The Beatles: "Bootleg Recordings 1963" is no longer available from iTunes. Eight hours after the collection was made available, it disappeared again from all the iTunes stores in all the countries. We don't think it was even made available in the UK. But by doing this stunt, The Beatles have secured their copyright on these recordings for 70 years. Chances are they'll want to do something with these tracks during those years.
What a disgraceful business. If anyone still doubted that this (and many other beatles projects) were motivated by anything other than pure greed, here's your proof. Makes you feel sick to be part of the beatles' loyal fanbase, doesn't it? As I can't now buy the tracks legitimately, I look forward to finding a free download of the tracks on a fansite, or to buying a physical bootleg copy shortly.
ReplyDeleteDon't Let Me Download
ReplyDeleteTotally agree. How sickening. It's already online so really- what was the point. Also- given the huge amount of available recordings not covered on this "release" - does that mean that those tracks will now fall into Punic domain?
ReplyDeleteOops- that should say Public Domain!!
ReplyDeleteI have informed the BBC about this scam - let's hope we can make a sufficient fuss to embarrass Universal/Apple into making the material available again...
ReplyDeleteI feel pretty disheartened by this and the whole drip-drip attitude to getting material out. Next we've got the Capitol albums (again). Big whoop! Surely they realise that the numbers of people who are die-hard fans will only dwindle as time marches on.
ReplyDeleteIt's taking us as fools.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25413838
ReplyDeleteMaybe this is them backtracking...unless it was all part of an elaborate ploy to get fans into a frenzy. Discuss.
If not we have to Itunes Watch for the next 7 years... Or they just tell their Apple employes to download and then nobody else knows BUT they have secured the copyright... Shame.
ReplyDeleteSo does anyone know of anyone who downloaded this ? If they choose to pull it and not release it then they are playing into the bootleggers hands !!! I only hope someone has the balls and the heart to stick the mp3's on the web in a couple of RAR files...
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gutted!! Have been checking iTunes every couple of hours (both UK and US sites) with not even a glimpse of it! Have been a loyal fan for years and bought absolutely everything Fab Four related, feel betrayed by Apple for doing this to us now!! Oh well, I'll have to buy the bootleg or download it for free...any recommended sites anyone please??
ReplyDeleteFrom the BBC News website today:
ReplyDelete"Unreleased outtakes, demos and BBC sessions by The Beatles are expected to be made available on iTunes later.
The 59 tracks from 1963 are due to be released to stop them falling out of copyright and into the public domain.
EU copyright law covers recordings for 70 years if they have had an official release or 50 years if they have not.
Some fans have said the songs appeared on iTunes briefly earlier, but the BBC understands they will reappear later on Tuesday and remain indefinitely."
I wonder why they've suddenly changed their (i)tune?
Don't worry. Like the Dylan-copyright-scheme-releases last year and earlier this year, these will pop up at torrent sites soon. I would have been happy to pay for the legitimate release (I think I have proven that since 1812 or so), but this is how it goes.
ReplyDeleteits been bootlegged if you know what i mean!
ReplyDeleteThey are in the US as of 9:05 AM EST - downloading now.
ReplyDeleteNow available on iTunes in U.S.A. for $39.99. They obviously don't want people to buy it.
ReplyDeleteNOK 400 on the Norwegian iTunes store. I wonder if I might not just as well wait for a... bootleg. ;-)
ReplyDeleteA moment later it was gone again - "This page is temporarily unavailable". I guess time will tell whether these tracks will remain available or not. I was ready to buy this collection, but at the price they're (were?) asking, I'm not so sure after all.
ReplyDeleteJust found it on iTunes...they should've called it Songs To The Tune of 35 quid!! US iTunes have it at $39.99 BUT it won't let me download from there and transferred me back to the UK site! I feel very cheated, annoyed and disheartened by Universal/Apple having bought everything previously...do they seriously expect us to pay £35 for this when there's nothing really new!!!
ReplyDeleteDownloading this as we speak...an absolutely SHOCKING price of £34.00!!!
ReplyDeleteWho said that Apple was greedy? Genuinely taken aback at this. Different prices for different countries? Think SHAME on yourselves Apple. Disgusted.
Like I said before: last night/early this morning it was briefly available on the Dutch iTunes, not log enough for me to get there. The pricing was then 10 Euros. At the moment I cannot check if it is available again in Holland, and at what price, 'cos iTunes is blocked at my work. 35 Pounds? forget it.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the extortionate price tag of £35 we don't even get the artwork/book or anything physical to look at, the second volume of BBC stuff I got on CD from Amazon for £12 so why the hell didn't they consider a realistic price for this collection instead of trying to rip us diehard fans off in this way?
ReplyDeletePretty clear what happened here. Early downloads were so popular they bumped the price up.
ReplyDeleteOne positive: maybe this shows Apple that there is a very real demand for this stuff.
Its back in the UK just downloaded it ... sound is good
ReplyDeleteFYI: I already noticed a torrent.
ReplyDeleteJust downloaded it from the Dutch iTunes (even unaware of all the fuzz from yesterday) for a scary €39,95!!!!
ReplyDeleteBut I have it here, in mp4.