Garth Brooks has a plan.
First he released the album “Sevens” last October, and now it is quintuple platinum.
Then last month he released “The Limited Series,” a boxed package of his first six albums.
The final act comes this Thanksgiving when he plans to issue a live DVD audio/video album–or series of albums. The timing and the particulars are, Brooks says, dependent on negotiations with IBM, Intel, Microsoft and Phillips.
Q–For the Sandra Bullock movie “Hope Floats” you cover the Bob Dylan tune “To Make You Feel My Love.” The song also appears on “The Limited Edition.” How did you get connected with the movie?
A–I met (director) Forrest Whitaker at a party at John Travolta’s house two years ago. And he later called and asked me what the deal was with “Sevens” (the current Brooks album, which he then was refusing to release because of a dispute with Capitol). I said, “Well, we’re just waiting it out ’til we can all come to feel like it’s the right time to release it.” He said, “I’ve got this movie I’m working for, and I’m looking for music, and I’d love to hear the new album.”
So I sent him the new album, and he told me about this Bob Dylan tune he thought I could sing. So he and (record producer) Don Was invited me out to watch the movie. I had heard the Dylan song on Dylan’s record and Billy Joel’s record, and it just didn’t hit me enough to do it. (But) I went out there and watched the movie, and he said, “Okay, now I want you to sing it against the (background of the) picture.” I did it for them as a courtesy, and as I started singing it against this picture, I don’t know, the song just started haunting me.
Q–Why did you decide to release 2 million copies for “The Limited Series?”
A–I wanted a million, numbered. He (Capitol Nashville chief Pat Quigley) wanted 3 or 4 million. So he was sweet and said, “Let’s say we’ll do it 2.” I said, “OK, let’s do 2 worldwide, and then that’s it.” I don’t want ’em hanging around.
Something big for me is coming April 15 of ’99. It’s our 10th anniversary of the original (album,) “Garth Brooks.” Our plan is, we’re not shipping any more CDs after May 1 from the catalog because retail has (enough of) it in stock to get themselves all the way to April of next year. In April of next year, we release all seven titles (i.e., including “Sevens”) on DVD format if DVD works. We’re still working on it.
Q–Any guess as to how reselling the earlier albums in a new format will succeed?
A–We’ll see. The whole thing with DVD: IBM, Intel, Phillips and Microsoft have not created a hybrid disc (that) you could play in your car or truck, (then) pull out and play in your DVD player. Some manufacturers don’t want it to be played in your car or truck (that way) you’ll have to get a DVD player for it.
I said to them, “Guys, I’m sorry, but–to me–if I didn’t own a DVD player and this thing could play in my car or truck or my home stereo, the whole time it’s playing I’m going to be going, “They say there’s live footage to this, and I can’t see it.” So I’m going to start checking out DVD players.”
Q–Is “Sevens” meeting your expectations?
A–Yeah, it’s real close to 6 million. (And) we opened to the (record) clubs last week, and the clubs represent one out of every five pieces we’ve sold in our career. So hopefully in the next six weeks we’ll hit 7 million. (Whereas) we wanted to be at 7 million by Christmas.
With Quigley’s emergence, if you count “Sevens,” the boxed set and hopefully the live album, this guy stands a good chance of moving between 20 and 25 million (Garth Brooks) units in (his) first 16 months.
