Beck sues label for control of mid-90s album

By Eriq Gardner

Beck has always had a taste for multiple genres of music, and he's just as polymorphous as a businessman, releasing three albums back in 1994 on three different labels and making oral agreements for album rights.

This kind of informality has a way of catching up with entertainers. According to a new lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Beck Hansen has had trouble gaining control of his 1994 album "Stereopathetic Soulmanure."

In 1993, the rocker made an "oral agreement" with Flipside Records. Beck allowed the label to sell this album in return for 50 percent of profits and an accounting on a semi-annual basis.

Now Beck says he was stiffed. 

On June 30, 2008, he sent a written notice terminating Flipside's rights to "Stereopathetic Soulmanure." Flipside stopped selling the album. But another distributor, Revolver USA, allegedly didn't.

According to the complaint, Flipside had "an obvious and direct financial interest in" Revolver and "induced, caused, or materially contributed to such infringing contract."

In September, Beck sent a letter demanding Revolver destroy all remaining inventory and return the master, DAT, and other materials to him. 

Unsuccessful in that effort, he is now suing both companies for copyright infringement and breach of oral contract. He's pursuing damages and wants all remaining copies of the album impounded.

Beck is repped by Howard King and Seth Miller at LA's King Holmes Paterno & Berliner.

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