Coming Soon: Tori Amos, A Collection of Collections

Gee, I think most of the retrospective releases, both video and audio, were natural outgrowths. The Tales of a Librarian was mandated by Tori’s contract with Atlantic, as are similar anthology discs which include two new tracks in the contracts of many other artists at the end of their label obligations.

I think it would be hard to argue that the live CDs and DVD weren’t long overdue for an artist whose stock in trade *is* live performance. The previous VHS version of the videos surely needed to be updated to the newer format, let alone some additional videos included in the Fade to Red set not having been put out before needing to be released. And the commentary tracks on the DVD video set may seem to some old territory, but even if it is, I don’t think the meaning and ramifications of much of that stuff has yet sunk in with most of the fans, even *after* Fade to Red.

As for the new A Piano set, I haven’t been able to buy one yet, as I also have not bought the live CDs, but both the idea of recontextualizing of that stuff as well as higlighting some of it as she did are worthy ventures, plus, I know that at this point, she’s thinking “legacy” to no small degree. Surely she needed to be talked into releasing the live CDs, Rhino approached her to do the new boxed set, and Broadway Books was planning to write her story without her had she not decided to write it herself, so I think there is less self-congratulation going on here than be meeting the eyes of some. I certainly believe that after forty years of making music and helping to make it safe for women to be seen and heard as real musicians, more than a little navel-gazing is entirely called for.

Comment by Richard from Silver Spring, Md. — November 30, 2006 @ 3:19 am

Thank you, thank you, thank you for saying so eloquently what I’ve been whinging about since the release of Strange Little Girls. I still give Tori credit where credit is due and deserved, but ever since that SLG multi-cover debacle, I feel as if she’s content to talk the talk, but not walk the walk, and it’s the fans who are clearly taken advantage of as it all moves down the assembly line. I’ve gladly given Tori a lot of my money over the last 15 years, but Tales of a Librarian and (particularly) The Beekeeper made me wonder why I should even bother when she so clearly stopped making the effort a while ago.

Comment by Heather from Tucson, AZ — November 30, 2006 @ 8:44 am

Fantastic article.  Ten years ago, when I was obsessed with all things Tori, I spent hours on the early filesharing sites, searching everywhere for her bootlegs.  I think it’s safe to say I could not have been quite as obsessed without the Internet.  And although your article didn’t make me want to go out and buy the new collection, it definitely made me want to dig out my “Talula” single and listen to some “Frog on my toe.” :)

Comment by zara from los angeles — November 30, 2006 @ 10:57 am

I hate to say it, but Tori Amos was milking me blind for money back in ‘92 when I had to pay for her umpteenth import single where an album-worthy gem like “Flying Dutchman” or “Cooling” lurker.  I put up with it then, though, and I put up with it now.  If there’s one artist worth my top dollar, it’s her.

Comment by DKA from Brooklyn, NY — November 30, 2006 @ 11:11 am

Tori Amos sucks.

Comment by Grover Cleveland — November 30, 2006 @ 12:26 pm

Tori Amos sucks.

Quite a stunning feat of rhetoric there.

Comment by somethingorother — December 1, 2006 @ 11:49 am

thank you for saying what i’ve been saying since the release of strange little girls. you hit it on the head: us ears with feet are being milked. i want my old tori, and i want her organic.

Comment by hilary — July 20, 2007 @ 12:38 am