Hotel Vegas
Ugly, Mean, Hurtful Review
RECEIVED Wed., Sept. 21, 2005
Dear Editor,
I am writing in regard to Jim Caligiuri's review of my CD Freddie Steady Go! [“Texas Platters,” Music, Sept. 16]. Concerning the songs I chose to cover being cool, Jim wrote, "but cool obviously means something different to Krc and friends than it does to most people.” If by "most people" he means himself, I agree. Record distributor Texas Music Roundup said it was their biggest presale CD. Every review and e-mail that's come in from around the world has been great, except Jim's.
Jim wrote that my covers were “note-for-note re-creations.” To an untrained ear that may seem so, but in reality subtle differences make these versions mine. If I didn't like the original version, I wouldn't have covered the song! Jim wrote that my versions were so close to the originals, why bother. I hold these songs in the highest regard. For me to reinterpret them would be like looking at a Picasso and saying, "You know, Pablo, that's great but what I think you meant to do was ... .”
Yes, I lived this era of Texas rock & roll. I was between 10-13 when these songs were first released. I've been playing some of them since the time I was in my first rock group at age 10. Just because we know who Doug Sahm & the Elevators are doesn't mean everyone does. I did this collection to pay tribute to the people who influenced me as a young musician and further spread awareness of great Texas rock & roll.
I always hear from music journalists how many CDs come across their desk weekly. I'm trying to imagine why Jim wouldn't pick one he liked to inform his readers about rather than write such an ugly, hurtful, mean-spirited review of mine.
I am writing in regard to Jim Caligiuri's review of my CD Freddie Steady Go! [“Texas Platters,” Music, Sept. 16]. Concerning the songs I chose to cover being cool, Jim wrote, "but cool obviously means something different to Krc and friends than it does to most people.” If by "most people" he means himself, I agree. Record distributor Texas Music Roundup said it was their biggest presale CD. Every review and e-mail that's come in from around the world has been great, except Jim's.
Jim wrote that my covers were “note-for-note re-creations.” To an untrained ear that may seem so, but in reality subtle differences make these versions mine. If I didn't like the original version, I wouldn't have covered the song! Jim wrote that my versions were so close to the originals, why bother. I hold these songs in the highest regard. For me to reinterpret them would be like looking at a Picasso and saying, "You know, Pablo, that's great but what I think you meant to do was ... .”
Yes, I lived this era of Texas rock & roll. I was between 10-13 when these songs were first released. I've been playing some of them since the time I was in my first rock group at age 10. Just because we know who Doug Sahm & the Elevators are doesn't mean everyone does. I did this collection to pay tribute to the people who influenced me as a young musician and further spread awareness of great Texas rock & roll.
I always hear from music journalists how many CDs come across their desk weekly. I'm trying to imagine why Jim wouldn't pick one he liked to inform his readers about rather than write such an ugly, hurtful, mean-spirited review of mine.
Freddie Steady Krc
