Guest evenflowDDT Report post Posted January 11, 2003 Stolen Beatles Tapes Found Jan 10, 9:51 AM EST LONDON (AP) -- Police raids in England and the Netherlands on Friday recovered what could be about 500 original Beatles tapes that were stolen in the 1970s, including some never-released tracks. British police said the tapes were "priceless," and that the only such recordings that have been heard before were bootlegs. Dutch police, who recovered all the tapes in the Netherlands, agreed, but said they were still analyzing the material. "We're currently investigating whether they really are the originals, but it appears to be so," said prosecutor spokesman Robert Meulenbroek in Amsterdam. "There are about 500 tapes, so there's quite a bit to research." Five people were arrested in separate police raids in England and Holland. Their names were not immediately released. The tapes contain what are known as the "Get Back" sessions, which were to become an album in 1969 before the project was shelved. Some of the songs, including "Get Back" itself, became part of the "Let It Be" album, said London police. For many devoted fans and collectors, the original reel-to-reel tapes would be a valuable recovery by Apple, the Beatles' record company. Over the years, pirate copies had turned up in Britain, continental Europe and the United States. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry led the investigation with help from London detectives. They first identified suspects who were thought to have been involved in the theft and handling of the tapes. Further inquiries across Europe led to the joint operation by British and Dutch police. Two people were arrested Friday in West London, and three at an undisclosed location south of Amsterdam, police said. One of the most famous bootlegs of all time (Get Back), that has been circulating via both more bootleg releases than can be named, and now via CD-R trading to all the fans who couldn't afford/find said bootlegs, will now undoubtedly be released in a 24-bit digitally remastered, soulless "The Fans Will Think We're Bad-Ass and Buy it if we Call it a Bootleg Anything-But-Bootleg-Edition" by Apple with a million pages of liner notes by Yoko. Or, even better, it'll return to the vault to rot for years. Yay! I actually don't even believe the IFPI has jurisdiction to call the police for several reasons... 1) the tapes were legally acquired years ago in an auction IIRC, not "stolen" by any means (why source reels regulalry showed up on the chopping block back then is beyond me) 2) the IFPI can't sic the police force without "authorization" (for lack of better word) by the copyright holders. And if the Beatles really cared, they would've stopped it years ago, when it actually mattered. As is, anyone who wants it has long had it, so this accomplished... survey says, absolutely nothing. Record companies, they're not just dumb in America! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest godthedog Report post Posted January 11, 2003 the beatles are far & away my favorite band ever, but what i've heard of the 'get back' sessions sucks a fat one. they don't sound like the beatles. they sound bored, frustrated & uninspired. even the tracks "good" enough to make the anthology are meandering and depressing. i doubt i'll buy it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
