Ernie B's Good or Bad ?

[L-Static]

Yo no matter what Ernie says he DOES sell bootlegs! I'm not hating in any context, just stating a fact. All tose Beverleys, Intel Diplo and the Jacob Miller tunes on Goldmind ARE 100% bootlegs. As well as ALL the bandulu stuff on U.K. press like on Firehouse, those I am not 100% on but pretty sure! Yes Ernie runs a great business and respect for that, but boots a plenty!

[selecta bing]

FRANK ZAPPA made and sold his own BOOTLEGS

[L.Static]

And your point is??? I know that, but we are on a reggae forum.

[Ernie B]

>EB: It's actually not even legal to sell at below cost in an attempt to injure competition.

>(repsonse) so i guess with EB's recent price drop on recent >Greensleeves reissues doesnt fall under this category????

> (response)ie, nicoD+toyan, lone ranger, barrington, wayne jarrett
>for $5.99????

Please read my post carefully. I said it is illegal if the intention is to injure competition. I sell stuff below cost because I either am out of space or I bought too many, not to injure competition. Everyone knows the big box stores use CD's and DVD's as a loss-leader and that it is illegal...please do your homework before bashing my business because I work hard, play by the rules and always pay everyone I owe, which is more than I can say for many other music companies.

If we are going to make complaints about anyone in the business I suggest we start with them wonderful people:

Daddy Kool in London who ripped me off for $2000

Aquarius in Japan who faxed me a fake bank transfer note in order to rip me off for $13,000

Atomium in France who never paid their bills

"One Time" in France who likes to fax fake bank transfer papers

Mapo Records in Stuttgart who got me for $3300

Das Hifi Germany $1500

Reggaematic Sounds in Germany who ripped me $3000

S & W Soul King in Canada $2600

Tralla Records Italy $2700

New Sic in France $2500

Holland's Dr Buster Dynamite Vander Hoek or whatever his name is (Jamaican Gold label) He never paid me for his orders and I found out later he never even got rights for the Studio One CD's he issued (wow!)

0152 Records/Hiroshi Takada in Japan who ripped me for $8,000

And worst of all, the man/wife that started the Tropical Disc record stores in Hawaii several years ago. These people have the best act I ever encounted. Got me for $15,000. Hard-core swindlers. Her name is Gina, can't remember the guy's name. They changed the name to Tiki Records after they ripped me off.

Websites that sell illigal copies of CD/DVD and 7" mix CDs that are severely damaging the market.
...

Regarding bootlegs sales...I don't doubt that some of the titles I stock are unauthorized releases...but certainly not on purpose. And, just because the 7" label looks like junk doesn't always mean it's unauthorized(BTW, 'bootleg' is an illegal copy of a live show..) I just got in some Shinehead singles that looks as illegal as anything I have ever bought...yet I bought them straight from Shinehead himself. So, you gotta know the whole story before accusing me of selling anything illegal. And remember, an unauthorized release is not necessarily something that must be avoided. For example, what if one member of a reggae harmony group re-issues some titles, then another member gets mad and does the same. Do you expect me to play policeman and decide which guy has the rights? That would not work very well...in many cases NEITHER ONE has the rights anyway...however neither one probably got paid from the producer back in the day either, so it's complicated indeed.

Those Firehouse (and Jah Guidance) 7s from the UK do look shakey but the quality is excellent (which may be an indication of legality) and the source is a long-time producer who I seriously doubt would venture into illegal re-issues (also, he is easy to get in touch with which also lends credence to the notion that they are OK). Generally speaking, if a person is easy to get in touch with and he has been doing it for years, if the producer has a beef with it then that issue would have been raised. Further, I know of many cases in which a record is in fact release without authorization and then the producer gets some cash and then the producer gives the OK to sell them.

You can't just look at a record and declare it a bootleg from it's appearance. However I occasionally pull product from my stock at the request of reputable producers or artists...I take the loss since it's paid for already.

I doubt there are even 50 people in the world who know more about the music than I, and I can't think of very many that have done more to forward the music than me...so please be cautious when attacking my business because I am on your side..I want this music made popular and I need all of your help.

I am glad to hear advice or criticism because that's how I improve...but to accuse me of selling bootlegs is not accurate and it serves no positive purpose.

OK I got that off my chest...

Respect Everytime

[Matthew]

Whoa...Ernie!!!
I feel drained reading your post.
Sorry about the wolves in sheep's clothing.
I feel horrible knowing that quote 'conscious' cats are going against the very message promoted in the tunes we live by. Thanks for sharing those personal experiences, I have a new found respect for you and your business.

Keep keeping us fed!!!

[seb]

not that i want to take defense of ernie b, i don't think he needs me, but amazon and lots others sell rhino, jamaican recordings etc... cds which are as bootleg as they can be

knowing who owns the rights of songs or albums is almost impossible. anyway it's quite sure that artists don't. if you buy music directly from the artist, you'll feel like you do something good. in fact he is the bootlegger and you rip off the producer (who probably ripped off the artist & musicians earlier).

everyone should be balanced on this question, it's far more complicated than it seems.

[ariel roots]

its a good provider for the best roots and culture music around. bless up and honor the people!

[Jason Allen]

I thought about my previous post on this thread. I really didn't do Ernie B justice.

Without Ernie's website my collection would have some serious holes. I look at the price www.gemm.com sellers and musicstack sellers want for the more obscure stuff that Ernie sells and feel comforted that I can just switch to Ernie's website and be able to afford a copy of a disc that these other sites would list for $60 and up (these discs are usually around $10 at Ernie B's). I'm glad someone is keeping this music alive and thriving even in spite of all the businesses that are going under. I try to support my local record stores often but find the majority of things that I want aare only available at Ernie B's. I'm glad I have the site and store as an option.

[6anbatte]

Hi Ernie B

Interested to know about your relationship with the Negus Roots label. Is it purely distribution or do you have an influence on what is released?

If it is the latter can you get Negus Roots to reissue "Suffering" by Don Carlos?

I would like to this again on vinyl as I bought it when it first came out (foolishly sold it a year or so later being an idiot), but don't feel I can pay the $150 asking price currently on eBay (particularly as I already own the Magnum CD - "Prophesy").

Any feedback much appreciated.

[TJ]

Greetings Ernie B!
I've been a very satisfied customer for several years now, and can only echo the other POSITIVE comments I've read above!! I especially had to laugh in agreement with the post about how your "shipping speed" has spoiled them!! WOW! Can't agree more...'course, it helps that I'm in NorCal as well... Was also sorry to hear of your experiences with the ones who were aptly decsribed by Matthew as "wolves in sheep's clothing".
Anyway, nuttin but BIG UP's for ERNIE B!!

Oh, also appreciate that you added the sound samples on your web-site!