The increasing tide of bootlegs

[Forrrce]

I've noticed that the past few years have seen a huge increase in the number of bootlegs on the market. What once was a fairly specialist and (mainly) demand-based industry seems to have gone all unnecessary on us - I mean, as far as disco goes, the occasional surfacing of an obscure re-edit, mega-mix or rare track was pretty harmless and even fun. I've been into shops recently which are stocked almost entirely of those Scorpio LP counterfeits, you know the ones - all thick sleeves, shrink wrap and dodgy sound.

As a (fairly) serious collector as well as a music fan, I'm also seeing increasingly obscure and sought-after items with pretty limited appeal, re-pressed and filling up racks for a few pounds a shot - and I'm wondering what it's all about; after all, some things are better left untouched and if 3 people with loads of money wanna fight it out on eBay, that's no reason for something to be stocked in Virgin a month later.

There are many pros and cons to bootlegging, no doubt - I myself am usually anti but change my tune when it suits me. Bootlegging old records now seems to be quite a good way to make money - there are many pretty ordinary tracks which are selling OK units in the centre of London at the moment, whilst their original counterparts sit in second hand shops a few doors away for a fraction of the price. Sure, the bootleg buyers aren't sure what they're buying, but I do feel the power of association is everything here because I know a lot of people who are this way inclined and man, you wanna play them something they don't know and it's real hard work. Said item appears as a boot and they'll buy it, then ask you what the original is.

The sheer weight of unlicensed re-issues constantly flooding in pose a couple of questions - is there really a market for so much old music because many younger record buyers are disillusioned with today's music - or do many simply take this opportunity to buy into areas that were previously 'exclusive', that they maybe had no real interest in anyway. Maybe it's a cynical (but lucrative?) attempt to cater for the those seeking breaks or samples, or whatever. Or are there that many old-timers who need replacement copies of Stevie Wonder albums or Jo Boyer 12"s?

Maybe I'm making too much of a big deal here - I'll admit it's sometimes disappointing to see particular titles in the shops when I've had a spare copy of an original and held out for a good deal with a fellow collector(!) but if it's a particularly in-demand title, I can't argue. Similarly, I can't get on my high horse about the ethics of royalty non-payment, etc. - though I'd no doubt feel differently if I were in an artist's position. The whole Napster/Kazza file-sharing issue is a pretty similar one in places, but I'm talking about physical product on the shelves.

Bootlegs - harmless, necessary or shouldn't be allowed...anyone have any opinions?

[QUINNY]

I have no hesitation in saying shouldn't be allowed. This is deliberate, blatant ripping off!
BTW: How do you know that no copyright or licencing fees have been paid?

[Forrrce]

The 're-issues' that I've targeted mainly here are the counterfeit LPs you see in a lot of shops now for around the £10 mark. They have no bar codes, the same old addresses, 'phone numbers and publishing details as the originals (and we all know these things can change). I also know a chap who 'advises' a company what to repress and they track down a copy, remaster the audio, scan the sleeves and the record's soon in your local thrifty.
With independents, it can be harder to tell - but why would larger organisations like Polygram, Fantasy, Vanguard, et al let other companies re-issue their stock (at uniform bargain prices) with their label designs & logos and miss out on any potential profit themselves? Note how Warner Europe have re-released several titles on vinyl which retail for around the £6 mark - I think it's a bit more of a combative measure than a straight PR exercise.
I know from personal experience that majors are a bugger to deal with when it comes to acquiring licenses and some are harder work than others. I cannot prove it to you but I know most of these products are sheisty. Check the number of these records which will appear on vinyl soon after a particular LP gets reissued on CD - it's not just coincidence.

[QUINNY]

Forrrce: I have no hesitation in believing what you say. I just don't venture into a record shop these days (this is where the net scores for me) and the only ones in town are HMV and Our Price/Virgin kinda places.
Even the longest established second hand record shop has a pitiful amount (less than 50, all garbage) of old 12" ers.

[Forrrce]

Fair dinkum, Quinny - maybe I'm reading too much into it after all.