But I kept getting a "unable to send" message, so here it is for the benefit of anyone who's interested:
Dear sir,
As a longtime fan of New Order, I cannot tell you how excited I was to see the long-projected box set being prepeared for release. My excitement was soon tempered, however, when I saw the tracklisting proposed.
As with the Joy Division box set, I hoped for a comprehensive look at New Order's career, with rare tracks and live shows as a bonus. The current set reads like someone's idea of a bad joke for serious New Order collectors. The "greatest hits" cd is entirely unsatisfactory (Any New Order fan worth their salt would point out the abundance of greatest hits packages as more than enough), the "early years" disc is woefully lacking, the remix disc is entirely undesirable (many fans might disagree with me, but I have found remixes of New Order pointless and unnecesary), and the live disc leaves a lot to be desired. In retrospect, the live disc seems the least onerous of the whole package.
Sir, I had hoped for a more inclusive approach to compiling the box set than what seems to have been used (what business does Bobby Gillespie have picking the tracks included on the live disc, I ask?). If this box set is released as is being currently formatted, I have serious doubts as to whether anyone will really want to own such a substandard set. That said, I appreciate the company or companies involved for their efforts to present a box set representative of New Order, but I fear they may have missed the mark by a long way.
I realize that, as one voice in a sea of fans who might otherwise let this pass without protest, I cannot hope to influence the decision-making involved in this venture. I do believe, however, that Warners may be guilty of false advertising, as the box set was promoted on a New Order website as one to which the fans could offer their help in compiling. The current set as it is would satisfy only a new fan, someone not well versed in the band's history and lasting importance. We fans deserve better, sir, and I challenge Warners to rethink their approach to this set. If this set was indeed aimed only for the gneral public unaware of New Order, then perhaps I speak out of turn. But if it was meant to be a gift to the serious fans, then I'm afraid I'm in the right.
I was given this address by someone who felt you might be the best link to Warners, and I hope you don't mind my writing on a matter that surely does not take precedence over the day-to-day business you are involved in. But if my message can be transimtted to people directly involved in the box set, then please feel free to let them know that this is one New Order fan who expected better. I thank you for your time, and please understand that I in no way single you out to receive the brunt of my complaint. If you wish to respond to me directly and let me know what I, and those other New Order fans I know are upset about the current set, might pursue as an avenue for our greivance, feel free to do so.
Trevor L. Seigler
