Posted on 03/22/2008 3:50:37 PM PDT by blam
Beatles try to block historic bootleg
By David Harrison
Last Updated: 8:43pm GMT 22/03/2008
The Beatles are trying to block the release of an album of "lost" songs recorded during Ringo Starr's first performances with the group.
The Beatles built their reputation at Hamburg's Star Club. A plaque now marks where it once stood
The eight unreleased songs date from 1962 when the Fab Four agreed to do a few final gigs at Hamburg's Star Club, where they had performed as a fledgling band.
The songs include Paul McCartney and John Lennon singing an early B-side, Ask Me Why, McCartney singing Hank Williams' Lovesick Blues, and George Harrison doing Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs' Do You Believe.
The gigs - performed after the band shot to worldwide fame with Love Me Do - are believed to have been their first live performances after Ringo Starr replaced Pete Best on drums.
Apple Corps, the London-based company of the two surviving Beatles - Ringo Starr and Sir Paul McCartney - has filed a £7.5 million lawsuit against Fuego Entertainment, a Miami-based company. Together with its partner, Jeffrey Collins, a British promoter, Fuego plans to sell the eight songs on a 15-track album called Jammin' with The Beatles and Friends, Star Club, Hamburg, 1962.
Lawyers for the Beatles alleged the recording were made without their permission
The seven other songs, which were later studio-recorded and released by the Beatles' record company EMI, include Twist and Shout, I Saw Her Standing There and Hippy Hippy Shake.
The suit by Apple was lodged against Fuego, its president Hugo Cancio and Mr Collins in Miami's federal court on Friday. Apple is demanding damages for copyright, trademark and other recording infringements.
Mr Cancio said his firm had legally obtained the Star Club recordings and had the right to release them.
But Apple's lawyer, Paul LiCalsi, said: "It's a bootleg tape and there was no permission from the Beatles to record it, and Fuego doesn't have permission from the Beatles to exploit it."
It’s a unique recording. Cut ‘em in on the take and let the world hear it.
Greed makes people stupid.
It was recorded by Peter Best.
I do. I bought a copy in 1964 thinking it was a greatest hits type album and when I found out that it was Best, I returned it to the record store. I was 14. Wish I'd kept it...worth some big bucks now.
Historic, sure, but probably not all that good. And I say that as a big, big Beatles fan. The sound quality is probably crap, for one thing. When I was a kid, I bought an LP of “The Beatles Live at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany 1962,” and I have to say that it is the worst Beatles LP I have in my collection.
"greed?" yeah, ok. I think I'm gonna come over and take your car out for a ride tonight. Don't be greedy by trying to enforce your property rights on me.
You’ll not get past the front gate, much less near the car, lol.
I doubt if the “Beatles” are trying to stop anything. Is Ringo part owner?
greed makes people stupid.
My cousin [who was always trying to ‘top’ me by getting new records before I did] woke me up one Saturday waving that LP around. Hadn’t read the back cover.
I thought the LPs were pretty good. You could see where they were musically, and where they were going. You could see who their influences were [Holly, the Everlys, Berry, and R&B and Country]. They were very eclectic. Plus, you could hear earlier versions of some of their PYE records, and some great covers [”Sweet Nothings”, “Shaking All Over”. “What'd I Say].
I love the Searchers. So many great bands back then.
I know two of them aren't. Apple Corps. hasn't made a dime doing anything except suing people for about thirty years. These recordings may not be covered by any of the contracts, and the Beatles may not own them.
They’re my favorite band of all time. They’re going to be in Canada and the States next month through the beginning of May
That's why Apple was all over American Idol with the I-Phone ads and vote in system. And they talked AI into 2 weeks of Beatles tunes to jump start the sales.
In all fairness, I think a lot of the problems have been the result of Yoko’s unwillingness to work together with Paul.
What would make the most sense here is for Apple to just buy the recordings, they would still make a fortune.
Please, no more junk from the beatles...ick!
They haven’t been their best since they fired Pete Best. What a waste of great potential that band was!
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