Copyright and Old-ish Music

[Graham Todd]

I like listening to old rock'n'roll (rock'n'roll as it was played
BEFORE The Beatles going back to the '40s), particularly some obscure
titles that I haven't been able to buy but have been able to download.

Many of them were recorded and/or written by persons long dead, but
they may have sold away their rights, including copyright, when they
signed the recording contract.  So the rights owner may still be alive,
although he/she/the corporation may not be worried about benefitting
from the trickle of royalties, but may be interested in more publicity
for their artist/group.

I live in the UK, where copyright law is (I understand) a little
different to other countries, such as the USA.

Is there somewhere I can go to establish the copyright owner or the
owner of any other recording rights for these old recordings, so I can
ask for permission to share them?

-- 

Graham Todd