Fed Up With EMI? (Shadows At The BBC)

[captainhaddock]

I am a Shadows fanatic.
I believe that I have everything that has been "Officially Released"on CD. Due partly to the bloody-mindedness of EMI, I have also purchased some of the more dodgy issues of Shadows material, but would be more than willing to buy official releases of all of this material IF it ever comes about. However I have a suspicion , based upon previous threads upon this very forum,that the problem has been created by a certain band member and someone in the management of the band,for reasons known only to themselves.The question of quality of said archive material does not enter into it for me, after all much of the material on the Beatles anthology CD's is iffy but interesting and certainly does not diminish the bands achievements in any way.The three Beatles CD's and the "Beatles at the BBC" sold in vast quantities The recent news that we might be allowed to watch appearances by MW&F via the dubious pleasure of "Completely Cilla" just does not excite me in any way. It should have been the other way around, I believe that it has been available via you-tube for a fair time anyway. EMI is a commercial company and exists to make money, if the shareholders were made aware that a potential revenue earner is being denied by some petty squabble from 30 odd years ago, is it possible that they might have something to say ?
I hate to say it, but if someone is holding fire due to possible big earnings in the future, well none of us are getting any younger ( apart from Ecca's knee's) and in ten or fifteen years time, the potential market will be a lot smaller.

[MartcasterJunior]

Big earnings? I think you're grossly overestimating the size of The Shadows' CD-buying fanbase.

These recordings aren't on release because nobody with enough vested interest thinks it's enough of a financially-viable product to back.

[Arpeggio]

Exactly Mart......but they are WRONG. In any event, if it's purely that - then why block RPM from doing it? RPM were more than happy to go ahead with a release of the BBC's 1963 -1974 Shadows tracks. Of course it's partly down to money - but it is undoubtedly also partly down to politics (but only partly) as Capt Haddock suggests. I believe that I'm correct in saying (as David Martin has alluded to it) that some of the 1959 - 1962 BBC material (when the Shadows At The BBC was being prepared for release & yes.....it was 99% ready) was vetted / marked as 'not to be released' by the Shads. But.....also I can confirm that some parties concerned were very happy for all / any of it to be release. No names. No pack drill. But, fair enough as some titles were repeated several times too - so why not select 'the best'. Thus....EMI did have a release ready to go until the BBC wrecked the project themselves. I won't go over all of that ground yet again. So, yes a group member or members may have decided that some of the 1959 - 1962 material should not be released. But.....a tracklisting for release was agreed. But...to reiterate....once the BBC had effectively destroyed all hope of using any of the 1959 - 1962 material...EMI wouldn't go ahead - thinking that the release wasn't strong enough without it. That's what they still think.

Rob

[Pat Seaman]

With regard to the Beatles starting the Apple label, it's worth considering that Apple was an EMI distributed label, so the Beatles didn't actually leave EMI, just the Parlophone label.

I'm afraid that expecting a logical decision from EMI is concerned..........Don't hold your breath, they didn't have, and still haven't, got a clue.

They certainly couldn't care less about the Shadows fan base now that the big bucks have stopped rolling in.

Anyway, who makes the decisions now that EMI has ceased to be a separate entity and is owned by the American (?) giants.

Pat.

[martcaster]

Just a thought. Might it be worth enquiring if EMI believed 'The Shadows At Abbey Road', compiled the inestimable Mr Hoffman, was deemed to financially viable (in general terms) If so, then I would have thought that the core market for that project would rougly equate with that of the proposed BBC project. If their answer is "Yes" (we CAN trust them to be honest with us, can't we, boys & girls?) then surely it's a no-brainer. Minimal effort on their part,profit all the way! Can't The Shads themselves be persuaded to offer a view? Albeit off the record (no pun intended) Just a thought.
Love to all,
Mart (by the way, Dave, love the new avatar)

[captainhaddock]

Maybe there isn't enough Shadows interest in Great Britain alone anymore to justify a release by EMI of the archived material. However living here in little old Britain, I don't think we appreciate just how much International interest there is in the band. You have only to look at You-tube to see how many Shadows "Copyists" there are all around the World, together with all of the TV appearences in Australia and Holland. Think how many Countries were toured by the Shadows even up to the "Reunion" tour with Cliff three years ago. The Shadows are even appreciated in the USA now, as witnessed by the "One Night In Nivram" tribute album. It could even be argued that there is more interest abroad now than in Britain, where the Shadows image may be a little tarnished perhaps by association with a certain singer.

[Arpeggio]

Do you know....I've just been reflecting on this whole thing. I wonder......just wonder....Could EMI be thinking about the whole 50 years copyright (as it's still only 50 years at present) situation to help themselves?? Viz: the material that they really wanted to use was the BBC tracks from 1959 - 1962. Now......come December this year....they will ALL be out of copyright. EMI could then (in theory)....license the BBC 1963 - 1974 material and put that together with the 1959 - 1962 tracks which they were planning to use waaaayyy back when the project so very nearly came to fruition. Which could explain why they've blocked RPM. Or am I just living in a fantasy world????? Is the reality that they simply can't be bothered (nor allow anyone else to) to issue this material. Will the situation change if Universal Music are in charge of the back catalogue???

Rob

[hoffers]

Instro Beat 2, The Shadows The Burns Years, Pioneers of Instrumental Rock - Bob Bogle are all projects I submitted a licensing request for with EMI UK with a view to releasing them on my Legacy Sounds UK label, I even offered to pay not only the advance but also the royalty up front, but they said 'no' to every one of them. They just can't be bothered. None of the old faces are there anymore so the new blood probably haven't even heard of The Shadows.
EMI catalogue manager revealed they struggle to get their own ideas passed by the board.
It's mad and working with EMI is so frustrating.
They forget how many times I've helped them out with info, record sleeves, trivia and so on yet I got sod all in return.
I hate EMI with a vengeance and most of the other major labels who just won't let a new label get started or established.

Tony H

[hbmartin]

Maybe EMI took a look at your website Hoffers and noticed you have a list of bootlegs for sale.

[hoffers]

hbmartin . . . maybe EMI did look at my website and see CDR's you wanted me to sell for you . . .