Liberated bootlegs, a definition

I mentioned this in a previous post, said I'd get back to it.

What is a liberated bootleg?

Well, let's start with a bootleg.  Usually a concert recording recorded surreptitiously and without the consent of the musicians.  This isn't always true.  The Grateful Dead not only allowed but encouraged the recording of concerts.  They would have a space by the sound board where tapers could set up their equipment and in some cases tap into the soundboard.  It was their philosophy that fans who could listen to bootlegs would then support the band even more and buy their albums, a philosophy that actually has been studied and confirmed.  Access to live concert recordings enhances not hurts studio sales.

Generally these tapes are circulated for free between fans.  In the pre-internet days you had to know someone who had a copy who would then make a copy for you.  In extreme cases people would refuse to make copies because they had a one of a kind recording.  I had this happen to me when I met a friend of a friend who was playing a bootleg tape at a party and flat out refused when I asked her for a copy.  Usually fans were pretty laid back though.

As the internet developed groups of traders sprang up.  The phrase "blanks and postage", abbreviated B&P is well known.  You send me a blank tape or CD and postage I'll send you a copy.  No charge for the recording.

A market did, of course, develop for bootlegs.  Especially in the pre-internet days, catalogs of boots were circulated for sale.  Usually put out with a fancy tape or CD cover designed to look professional, often with an actual name.  I have a copy of Pink Floyd Early Flights, a 10 disc CD set containing a lot of unreleased PF material.  It was released by Euro Boots and is generally listed on the websites as "unofficial release".

Liberated Bootlegs are created by people, like me, who don't feel that it is particularly ethical to make money off someone else's work but who still feel that the concept of bootlegs is a valid way for fans to enjoy a band's product.  Someone purchases a copy of the bootleg, rips it onto computer, usually in a lossless format like FLAC so that it won't degrade with time, and then puts it on the internet for free.  Technically still illegal, but ...  well, draw your own conclusions.