I hear ya... I can hardly believe it myself. Noel, the graphic designer told me that Revenant took considerable pains to keep the price very low. I asked if $85 was the wholesale price and he replied No.... retail.
This would be great news, if it turns out to be true come October. Now, if you could just get them to drop the price of the Charley Patton set to $85, too...
That's exactly what he and I we talking about on the phone the other day. My guess is: that was the impetus for the price change this time around. I'm as big a Charley Patton fan as anyone you know but that set was too rich for my blood. So I never bought it. I will, however, definately get the Ayler set. Especially after hearing the advance sampler. Wow.....!
I felt the same way. I see copies of it gathering dust at the local record shop, and I think, "Man, How many discs could I buy for $174.99?" Great packaging, I'm sure, but wow is that a lot of bread.
The Ayler OTOH, at $100 is more like it.