Bootleg: The Secret History of the Other Recording Industry

By Clinton Heylin

Book Overview

In Bootleg: The Secret History of the Other Recording Industry, Clinton Heylin examines the entire modern history of this underground culture: from what defines a bootleg and its complex and protean legal status, to a full history of bootlegs' production and distribution, to what's contained on some of the most notorious bootlegs and how to find them. Along with many illustrations of the creative packages, this is the whole story of the $250 million industry that sustains itself on the great figures of rock music and their biggest admirers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312142897
• ISBN13: 9780312142896
• Release Date: June 1996
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Bootleg - Secret history of the other recording industry

Great insight into the history of musical bootlegging and how it still remains to be a thorn in the side of the major record Co's. Invaluable!

Excellent book, in need of a 21st-century update

_Bootleg_ is a fascinating, enthralling book, which I expect would be interesting to anybody regardless of their particular position on the morality of bootlegging. To be sure, Heylin comes solidly in the corner of "let the music be free," but is hardly obstrusive about that fact. Small research errors aside, Bootleg is an amazing look at a once-thriving musical subculture.Which is, I guess, my one point of reservation here. The bootleg scene has changed so massively and, perhaps, immeasurably, during the past ten years that _Bootleg_ begins to read as more of a pure history book on days long past than as a record of something vibrant. The advent of CDRs, in particular, has totally changed the dynamic in which bootleg recordings are distributed and manufactured. A 21st century update which recognizes the birth of these trends would be very appreciated.

A LOST ART, HA,HA,HA!

Growing up in Los Angeles. I remember going into music stores that had rows of Bootlegs. I did have Zeps (or not zeps) Blueberry Hill. Lots of Deep Purple & Alice Cooper. It was true! You could see a show,10 days later? Thar she blows! RECORD WORLD in LA PUENTE did have the best! You can tell the world was Bob Dylon for Clinton Heylin. Listening to the Beatles fart was about the leval of most Bootlegs. But thats what we wanted to get a wiff of,right?,lol! }:-D My step-brother Rick had at least 200 or more! But for me nothing like the real deal.

An obscure little slice of pop history

I really like this imperfect book about the beginnings of rock and roll bootlegging -- as distinguished from the jazz and opera boots which are another, equally interesting story.This story will have resonance with those who know the theology of rock music from the '60s and '70s -- why Dylan or the Stones were so "important" to so many people. If you know what I'm talking about, you will enjoy this tale of serious fandom.In the interest of full disclosure I must admit I know a couple of people written about in the book -- their reaction to it was a good deal more ambivalent than mine, and I'm sure the author did get some things wrong. After all he wasn't there, and they were.But if you are at all interested in this topic (there must be a few out there) by all means buy this book.P.S. I'm happy to see from the last (and only!) comment that Scandinavia remains a bastion of serious pop music fanatics.....

Good, informative book about the subject

Just like the name said, book tells the history of boots. But, its not just that, there's larger story in whole for that the book tells also the story of dark side of the recording industry.To put it briefly, its also a story of ways controlling the market, using copyrights and blank tape fees to take not the slice of a pie but the whole cake. Read it yourself if you got interested.