Rapture Riders by Go Home Productions The Doors vs Blondie

Rapture Riders goes legit

Meant to post this for a while, but Mr GHP‘s Rapture Riders has gone legit and got a proper release on CD single, iTunes and the new Blondie ‘Best of’ – he’s created a new version from the original master tapes. From an apparently drunken Xmas in 2003 doing mashups he initially released on GYBO under an alias (Allen Dean – was he embarassed?) to official release in 2005, not bad going 😀

Reading the Observer article raises some questions about whether mashups want or need the respectability of going legit. Should mashups be used as an advertising tool? I’ve always liked the unsellable aspect of mashups; there have been 1,000s if not 10s or 100,000s of mashups I’d guess, and only about 5 have ever got official release, 2 or 3 of them by Mark Vidler.

Are those one-offs or the start of a bigger trend?

It’s a good track tho, so I can see why they chose it, I wish Mark all the best…and ironic that it seems to be older artists (Bowie, Doors, Blondie) are cooler with remixes and mashups of their work than the more modern pop princesses. And I’m tempted to go buy it because a) it’s on CD and b) to hear what Mark’s done with having the proper source materials of the master tapes…but I’d be churlish if I didn’t say that I get slightly jumpy every time money and mashups collides.

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Tim B

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4 responses to “Rapture Riders goes legit”

  1. mr. pants avatar
    mr. pants

    The problem with anything cool and underground is that eventually everyone wants in on the action and then it’s legit and no longer underground or cool. And, of course, it’s all the older artists who are cool with mash-ups. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard ABBA and Killing Moon, but I can’t stop listening to the mashup. So, for older artists, it’s a chance to be new and relevant again, and for newer artists, it’s treading on their sensitive toes. Makes sense. I create something new, and I can’t stand anyone listening to it. But if I’ve had it kicking around for a few months or so, eventually, I get tired of “protecting” it. Bored even.

    The thing that really grinds my gears is that I just got into mashups and have just started monkeying around with podcasting, and now suddenly everyone is doing it. Eventually, folks like yourself – pioneers, if you will – will become bigger than the underground and get added to compilation cds or asked to fully produce new artists or become artists in their own rights. (That Beach Boys mashup came on just now – Loving it.)

    Any words of wisdom on the legality of the whole world of podcasting and mashups, Tim?

    Reply
  2. timbearcub avatar
    timbearcub

    it can be summed up in 2 words – it isn’t. Not sure it ever will be legal to use mashups in podcasts…you might get away with it claiming it’s DJ mixing with an ordinary license, but I doubt it as a lot of them are complete remixes, rather than A vs B which could be done live. Not sure how the major radio stations get round that – I’ve already put feelers out about that.

    There are quite a few podcasts, and several mashup specific ones (I’ll mention the latest UK joiner soon, either here or on the show). It is the sincerest form of flattery to be copied or inspire others, and they bring different tastes and interests to it anyhow. It’s why though I just don’t play mashups – cutup/sampling culture has interested me since the late 80’s, and will stay, and mashups are anotehr form of that, and may come and go.

    Can’t see myself going overground; maybe more writing and press and possibly a few other things but I’m keeping it low-key ATM and haven’t really got much of plan or an agenda – necessarily so since the precarious and changing nature of podcasting and mashups. As others like AC and Mashuptown have found, it’s a shaky foundation to build anything on…but I’ve been in this game longer so I expect the unexpected! certainly more the merrier in podcasting and mashups – loads of smaller targets are harder to fight than one big one; this is why I always encourage other mashup podcasts, because it’s harder to take us all down.

    Some mashup artists have been producing or working with artists with various levels of success, and there is a feeling about people rehashing stuff or losing their edge. It’s a difficult line, to walk the over and underground. Keeping it real as they say in the hiphop world, but keep it too indie and no-one will hear you and will appear snobbish to any success – it’s a difficult balance. One I choose to stay on the hobby or indie side, with occasional peeks over the commercial fence and even the odd missile thrown over ;-D No intention of making podcasting or music my day job, I’ll just end up hating it.

    Hmm, this might seem like negative talk – it isn’t, just realistic.

    Reply
  3. mr. pants avatar
    mr. pants

    no, it’s all good. me and a chum are starting up a podcast in the new year, and we’re sort of using your show as a jumping off point. well, it’s definitely the inspiration for our podcast. mixing in more comedy and larfs, as that is our forte. i’ll definitely plug radio clash and most likely play some of the stuff you play. spreading the love, you know.

    yeah, i kind of figured that podcasting/mash-ups are on the wrong side of the law.

    anyhow, keep up the good work, tim. loved the “i hate abba” mix. my fiancee can’t get over the seven nation army vs. last night a dj saved my life mashup (was that on your show or was that something i downloaded?)

    Reply
  4. BatFreak avatar
    BatFreak

    Can i just say that the main reason me and the Doc are leaving ‘real’ air in Sydney, and focussing on online-ness, is due to the vibe we get from people who bother to love what we do, and that it only truly comes from us.geeks.net.co.world ?

    …no, i can’t say that?…. ok then.

    RADIO IS DEAD – BLOW UP YOUR STUDIOS

    Reply

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