ALDI vinyl

[Marc]

Despite ALDI being on the ball (even seeming quite concerned) when I contacted them initially for comment, no official response has followed and further follow up has been ignored.

Make of that what you will.

[TerryO]

1 hour ago, Marc said:

Despite ALDI being on the ball (even seeming quite concerned) when I contacted them initially for comment, no official response has followed and further follow up has been ignored.

Make of that what you will.

What about ARIA, did they come back with a definitive answer one way or the other?

 

cheers Terry

Edited September 8, 2019 by TerryO

[aussievintage]

1 hour ago, Marc said:

Despite ALDI being on the ball (even seeming quite concerned) when I contacted them initially for comment, no official response has followed and further follow up has been ignored.

Make of that what you will.

Might have been just a storm in a teacup, or might be a big brouhaha in the  wind.  You can't draw any conclusions yet.

[Wimbo]

A Bank add comes on the TV every so often and the music to it is "Its because I love you" Masters Apprentices. Love this track and I have to change channels while its playing.

Gutted that it is used for a bloody TV add. I wonder if they are legally allowed to use it.

[Marc]

1 minute ago, Wimbo said:

I wonder if they are legally allowed to use it.

They would almost certainly be paying royalties to use it, yes - especially on national TV.

[audiofeline]

3 hours ago, Wimbo said:

...Gutted that it is used for a bloody TV add. I wonder if they are legally allowed to use it.

As Marc said, if they have licensed the use of it.  But in many cases they don't.  Example: Clive Palmer's ads featuring a modification of "We're not going to take it".   Twisted Sister toured when these ads were playing, and were horrified because they had not authorised use of the song, and took legal action against Palmer.  Interestingly, they said that it's a popular song for political parties to appropriate, and in general, it was the conservative politicians who tended to appropriate it illegally. 

--

Regarding Aldi's lack of follow through, they probably have a policy to respond and say the right things, but really not care if they are making a profit, especially for a product like records that they only have in store briefly.  Only one complaint raised - it's not enough for them to act, so don't be surprised if this time next year pirate records appear again at Aldi.  And our queries get the same response.

 

[stevoz]

Aldi are selling more vinyl LP's. There's Elvis, Aretha Franklin, The Beach Boys, Bob Marley, Springsteen and more. They all appear to be from the one label and some have 'mastered for vinyl' printed on them. That label is Musicbank......again. They do have a sub label called 'Classic Crooners' which explains all the Rat Pack content but their main content is predominately made up of live stuff, compilations by individuals or 'various' and crooner stuff, mainly on CD. Vinyl releases from this label seem to have started around 2017.

 

One of the Aldi offerings is a Guns'n'Roses disc called 'Sweet Child O' Mine', which I finally found on Discogs (via the Musicbank releases page here: https://www.discogs.com/label/240223-Musicbank?page=1) as an 'unofficial' release: https://www.discogs.com/Guns-N-Roses-Sweet-Child-O-Mine/release/11994890  

 

.....it's all live (Ritz, NY 1988) and there's no mention of where it's pressed but in the case of Musicbank CD's, they appear to be made by GZMedia in the Czech Republic.

 

......so these do appear to indeed be bootlegs.

 

.....and @Marc , did the following stereonet article from Aug 22 this year lead to any definitive discoveries on this matter?

 

https://www.stereo.net.au/news/is-aldi-selling-bootleg-vinyl-records

 

Edited December 10, 2019 by stevoz

[Marc]

While ALDI's PR department initially seemed quite concerned and promised an official response, nothing came of it.

It was also raised with relevant copyright and music licensing departments and all details passed on, but what came of that was not reported back to me (not that they're obligated to of course). So, I know as much as you do.

Tempted to write an "Aldi at it again" article though!

[metal beat]

4 minutes ago, Marc said:

While ALDI's PR department initially seemed quite concerned and promised an official response, nothing came of it.

It was also raised with relevant copyright and music licensing departments and all details passed on, but what came of that was not reported back to me (not that they're obligated to of course). So, I know as much as you do.

Tempted to write an "Aldi at it again" article though!

 

  DO IT   

[aussievintage]

54 minutes ago, Marc said:

While ALDI's PR department initially seemed quite concerned and promised an official response, nothing came of it.

