Lansing resident Norman "Ace" West claims Franklin's Springtime Publishing Inc. has failed to sign a royalty agreement for the song "Put It Back Together Again," which is listed on her new CD, "Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love." The CD was released in May.

West, 45, also sued Springtime for copyright infringement, claiming Franklin's publishing company has received money and other benefits from an earlier song he wrote, "Watch My Back." The lawsuit, filed today in U.S. District Court in Detroit, adds a bit of drama and tension to Franklin's first studio album in eight years. West, who also co-wrote the song "New Day" on the new CD, filed the lawsuit after trying to settle the issue privately for the past year. "These are two parties that have a long-standing working collaboration. Mr. West has the utmost respect for Springtime and everyone associated with it," Pontiac lawyer Jeffrey Thennisch told The Detroit News. "Mr. West has told me that he owes much of his career to Aretha Franklin and that he views her as both a mentor and a guiding force in his career." Franklin's lawyer, David Bennett, could not be reached immediately for comment.

West has collaborated with Franklin since the late 1980s and has toured with her periodically since 1991. West wants a judge to order Franklin's company to sign the royalty agreement and award unspecified damages. The agreement would ensure West receives royalties from the song and provide for an accounting of royalty revenue in the future. West claims he is not receiving a full portion of royalties generated by his musical works, Thennisch said. Franklin is listed as president of Bingham Farms-based Springtime Publishing, according to state business records. From The

Detroit News: http://detnews.com/articl...z1SEaXRcHV

Is this the Wal-Mart album? I thought it was taken out of the store because of some kind of defect.

A mess.

MickyDolenz said:

Is this the Wal-Mart album? I thought it was taken out of the store because of some kind of defect.

Identity said:

MickyDolenz said:

Is this the Wal-Mart album? I thought it was taken out of the store because of some kind of defect.

The defective copy I still have will be a collector's item someday. My future grandkids will thank me 25 years from now.

I bought Bruce Springsteen's Greatest Hits CD when it first came out, and it had two covers stapled together on the CD booklet. I don't think it's worth anything though.

^

Get that thing appraised. What are you waiting for?

MickyDolenz said:

Is this the Wal-Mart album? I thought it was taken out of the store because of some kind of defect.

It's been fixed. I bought it again last week. But, I noticed there are a lot of credits wrong and Ron Isley is on one song and he's not even credited. I was wondering who proof read the liner notes before they went out.

musicman said:

MickyDolenz said:

Is this the Wal-Mart album? I thought it was taken out of the store because of some kind of defect.

It's been fixed. I bought it again last week. But, I noticed there are a lot of credits wrong and Ron Isley is on one song and he's not even credited. I was wondering who proof read the liner notes before they went out.

Probably whoever was in ReeRee's camp.

musicman said:

It's been fixed. I bought it again last week. But, I noticed there are a lot of credits wrong and Ron Isley is on one song and he's not even credited. I was wondering who proof read the liner notes before they went out.

Aretha probably proofread the liner notes when she came home from the hospital and was wacked out on pain killers.

Or she was trying to save money and had one of her play cousins look it over

this project was a mess.I think Aretha needs to start over,sign a new record deal and get to work on a new album.Clive Davis has expressed interest in working with her again.Perhaps he can help her make a proper comeback album.

I'm afraid to buy a new copy after the mess I went through last time buying 2 copies that skipped!

SoulAlive said:

this project was a mess.I think Aretha needs to start over,sign a new record deal and get to work on a new album.Clive Davis has expressed interest in working with her again.Perhaps he can help her make a proper comeback album.

Who knows? I actually thought when Clive was talking about working with Ree again that this may put her "Out of Love" in danger of not being released but now that that's over with, maybe they're still discussing it. Who knows?

Aretha Franklin Criticizes Songwriter Over Rights Lawsuit

August 3, 2011

Link

Aretha Franklin says she's "extremely disappointed" over a lawsuit filed by her longtime songwriting partner over song royalties from her latest CD and copyright infringement.

Norman West of Lansing filed the suit July 15 against the Queen of Soul's publishing company in Detroit federal court.

The suit claims Springtime Publishing Inc. failed to sign a royalty agreement for "Put It Back Together Again." The song is on Franklin's "Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love" CD, released in May.

The suit also claims copyright infringement over an earlier song, "Watch My Back."

Franklin didn't immediately respond when news of the suit broke. But she issued a statement Tuesday saying West has "unmitigated gall" considering how she's "personally assisted and advised him over the past 15 years."

ARETHA SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT OVER LAWSUIT

(Can we say Norman West is done)

Aretha Franklin says she's "extremely disappointed" in her longtime songwriting partner Norman West over a lawsuit he filed against the Queen of Soul's publishing company.

The suit claims Springtime Publishing Inc. failed to sign a royalty agreement for "Put It Back Together Again." The song is on Franklin's "Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love" CD, released in May.

The suit also claims copyright infringement over an earlier song, "Watch My Back."

The suit was filed July 15, but Franklin just issued a response Tuesday. It reads:

“To say the least, I am extremely disappointed that Norman West had the unmitigated gall to file a law suit against Springtime Publishing, Inc. considering how I’ve personally assisted and advised him over the past fifteen years. I’ve helped Norman West make a name for himself in the music industry, earn a living and in the past I’ve used several of his songs on my CD’s, which resulted in other artists performing and recording his compositions. Vanessa Bell Armstrong recorded his song “Good News” after hearing my version of it. This resulted in earning him extra income from my support of his career. Additionally, I’ve hired him and his group, of which my son is a member, to open for me numerous times on tour. I did this to help to him and the group secure national visibility in major markets across the country.

