Re: Don't Bulls**t A Bulls**ter !

[Eliott Kahn <Elkahn...>]

Dear Simon:

Thanks for your post. It's certainly not out of line in my opinion.

I can't tell you the number of people who call our library and continually 
ask me to violate copyright law by sending them cassette or photocopies of 
music.

Most people who are not musicians seem to be under the impression that 
music "grows on trees" and is ripe for the plucking. Of course the people 
who usually get "plucked" in this instance are the poor composer--and I do 
mean POOR--and the performers, both denied their pittance of a royalty.

Sometimes I wish we could have one of those "World Without Music" days, 
where all the rabbis, politicians, and businessmen could listen to each 
other speak for hours.

Do you think the world would miss us?

Best wishes,

Eliott Kahn
Music Archivist
JTS Library



At 08:54 PM 4/6/00 -0400, you wrote:
>Dear List Members,
>
>I have debated very hard as to whether to send this out to the list. I sent
>it to  a couple of people on the list in whose judgment I have enough faith
>that if I am out of line, they will let me know. Being as they are in the
>music business, they agree with me, as this has happened to them as well --
>numerous times.
>
>THIS IS NOT DIRECTED AT ANY PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL! MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THEY
>OCCUR WITH WALK IN CUSTOMERS.
>
>Simon Vents His Spleen!
>If you don't want to read my tirade- and it's a long one -just delete this
>now!
>
>
><< I can't seem to find a copy of the first Bikel album with Mu Asapru on
> >it.  The few places that list it don't actually have it.  Does anyone
> >have a copy to sell me?
>
>Oh Really?????????
>Things that "TICK" me off # 1- "I'd Pay ANYTHING To Get this Record"
>
>Since the original post about the song "Mu Asapru" by Theo Bikel, I have had
>many requests for this song. The original recording was on Elektra
>approximately 40 years ago. There were 3 Yiddish recordings in the series.
>All the LPs included a booklet with the lyrics. For short period of time,
>they were reissued by Bainbridge Records, they have since gone bankrupt, and
>the recordings are again out of print.
>
>I buy a lot of old record for my private collection form various "rare
>record" vendors, so when I get a request from anyone on the list for a cut
>out, I am always glad to refer people to these various dealers that I have
>dealt with in the past since these are people that I believe are ethical and
>whose pricing is more than reasonable.
>
>One of my best sources for records is  www.hotplatters.com  The owner, Ed
>Odel didn't deal in Jewish Music until I told him that there was a demand for
>recordings that people are just throwing away. At my urging, he started
>acquiring some Jewish lps..many of which I picked up. He says that a
>recording is in "good condition" then you can bet it is in EXCELLENT
>condition and his pricing is very fair.
>
>A certain member of the list emerald me many times about the LP. Each time, I
>would Emil them back with ALL the information as to where to get it, and
>price-which was very reasonable (and cheaper than the price of a CD) for the
>condition of a MINT record. To then say one can't find a copy for sale and
>ask for someone to run of a copy for "free" is pretty tacky.  If you had no
>intention of buying it why waste our time. I wasn't selling it, I was only
>trying to help someone locate the recording (and spent 2 days doing it), and
>get no commission from it.
>
>Things That TICK Me Off # 2 -  "Nobody Has To Know"
>
>This has happened MANY times in our shop!
>  A well known Jewish (Music) recording artist come to us desperately looking
>for sheet music that they were to perfume at a major concert and "the pay was
>FANTASTIC." I was told that the artist couldn't find it anywhere and "Would
>Pay ANYTHING" to locate that song since it was a special request.  I had the
>song in a book, the total cost of the book was about $15.00.
>
>The 'artist' then said, "Gee, I don't want to spend THAT much for just one
>song, I only need it for one show. If I give you $1.00, would you let me make
>a photocopy" When I informed our "star" that it was not only unethical but
>illegal, the reply was, "Nobody has to know"!
>
>The book in question was published by Velvel Pasternak. Velvel has devoted a
>good part of his life publishing Jewish music books.I will bet you that he
>has spent many hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars to give us
>something for which there is unfortunately such a limited audience -- as is
>the case for Jewish recordings. Hundreds of these books must be sold just to
>break even, let alone make enough of a profit to publish the NEXT book. If we
>were in the business of "renting" his books, how much longer do you think he
>would be willing to publish?
>
>We, I got that off my chest, now, let's eat!
>Simon
>

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