It was also raised with relevant copyright and music licensing departments and all details passed on, but what came of that was not reported back to me (not that they're obligated to of course). So, I know as much as you do.

Tempted to write an "Aldi at it again" article though!

Trouble is the exact same records are being sold at places like Reject stores.  To be fair, why aren't we up in arms about them too?

[stevoz]

17 minutes ago, aussievintage said:

Trouble is the exact same records are being sold at places like Reject stores.  To be fair, why aren't we up in arms about them too?

Fair comment.....a few bodgy records won't stop me shopping at Aldi though. It appears, bootleg or not, these are a legally available product, so Aldi have every right to sell them I guess....as it is our right to reject these LP's. It would be different if their core business was audio but of course, it isn't and as such, the same applies for the Reject Shop and the like.

Edited December 10, 2019 by stevoz

[stevoz]

As stated on the 'currently spinning' thread, I bought a copy of the Guns'n'Roses live LP "Sweet Child O' Mine" from Aldi.

 

Now this is apparently recorded live at the Ritz in NY in 1988. A little research on Discogs reveals that this concert recording has done the bootleg rounds in the past. Two other 'unofficial' releases of this concert are available, one an LP from 1988 "NY Ritz Gig 88" :

 

https://www.discogs.com/Guns-N-Roses-NY-Ritz-Gig-88/release/3646148

 

and a 2015 Japanese DVD/CD release "Ritz 1988 'Definitive Edition' " :

 

https://www.discogs.com/Guns-N-Roses-Ritz-1988-Definitive-Edition-/release/6620078

 

.....both are blocked from sale on Discogs.

 

This one however is not and there are copies from $28 + postage available on Discogs and I noticed it available on Ebay as well at $30 + postage! Rip off.....

I'm not saying go out and buy this but if you do, get it at Aldi ($15).

 

The cover is nice quality and comes with a poly lined paper inner and clear plastic outer. Record was not warped and vinyl and labelling were visually fine. Anyway, how does it sound? Well, not brilliant......but not disgusting or unlistenable either. I have read others on this thread describe it as "just terrible" and "total garbage" but I would disagree. The pressing is fairly quiet (GZ Media I believe) and the recording is quite adequate. The "mastered for vinyl" as stated on the cover is ok, bass is quite good, mids ok and highs strained at times (or is that just Axel's voice?).

 

While I'm not going to be reaching for this too often (not a big GnR fan anyway) ........do I feel ripped off?

 

No.....not at all.

[audiofeline]

On 10/12/2019 at 4:22 PM, stevoz said:

... It appears, bootleg or not, these are a legally available product, so Aldi have every right to sell them I guess....

They are "an available product", no argument there. 

But if they are bootlegs [edit: or pirates], then they would be a "not legally-available product", which Aldi/Reject Shop/etc would not have the right to sell them. 

 

Edited December 15, 2019 by audiofeline

[stevoz]

2 hours ago, audiofeline said:

They are "an available product", no argument there. 

But if they are bootlegs, then they would be a "not legally-available product", which Aldi/Reject Shop/etc would not have the right to sell them. 

I guess they're not a bootleg then, just an 'unofficial' release of a licensed recording. With the GnR live LP available on Discogs with youtube video clips of the same Ritz '88 concert on the Discogs release page and the label Musicbank represented in Discogs, it appears pretty legal.

 

Anyway, it sounds quite ok if not anywhere near top shelf. I've heard worse 'official' live albums.

[audiofeline]

On 10/12/2019 at 3:18 PM, Marc said:

While ALDI's PR department initially seemed quite concerned and promised an official response, nothing came of it.

It was also raised with relevant copyright and music licensing departments and all details passed on, but what came of that was not reported back to me (not that they're obligated to of course). So, I know as much as you do.

Tempted to write an "Aldi at it again" article though!

PR departments are there to protect/promote the organisation, and to smooth-over disagreements so they don't cause greater problems for the company.  One common strategy is to appear concerned and to say all the right things without any intention of doing anything that could harm profits. 

[stevoz]

On 19/01/2020 at 12:02 AM, audiofeline said:

PR departments are there to protect/promote the organisation, and to smooth-over disagreements so they don't cause greater problems for the company.  One common strategy is to appear concerned and to say all the right things without any intention of doing anything that could harm profits. 

