Led Zepplin are Thieves

Blasphemy!

 

From an old Musician Magazine interview with Steely Dan:



FAGEN: Hell, we steal. We're the robber barons of rock 'n' roll.

MUSICIAN: Well, the only other thing on the record that seems obviously borrowed is "Glamour Profession." The rhythm and feel of it, and the way the synthesizer/horn vamp swings against the pulse sounds very much like Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band.

BECKER: I don't listen to them. Donald listens to them. But I see what you mean though.

MUSICIAN: I'm not saying it was necessarily a conscious act of pilferage.

FAGEN: That song was influenced by disco music in general.

MUSICIAN: Nouveau Swing Disco?

FAGEN: What you're saying is basically valid. There are other things that are borrowed too. The bridge on "Glamour Profession" is a take on the bridge of Kurt Weill's "Speak Low."

BECKER: Which is taken from Ravel.




Zep's in good company.

 

Think you might have it reversed on the Clapton thing. "Cocaine" was written by J.J. Cale, and appeared on his 1976 album "Troubador". "Sunshine of your Love" dates back to 1967.

If I'm wrong, please cut me some slack, I'm an old fart jazz musician.

 

Actually, Cocaine was originally written (or stolen, for those so inclined to think this way) by JJ Cale. Clapton merely covered it, and I don't recall much difference from the original.

edit - Marcus beat me by seconds!

 

Sorry, O....my wife sometimes reminds me that quickness is NOT a virtue..

 

I have an interview with Willie Dixon in 1981 or '82 where the interviewer asks him: "these people are ripping you off! Why don't you sue them?"

Willie's reply had me rollin' on the floor laughing: "Dey's pay 'dey money. 'Dey can put anything dey's want on the record. 'Dey's did it with 'Wolf's too. He's got his money too".

 

Remeber Eric Clapton's "Let it Grow"? sounds kinda like "Stairway to Heaven".

 

There's a quote I've heard attributed to TS Elliot. It goes something like the following:

"Immature poets borrow, Mature poets steal."

 

For sure. But in Willie's and Howlin' Wolf's case. People had wondered for years whether they had been "ripped off". Zep, and others did the songs "lyrically" as well. Not just musically.

 

Led Zep robbed so many bluesmen. Whole Lotta Love ripped off Muddy Waters "You Need Love." The Lemon Song and Bring It On Home are both stolen, among others. The worst example of musical theft is the Stones Love In Vain which is a note perfect rendition of the Robert Johnson song with the same name. That being said, I still love both those bands

 

"squeeze your lemon 'till the juice runs down your leg".


If I remember correctly, the 'Get yer Ya ya's Out" version has Robert Johnson credited. The Berry tunes are.

 

Yep, you got that right.

 

I like this exchange between Oscar Wilde & James Whistler...Whistler had just let fly a biting zinger at someone-
Wilde- "I wish I had said that".
Whistler- "You will, Oscar, you will".

 

The studio version on Let It Bleed isn't credited to Johnson. The liner notes read "All selections written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards." There isn't a mention of Robert Johnson anyplace. I still remeber how shocked I was the first time I heard the Johnson version.

 

LOL - Good One Jim!!

 

Willie Dixon & Howling Wolf had to sue Led Zep to get their cash.......Zep finally had to pay, but they didn't want to. Clapton covered a few J.J. Cale songs.......I'm sure J.J. dosn't mind the residual checks that come every year