Customarily, Mr. West conducts business with my attorney and he has always been compensated by a significant advance for any of the songs I’ve recorded that he’s written. With regard to Mr. West’s claim of an unsigned publishing agreement for the last song I recorded of his on my new CD -- it is as I initially thought, my attorney informed me that we do in fact have a signed publishing agreement by Mr. West on file. However, Mr. West’s attorney wanted to make changes to the agreement after the fact. To add insult to injury, Mr. West received an advance at the same time he signed the agreement, probably more than anything he would have earned on his own.

What disappointed me most was the fact that Norman West could’ve very easily gotten a message to me through one of my two sons, whom he knows well and occasionally sings with. But, instead he chose to get his name in the paper by publicizing issues that were grossly inaccurate as far as my publishing company is concerned.”

Aretha laid out her case perfectly.I can't see what Norman West's problem is.

Timmy84 said:

SoulAlive said:

this project was a mess.I think Aretha needs to start over,sign a new record deal and get to work on a new album.Clive Davis has expressed interest in working with her again.Perhaps he can help her make a proper comeback album.

Who knows? I actually thought when Clive was talking about working with Ree again that this may put her "Out of Love" in danger of not being released but now that that's over with, maybe they're still discussing it. Who knows?

I hope she takes him up on his offer.Not every artist can do the "independent" thing.

SoulAlive said:

Aretha laid out her case perfectly.I can't see what Norman West's problem is.

She sure did! He's gonna end up settling.

Anyways, I was listening to her BBC documentary and near the end of it, they played one of the new songs on her recent album, "You Can't See Me" I think is what is called and I ended up bumping my head to it. I may end up getting the album after all!

wow, auntie retha sure did read him down but i hate how she has to throw other artists name in the fire. Vanessa Bell Armstrong has nothing to do with this and she never fails to sing her own praises. Thats Aretha for you and yes, this guy is toast.

Entertainer said:

wow, auntie retha sure did read him down but i hate how she has to throw other artists name in the fire. Vanessa Bell Armstrong has nothing to do with this and she never fails to sing her own praises. Thats Aretha for you and yes, this guy is toast.

She's gotta make an example. It wouldn't be Aretha if she didn't.

Norman West is gonna learn the hard way that "you don't mess with the Queen of Soul" Her strong response shows that she's ready to fight.

SoulAlive said:

Norman West is gonna learn the hard way that "you don't mess with the Queen of Soul" Her strong response shows that she's ready to fight.

Aretha can be such a grumpy old bitch........ her voice is in tatters so who would buy her new album? I really didn't know people was checking for her like that still

PlayboyOriginal said:

Aretha can be such a grumpy old bitch........ her voice is in tatters so who would buy her new album? I really didn't know people was checking for her like that still

Timmy84 said:

Entertainer said:

wow, auntie retha sure did read him down but i hate how she has to throw other artists name in the fire. Vanessa Bell Armstrong has nothing to do with this and she never fails to sing her own praises. Thats Aretha for you and yes, this guy is toast.

She's gotta make an example. It wouldn't be Aretha if she didn't.

yep and she's pointing out that this guy's songs were covered by other artists after they heard it on Aretha's album first.

When you come up against the most acclaimed female voice in history, you better bring your "A" game. Mr. West brought his D+ game and now he will wish he could 'put it back together again' (which is one of the best tunes on her new album also).

Never burn bridges - you never know when you may have to cross back over.

Despite all of the quirks that are associated with Aretha Franklin, she is the one and only Queen of Soul, and Norman West had better recognize.

SoulAlive said:

Timmy84 said:

She's gotta make an example. It wouldn't be Aretha if she didn't.

yep and she's pointing out that this guy's songs were covered by other artists after they heard it on Aretha's album first.

[Edited 8/4/11 18:29pm]

kitbradley said:

Lansing resident Norman "Ace" West claims Franklin's Springtime Publishing Inc. has failed to sign a royalty agreement for the song "Put It Back Together Again," which is listed on her new CD, "Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love." The CD was released in May.

not required by law

West, 45, also sued Springtime for copyright infringement, claiming Franklin's publishing company has received money and other benefits from an earlier song he wrote, "Watch My Back."

receiving money does not constitute copyright infringementy in itself

The lawsuit, filed today in U.S. District Court in Detroit, adds a bit of drama and tension to Franklin's first studio album in eight years. West, who also co-wrote the song "New Day" on the new CD, filed the lawsuit after trying to settle the issue privately for the past year. "These are two parties that have a long-standing working collaboration. Mr. West has the utmost respect for Springtime and everyone associated with it," Pontiac lawyer Jeffrey Thennisch told The Detroit News. "Mr. West has told me that he owes much of his career to Aretha Franklin and that he views her as both a mentor and a guiding force in his career." Franklin's lawyer, David Bennett, could not be reached immediately for comment.

why sue then without a good case?

West has collaborated with Franklin since the late 1980s and has toured with her periodically since 1991. West wants a judge to order Franklin's company to sign the royalty agreement and award unspecified damages. The agreement would ensure West receives royalties from the song and provide for an accounting of royalty revenue in the future. West claims he is not receiving a full portion of royalties generated by his musical works,

based on what?

ANYBODY DISAGREES OR NOT?