I think ALDI probably realised they had nothing to actually be concerned with......from a legal (and ethical) standpoint.

Edited January 20, 2020 by stevoz

[homerlovesbeer]

I just bought this today.....I didn't know it created such a storm in the past.

 

Going to give it a spin tomorrow.

[stevoz]

1 hour ago, homerlovesbeer said:

I just bought this today.....I didn't know it created such a storm in the past.

 

Going to give it a spin tomorrow.

There's no pic.....

[turnthetable]

[HKL]

So has ALDI or ARIA ever responded?

 

They are doing it again in May 2022.

 

It is possible that these are actually legal under Australian law if they make it clear that they are "UNAUTHORIZED" and that it may "NOT BE OF THE SAME QUALITY AS AN AUTHORIZED RELEASE".

 

I have a couple of such bootleg CDs from back in the day when this was a political copyright hot potato.

 

Australian Legal Bootleg CD: Moody Blues Live Volume 1 on Discogs

[audiofeline]

Those "unauthorised" CDs exploited a loophole in Australian copyright law when they were produced.  However, the record companies/authorities changed the loophole.  I recall being in the city one Friday night and walked past one of the discount stores.  They had a huge display of these CDs, and they were being sold for $1 each, and they were saying that it was going to be illegal to sell them the next day.  Unfortunately I wasn't interested in any of the disks that remained, apart from a Dylan that turned out to be another release of the 1966 "Royal Albert Hall" (sic) boot that I already had copies of (on record). 

 

I have a recollection that these releases got a writeup in Clinton Heylin's Bootleg book (I couldn't see my copy easily accessible on my bookshelf so I can't check).

 

[wasabijim]

 

About 2 years back in the space a a few weeks I picked up some records from both ALDI and the Reject Shop, I think they were $10 or $20. 

I can't recall any of them sounding bad or dodgy. my 4yr old son really likes the old time rock 'n' roll.

 

The releases are listed on Discogs and to me look legit (if a bit light on typical details). They are mostly compilations or live recordings.

 

maybe these aren't the bootleg or counterfeit examples others are referring to? 

 

https://www.discogs.com/release/11532627-James-Brown-Select-Soul

https://www.discogs.com/release/12899218-Various-Legends-Of-Rock-Roll

https://www.discogs.com/release/11612150-Miles-Davis-All-Blues

https://www.discogs.com/release/11950881-Bob-Marley-And-The-Wailers-Live-Boston-Music-Hall-June-8th-1978

https://www.discogs.com/label/1287872-The-Complete-Vinyl-Collection

 

[stevoz]

3 hours ago, wasabijim said:

 

About 2 years back in the space a a few weeks I picked up some records from both ALDI and the Reject Shop, I think they were $10 or $20. 

I can't recall any of them sounding bad or dodgy. my 4yr old son really likes the old time rock 'n' roll.

 

The releases are listed on Discogs and to me look legit (if a bit light on typical details). They are mostly compilations or live recordings.

 

maybe these aren't the bootleg or counterfeit examples others are referring to? 

 

https://www.discogs.com/release/11532627-James-Brown-Select-Soul

https://www.discogs.com/release/12899218-Various-Legends-Of-Rock-Roll

https://www.discogs.com/release/11612150-Miles-Davis-All-Blues

https://www.discogs.com/release/11950881-Bob-Marley-And-The-Wailers-Live-Boston-Music-Hall-June-8th-1978

https://www.discogs.com/label/1287872-The-Complete-Vinyl-Collection

 

 

How does the Bob Marley LP sound? Aldi have this one on sale now.

 

[Marc]

Seems I missed a few comments asking if there was any follow up. I never heard back from Aldi after the initial response. As for ARIA, it was bounced around a few different departments and people, but ultimately never a response to me, personally. How far they looked into it, who knows?

[wasabijim]

33 minutes ago, stevoz said:

 

How does the Bob Marley LP sound? Aldi have this one on sale now.

 

it's good. early in the picture so has some variety vs the popular staples in their catalogue. Sounds like a live show but they are tight with good energy and vibe (far from that feeling of forced urgency from the singer  in some performances have).

It's a good show, maybe not going to blow you away but worth a spin