time

So I have been taking some down time. Away from the internet... kinda. Time to re-group anyway.

Also some weddings here. For the wedding tomorrow, which I must dj, the song the couple wants played when they walk down the aisle is an instrumental version of 'Bittersweet Symphony' by The Verve. While looking for the song, I discovered the seemingly well-know story and controversy behind the song. (You can stop reading and accept my apology if you already know it).


A reasonable place to start is in 1955 with The Staple Singers who arranged and recorded the traditional blues/gospel song, 'This May Be the Last Time'




Then in 1965 The Rolling Stones did their own version of the song, 'The Last Time'




The following year, 1966, the original manager and producer of the Rolling Stones Andrew Oldham released an album of outtakeish material played by the Stones and other studio musicians that was commissioned for the actual Stones album, but didnt make the cut for whatever reason. The 1966 album, 'The Rolling Stones Songbook' by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra was one of 4 such outtake albums and featured 'The Last Time'




So fast-forward 30 years to 1997, where Richard Ashcroft, lead singer of The Verve pays for the rights to use a sample of the Andrew Oldham version in his 'Bittersweet Symphony'.



Anyway, the story ends with the guy who owns the rights to all the Rolling Stones Songs from the 1960's, Allen Klein, suing The Verve, claiming they used more than the sample they paid for. Klein won and receives 100% of the income 'Bittersweet Symphony' generates and can put the song in any commercial he wants. Of course, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones (the guys who wrote 'The Last Time') have nothing to do with any of this.


PS. After checking out 'The Last Time' by the Stones, I have spent hours clicking related old Stones videos and I have now become a bit obsessed.



And then I came across their later stuff... Gold.




In their Top 500 Songs of All-Time, Rolling Stone magazine gave 14 to the Stones; making them second to only the Beatles.