The R. Kelly Trial: VHS-to-DVD Transfer Threatens Proceedings

With closing arguments set to go down today at the R. Kelly trial, the lawyers from both sides used yesterday to scare up some last-minute drama. First, a VHS-to-DVD transfer of the sex tape almost threatened to mistrial the case, as the transfer resulted in a lower-quality DVD than the original tape. The defense used the inferior DVD when questioning video experts and might explain why those witnesses were unable to see Kelly's infamous mole. The defense also appealed to the judge yesterday that they didn't want the sex tape to go into the jury room during deliberations because "The tape can break. It can erase." In actuality, the defense just doesn't want the jury watching and re-watching the tape, comparing the man to Kelly and watching for his mole. To appease the defense's fears, the judge anointed one of the sheriff's deputies to be in charge of the VCR who will play, rewind and pause while making sure the original, top-quality VHS doesn't break or erase.

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Song Stories

“Help Me”

Joni Mitchell | 1974

Joni Mitchell wrote and recorded this song for her album Court and Spark, but she had to switch from her regular band to make the song sound exactly the way she wanted. "I had attempted to play my music with rock & roll players," she told Rolling Stone. "They’d laugh, 'Awww, isn't that cute? She's trying to teach us how to play.'" Mitchell switched to a jazz band, Tom Scott’s L.A. Express, and scored the biggest hit of her career in the process.

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