Just found this article for anyone who's interested:

https://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/future-terence-trent-darby-reissues-to-use-sananda-maitreya-name/

Speaking to John Earls in this month’s Record Collector magazine, Sananda Maitreya confirms a long-running impasse, saying: “I’ve turned down entreaties from Sony for over 20 years. My office was adamant that, unless they converted everything to the name Sananda Maitreya, I’m not interested”, adding rather more bluntly, “My message was: ‘I want all to do with any of this, until you’re willing to acknowledge who I am. I’m not willing to work for you, unless you’re willing to work for me. I’m not a child anymore.’”

I have much time for TTD (Sananda Maitreya), that being said I am not in favor of this. He is an obscure eighties artist who was once had a huge career high. I don't feel this is like Cassius Clay wanting to be called Muhammad Ali. While I can see an artist has a right to go by the name he choses, as do we all within reason, I think why alienate a thinning fanbase by changing the name.

For me his legacy rests with TTD, not with Sananda, and the amazing music he has done has been performed prinicpally under his original name. I feel the same way I did when Prince was the Symbol. I said to people I talked to I was a Prince fan. If I met Prince I would have called him whatever, but since I didn't meet him I did not have that problem.

This historical retrofitting, reeks of the new master (at least there is no suggestion the music is being changed liked Prince did here and with the swearing and the cross that became the Christ), and that is NEVER a good thing.

I'm all for this.... he's been Sananda Maitreya for much longer now than he was known as TTD. They're his albums, his music, why shouldn't they be released under his name now?

Anyone who's going to care enough to buy these reissues, knows that the man has been Sananda Maitreya for a long time, so that makes no difference... and anyone discovering these albums for the first time, well, they're discovering them for the first time so it makes no difference.

It's not like they would be more likely to discover them if they were under the name TTD, as that name is nowhere to be found these days....

So, the most important thing is that these first 4/5 FANTASTIC albums of Sananda's get decent rereleases....

Good for him for standing his ground!

I don't know why the name should be changed, since Terence Trent D'Arby was his name at the time. The Cassius Clay album was reissued on CD in the early 2000s and the name wasn't changed and Ali was alive when the CD came out. Albums by The Moments weren't changed to Ray, Goodman, & Brown.

Well. I find that name change ridiculous, but yeah, it's his albums. He should be able to release them under whatever name he chooses.

robertgeorge said:

I have much time for TTD (Sananda Maitreya), that being said I am not in favor of this. He is an obscure eighties artist who was once had a huge career high. I don't feel this is like Cassius Clay wanting to be called Muhammad Ali. While I can see an artist has a right to go by the name he choses, as do we all within reason, I think why alienate a thinning fanbase by changing the name.

For me his legacy rests with TTD, not with Sananda, and the amazing music he has done has been performed prinicpally under his original name. I feel the same way I did when Prince was the Symbol. I said to people I talked to I was a Prince fan. If I met Prince I would have called him whatever, but since I didn't meet him I did not have that problem.

This historical retrofitting, reeks of the new master (at least there is no suggestion the music is being changed liked Prince did here and with the swearing and the cross that became the Christ), and that is NEVER a good thing.

So I'm partly agreeing with this, and partly disagreeing.

He can call himself whatever he wants. I don't find the Sananda name to be appealing or engaging, but whatever. At least with it was something to talk about.

He started to make artsy music instead of something that engaged the listener and, more arguably more important, radio stations. No one was interested in "Supermodel Sandwich." The light he had with his debut album as a new Prince or new Michael Jackson, or at least a challenger to the throne in general was soon (and perhaps self-sabotaged) bashed when he went hard left with his subsequent records. I don't remember one damn song (except the one listed only because it's a weird title) from any other record, until "O Davina" and "Designated Fool."

I believe it's important that he own his masters, and if it came to that, I would hope he could have a plan of action for the above. But if Sony still owns his shit, then it's just going to take efforts on both sides, compromises and solid decisions for anyone in the public to ever know or give a shit about his music. Having said all that, if his album(s) are reissued, remastered, and have some bonus shit on them, are packaged well for vinyl, etc., I don't care name is on the front. I'd buy, at least, The Hardline According To. Reissuing these records may be the only way someone is going to buy his music again, anyway.

RobertGeorge is right: He is obscure, he did have a flash in the pan moment in the 80s, then... what? Frankly, on the Vibrator cover, he looks like the actress from the "Dinner with Delores" video. The only other thing I like from him is when he sang with INXS in that live video. That would've been a good gig for a few years for him.

Sananda (TTD)

I still own this.. Bought it when it was on cassette. Now I have the CD ........

"Introducing The Hardline According To..........SANANDA"????

luv4u said:

Sananda (TTD)

I still own this.. Bought it when it was on cassette. Now I have the CD ........

Got it on Vinyl

luv4u said:

Looks like "Hardline" has already been reissued on vinyl:

https://www.discogs.com/sell/release/14286712?ev=rb

woogiebear said:

Yeah... I was never really a huge fan of the name change, either.

And his new album, "Pandora's Playhouse" is atrocious.

Oh, well, at least we've still got the old stuff to tide us over.

jfenster said:

As long as there's bonus tracks and remastered sound ...he can call them anything he wants

This is where I'm at with this.

We live in an age where people can identify as whatever they want on whatever day they want - this whole name thing rather pales in comparison. If it means remastered albums with the b-sides and hopefully live shows (at the very least...), then great!

Having said that, I'll still file them under "Terence Trent D'Arby".

It's ridiculous, but his choice. I don't get why he would want it harder for people to find his albums.

I still play his first album on a regular basis...have it on vinyl and CD. Also love the 2nd one and Symphony or Damn. Vibrator and Wild Card have quality tracks on both.

His last few after he changed his name are pretty bad and this last one Pandora's Playhouse is embarrassing.

Poplife88 said:

It's ridiculous, but his choice. I don't get why he would want it harder for people to find his albums.

I still play his first album on a regular basis...have it on vinyl and CD. Also love the 2nd one and Symphony or Damn. Vibrator and Wild Card have quality tracks on both.

His last few after he changed his name are pretty bad and this last one Pandora's Playhouse is embarrassing.

I love all TTD's early work, it's really beautiful music, especially his first 3-4 albums. I'm all for anyone doing what they want with their career, but I do agree that much of his work as Sanada is sub-par. I don't feel the need to purchase these new reissues.

TrivialPursuit said:

i luv the new sananda music .... missed him for a few years ...

I dont care what he wants to do ... with new name etc ... its all good

and it is about the music !

It's his work so let him have it.

Romeoblu said:

Introducing The Hardline was reissued a couple of years ago. It was still the same cover with Terence Trent D'arby in Big red lettering only on the reissue it says beneath that now known as Sananda Maitreya.

That's all addressed in the article.

TrivialPursuit said: