I don't really understand how the entire Beatles collection could be compromised by 15 poor quality bootleg tracks. There are hundreds of thousands of poor quality bootleg tracks from Jazz, Rock, Blues, and Country artists alike. You see all of these bootlegged songs from artists, but you don't think about how it affects the artist. My thoughts are that it doesn't affect the artist in any way whatsoever. These bootlegged songs will not affect the beatles in any way. For starters, they BROKE UP!!! they aren't together anymore. the only people seeing royalties are Ringo, and Paul (John and George are dead). As for tarnishing the image of the Beatles. We all do know that the recording technology was incredibly poor in Germany in the 1960's. Personally, the sound quality wouldn't really affect my judgment on the Beatles recording history. In my opinion, as a Beatles fan, these tracks need to be heard. I would love to buy the Album. The one problem is that I don't agree to giving people money for an album made entirely of Illegal Bootlegs.
peace,
ben_d_straw
(cinemablend.com)
(http://www.cinemablend.com/music/Beatles-Career-Threatened-By-Bootleg-9577.html)
Beatles Career Threatened By Bootleg
By Rema Rahman: 2008-03-24 03:47:49
Beatles Career Threatened By Bootleg Before becoming the biggest band to ever grace humanity, The Beatles began their career as most musicians do – playing small clubs. In 1962, the same year they signed to EMI, they played what was to become a haven for many well-known bands, the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany. Unlike many of the big-name musicians who contributed performances to the legendary watering hole – to name a few: David Bowie, Everly Brothers, Jimi Hendrix and Ray Charles – little did they know it would come back to haunt them over four decades later.
Well, it has, in the form of what sounds like a major lawsuit. No, this is not Michael Jackson selling “All You Need is Love” to a disposable diaper commercial. This is Apple Corps suing the shit out of Fuego Entertainment - some Miami record company - who claims they own, and will publish, 15 never before heard bootlegged tracks from said Beatles club appearance.
And like most people defending their side of a lawsuit, both sides appear to be totally devoid of any notion of reality. Take, for example, the Apple Corps lawyer who, the New York Timeswrote, claims the release of these poor-quality songs “dilutes and tarnishes the extraordinarily valuable image associated with the Beatles.” Does this man really believe that 15 bootlegged tracks will outdo a discography of over 300 beloved songs?
Now take a gander at the president of Fuego, one of five defendants in the case, who said: “Don’t claim that these were just bootlegged. It’s not like today, that you just go in with a phone or BlackBerry and you record.” Um, what kind of incredible technology did they have in Germany in 1962 that recorded live concerts better than a portable computer? Surely not anything you could also check your Gmail with.
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(Seperate Article From BBC News) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7309450.stm)
A legal attempt has begun to block the release of early Beatles recordings.
Lawyers for the group's surviving members have claimed the fifteen tracks, apparently played in Hamburg in 1962, were taped without permission.
The songs include Paul McCartney performing Lovesick Blues by Hank Williams, and McCartney and Lennon singing together on Ask Me Why.
But the Miami company trying to sell the music, Fuego Entertainment, has insisted the recordings were legal.
The firm's president, Hugo Cancio, told the Associated Press he planned to release the songs as an album entitled Jammin' with The Beatles and Friends, Star Club, Hamburg, 1962.
"It's unfair to millions of Beatles fans not to allow this recording to be put out. The world deserves to hear these tracks."
'Garden-variety bootleg'
Apple Corps, which represents the Beatles, said Mr Cancio had no right to distribute them, however.
The fact is that we have it; they don't, and that is what's bothering them
Hugo Cancio of Fuego Entertainment on the recording
It claimed the music was of poor sound quality and "dilutes and tarnishes" the band's memory.
"This appears to us to be a garden-variety bootleg recording," according to Apple Corps lawyer Paul LiCalsi.
However, Mr Cancio responded: "Don't claim that these were just bootlegged."
He said he had not expected to be facing a claim for $15 million (£7.6 million) in damages from Apple Corps.
"I'm surprised because up to a few weeks ago, we were in good-faith conversations with Apple," he said.
And referring to the music, he went on: "The fact is that we have it; they don't, and that is what's bothering them."
