The Velvet Forum

Why do I keep reading that this "is the only surviving copy". It's obvious that our good friends at Nothing Songs have a copy!

We all think we know, cause everybody says that. But why not trying to exactly KNOW and, by the way, give this record back to his owner (A. Warhol)?

We know this initiative is a "mission: impossible" thing, everybody asked thinks negative, sarcastic, or ironic about it, or simply doesn't believe us, but, we can't not to try, as die-hard velvets fans.

Thanks!

discoscrudos wrote:We are shocked about the Velvet acetate auction. We are so shocked that we have made up a website where people can donate and help us buying it for sharing its music through internet and donating the item to a museum, probably Andy Warhol's (we're trying to contact them).

Anton, I think we are all a little shocked by this turn of events and I admire your efforts in trying to do something about it. I think I have two questions for you before I consider contributing to your cause.

1. Could you legally distribute these recordings if you were able to finance their purchase?
2. Could the Warhol Museum, themselves, be trusted to do anything to make them available? (Think about the utter unavailability of 'The Warhol Tapes' or any songs from them, commercially)

Datsun

We know for sure that the acetate is the same as the one on Ultimate Monos because Warren Hill made a sampler of it. And theirs hartdly a difference in sound quality.

Not to mention the fact that the auction itself confirms that the "japanese bootleg" is the same thing.

EDIT

Here's what the auction page says:

(A Japanese bootleg of the same material did appear, but in poor, arguably ?unlistenable' sound quality [sic]. It is possible that the source tape for the Japanese bootleg was made from this very acetate decades ago when it was in different hands. Who knows?)

Hey there Datsun,

Thanks for reading. I'll try to reply to your questions:

1. Of course not. For legally distributing it we should own the master's rights (the one who payed Scepter Studio's bill has them, suppossedly Andy) and maybe also the authors' permissions (depending on their editorial contract). A legal mess, as usual with the Velvets.
So, we 'd just upload it.

2. I think they could just own and show the record, as far.

Anton.

iaredatsun wrote:Anton, I think we are all a little shocked by this turn of events and I admire your efforts in trying to do something about it. I think I have two questions for you before I consider contributing to your cause.

1. Could you legally distribute these recordings if you were able to finance their purchase?
2. Could the Warhol Museum, themselves, be trusted to do anything to make them available? (Think about the utter unavailability of 'The Warhol Tapes' or any songs from them, commercially)

Datsun

Dear Groovy,

Sorry for my ignorance in that point. Yet, we think that the better quality sound should be shared and the object given back.

Just think the way it was founded, a purely aleatory way, for 75 cents. Why should it cost 100.000+ bucks to hear it? I can assimilate that the object can be a collectible item, but the music inside is art, culture, and it should be free!

We can HOPE that the one who gets it would do it as well, but... thinking seriously, I don't think so.

We can do better than just hope.

GroovyMusic wrote:We know for sure that the acetate is the same as the one on Ultimate Monos because Warren Hill made a sampler of it. And theirs hartdly a difference in sound quality.

Not to mention the fact that the auction itself confirms that the "japanese bootleg" is the same thing.

EDIT

Here's what the auction page says:

(A Japanese bootleg of the same material did appear, but in poor, arguably ?unlistenable' sound quality [sic]. It is possible that the source tape for the Japanese bootleg was made from this very acetate decades ago when it was in different hands. Who knows?)

discoscrudos wrote:Dear Groovy,

Sorry for my ignorance in that point. Yet, we think that the better quality sound should be shared and the object given back.

Just think the way it was founded, a purely aleatory way, for 75 cents. Why should it cost 100.000+ bucks to hear it? I can assimilate that the object can be a collectible item, but the music inside is art, culture, and it should be free!

We can HOPE that the one who gets it would do it as well, but... thinking seriously, I don't think so.

We can do better than just hope.

I coudn't agree with you more! As far as the sound-quality, though, I don't think it's such a big deal - I'm perfectly happy with Ultimate Monos and Acetates, but I'm all for an upgrade!

Look: the auction for the auction is up on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/VELVET-UNDERGROUND- ... dZViewItem



A limited signed collection of screen captions from the auction listing at various intervals commemorating the post-$100,000 mark. Including a list of bidders and their respective bids. All printed on a high-end glossy paper stock of the finest lasting quality. Stamped, signed and certified by myself.


Digital photo print-outs and blow-ups of the legendary Acetate itself, along with various professional high-end gallery framing and lamination options at extra cost.


A series of related Velvet Underground photo prints with Nico and Andy Warhol, pasted into a celebratory anniversary montage to honor this incredible Ebay auction and historical music find.


A high-quality digital screen print of this tribute auction, along with a caption page from the winning bidder to memorialize. Also various framing options available.



An autographed photo of myself with and personally authenticating all of these items, so that years down the line, there can be no question as to their original grade and value.


And much, much more...

Q: The 'rumor' about Moe's acetate is true! I have worked with her and Sterling on projects in the past, and they both mentioned how the band played it several times to see how the NY sessions had gone. I've seen it, with Sterling's handwritten 'featuring Moe Tucker' on the front of the white cover. This 'legend' is true--there definitely is another copy. --M.C. Kostek
Dec-04-06

A: Though we must still regard this as unconfirmed, we will post it in the interest of keeping our bidders informed about claims which seem credible to us. If this correspondence is indeed, as I am inclined to believe, from Mike Kostek, author of 'The Velvet Underground Handbook', we thank you for your contribution.

(from the auction)

Looks like this is all taking a turn for the funny. LouReed.com is playing ball.