# Bittersweet Symphony and The Rolling Stones

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bittersweet-symphony-and-the-rolling-stones/47721>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 29, 2000, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bittersweet-symphony-and-the-rolling-stones/47721 "2000-12-29T21:22:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bazooka\_Joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ebca7d/32.png) [@Bazooka\_Joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bazooka_Joe)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bittersweet-symphony-and-the-rolling-stones/47721/1 "2000-12-29T21:22:40Z")

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I remember hearing awhile back that The Verve Song Bittersweet Symphony used a sample of a Rolling Stones song without the groups permission and as a result The Verve had to give the royalties from this song to The Stones. Does anybody recall the particulars of this incident? What song was sampled? Did the Verve have to give up Royalty money? I’ve heard the song often and can’t figure out what Stones song, if any, is sampled.

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**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bittersweet-symphony-and-the-rolling-stones/47721/2 "2000-12-29T21:45:49Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> The old track Ashcroft sampled is an orchestral instrumental version of the Rolling Stones’ classic “The Last Time,” from a 1960s album by then Stones producer Andrew Oldham.
> 
> On the new Verve album, “Urban Hymns,” the credit for “Bittersweet Symphony” reads “performed by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, lyrics by Richard Ashcroft, produced by Andrew Oldham.”

Yes, they had to hand over 100% of royalties from the single.

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**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bittersweet-symphony-and-the-rolling-stones/47721/3 "2000-12-29T21:52:21Z")

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From [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=B27134~C](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=B27134~C)

> [@](#):
>
> Heralded by  
> the smash “Bittersweet Symphony” – a single built around a looped sample of a symphonic  
> recording of the Rolling Stones’ “The Last Time”

Hmmm, well that answers part of your question.

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**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bittersweet-symphony-and-the-rolling-stones/47721/4 "2000-12-29T22:23:19Z")

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Here’s a link with some quotes from the now defunct band:  
[http://www.superswell.com/samplelaw/horror.html#verve](http://www.superswell.com/samplelaw/horror.html#verve)

Every time I’ve heard the story, they mention that the Verve had to give 100% of the royalties and such. But wasn’t the misdeed on only 1 of the songs on the album? I’m sure they sold quite a few albums on the basis of that one song; did they have to give all those royalties to the Jag and co as well?

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**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bittersweet-symphony-and-the-rolling-stones/47721/5 "2000-12-29T22:24:34Z")

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I believe it was only royalties on the single.