An Email from the person who won the "mother load"

[justdreamin]

I know there have been a couple people on this board and probably on 7W that have emailed the man who won all those tapes on ebay a few months back.

On a whim, I emailed him a couple of weeks ago and he responded to me....who knows why....

I asked him for permission to post his reply to me and he just wrote me back and said yes please, as I guess he is still getting emails.

If anyone is a member of 7W could you post this over there too?

Whether we agree with what he did or not, or whether he really did it, I don't know, but he seems sincere so I'm thinking this is the right thing to do....so this starts with my email to him:

Dear cxxxxxx, (named deleted)

I hope you haven't been overly bombarded by desperate Stevie Nicks fans concerning the tapes that you won a while back. If so, I apologize. I belong to a group of fans who would be willing to do most anything for copies of those tapes. Is there any amount of money, or anything you would like in trade, just for copies?? Again, I apologize for intruding on your privacy, but we are all so disappointed that we may never have the chance to hear these treasures. Sincerely and with much hope, Karen


KAREN: I've been silent to email requests/inquiries about the tapes until this email. But the emails keep coming...

I have two cousins who are musicians and have won multiple grammys. Sometimes, their work would get out before they were finished with it, or in spite of the fact that they didn't want it out but kept private--for all kinds of various reasons. As artists, these unreleased songs getting out sometimes caused a lot of problems for them, and for other people involved in the recordings. Even legal or personal problems. There are a zillion people involved in writing/recording/producing/mixing/publishing even one song.

I understand, and I get, the curiosity that comes with wanting to hear/see new art from an artist I really like or admire. Sometimes it's even a burning curiosity and admiration. I like Stevie Nicks's writing and melodies, but I think I've bought maybe one record of hers in my life---and it was Fleetwood Mac. I've since learned that many of her music's most passionate fans are really after certain unreleased songs, or differing versions, some of which supposedly are on these tapes. And I get that.

But my hope is that those passionate about her music will also be just as passionate about her---or at least passionate enough to let her have some say in what she created and for whatever reason has not decided to release. I don't know her, and I've never met her, but I gave the tapes back to her. I wasn't paid for them. I didn't listen to them or copy them, so I don't even know for sure what's on them, only what was written on the labels.

While I can tell this will be extremely disappointing to all the people who've been contacting me to buy/copy the tapes, I hope this will cause some people to at least pause and think not only about the songs, but just as much about the creator of the songs--who in the future I feel certain will display, and create, plenty of art for people to enjoy.

Respectfully,
Cxxxxxx

I then wrote him a long explaination about how much this stuff means to us and how we don't sell it and so on and offered to buy him her new album....

KAREN: Thank you for taking the time to explain all of that to me. I do appreciate it, and I can tell just how much meaning Stevie Nicks's songs have to you from reading your email. Thank you also for your kind words and for offering to get me her new record. I actually bought it on iTunes right before getting your email, and am on my second listen now. You totally have my permission to share that info re: returning the tapes with the fans you know---it would actually help me, so thank you!--Cxxxxxx

For what it's worth.....

[Silver Springs]

Probably not a popular thought, but I respect him for giving the tapes back to her. Like he says, she deserves a say on what happens to her work.

[ButterCookie]

Originally Posted by Silver Springs

Probably not a popular thought, but I respect him for giving the tapes back to her. Like he says, she deserves a say on what happens to her work.

I respect him too. That is just such a brilliant thing for him to have done. I get that some people will disagree with his actions but I would like to give him a firm handshake and a pat on the back.

[chiliD]

Yeah, but he should've copied them, made mp3s, posted them, THEN given the tapes back to Stevie.

[WildHearted]

So did he just mail them to her?

I respect what he did. It's comforting to know that the tapes aren't being hoarded somewhere by some greedy fan or collector, but rather, essentially, back where they belong. That is, if they can't be with us for all to hear

[Sanne2]

I wonder if Stevie even cares that much, she gets a few of her old tapes back but there are still 100's in circulation.
Whatever, I REALLY wanted to hear that stuff dammit.

[Allycattt]

Okay.... im sorry if this question is annoying, so please excuse my stupidity(;
But could someone please explain this tape business? I came to the Ledge a bit late so I'm not exactly sure about what ya'll are talking about... (: What were on these special tapes that everyone wanted so badly?

Thank you(:

[fringed n fab]

I never understood all the madness. I would think though if her people really wanted these tapes back, wouldn't they police Ebay themselves and OUTBID you all for them? Gawd knows Stevie has the money smh. In the end I don't understand the stoning of someone who won something they bought, ever. With their money.

[Josh2003]

Bullhsit.

You mean to tell me a guy spends hundreds and hundreds of dollars on these tapes on eBay just for the sole purpose of doing "good" and returning them to Stevie, whom he says he does not know at all, or in whose music he seems to have no real interest?

I buy none of it.

[Silver Springs]

Originally Posted by Josh2003

Bullhsit.

You mean to tell me a guy spends hundreds and hundreds of dollars on these tapes on eBay just for the sole purpose of doing "good" and returning them to Stevie, whom he says he does not know at all, or in whose music he seems to have no real interest?

I buy none of it.

Believe it or not, there are still people in the world who want to do good for the sake of doing good.

[markolas]

Originally Posted by Josh2003

Bullhsit.

You mean to tell me a guy spends hundreds and hundreds of dollars on these tapes on eBay just for the sole purpose of doing "good" and returning them to Stevie, whom he says he does not know at all, or in whose music he seems to have no real interest?

I buy none of it.

Me neither. The guy doesn't even listen to Stevie, he just wants to deprive her fans? He may or may not have sent the tapes to Stevie, but the whole thing comes across as incredibly self-righteous.

[SapphireSister]

I was deeply upset when I heard about the outcome of this situation and although it did not turn out the way most of us would have liked I totally respect the winner's decision. Quite frankly we should blame ourselves for not being more organized and making sure we won the bid. Let's just try to make sure this never happens again given the opportunity.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by Josh2003

Bullhsit.

You mean to tell me a guy spends hundreds and hundreds of dollars on these tapes on eBay just for the sole purpose of doing "good" and returning them to Stevie, whom he says he does not know at all, or in whose music he seems to have no real interest?

I buy none of it.

I agree with you totally.

[markolas]

I wish Stevie would put these demos & unreleased songs out there, if for no other reason than to take the self-righteous wind out of the sails of guys like this.

[RickRobert]

Originally Posted by Silver Springs

Believe it or not, there are still people in the world who want to do good for the sake of doing good.

I know right Wish more Ledgies shared that mindset.