Question on The Great David Ruffin Hip-O-Select Motown Solo Albums

[woodward]

I researched Discogs to see about the scarcity of Subject Hip-O-Select releases on David Ruffin. As you know there are Volume 1 and Volume 2.

Discogs states on the marketplace section for Volume 1 the following: This release has been blocked from sale in the marketplace. It is not permitted to sell this item on Discogs.

I expected a similar one for Vol. 2, but it did not appear. There are 2 for sale in the US and 4 for sale in the UK. Overall 6 for sale from $109.99.

Can anyone who is more familiar with Discogs than I am offer any rationale why Vol. 1 is blocked and Vol. 2 is NOT blocked? Totally baffling in my opinion.

[mysterysinger]

Seems odd that Volume 1 has been blocked at all - not odd to me that Volume 2 is not blocked. Both are legitimate releases as far as I can see.

[carlo]

Very interesting indeed, Woodward. I went into my Discogs app on my phone and didn't see any mention of the release being blocked from the marketplace. I went on to the website itself and then saw the message about Vol. 1 being blocked from the marketplace. I checked the Notes section, at the bottom of the release page. Someone asked this same question and the response stated the following:

"A complaint from the rights holder re:royalties on Al Reed compositions"

So I guess that's why, but that complaint/blockage makes no sense, since this release is now out of print and unavailable. Any copies being sold on Discogs marketplace at this point are being sold second-hand by collectors, so there won't be any royalties being collected on the physical copies of this release.

[snakepit]

It would appear that the track "Message from Maria" is the issue.

[mysterysinger]

So in that case Discogs has banned the sale of most [[all?) releases of David Ruffin's "My Whole World Ended" album- vinyl and CD versions [[such as the Elemental and Japanese CDs). Amazing.

[snakepit]

here is the track

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Df99OKmICk

[snakepit]

this is Joe Simon's version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLCzmIsGAJo

[jobeterob]

So in that case Discogs has banned the sale of most [[all?) releases of David Ruffin's "My Whole World Ended" album- vinyl and CD versions [[such as the Elemental and Japanese CDs). Amazing.

It is likely Discogs responding to a legal threat.