Archive and Catalog

Hey Larry! What is the status on Smith estate? Are there any plans to release any more material?

No plans for any new Elliott Smith material to be released right now. I wouldn't be able to say so unless it was official.

So Mr. Crane, I'm from Portland, and I'm a little bit of a fan of the work you've done, with Tape Op, Jackpot! etc., but I have a little thought and question about the whole archiving Smith's work. You see what I'm waiting for is Interscope (or Dreamworks, whatever) to announce something--New Moon did pretty well I'd say (but I'm in Portland too, so I just assume it because I saw everyone holding a New Moon LP downtown haha), but I wonder if Dreamworks is going to announce something in the next couple of years. But here's my two questions Mr. Crane, and I don't even know if you can even ethically (because of your obligations to the Smiths) answer this, but is the stuff that you're working on all pre-Dreamworks or is it all of it? 2:) The scraping flange sound on the reel containing "I don't ever think I'm gonna figure it out", "the last hour" (which would question where they pulled their stuff from for faboth!), "riot coming", and "new disaster", do you think Elliott put that on the reel on purpose? And/or what would cause that sound to occur? If you can't answer (or don't have the time to) those its okay I understand, I'm still a rather big fan of yours and I'm glad you can still keep up on it all of it. I have to say, if I had anyone to archive Smith's music it would be you--just as a big fan of Elliott Smith's music, I feel that you worked really closely with him not just musically, but as a person--and that's a great asset unlike their choice of using Schnapf, instead of McConnell as a producer--I mean really its a case of McCain/Obama, but personally McConnell knew what was going on through his head at that time, and that it could have been a much better album had he been given control, any thoughts? Thanks Mr. Crane Richard in Portland.

I have no authority to work on material owned by Interscope. "do you think Elliott put that on the reel on purpose?" That's preposterous. "And/or what would cause that sound to occur?" Simply the tape rubbing against the reel and the mic picking it up as he recorded. That reel still does that! "I feel that you worked really closely with him not just musically, but as a person" But you don't know the truth of this "their choice of using Schnapf, instead of McConnell as a producer--I mean really its a case of McCain/Obama" But you don't know the truth of this either! Rob is an amazing person, as is Joanna Bolme. There were certain limitations at work which most people do not know about. When Elliott died I had a plane ticket in my hand which he had bought me to come help him finish FABOTH. Does that mean I should have finished it? Nobody knows what should have been. People that go on like this (like at sweetaddy) usually have no idea what the details of the situation really are/were. Speculation might be fun to them but don't drag me into it! LC

Kudos for staying above the fray... But I'm really writing to complement you on having the patience and diligence to catalog the work of Elliott Smith. Your previous production work speaks for itself (and quite well) and this project may speak even louder some day. I understand that you are not in a position to say or even know what of this material may see the light but it simply might never come out at all if not for your archival labors. I hope that inevitable tedium of the process rewards you with delightful surprises for your ears. -jmh