 Hi paul, just a quick question maybe you could answer for me. I came across an old cassette tape in my collection the other day named Legend, I'ts years since i heard it, but it is Sophisticated Beggar, Why was this titled Legend do you think? Shaun I
|
|||
 |
The Stormcock CommunityFree speech! One each! |
|
|
|
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.
Icons by: FastIcon.com
PHORM PROHIBITED
The contents of this site, and communications between this site and its users, are protected by database right, copyright, confidentiality and the right not to be intercepted conferred by section 1(3) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The use of those contents and communications by Internet Service Providers or others to profile or classify users of this site for advertising or other purposes is strictly forbidden.
|
Donations are welcome and will be used to pay for hosting the site and producing the podcasts
|
I've never known why this
I've never known why this was; I have a copy of "Legend" as well. All I can think of is that it seems to have been an unofficial release (i.e. not licensed from Roy) and perhaps this was an attempt to get it in "under the radar" so to speak by using a different title?
Does anyone have a better suggestion?
Legend
Many moons back, in the Days of Darren Crisp, I bought a CD copy of "Legend" and noted that it was not from a usual distributor, had tracks in a funny order, but was, in fact, SB, so I wrote to DC (I think it was before email even) to query this.
He replied to the effect that he and Roy were constantly on the look out for such unauthorised releases, wanted to know about them etc., but that there was really bugger all they could do to stop them. But he thanked me for letting him know. I felt ever so virtuous.
Later, when I got to know my local record store owner quite well, he used to lend me the wholesale catalogue he used in case there were are obscure folkish titles I wanted that he would otherwise miss, or choose to ignore. Every month the catalogue would have items of early Harper, slightly repackaged to, as you say, sneak under the radar.
All part of the jungle that is out there in Tin Pan Alleyland, I suppose.
Legend
SHAUN I
Cheers for that Steve, it's a sad state of affairs really, its tantamount to theft some would argue, ripping an artists work off like that with absolutely no payment in royalties and worse, no recourse for the artist. It certainly is a dog ripping another dogs throat out world we live in.
On delving deeper
I couldn't agree more. However, prompted by the original thoughts, I've been and checked my storage system (if you but knew ...
), and I find that both my copy of "Legend" and my version of "Sophisticated Beggar" were "published" on some odd labels, and with varied track listing. I now feel a little guilty at owning them!
"Sophisticated Beggar" is on something calling itself the Sundown label, part of "Magnum Music Group" - or "MMG" - CDSD 051. Release date given is 1990.
Tracks are:
There are some sleeve notes by Bill Williams and they take the story up to "In Between Every Line".
"Legend" claims to be "A Tring Product", licensed from The Long Island Music Company Limited. JHD064. There is no release date.
The rear cover has one of those rip-off disclaimers that fly-by-night operations put on "Best of ..." albums when they can't get the original artists to re-record tracks: "This album contains some tracks that are re-recorded. All single artist tracks are performed by the original artist. Tracks featuring groups were recorded using as many of the original group members as possible."
From which we gather that His Royness is Not A Group!
Tracks are (exactly as spelled!):
There are no sleeve notes.
I suppose someone somewhere has a complete Harper discography and could put these in context. In fact, I think I've met one in the Discussion Group somewhere.
Must be the trainspotter in me.
Best wishes,
S
Tring
I knew I wasn't imagining it! I had a copy of Stormcock from the same source. Mr Bill denied its existence. I think this confirms that I did indeed have a dodgy version of the masterpiece. I'm glad I now have two "kosher" versions :-)
Bob