At 70, a Legendary Jazz Label Asks, ‘Now What?’

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

face it: its too late. BN is is absored into the matrix. its all from al lion selling it to liberty. worst thing he ever could of done. he should of just transfered it from independent party to indpendent party

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

face it: its too late. BN is is absored into the matrix. its all from al lion selling it to liberty. worst thing he ever could of done. he should of just transfered it from independent party to indpendent party

Liberty WAS an independent party at the time. BN needed money - this wasn't anything like Bob Weinstock flogging Prestige or Ertegun, Wexler & co flogging Atlantic in order to realise the appreciation of their asset. BN was in the shit; artists revolting and, I suspect, cashflow problems arising from the hit albums for which the company wasn't being paid in a timely fashion. Liberty had the muscle to ensure that payments were made to time and Lion & Wolff were able to continue to do their thing.

The real problems started when, within a relatively short time: Liberty and UA merged; UA was acquired by a finance (I think) company, Transamerica; and Francis died and was replaced by George Butler.

MG