Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

Some of you may remember my post about David Werner, the musician whose 1979 eponymously titled album I said I'd pay a lot of money for on compact disc (CD). My friend David in North Carolina saw my post and drew my attention to this site. The album was available, so I ordered it. A few weeks later, it arrived. To my surprise, the CD came with the long-playing record (LP). At first, I was puzzled by this, but when I read the blurb inside the CD sleeve, I realized what had happened. Evidently, it is not a violation of copyright law to copy one's own album (or have someone else copy it) for personal (i.e., noncommercial) use. In effect, I purchased two things: (1) the LP, and (2) the CD made from it (plus the labor involved). Had I owned the LP, I could have sent it to the company for copying.

I've listened to the CD once, on my Bose Music System. It sounds fine. I heard no snaps, crackles, pops, or hisses. I plan to listen to it again soon on my living-room stereo, which will give me a better idea of the sound quality. The CD is professionally produced. The album cover appears on the CD sleeve, front and back, and the songs are correctly listed. The cost, which includes sales tax and shipping, was $57.69. I consider this a steal. I have wanted this album on CD for at least 20 years. I had it on eight-track tape long ago, but while I still have an eight-track tape player (an antique!), I no longer use it. In a way, it doesn't matter that the CD doesn't sound as good as a commercially produced CD. That's not my standard of comparison. My standard of comparison is the eight-track tape I used to listen to. The CD is bound to be as good as that.

Thanks, David! As for the rest of you, I heartily recommend this service if you'd like one of your cherished LPs converted to compact disc.