Who Boots

["Mark R. Leaman" <mleaman@sccoast.net>]

> "Should" isn't involved.  It's not a moral question.  The fact is that
> people MUST be paid (in some form, money or otherwise) for taking any
kind
> of risk, or they won't take it.

Alan:

Not only that, society as it is DEMANDS that we make money, else we have
nowhere to live and nothing to eat. Since some time and energy must be used
to get and market the material (and being illegal it takes more than a
legal item would), this would take away said time and energy from the task
of earning a living...it's the same reason The Who members became
musicians, not for the "love of the music" as many would have it. Which is
not to say they don't love the music...I love music myself, but also make
money selling it!
Many here would like The Who to tour more...constantly, perhaps. If they
were out of money, believe me THEY WOULD! But we've made them secure, if
not rich, so they have little incentive. It's really our own fault, when it
comes down to it!

> >Just about everybody can make their own cds from tapes they make or
trade for now.

THAT is a funny statement (not yours, I know), and one I can't agree with.
After all, judging from the roads *I* use every day "about everybody" can't
even drive, let alone make a CD or figure out the correct way to make a CD
from a tape. For one thing, if the person doesn't have the correct program
to get the hiss out (Dart Pro 32 works best) or doesn't want to pay the
$300 for the program (not to mention the $400 for Cool Edit Pro, which I've
found works best for LP clicks and pops), or does know how to use either
(not that it's very hard)...then how do people who trade with them get a
quality product via trade? What is "good enough?" I've gotten the same show
in vastly different sound qualities before, as I'm sure most traders have;
showed rated "excellent" or "A" which sounded like they were recorded down
the hall from the show. Too bad when you get it; that's all you get!
Do they have a CD/record player with a pitch control, in order to fix those
shows whose speed is off? As many are...
Maybe the traders don't even have a computer burner, but instead a "stand
alone" which is unable to rid the music of the unwanted "extras." If they
have either type, that is. They might have a Wal-Mart "blue light"
dual-deck boom box stereo, which they never clean or demagnetize.
They might use Wal-Mart tapes, too.
I spent months and lots of cashola for the ability to make the best
possible CDs from tapes and LPs. As it is, I'm currently upgrading the
earliest ones because I can make them better now. Even so, I'm subject to
the quality of the source material *I* happen to have. I am fortunate
enough to be in a position where I can spend all day working on a sound
file. How many traders are, or are willing to spend the time?

> Tape & CD trading seem to me
> to be more for hardcore fans such as ourselves who have the time and
> interest to meet others who specialize

Now I must disagree with you. Almost every person I have traded with had
more than one band, in fact most have over 50 different ones...and many
shows by each. My list has at least that many, and while I have more Who
than any other band, it doesn't even come up to a tenth of my list. 
Trading is a great way to get stuff, but it's not always the way to get the
best quality and material. I trade (at least I used to) AND I buy boot CDs.
I'll do what I must to get the best of what I want to own. On that note,
I'm still looking for good sound quality `71-72 live Who (if any exists),
and when I say "good sound quality" I mean better than the Young Vic stuff.
It should be out there, since we know they recorded that tour for release
as a live album. But I've had no luck finding it, so far.