Reacting to John Farrell's opinion of QRS's current catalogue
offerings...

Knowing John's own roll production, it's easy to understand why he
dismisses new QRS rolls.  However, if QRS only issued rolls appealing
to enthusiasts they would be out of business in a few weeks!  This is
because (1) although enthusiasts sometimes think their interest defines
the only true musical path, in reality they often want the obscure and
arcane which isn't universally popular, and (2) these enthusiasts don't
buy the music they profess to like when it is offered anyway!

Talking to those who run roll businesses as a hobby, it is clear
that enthusiasts do not support those who sell the material they claim
to want.  Apparently a new offering may sell as few as 10 copies, and
50 copies is really big business.  Considering only the 1000 MMDers,
that's 1 to 5 percent takeup, and in reality it's far worse than that.
Given that recuts are usually carefully chosen, this is pretty poor
response, and it clearly won't keep anybody in business.  I don't know
whether business is any better for new material that nobody will have
copies of already.

So, QRS stay in business selling to consumers rather than collectors
-- and they want new material, film music, pop tunes, whatever.  What's
wrong with that?  When their new material has been stuff I wanted,
I have been perfectly satisfied with the rolls.

If QRS isn't your thing, there is some wonderful specialist material
available right now for jazz, blues and ragtime enthusiasts.  I've
listed some of my favourites below.  All their rolls are well cut and
packaged, affordable, costing from $11 each, and available on demand.
Visit their web sites and buy something now!

Rob DeLand's BluesTone site has perhaps 200 or more of the most
desirable original jazz, blues and ragtime rolls ever issued,
beautifully recut with words and often sheet music included as well,
and all presented with meticulous research notes.  There is also
a fine selection of new performances.  The latest list adds another
dozen goodies.  http://www.bluesrolls.com/

Karl Ellison's New England Music Rolls is a real treat for Jelly Roll
Morton fans, with the recently-discovered 'Pearls' and all 17 of Mike
Meddings' painstaking transcriptions from record.   None of these rolls
have ever been offered for sale before.
http://members.aol.com/NEMRoll/home.html

Tim Baxter's Meliora Rolls has some wonderful new performances of
jazz and ragtime, particularly recordings by the late John Roache.
Again, none of this material has been available before.
http://members.aol.com/meliorarol/

Julian Dyer