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Roger Semon Interview

February 23, 2007 | Music
Roger Semon did an interview with the Elvis Information Website. Roger Semon talks with EIN about new releases, how he met Ernst Jorgensen, the future of the Follow That Dream label and more. In regard to the copyrights that run out on part of Elvis' catalogue in Europe he mentions that a reissue of "Jailhouse Rock" is planned.

You can read the complete interview on the Elvis Information website.
Source:Elvis Information Network

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mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on February 23, 2007
An ok interview, not much on details is he?(kinda like ernst) just kidding(or am i)
memphisblues wrote on February 23, 2007
Some good points Baggypants regarding the cover art on the standard FTD's but it seem's to me the kindergarden design studio they use for the artwork design must be costing them a fortune (maybe it's job's for the boy's) so whatever they save on photo cost is being blown up the wall with the cost some art studio comes up with to make it look like a cover most of which look c**p We all know alternative cover art site's who seem to do a far better job of cover design and it's for the love of it NIGHTRIDER DESIGN's being one of the best. I say let's give some of the fan based designer's a crack at these cover's sure to be cheaper and a whole lot better maybe could be one to go along with the Best of the Boot's boxset Ernst talked about in his interview
Steve V wrote on February 24, 2007
Interesting that he thought it was more important to include the Camdens in the Elvis catalog rather than the 'real' albums. Hmmm. Classics gone wild!
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on February 24, 2007
Yea i agree,the original albums belong on the mainstream label not the ftd label!
Greg Nolan wrote on February 24, 2007
I thought it was an interesting interview. Mr. Semon should really speak up more, as all too often people just refer to "Ernst." It's been clear for some time that it is a duo. But given that he doesn't bother with messageboards (or so he claims), perhaps its because of this sort of detachment. In any event, even big fans of FTD know that they have made occasional gaffes, so presumably fan feedback is important. Ernst, at least, surely reads the 'boards on occasion. Steve V: you mischaracterize his comments on the reissue of the original Elvis albums that were put out on Camden. I really wonder if the main market would have surported any of FTD's " classic albums", outside of, say, five or six, maximum. Unfortunately, the CD retail world is in decline, and so it goes. I do wonder about the excellerated schedule. It is a budget-buster but it beats the alternative, I suppose. So is that a picture of Mr. Semon with Elvis above? That's a rather weird shot. Otherwise, I miss the point, outside of the fact that "Jailhouse Rock" is revealed to be next on tap.
shaneleebrown wrote on February 24, 2007
Has FECC gone for good???
Anton wrote on February 24, 2007
Greg, Steve, and ALL mature elvis fans agree: Roger Semon is a diplomat giving very general comments and he is "not" looking out for the interests of 450,000 fans out there, worldwide. He and Ernst could do much more for us, giving us FTD materials (Prom Land, BLove & GMan studio outtakes sessions), and eliminate another 14 at least CDs in the EP catalogue, or rather: replace them on FTD label this time, this time though adding outtakes of songs on double albums that don't sell anymore (never did they say...) to the general public ! Now Matt Stringer is the NEW Director we should address ourselves to, right?? Well, he'd better enhance In Person, TTWII live songs, On Stage etc on FTD Double or triple CDs in Digipack please with lots of coloured photos...and release the movie outtakes of GGGirls, KCousins, Roust, Easy Go, Speedway and KCreole a.o. Now then Matt could bring new unprecedented profits of US$ 8 million to BMG and EPE Mgmt...then he'll be a real boss with vision for ep fans who buy his products !! Take note Matt, Roger, Ernst, Henrik, Chris, Joe a.others!
Anton wrote on February 24, 2007
Yes, SteveV, Lex and Greg: Roger and Matt believe that the Budget Camden CDs belong in the EP catalogue of Classics...How wrong can they be! Can those folks analyze or read sales numbers and have they ever read a marketing book? Sure, FlStar and Let's be Friends ONLY sell 20,000 copies-what do you want? And some FTD products are far TOO expensive. At this stage BMG outta consider to lower FTD prices and bring out more releases that sell and that (important for BMG) don't cost much (only editing is needed on most of our recomms sent so many times to so many fans and fan club presidents and BMG, EPEMgmt - without ever getting an official answer... they all know it better, yet, they complain about weak sales of weak product...) C'mon folks, wake up !
shaneleebrown wrote on February 24, 2007
So, by eliminating 14 other CDs in the catalogue, making less of the Elvis product available to the general public and therefore eliminating virtually any chance whatsoever of getting new fans by allowing them to explore the catalogue following their initiation through greatest hits comps. Hmm, that sound like a great plan! The only people buying original albums will therefore be fans and the price will be too high for novices to want to investigate the titles even if they know where to look. It seems that the more some fans get, the more they want. And many want things that don't even exist (such as soundtrack sessions where the tapes are missing).
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on February 24, 2007
Do you really think that titles like flaming star and lets be friends are going to get many new fans? for me it was the elvis in person cd that hooked me,of course thats not in print now,yea ftd will make a classic album version, but who will know of it? and were do they buy them? are they expected to pay $40 for it?
Steve V wrote on February 24, 2007
All of this leads me to one conclusion. The company thinks Elvis greatest strength was his hit singles and well known songs, thus the many diff compilations in the catalog. Elvis was not really known as an LP artist even when he was alive, most music critics agree with that. So, I guess the company feels why bother to keep his albums in print when they wont sell as well as the comps. So they jack up the price via FTD releases for the fans that really want the albums. After all, at one time, all his LPs were in the CD catalog, so maybe they just didnt sell well enough to keep them there. I still dont get the Camdens being in the catalog though.
shaneleebrown wrote on February 24, 2007
I don't understand the camdens either - having said that, the likes of Almost In Love and Let;s be Friends contain better material than Speedway, Clambake, Harem Scarum and the like.
emjel wrote on February 25, 2007
Regarding lack of comments from Roger & Ernst in their interviews - in their defence, they have been put in this position of not giving out too much info until everything is virtually 100% guaranteed. In the past, they have given out tit-bits of info on what might be coming out, and then with all the chinese whispers that occur, the comments have been taken as gospel, and then they get all the flack when it doesn't happen.
emjel wrote on February 25, 2007
Roustabout, Girls Girls Girls, Speedway and Kissin Cousins out-takes. How many times has it been mentioned in various interviews by Roger & Ernst that they have still to find these tapes. I think Ernst mentioned it in his latest interview - I've forgotten the number of times I have posted such info/comments on this forum. But once again, someone asks when we are going to get them. Until they find them, your'e not going to get them.
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on February 25, 2007
So your saying its hard to release something you dont have? they could if they tried hard enough(haha) as for the lack of comments,i dont even read most of the interviews,because as already mentioned ,there not going to give you any real info, and why people take tid bits of info and start giving release dates and telling us what will be on the supposed release is a bit pathetic,but i at the same time think ernst can be a bit coy!