categorize it as "running low?" Might be helpful for a buyer who wants to prioritize things. But maybe there's a legal or proprietary reason that they would avoid doing so? No, as Hans indicated, Mosaic never publicly reveals exactly when a particular license is due to expire. They also never indicate the reason--i.e., either expiring license or exhaustion of the authorized run--a particular set is "running low" or in "last chance." Presumably, this is proprietary information that, for marketing reasons, they don't want to reveal.

As verified with Mosaic several years ago, the big boxes are sold in sequence, but the Selects are not (in fact, the newer Selects aren't even individually numbered).

I'm a little confused about that John Wright title. Oldies.com describes it as a "new release," and indicates that the label is Concord, but the Concord site only lists this--along with Wright's "South Side Soul"--as available as individual MP3 track downoads or as an "MP3 Album." Wonder what Oldies.com is selling--could it be a CDR of MP3s?

Whoa, now, let's keep some things to ourselves! Actually, I was thinking that'd be something that YOU would like.

How 'bout a shirt with #2 on the front and #3 on the back, or vice versa. By the way, I'll take mine in sleeveless spandex.

Same here, and I received mine today, also. Haven't had a chance to listen yet.

I'm diggin' it--just now finished the first disc!

Oscar Peterson, "The Songbooks" (Verve) The new 5-disc box set with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen.

It's now available at CD Baby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/artpepper4 Just ordered a copy.

Peggy Lee, "The Singles Collection" (EMI)