The Day The Music Fried

[jeffs11375]

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/11/magazine/universal-fire-master-recordings.html

 

[Frantic]

Excellent article. The PUBLIC NUISANCE masters were burnt up in the fire. We never had access to them when we mastered the cd. We only had 2nd generation safety copies.

 

[Rythmn Boy]

It sounds like one of the greatest losses since the burning of the library at Alexandria

 

[chas_kit]

Excellent article. The PUBLIC NUISANCE masters were burnt up in the fire. We never had access to them when we mastered the cd. We only had 2nd generation safety copies.

Very sad to hear.
I'm surprised Third Man only issued the first half of the CD. I like parts of the second even better.

 

[Frantic]

Very sad to hear.
I'm surprised Third Man only issued the first half of the CD. I like parts of the second even better.

Actually, the 1st cd was from 2nd generation tapes, the 2nd cd was from 1st generation masters. As those werent going to be released by Equinox and did not end up in Universal's vaults. Yeah, Third man should do a LP release for the 2nd cd. I heard today from a very reliable source that the fire could have been stopped but the insurance money was more important.

 

[Frantic]

Universal Vault - Alec P. spent a lot of time in that vault and got to fondle many great garage, psych and soul master tapes and multis. Some of the more painful losses he surmises are the 4-track for the Sons Of Adam reportedly killer version of Hey Joe, things like the Dirty Wurds and Vectors (which was with the Chess masters), the Gene Clark-produced session by the original Grass Roots, unissued Liberty Bell and so many more. He might have notes somewhere. Unfortunately looking at cool tapes, and actually getting to hear them, are two different things - clearance was virtually impossible back then unless you had a sympathetic ear in business affairs. Now it’s totally impossible!

 

[MopTopMike]

Actually, the 1st cd was from 2nd generation tapes, the 2nd cd was from 1st generation masters. As those werent going to be released by Equinox and did not end up in Universal's vaults. Yeah, Third man should do a LP release for the 2nd cd. I heard today from a very reliable source that the fire could have been stopped but the insurance money was more important.

I also heard about the "delayed response" by firefighters from a couple of industry vets. Insurance cash for investors and stockholders > perceived value of old "junk" taking up space.
My question is, why is this story making news right now, years after it happened? I heard about this when it took place. Old news, lol!

 

[Frantic]

Here come the lawsuits...

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainme...oundgarden-lawsuit-universal-music-group-fire

 

[MopTopMike]

Doubt much will happen with lawsuits since the question here is the loss of the physical entity (master tape reel, etc) and who had ownership at the time of the fire, not the recorded content on it.
Cannot see how from a logical standpoint that a successful lawsuit can be brought about.