Hello there,
the last couple of weeks I've been watching Apple Music, Spotify and most of all this forum here for any news regarding 1974 Copyright Protection releases.
Surely I'm not the only one who was hoping for the release of some soundboard recordings or even some New Skin Outtakes.
Sony already released some Dylan 1974 Audience recordings via Spotify last week.
But no sign of any Leonard recordings from 1974....
Does anybody know anything about this?
I'm wishing everybody a happy and healthy 2025!
50th Anniversary Copyright 1974 recordings?
Re: 50th Anniversary Copyright 1974 recordings?
With time running out, it seems unlikely that anything will happen this year.
I’ve always had the impression that the decision-makers (Leonard? The family?) are not in favor of releasing such recordings in the first place. This makes me wonder why they were released in the past, as doing so inevitably brings them to public attention. If they preferred to keep them private, they could have simply left them in the archives indefinitely.
Nevertheless, I would love new recordings to be released.
I’ve always had the impression that the decision-makers (Leonard? The family?) are not in favor of releasing such recordings in the first place. This makes me wonder why they were released in the past, as doing so inevitably brings them to public attention. If they preferred to keep them private, they could have simply left them in the archives indefinitely.
Nevertheless, I would love new recordings to be released.
Re: 50th Anniversary Copyright 1974 recordings?
Yes, you were right – now the time has run out and seemingly nothing appeared.
Or maybe the recordings were released at a time and place when/where they went unnoticed. We’ll never know, it seems…
With Leonards known aversion (and so maybe his estate’s aversion likewise) to releasing studio outtakes and such, I’m afraid we won’t hear very much of unreleased recordings in the future.
While searching Spotify for any sign of Copyright Protection releases I noticed that various unofficial live recordings are streamed there (at least in Germany) and listed without any indication that these are unofficial releases: “A rivers’ disguise” (Toronto 1988), “Teacher of the heart” (BBC 1968), “From The Silence” (LA 1993), “Music City USA” (ACL 1988) and “Freedom Soon will come” (Live 1988). Strange.
Happy new year everybody!
Or maybe the recordings were released at a time and place when/where they went unnoticed. We’ll never know, it seems…
With Leonards known aversion (and so maybe his estate’s aversion likewise) to releasing studio outtakes and such, I’m afraid we won’t hear very much of unreleased recordings in the future.
While searching Spotify for any sign of Copyright Protection releases I noticed that various unofficial live recordings are streamed there (at least in Germany) and listed without any indication that these are unofficial releases: “A rivers’ disguise” (Toronto 1988), “Teacher of the heart” (BBC 1968), “From The Silence” (LA 1993), “Music City USA” (ACL 1988) and “Freedom Soon will come” (Live 1988). Strange.
Happy new year everybody!
Re: 50th Anniversary Copyright 1974 recordings?
I guess they missed the deadline for 1974 copyright extension due to the ongoing legal battles over the estate.
That means that not only New Skin sessions, but probably its unreleased follow up album Songs for Rebecca falls out of the label's copyright, as well the whole of 1974 and 1975 tour.
We have to remember that those two years were busy and transitional for Leonard - beside 2nd, unreleased album, he also toured three times in 1974-75, with 2 different back up bands (and then in 1976 he toured again, without an album to support and promoting The Best Of, with brand new back up band).
That means that not only New Skin sessions, but probably its unreleased follow up album Songs for Rebecca falls out of the label's copyright, as well the whole of 1974 and 1975 tour.
We have to remember that those two years were busy and transitional for Leonard - beside 2nd, unreleased album, he also toured three times in 1974-75, with 2 different back up bands (and then in 1976 he toured again, without an album to support and promoting The Best Of, with brand new back up band).
Thats probably because there is currently no management to ask streaming services to remove those.unofficial releases: “A rivers’ disguise” (Toronto 1988), “Teacher of the heart” (BBC 1968), “From The Silence” (LA 1993), “Music City USA” (ACL 1988) and “Freedom Soon will come” (Live 1988). Strange.
Leonard Cohen Newswire / bookoflonging.com (retired) / leonardcohencroatia.com (retired)
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Re: 50th Anniversary Copyright 1974 recordings?
It is quite possible that this is the reason why we got no 1974 copyright extension. Although some responsible person might have some aversion to releasing studio outtakes, I assume that this does not extend to possible live recordings. I wonder how long they want to continue these legal battles over the estate. Both parties should be aware that the number of Cohen fans (and thus potential buyers of releases) will not increase over the years but rather decrease. More than eight years have passed since his death and nothing except for 'Thanks for the Dance' and one compilation of mainly well-known songs has been released from his archive. Nevertheless I still have some hope for future releases.
Strictly speaking Sony/Columbia has only lost the copyright for the studio sessions for 'New Skin for the Old Ceremony' and the 1974 live performances. The copyright for the studio sessions for 'Songs for Rebecca' and the 1975 live performances will only be lost at the end of this year (unless they are released until December). Nevertheless Sony/Columbia can still release studio and live recordings from 1974 but cannot reinstate the copyright. Anybody else could release them afterwards too but might get into some trouble with Sony's lawyers.That means that not only New Skin sessions, but probably its unreleased follow up album Songs for Rebecca falls out of the label's copyright, as well the whole of 1974 and 1975 tour.