Ian Dewhirst

Yep and now a 'vibe' is copyrightable. A joke.... Ian D

Not this one by any chance Chalky......? Ian D

Not Pharrell's week is it? https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-entertainment/original-hat-bellend-to-sue-pharrell-2015031296170 Ian D

Yep. I've taken two calls already. F*ckin' ridiculous....... Ian D

My point entirely. There's enough examples on this thread alone to keep the lawyers busy for the next year. I would almost defy anyone to make a record that doesn't infringe on a previous recording. It's almost impossible. Ian D

Uh oh. As if by magic........ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/after-blurred-lines-victory-gaye-family-takes-another-listen-to-happy/ Ian D

OK, but put yourself in the shoes of an artist who is about to release a new song. Are you SURE that you haven't somehow copied ANY element or feel of ANY record ever released previously? And would you even know anyway? Supposing you subliminally heard a tune when you were in your mother's womb and somehow repeated an ELEMENT of that tune some 25 years later. Dead meat. There is NOTHING that anyone could release in the future that wouldn't attract a lawsuit if it was a hit, As a genuine musician would you really want to assume that risk? Ian D

Now that's the way to sell a piece of plastic! He's in the wrong business....... Ian D

You have a very good point and obviously it's difficult to argue, that yes, of course, Williams and Thicke were appropriating the overall vibe of "Got To Give It Up". Had I been in their shoes, I'd have been upfront with the Gaye estate and offered 'em 25% of a guaranteed bonanza and I'm pretty sure that everyone would have been just fine. But Pharrell and Robin didn't do that. They recorded and released the track under what they believed was the U.S. copyright law at the time. and they just got called on it. And, unbelievably LOST! Personally I don't think they infringed Marvin's copyright and neither would any other musician who knows what is at stake here. I can only re-iterate the article that someone posted to me earlier and which Steve G kindly posted above. If you haven't already read it, then I strongly suggest you do if you care about artistic expression and freedom. The precedent that this ruling sets, will effectively put all future recordings in breach of previous copyrights one way or another. It's all up for grabs now and that will stifle creativity. https://joebennett.net/2014/02/01/did-robin-thicke-steal-a-song-from-marvin-gaye/ I'm not arguing that Pharrell and Robin didn't appropriate the whole vibe and feel of "Got To Give It Up" which they obviously did but I am arguing that "Blurred Lines" is NOT the same song by any means, especially the ones listed in the link above. We could do a whole thread on Northern Soul songs which have appropriated previously released songs. How many law suits could Holland-Dozier-Holland bring for "I Can't Help Myself"? The list is endless. This will go to appeal and the appeal will be upheld I believe. If, by some quirk of fate, this current decision is upheld, then it will bring 50 years of law suits and do nothing but make the lawyers rich. You read it here first. Ian D

Legally and musically a wasn't a direct copy though Gareth (I had musicians go through them both note for note). It was a 'pastiche' for want of a better word which, up to yesterday, wasn't illegal. Now it is (at least until the appeal) and every music lawyer in the world is rubbing his/her hands with glee. Plus they didn't sue Bunny Sigler 38 years ago did they? Ian D

A ridiculous decision in my view. The floodgates for a gazillion other 'pastiches' are probably being planned now. How many people have used the Four Tops "I Can't Help Myself" as a template over the last 50 years? Ian D

Jack Splash version. Best song of the last 5 years for me...... Ian D

Not soul, but we had a similar situation to the Five Keys when I worked @ Decca in the 70s. This is the 'clean' sleeve which now has an increased crop. The original had the edge of Sir George's right hand looking suspiciously like a large dick. The expression on his face didn't help either.......... Ian D

I Dig Your Act - The O'Jays Fell in love with it all over again whilst compiling 'The Odyssey: A Northern Soul Time-Capsule'.... Ian D

Certainly was for me! Made my Tuesday nights @ Burnley Cricket Club all the more worthwhile. Brad fed me the first copies of the Pointer Sisters and Gerri Grainger among many others...... Ian D

I know TONS of people who buy these as new releases but who aren't particularly on the scene as we know it. It's not that surprising when you consider that bootlegs of "Tainted Love" were capable of selling 20K units in the 70s in much the same way. Some of these tunes crossed over to a wider audience via local DJs that needed some Northern Soul in their boxes to cope with requests on their local pub nights. These days there are loads of eclectic DJs with wide tastes who like to program some Northern Soul in their sets. These are some of the guys that were coming round to my place in the 90s and 00s buying up all my spares and Northern compilation albums because they also only played vinyl. The core Northern Soul scene is but one of many component scenes which co-exist out there. In the 90s it was hard to go to a gig anywhere that wasn't playing "Purple Haze" or "If It's All The Same To You"! Ian D

But this is what I don't get Mrs M. The playing of the original vinyl is indeed to be applauded. Had these original DJs and diggers not discovered the original vinyl copies then there would probably be zero demand for the recording. So, all well and good. The downside is that the artist, the owner of the recording and the owner of the song get nothing from this activity as it's generally 20-40 years later. However, if some enterprising company picks up the rights or the original owner decides to reissue the recordings, then the resultant revenues are going to the appropriate people in some way or other, which is good right? Most of these records lost money in the first place, so why shouldn't the copyright owners, songwriters and artists see some revenues from the re-issues? Eddie Parker sold more records last year then in his entire career to date. I think it's a good thing that these acts are getting the level of attention now, which they never enjoyed 40-50 years ago, although it's a shame that it's probably too little, too late. I think Secret Stash are doing a fantastic job and are doing exactly what they should be doing in making these records available again, including unreleased stuff which has been in the can for 50 years. What could possibly be wrong with that? Ian D

If they own the recordings, then they're legally entitled to do what they want with them. As stated earlier, no music buyer owns the music, just the carrier in whatever format. If some people want to own an expensive original that's fine and if some people want to own a legal re-press from 50 years later, then that's fine too. I don't understand what the problem is? Ian D

You know what Chalky? You could have a 500 page book on the scene and it wouldn't be enough. I've just spent the last hour FINALLY going through the finished article and it doesn't get any better in terms of a Northern Soul box set in my opinion. I'm obviously biased, but in terms of the wider market, this is the definitive release in my view. Thanks to all involved. The real deal. Ian D

You know what Chalky? You could have a 500 page book on the scene and it wouldn't be enough. I've just spent the last hour FINALLY going through the finished article and it doesn't get any better in terms of a Northern Soul box set in my opinion. I'm obviously biased, but in terms of the wider market, this is the definitive release in my view. Thanks to all involved. The real deal. Ian D

Found a minter in Cheyenne, Wyoming whilst going to a rodeo in the late 80s. Pretty rare I think as I've never found another....... Ian D

Hi H, The £49.99 is the Dealer Price, i.e. the price we charge the Dealers who stock it, so no, unfortunately you're stuck with whatever the Dealers charge, so the Amazon price is a good 'un... Ian D

Hi H, The £49.99 is the Dealer Price, i.e. the price we charge the Dealers who stock it, so no, unfortunately you're stuck with whatever the Dealers charge, so the Amazon price is a good 'un... Ian D

Yes, 2 clearances required. One from the owner of the master and the other from the publisher of the song. Ian D

I'm not gonna be able to top it unfortunately. The days of the lavish box sets are numbered I believe, so I always look at each project as if it could be the last. Thus almost was lol. Almost killed me.... Ian D