I'm sure they're very nice, but singing Áine's Mudcat songbook isn't really what I had in mind :-)

Part of my question was, Phil, how do I find out the "standard royalty" of a song copyrighted in the UK? Can I pay them the standard US royalty since I recorded it here or do I have to do something with the British Performing Rights Society?

Seems to me, for example, if you wrote a song and I wanted to record it, I have every right to do so so long as it is "published," e.g. if you have recorded it first - so long as I pay you the royalty. Now I could send a check to ASCAP and say, "Please give most of this to Phil," or I could send the check straight to you; either way I think I'd be clear, at least I'd _feel_ clear.