Interesting article. Good arguments from both sides. Many think that the ability to access artists info through web-based avenues more than makes up for liner notes but I disagree.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/don-was/itunes-and-the-death-of-l_b_798280.html

That is the reason, why I always persist on a physical CD.

Apple provides liner notes through iTunes. When you purchase an album, you get a digital booklet. The writer didn't do his homework adequately!

iTunes Store to add enhanced liner notes, extra media to album purchases

That is interesting reading. CD Baby also provides liner notes with some album downloads. Amazon and WalMart do not. Since it will be difficult for me to buy any type of the jazz I like at a physical store, downloads are tempting due to the get-it-right-now factor. To insist on a physical CD means waiting a week or two (or more).

Happy holidays to all.

Happy Holidays to all!

It's true that iTunes provides a "digital" book for many of its more recent releases. However, there are a ton that do not provide the feature. I buy a lot of music on the service and the lack of liner notes has always been been an annoyance.

Regardless, when the liner notes have been lacking I've gone and used the reviews on the All-Music website that more often than not help with information about what the release is all about. The only problem with this is that while the site lists the musicians on the release, they only give a general listing that makes it difficult to verify which players are present on a particular track.

So I tend to agree with Steve about the value of having liner notes available.

In some cases, I know the musicians like it that way. Would you want your name associated with the generic, uninspiring day spa/elevator music coming from the smooth jazz scene?

My wish for 2011 is to hear at least four liner note worthy releases from the smooth jazz arena. The fact that people actually need liner notes speaks volumes about the flavorless, genric quality of the music in my opinion.

I went to a smooth jazz music review site and the records they listed as the top records for 2010 didn't say much for the other releases in 2010. This type of elevator/day spa smooth jazz should be out of sight and unheard!

I like liner notes because I learn much about music. I learn who to look for and who to avoid, regardless of the musical genre. I like Joshua Redman quite a bit. If I saw he was featured on a CD, I would certainly check it out. And I may find other likable musicians.

I would love to play in contemporary/smooth jazz band because the most important part of music (to me) is melody. However, the musicians I play with would rather rock out, which is OK too. If I was willing to record with someone, I would not want to keep it a secret.

I mostly only download if I know who played on it. The problem with that is that some albums have different people on every tune. To each his/her own. Peace and goodwill.

P.S. I am glad this is about music and not football.

The best way to learn about music is to listen to it.

Everybody deserves recognition for the work they do.
It's true that few people stick around at the end of a movie to see who the head gaffer is, but every movie lists credits of not only the actors but also the production staff.
If a musician is too embarrassed to have his or her name associated with bland, cookie-cutter music, maybe that musician should not have recorded it in the first place -- that's assuming such an artist would know what's bland before getting lambasted by fans or the media.
There's nothing wrong with not wanting or not caring about liner notes.
However, the presence of liner notes can assist listeners in determining future purchases.
A few names of artists some of us might know nothing about if not for seeing their names in the liners of recordings already in our possession:
Marcus Miller
Vinnie Colaiuta
Jonathan Butler
Billy Kilson
Michael Boddicker
Richard Bona
Nathan Eklund
Ada Rovatti

A few of those have done recordings as band leaders, but how many of us would have checked them out if we hadn't already heard them as session players on somebody else's record?