.... is it considered "pirating" if you download a music file for free?
I've tried to get this question answered, and so far, no luck. Back in the days of turntables, I bought a lot of records in the USED bin at my local music store. Now I need those same songs in digital format, and rather than screw around with the program that requires me to hook up all my analog stuff to convert the songs (turntable, tape deck, etc.) it makes more sense and a better use of my time to go to a P2P service. (and by the time I figure out the directions, and translate the manual, I'll be too old to enjoy them anymore.)

If, god forbid, the powers-that-be decided to track me down, what if any
rights would I have, having paid for the music initially?

Any legal scholars out there who have an answer to this?
Thanks for reading this...