be interesting to find out just who did own the rights between Biggs passing away and he son regaining control. Was it Ida Sands or Charles Amos Hunter? I wonder if Charles Amos Hunter being the sole credit on the track did have the rights to do as he wished once Noah Biggs passed?
from the history page of the Shiptown site (John Smith's words)....
The label's activities were slowing anyway, but Noah Biggs death in 1978 signaled the end of the line for the organization. None of Frank Guida's roster was still enjoying hits, Wilson and Jerry Williams had moved on to progress their recording careers elsewhere and even Lenis Guess was ready to up sticks and head out to New York. The 'Norfolk Sound' had run its course.
With Shiptown in disarray, Barbara took a break. She then teamed up with a jazz band and started to sing again for a few live shows locally. But things just weren't the same for her and so she went back to her roots in the church. Control of the recording studio and catalogue slipped away from the family and that could have been the end for Shiptown. But record collectors started to unearth the label's old 45's and those that found favour were soon commanding high prices. Howard Biggs moved on in life and pursued his own career path. 25 years on though, he discovered the unending interest in his father's record label. He managed to get control of the label back after realizing that it was something worth owning.