I've just emerged from some pretty high-powered scuffling on E-bay with a purportedly 'new' DVD of Lonnie Donegan performances.

Well - I don't know how, or if, the publishers got away with anything, but it's a poor audio/video transfer from the old 'Putting On The Donegan' TV shows. There's no credit to ITC (the copyright holders), and this compilation was previously released in the early-'90s on VHS (under the TV shows' name).

As I don't know the legal situation, I'll refrain from further comment - I'm more concerned that someone should be taken in, and be bidding high on something they already have under a different title. The quality is poor enough to be a straight copy from a domestic VHS tape.

A rash of these DVDs have been appearing on E-bay - one went as high as GBP 41.00! Mine wasn't so bad at GBP 16.00.   It's made more difficult as there is no listing anywhere to identify this as an official release - a 'search' on Amazon, Tower and all the other major outlets fails to bring up a Donegan DVD.

I'm assured that there is more 'Putting On The Donegan' in existence, but it's (rightfully) under Sharon Donegan's control; I look forward to an official release in due course.

Roger Rettig