Help Re: Mastertronic's Foray into Master Sound (Fallout: New Vegas)

[guest6254]

While much has been said about Mastertronic’s series of cassettes, I'm currently trying to conduct research on their short-lived foray into music (Master Sound) and video (Master Video). I hope that this is the right place.

If you would bear with me for a moment, there's an unusual segue into another video game publishing company.



Fallout

In 2010, Fallout: New Vegas is released as the lastest installment of the Fallout franchise. One of its key features is a post-apocalyptic setting mixed with a retro 50s style on atomic devastation. There are a number of licensed period songs that play on the in-game radio. Among them was Guy Mitchell's "Heartaches by the Number".

Although he had a hit recording in 1959 on Columbia Records, it is not the version used in Fallout. I contacted the head of the Guy Mitchell Appreciation Society and he kindly informed by that Mitchell had recorded no less than 4 versions of the song in the ensuing decades.

This version in particular was recorded in 1980 for K-Tel and has the end notes being played on an electronic keyboard while the 1959 Columbia version has the three notes repeated on the piano at the end.

To his knowledge, this version was released on compilation LPs in the UK prior to being on CD (he was unaware of US releases):

1987

Heat of the 50s on Mastersound CMAS 002 (Heartaches By The Number)

1988

Those Fabulous 50s on Ocean OCN2003 (Heartaches by the Number & Singing The Blues)

http://www.discogs.com/Various-Those-Fabulous-50s/release/1801571

1990

Hooked On Country on K-TEL NCD1459 (Heartaches By The Number & Singing The Blues).

http://www.discogs.com/Various-Hooked-On-Country/release/1673247



More background info on research regarding the various versions of "Heartaches by the Number" here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Fallout/comments/2yvzkq/need_help_from_any_european_fans_of_fallout_guy/



"Master Sound" vs. Mastertronic

So the earliest compilation album with this version of the song appears to have been made in 1987, 7 years after the recording.

This is the crux of the problem. While the other two records are readily available, this third one has stymied me.

As it turns out in 1987, Mastertronic decided to branch out from video games and put out a series of budget cassette tapes and LPs under "Master Sound" (and Master Video for VHS).

By all accounts, it was a mediocre effort.

http://www.aguter.plus.com/mastertronic/mastertronic_press_15.htm

The label is thus extremely hard to track down partly due to the common name of "Master Sound" and "Heat of the 50s". However, Heat of Soul (MASL 001) was apparently popular enough to be issued on an LP, but I have yet to catch a glimpse of the cassette.

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Heat-Of-Soul-Volume-1/release/2365244

As it turns out, "CMAS" stands for *Cassette* Master Sound and "MASL" stands for Master Sound *LP* which caused a lot of confusion with identifying the label.

There are various mentions of Master Sound in Crash magazine and Computer & Video Games magazine (around July 1987) including an advertisement for collecting "tokens" for a discount.

p.10

https://archive.org/stream/crash-magazine-40/Crash_40_May_1987



Master Sound Cassette Partial Discography

So CMAS can be interchanged into MASL, but it appears only CMAS 001 was ever cross-published as an LP.

The following has actual cassette cover art of the sought after "Heat of the 50s" CMAS 002, albeit black and white.

http://www.aguter.plus.com/mastertronic/mastertronic_press_18.htm

CMAS 001 Heat of Soul Vol 1

CMAS 002 Heat of the 50s

x

x

CMAS 005 Heat of Soul Vol 2

According to other Mastertronic cassette cases, other Master Sound titles exist, but unfortunately lack catalog numbers.

Heat of the 60s

Heat of Rock and Roll

Heat of Reggae

Heat of Country Vol 1

Heat of the Night

Heat of Folk

http://mocagh.org/mastertronic/playitagain.pdf

http://www.mocagh.org/mastertronic/stormbringer.pdf



And so, a video game publishing company branches out into music and comes full circle into another video game 2 decades later.

I have tried contacting the webmaster of the aguter page which details the history of the Mastertronic company. He kindly informed me what little he knew of the venture and was surprised that one of the albums was released as an LP. He directed me to Geoff Heath who also had worked at Mastertronic and dealt with Master Sound, but I have failed to establish contact.



In Conclusion

This is my attempt on finding the end of a rather winding journey of trying to find the music of the Fallout series on the original records as a way to bring the games to life.

Tracking down this specific version of this song is the goal and I hope someone with knowledge of cassettes released in the UK can help.

Aside from the one record, I have yet to find any Master Sound cassettes. As a plus, search results get muddled the CBS Master Sound label which coincidentally is part of Columbia Records.

[zapiy]

This is a rather awesome thread, I need time to absorb and pull together some info I may have and would love to help you piece this together.