# Bands that steal from old songs w/o crediting. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 27, 2001, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350 "2001-08-27T17:13:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/41 "2001-09-01T03:12:57Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **Dijon Warlock:** _ > > I _knew_ I recognised it, but couldn’t place it for a long time. …is what I meant, there. It wasn’t _that_ exciting. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/42 "2001-09-01T03:59:40Z")
Is credit given, or in anyway has Rush ever ackowledged the smilarity of a few lines from one of their songs (can’t remember the title) to “Sounds of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel? SOUNDS OF SILENCE: “And the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls, and tenement halls, and echoed in the sounds of silence.” The Rush song has a very similar verse, not word for word, but close, but goes on to something about “salesmen.” I always thought the song “Breaking Us In Two” by Joe Jackson sounded very much like “Day Afer Day” by Badfinger. DAY AFTER DAY “I remember finding out about you.” BREAKING US IN TWO “Always something breaking us in two.” Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![moggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@moggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moggy)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/43 "2001-09-01T04:22:41Z")
Wasn’t “Bittersweet Symphony” by the Verve supposed to be a total ripoff of some Rolling Stones song? I don’t know this for a fact, can anyone verify? What was the Stones song that they stole? I think I even heard that the Stones took them to court. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/44 "2001-09-01T05:26:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sir Rhosis \* > \*\*Is credit given, or in anyway has Rush ever ackowledged the smilarity of a few lines from one of their songs (can’t remember the title) to “Sounds of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel? > > SOUNDS OF SILENCE: > “And the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls, and tenement halls, and echoed in the sounds of silence.” > > The Rush song has a very similar verse, not word for word, but close, but goes on to something about “salesmen.” > > Sir Rhosis \*\* The song is “Spirit of Radio” and the verse in question is: For the words of the profits were written on the studio wall, Concert hall And echoes with the sounds of salesmen. Of salesmen. Of salesmen. Never noticed that one before. Good catch. ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/45 "2001-09-01T09:34:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by moggy \* > \*\*Wasn’t “Bittersweet Symphony” by the Verve supposed to be a total ripoff of some Rolling Stones song? I don’t know this for a fact, can anyone verify? What was the Stones song that they stole? I think I even heard that the Stones took them to court. \*\* This wasn’t a ripoff - they sampled an orchestral cover of a Rolling Stones song - that cascading strings riff - and were sued by RS management. I think the Stones now own that song 100%. Check out [here](http://www.superswell.com/samplelaw/horror.html#verve) to read more about it. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/46 "2001-09-01T14:38:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Louie \* > \*\*One of the VH1 Behind the Music shows was on the career of Weird Al Yankovic. One of the stories about him was that he asked for permission from Coolio to parody the song “Gangsta Paradise” for “Amish Paradise”. Weird Al thought he received permission and recorded the parody, but Coolio said that he didn’t get permission and he was totally upset about Weird Al making fun of the true message of the song. > > The stupid thing about this argument was that Coolio treated that song as his own song, even though it had the exact tune to one of Stevie Wonder’s song (something “Paradise”, I forgot the complete name of the original song) \*\* Steve’s song was _Pastime Paradise_. I saw that Behind The Music show also. WA did get permission from Coolio’s “people”. Now the question is: Did he get permission form Stevie Wonder’s “people”. You’d have to, wouldn’t you? And **lieu** , stop saying “butt”. You’re making me laugh inappropriately. ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/47 "2001-09-01T14:57:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pukka\_Ag \* > \*\*I consider myself a pretty knowledgeable source for recognizing where new R&B songs were sampled from, but I simply cannot remember where Janet Jackson got that little ding-ding riff on “Want Somebody to Call My Lover.” It drives me crazy every time I hear it - anybody know? \*\* That little guitar bit at the front? It’s “Ventura Highway” by America. ---
**Author:** ![hegel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cab0a1/32.png) [@hegel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hegel)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/48 "2001-09-02T02:04:58Z")
led zeppelin’s “going to california” vs. pearl jam’s “given to fly” ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/49 "2001-09-02T17:49:28Z")
