Posted on 04/25/2024 5:57:42 PM PDT by DallasBiff
“Every time I put the radio on, it’s ‘Oh My Lord,’” John Lennon said in December 1970. “I’m beginning to think there must be a God.”
Lennon wasn’t alone. As his former bandmate George Harrison’s debut single blanketed the airwaves, a struggling New York publisher, Bright Tunes Music, must’ve heard divine intervention in the melody of “My Sweet Lord.” It was identical to a chestnut in their dusty catalog, “He’s So Fine.”
On Feb. 10, 1971, as Harrison’s hit was idling down from four weeks at No. 1, Bright Tunes filed a copyright infringement suit.
The older song, written by Ronnie Mack, had been a chart-topper in 1963 for the Chiffons. That same year, the Beatles were routinely singing the praises of such American R&B tunes, both in interviews with the British press and in the set lists of their live show. There was no question of access to the previous work, as Harrison freely admitted during his trial.
(Excerpt) Read more at performingsongwriter.com ...
George was the best Beatle and got screwed over this.
"My Sweet Lord", ""t's too Late', by Carol King, and "You're so Vain" by Carly Simon, were songs I first heard all in the basement of Kaufman's in downtown Pittsburgh in the Tik-Tok cafe, where my mother said, "eAt your hamburger meat, or you will get no ice cream".
Those three songs are the best hits of the early 70's, waiting for thrown stones.
Doo lang, doo lang, doo lang…
I truly do not like that song....
I can do withoutthe Hare Krishna chants.
I love God, but I’ve never been a fan of that whiny sounding vocal that drones on and on.
You’re entitled to your opinion, but those are nowhere near my top 10.
Harrison didn’t get “screwed.”
Not only is the verse a near carbon copy, but the chorus too.
That’s not to say it wasn’t inadvertant on Harroson’s part - because that happens - but the two are nearly identical musically.
Yes. My thoughts as well...
This song has nothing tricky about it
This song ain’t black or white and as far as I know
Don’t infringe on anyone’s copyright, so
This song, we’ll let be
This song is in E
This song is for you and
This tune has nothing bright about it
This tune ain’t bad or good and come ever what may
My expert tells me it’s okay
As this song came to me
Unknowingly
This song could be you could be, ooh
This riff ain’t trying to win gold medals
This riff ain’t hip or square, well-done or rare
May end up one more weight to bear
But this song could well be
A reason to see
That without you there’s no point to this song
Ooh, ooh
But this song could well be
A reason to see
That without you there’s no point to this song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0i9rjTxhpY
Lennon ripped off a portion of “Come Together” from Chuck Berry and as a settlement had to record a couple of Berry songs on his Rock and Roll album. Lennon and McCartney often said they were constantly ripping off other people’s stuff. They rarely got called on it, though.
Those three songs are solid and deservingly called hits of the early 70's
one man's humble opinion
I started following music around 1965. I was only 7, but I had three older sisters, 9, 11 and 13 that played the radio all day and night. After school, especially when it was cold, I go up to my room and make model planes and cars. All while listening to tunes. I never watched much tv. Love the 60s and 70s. The 80s were great, too.
I have always enjoyed that song by Harrison.
Maybe, musically, they are very similar, but performance and subjective-wise,
I have never confused the two songs. I have never thought of them as equivalent in any way.
He’s So Fine, is sultry, libidinous and boastful, in a self aware Eartha Kitt sort of way, but from a teenage girl’s vocabulary.
My Sweet Lord, is someone humbled, admitting he seeks acceptance yet, in a state of ecstatic celebration, because of the serenity now brought to him by his personal faith.
Apples and dehydrated oranges.
John Lennon sounds jealous of his ‘little brother’ in that God quote.
The Chiffons probably waxed this to bait and taunt George Harrison--the lyrics include the line "he's so fine." It's done in a switched-on 1970s black gospel style and is strictly Judeo-Christian, with no Hindu lyrics. I prefer it to George's version.
This one: You Can't Catch Me--Chuck Berry (1957)
In the lyrics, Chuck makes a reference to Wee, Wee Hours (1955), one of his earlier hits.
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