Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Frequently Asked Questions about:
The Chat Board:
How do I reach the Chat Board?
Does the Chat Board have rules?
I posted a note on the chat board and it was edited
or deleted. Why?
I applied to be allowed to post on the chat board, but
I have been rejected or have not heard back as to my status. Why?
The Oldies on CD book:
What is the Oldies on CD book and how do
I get it?
The Both Sides Now Stereo Newsletter:
What is the Both Sides Now
Stereo Newsletter and how do I get it?
Are back issues available?
The Discographies:
Finding LPs listed in the
discography
Why isn't my favorite label listed in the
Discography Pages?
How can you possibly omit major labels like
Capitol, Columbia, Decca, and RCA?
How do I find lyrics to songs?
Contacting the record companies for which
we list discographies
Getting the rights to reissue or
perform songs listed in the discographies
THE CHAT BOARD
How do I reach the Chat Board?
Just click
here
Does the Chat Board have rules?
This chat board was set up as a means of communication among oldies collectors, reissue producers
and engineers, and others interested in the topic of oldies. The main focus of the chat board is stereo
oldies. This is not a board for buying or selling CD or vinyl products, audio equipment, or anything else.
The tone of the chat board is friendly and civil, although occasionally controversial topics will be
discussed where varying strong opinions will be held. After a period of time, the notes on the chat board
are retired to the Chat Board Archives, where they are much easier to search.
I posted a note on the chat board and it was edited or deleted.
Why?
The Chat Board is part of the Both Sides Now web site, and as such, we reserve the right to edit or
delete any message for any reason. We will almost always delete or edit messages that are offensive,
contain personal attacks on individuals, or are far off topic.
I applied to be allowed to post on the chat board, but I have been
rejected or have not heard back as to my status. Why?
The Chat Board requires the applicant's real name as part of the application. Obvious false names, or
leaving the name box blank, will automatically result in the application being rejected. Names are usually
checked with the internet for verification that the address and name correspond to a "real" person. Using
a brand new e-mail address will often delay approval. Names and e-mail addresses of board members
are not revealed except to board moderators.
THE BOOK OLDIES ON CD
What is the book Oldies on CD and how do I get it?
Oldies on CD was a book of CD sound quality reviews by Mike Callahan first published in 1991,
with a second edition published in 1994. Both editions are essentially out of print (that is, they are no
longer being offered through places like Amazon or catalogs), although a few copies of the second
edition are still in publisher's stock. The second edition is 8-1/2x11" softcover with over 700 pages of
information about the CDs from the first decade of CD production (1983-1994). Introduction has an
article about CDs and CD-related jargon. Price of the book is $30, plus $5.00 postage (money order) for
US customers, available from Both Sides Now, PO Box 889, McKinney, TX 75070. These last copies are
new, and when they're gone, they're gone; used copies are being offered elsewhere for well above the
cover price. The book comes with a 1996 update.
THE BOTH SIDES NOW STEREO NEWSLETTER
What is the Both Sides Now Stereo Newsletter and how do I get
it?
The Newsletter was published starting in 1986. Issues #1 through #55 were
published quarterly, but after #55 (which was mailed to subscribers in late August, 2000), we went to
publishing on no fixed schedule. Part of the reason for this change was a move from Fairfax
Station, VA to the Dallas, TX area which took place in October-November, 2000. Issues 56-60 were sent
to subscribers in 2001 and 2002. Issue #61, dated January, 2006, was mailed to subscribers in
December, 2005. The Newsletter has ceased publication with Issue #61.
Are back issues of the Newsletter available?
Currently, all back issues are available, dating from issue #1 in 1986. Information on back issues can be
obtained by writing to: Both Sides Now, PO Box 889, McKinney, TX 75070.
THE DISCOGRAPHIES
Where can I buy the LPs listed in your discographies?
Both Sides Now is not a record company, but rather, an information web site. We have no
affiliation with the companies listed in the discographies, and no special connections to obtain their
product. We have always had good luck in finding old vinyl records by looking in the auctions such
as e-bay (see below).
If I were trying to find an old vinyl LP, I would use e-bay's search/notification system. Everything shows
up sooner or later on e-bay, but if you don't like looking every week or so, e-bay will notify you by e-mail
when an item that matches your search is posted. Here's how it works. Go to e-bay and register, then establish a "My-ebay" page. Then do a
search for what you want. If you're searching for a Five Emprees record, for example, search for "Five
Emprees" (in quotes). If the "current" search comes up empty, go to the link near the top of the page that
says "Save this search." You will be taken to your "My E-Bay" page and the search will be listed. Check
the box that tells e-bay to notify you by e-mail whenever something new meeting your search criteria is
posted. That done, e-bay will notify you by e-mail whenever anything is put up for auction by the Five
Emprees (in this case, you might also want to save a search for the "5 Emprees". A search for just
"emprees" will return a lot of false positives).
Why isn't my favorite label listed in the Discography Pages? How can you possibly omit major labels
like Decca, Epic, and RCA?
Patience, patience. We have been working on this project on-line for over 10 years, and for many more
years before that. We are posting labels as we have time to do so. Major labels have so many LPs that it
would take possibly a year of work to complete just one of them. We are trying to post many of the
minor labels instead, but will eventually get around to posting more of the majors (MGM and
Warner/Electra/Atlantic labels are already posted, as well as a few small pieces of Columbia and
Capitol). The plan is to post the other majors "eventually."
I'm trying to find lyrics to an oldie I've seen listed on your site. Is there anywhere I can go to get the
lyrics to a specific song?
There are many web sites dedicated to song lyrics. Try using search engines like Google. Type the
name of the song in quotes, followed by the word lyrics.
I'm trying to get the licensing rights to use a song listed on one of your
discographies. How do I get in contact with the company?
Both Sides Now is not affiliated with any of these companies, so we have no
information about licensing rights. Today, most of the labels for which we have
discographies are out of business, and the rights are owned by other
companies.
Typically, licenses are administered by the publishers such as BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, etc. For more
information on how to obtain these licenses, a good starting place is the discussion
(especially on "mechanical rights") available on the internet from ASCAP or BMI (Look around on their sites for additional info). For broadcasting or
public performance
rights, the discussion by Barry Massarsky is
helpful.
If you are looking to put out a CD of reissued material, the easiest way is often to
contact one of the "special products" or "special markets" divisions of the major record
labels. They will often take care of the licensing paperwork for a client, including songs
which are outside their own holdings. They often will want a guarantee of numbers of CDs sold,
however, which can be costly if they don't sell, because the company often wants the money
upfront.
I'm trying to get the address of a record company so I get in contact with the company. Where do I
find that information?
There is a list of record company address (both e-mail and s-mail) maintained on the web. It's
maintained by Dirty Linen
Magazine and updated regularly.
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