The Internet has been a boon for music geeks. I do have fond memories of scouring the LP stacks at my favorite independent record store, but for instant gratification the Internet is the prime way to buy music. Where else can you find someone to express mail you a copy of Dave Clark Five CDs released in Italy? Do you really want to hear that Alcatrazz album that someone mentioned in a blog post? Pop onto iTunes and give the songs a sample before plunking down money for it.

But I must tell you for those who use Napster, iTunes, eMusic, or other Internet downloading sites — buyer beware! There are rip-offs afoot.

Music geeks like me read about famous recordings of the past and decide then and there they want to own it. Many times you will be able to find the original recordings online. However, some of the songs listed are not the original records, nor are they reasonable facsimiles. In trying to purchase songs made famous by artists from the 50s and 60s, I was left with note-for-note copies that may have featured one of the original performers that have been re-recorded for the digital marketplace. You can immediately tell this because of how ‘clean’ the recordings sound and that something is ‘too perfect’ about the song.

What I have learned to do is to make sure is I sample the song before I buy. Yes, it’s just a 30 second sound bite on iTunes, but you can definitely tell if it’s an original recording or a re-recording. Also, if the release is a ‘Hits of the 50s” style release then you need to make doubly sure before buying. Sometimes they can be disguised as legitimate greatest hits albums.

You can also use resources like the All Music Guide or Rate My Music to ferret out fakes and phonies.

Sure, if you get ripped off, it’s only 99 cents. But get ripped off 10 times, and as Geddy Lee said, “Ten bucks is ten bucks!”