Sidetracked

For the record, I still think George Harrison got a raw deal. But now Bruce Springsteen is facing a threat of legal action – before his latest album is even out — and I’m hoping history doesn’t repeat itself.

Harrison — the quiet Beatle —was sued by the Chiffons in the ’70s for his song “My Sweet Lord.” “My Sweet Lord” was much deeper and more musically rich than the poppy crush song “He’s So Fine,” but they did share a similar structure.

A court later ruled that Harrison unintentionally copied the Chiffons and ordered him to pay royalties to the writers. (Ironically, the Chiffons later recorded a version of “My Sweet Lord.” Harrison responded with the sardonic “This Song,” which mocked getting sued.)

Now Springsteen is facing similar accusations for his new song “Radio Nowhere,” a rocking new tune featuring the E Street Band. According to a Chicago Tribune story, some have claimed Springsteen’s new song — to be released on his upcoming album “Magic” — starts out with a guitar riff similar to Tommy Tutone’s “867-5309/Jenny.” In the story, Tutone singer Tommy Heath suggests he might contact an attorney because his kids need braces.

I hope he’s joking. (About the lawsuit — not the braces. I had to have them, so why shouldn’t they?)

Granted, there is a similarity between Radio and Jenny. But I would submit that, just like “My Sweet Lord” and “He’s So Fine,” the similarities are incidental. (They’re both great songs, if you ask me.) And the songs are different enough to rule out any claims of plagiarism.

So, come on, Tommy. Don’t succumb to frivolous lawsuits. If you need the money, just do a cover of “Radio Nowhere.” Or, better yet, “My Sweet Lord.”

***

Speaking of “867-5309/Jenny,” as you could imagine, the song caused a lot of grief for people with that number. And, as it turns out, there were several, in different parts of the country.

Even though the song came out in 1982, as recently as 1999 people with the number were still getting crank calls from people asking for “Jenny.”

According to a story from Brown University’s student paper, two students, Nina Clemente and Jahanaz Mirza ,shared that number. They said they would get five “stupid messages” a day, plus numerous hang-ups.

“It’s so annoying,” Clemente said. “It’s the worst number to have in the world.”

Some of the callers even played the song for the answering machine.

Another person with the number 867-5309 put his phone number up for auction on eBay and even fetched a bid for close to $100,000. He didn’t cash in, though — Verizon stepped in and said they owned the number.

***

My original source for the Springsteen/Tutone story, by the way, was Chicago Cubs announcer Len Kasper on WGN. You don’t typically get a lot of music tips from watching baseball games, but Kasper and partner Bob Brenley often share bits of info about music during their broadcasts. It’s kind of fun — especially if the Cubs are winning.

— Pat P.

Posted on September 6th, 2007 by Pat
Filed under: Music