Glad Syl Johnson is on the ball. Next year he plans on suing Steven Foster for stealing the lines to "Swami River."
Posted on 09/06/2009 9:02:54 AM PDT by Wardenclyffe
CHICAGO (STNG) -- A Chicago musician claims that a song he wrote in 1968 was later performed by the Jefferson Airplane rock group, included on a concert recording and subsequently made part of the group's repertoire, without giving him him any credit or compensation.
Songwriter Syl Johnson is now suing the California-based band to get that recognition and maybe some financial compensation.
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in Chicago, Johnson claims "Dresses Too Short," a song he co-wrote in 1968 with Carl Smith, was performed by Jefferson Airplane at a 1969 concert. The song, with the name changed to “You Wear Your Dresses Too Short," also appeared "Sweeping Up the Spotlight, Live at Fillmore East 1969."
(Excerpt) Read more at wbbm780.com ...
Glad Syl Johnson is on the ball. Next year he plans on suing Steven Foster for stealing the lines to "Swami River."
So who really wrote “Plastic Fantastic Lover”, Nancy Pelosi?
Wow, that was one long strange trip indeed...Did he just wake up from his 60s drug stupor to notice this?
WT? FORTY years later?! Gimme a break.
“One pill makes you larger...”
HA!
I was thinking the same thing.
If it’s the Syl Johnson that I suspect, he probably just figured it out or had someone alert him to it. The Syl Johnson that this could be is an old R and B guy that was on Hi records out of Memphis the same time as Al Green and Ann Peebles. I don’t think he spent a bunch of time listening to Jefferson airplane. Matter of fact, neither did I.
That she's still around for the "now" photos is a pretty significant accomplishment itself.
Hey, get it straight!!! I wrote suwannee river! I'm the guy suing Steven Foster. ;-P
YIKES! She looks like Boy George’s twin brother now!
So, 40 years later, this guy wants a small package of value to come to him shortly...
A Long Long Time Ago
I can still remember how
That Music used to Make Me Smile.
Grace turns 70 this year.
You are correct, it’s “Swanee River.” Hope you collect. Just use Syl’s lawyer. A fellow by the name of Darrow, I believe.
Looks fine to me. Grace Slick (b. 1939) came to rock fairly late in life and always looked kinda nervous in her role as a countercultural icon (in the early days, at least).
I just pulled up the 1967 (Smother’s Brothers Comedy Hour) video of “White Rabbit”. Interesting outfit, doesn’t show an inch of skin.
Must have been some good stuff!
Mr. Johnson, congratulations. You wrote a song that was so memorable that it was (so you say) stolen by one of the longest-lived, most prolifically recorded and most heavily played rock bands ever...and anybody who’s not a complete Airplane/Starship geek is right now going “Wait, what?”
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