Dear everyone,

This was going to be a longish newsletter with some tour information on it. However, I'm afraid you'll have to wait now until the next letter in February, because - surprise, surprise - we're in the middle of changing everything around! There isn't really any point in me telling you at this stage when the group will be playing a particular place as we are altering the routing virtually every day. The main reason for this is that we have had to put the LP release date back to the end of April - a month later than we originally intended. When the group arrived in Montserrat to start recording, there was a freak hurricane, and some of their equipment got damaged. Also, the power supply at the studios was very erratic for the first couple of weeks because of the bad weather, so things got off to a very slow start, and they are quite a bit behind schedule.

So, because of the later release date, we are having to move all the tour dates back a bit too, and we are in the middle of trying to get all the hall availabilities to fit together in a sensible routing (quite a task!). We'll still be visiting the countries listed in my last letter, but we don't quite know the order yet. Please be patient and I will let you know as soon as possible.

Those of you who live in the UK should keep an eye on the newspapers over the next week or so (the TV page) because the BBC are going to show 55 mins of the live Alchemy film over the Christmas holiday period. They don't seem to be able to tell me which day it is on though - they're very untogether there!

Another bit of news you may be interested in: The work Mark did in Nashville with Chet Atkins is going to be available on record! Chet's LP is provisionally called Stay Tuned and is scheduled for release in February on CBS Records. Mark's on two tracks (one of which - Cosmic Square Dance - he co-wrote). I can't tell you what the record is like because I haven't heard it myself, but I may be able to give you an idea in the next letter...

The other main bit of news is that the 22 min. Making Movies film will be available on video next spring. It contains three video promo clips, for the songs Tunnel Of Love, Romeo And Juliet and Skateaway - and was the support feature in cinemas a long time ago to the film A Coalminer's Daughter. Also, the clips have been on TV shows in the past, so you may have seen them, but so many of you have asked if you get them on video, we thought you'd be pleased to hear that you can finally get them! I should tell you that the group themselves don't particularly like the videos as they feel the image is rather glossy and not really representative of them. If you're a collector though - I'm sure you will want to get a copy! I am not sure how much the video will sell for in the shops (I think it will be about £12.99 in the UK - it's also going to be released throughout Europe) but I will try and see if I can do a deal with Warner Home Video, who are putting it out whereby the people on my mailing list can buy by mail order for a reduced price. Will let you know in the next letter if I have managed to do anything. In the meantime, perhaps you could give me some indication on the tear-off slip below as to whether or not you are likely to want a copy. If you tick the yes box it doesn't mean you have to order one, it's just so I get an idea of the numbers we are talking about!

That's about it for now, except to say a very happy Christmas to all of you from Mark, John, Hal, Alan, Terry, Guy, Ed, Paul, Norman (our accountant), Jean (our new secretary) and me...

I may go to Nassau while the band are mixing the LP in January, but I'll make sure I get the tour news to you anyway!

Have a good break over the holiday period,

Best wishes for now,