BOOK REVIEW: Stan Soocher, They Fought The Law (Schirmer Books)
- Bob Gajarsky
The only thing more certain than hit singles from top musical acts is the trail of people looking to cash in on their gravy train. Stan Soocher's They Fought The Law examines nine separate cases which helped influence the legal landscape of the musical world.
While some cases such as the Beatles inner strifes (and with their record label) and 2 Live Crew effectively against everyone were well documented by the mainstream press, the Shirelles' battle to receive royalties on their re-issued recordings didn't generate quite the newspaper publicity - but was undoubtedly a landmark judgment in trying to repay some of the monies ripped off from artists of the late 1950s and 1960s. Soocher explains each case - from Billy Joel to Elvis Presley, George Michael to Michael Jackson, and Judas Priest - with a clear, concise introduction to the facts on both sides, case precedents (when applicable), interviews with many of the participants, the conclusion from the judges, and what effect the case had on the artist's careers. In some cases, the legal landmines proved fatal; in other examples, musicians demonstrated the perseverance which helped them become major stars in the first place.
Along with Donald Passman's All You Need To Know About The Music Business, Stan Soocher's They Fought The Law serves as a must-read for all aspiring musicians about the legal obstacles they may overcome if the fickle gods of success deem them fortunate - and how to overcome them.