One day recently I was in Sam Goody’s and heard Alan Parsons’ “Sirius” (the one they play before Bulls games). I said to da spouse, “Isn’t that nice–they’re playing Alan Parsons in a kiddy-pop store…” Then somebody started rapping over it. I went up to check and found out it was P. Diddy’s new one, “The Saga Continues.” They let me look at the CD insert–“A. Parsons” got a writing credit after about seven other people, even though they played practically the entire song under the rapping. No mention of “Sirius,” though. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/50 "2001-09-02T19:42:42Z")
On the other hand, some musical forms have constant themes running through them that make a lot of songs sound the same. The blues are a great example of this - part of the ‘art’ in the blues is to take the same basic musical styling and say new things with it. I wouldn’t even want to try to count how many songs out there have the ‘Bo Diddley Beat’ (it goes, “Dum Dum Dum, DA Dum Dum”). Or how many subtle variations to a number of Robert Johnson songs have been recorded. As John Fogerty said when he had to defend himself against plagairizing his own songs, “Look, this is where I come from, this is the music I know. The only way you’re going to be able to get me to stop writing songs that sound similar is to rip the culture out of me.” Or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/51 "2001-09-02T20:53:08Z")
The riff of “Black Night” by Deep Purple is taken from “Aint Got Nothing Yet” by the Blues Magoos. Dunno if it’s credited. I suspect not. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/52 "2001-09-03T05:22:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ferggie \* > **All that sample does is get all us Def Leppard fans worked up (“Oh my freakin’ GOSH! They’re actually going to play LEP on the RADIO!”) only to be let down.** Isn’t that a good enough reason? 😉 –sublight. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/53 "2001-09-03T12:22:01Z")
An excellent candidate for Cafe Society, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![J\_String](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@J\_String](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J_String)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/54 "2001-09-03T20:10:37Z")
The intro of Loverboy’s “When Its Over” sounds an awful lot like S&G’s “Sounds of Silence.” Also Ritchie Blackmore had a song on one of his more recent albums inspired by “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” but Grieg isn’t credited anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/55 "2001-09-05T23:32:53Z")
If memory serves, “The Barbarian” by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer is a piece by Bela Bartok, who isn’t credited. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/56 "2001-09-06T02:43:11Z")
For some really good ripoffs, there is some cd out there with songs that Zep took from others…almost all of their classics are someone else’s works, not just sounds too much likes. No one has yet nailed Clapton for his abominable Cocaine juxtaposed to sunshine of your love! Balls of steel!!! ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/57 "2001-09-06T03:01:38Z")
A new hit song out, Cake’s “Short Skirt Long Jacket” _almost_ rips off the main riff from Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane”, but they conveniently drop a couple of chords in the middle of the riff. Sneaky. IMO still a ripoff. From what I remember, Rush’s “words of the prophets” line was a deliberate homage to S & G, and not a stolen line. ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/58 "2001-09-06T16:04:55Z")
Heres two that get me: The beginning of “What I Got” by Sublime is really just “Lady Madonna” by The Beatles. It’s a shame, because the rest of the song is pretty good by itself. The “Soy un perdedor” part of Loser, by Beck, always struck me as a little too close to the “Na-na-na-nanana-na” part of “Hey Jude”, by the Beatles. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/59 "2001-09-06T17:06:12Z")
Walter Murphy blatantly, _(blatantly!)_ ripped off Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, in **A Fifth of Beethoven**. I still can’t believe he got away with that one. ---
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350/60 "2001-09-06T17:24:31Z")
Well. . . . Sublime has rhythms throughout all their music that turns out to be from old reggae tunes. But I think it’s not so much ripping them off, as much as it is givin’ up props. I have a record by a band called “Bargain Music”, and they have a message in the liner notes that says something like “We got the sample off track 5 from so-and-so, and it’s up to you to figure out the rest.” I think this is kind of cool. DJ’s (bargain music has a DJ) are always diggin’ through crates tryin’ to find those rare nuggets of gold that no one has thought to play in a long time. So when they find them, it is often kept secret to avoid other DJ’s trumping their style. I know Dj’s who make sure no one can see what records they are playing to the point of removing the original covers and buying generic black covers. I kind of like the idea of music as a puzzle. Once I figure out where your influences are, I’m more likely to go out and try to score that record if it was a little work then if you just say in an interview “Yeah, we like this and that”. A perfect example of these musical clues can be found by purchasing the album “Pauls Boutique” by the Beastie Boys. If you collected every artist and record they sampled or mentioned on that album you would have a great music collection indeed. DaLovin’Dj [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-that-steal-from-old-songs-w-o-crediting/78350.md?page=4)