The Verve developed “Bitter Sweet Symphony” from a sample from a 1965 version of the Rolling Stones song “The Last Time” by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra, adding vocals, strings, guitar and percussion. After a lawsuit by the Rolling Stones’ former manager, Allen Klein, the Verve relinquished all royalties and the Rolling Stones members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were added to the songwriting credits. In 2019, ten years after Klein’s death, Jagger, Richards, and Klein’s son ceded the rights to the Verve songwriter, Richard Ashcroft.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_Sweet_Symphony
Pretty much the only thing they’re remembered for and they make no money from it. Supreme FAFO moment.
They get money from it now. Richards and Jagger were against the lawsuit but they didn’t own their song at the time. After Klein’s death they got the royalties to go to The Verve.
“In 2019, ten years after Klein’s death, Jagger, Richards, and Klein’s son ceded the rights to the Verve songwriter, Richard Ashcroft.”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_Sweet_Symphony
Klein was a total POS. Jagger thought the man was smart until Klein gave himself the rights to their music, hence this lawsuit. Jagger convinced John Lennon he to get The Beatles to sign with him, McCartney wanted nothing to do with the man.
Wasn’t Klein the manager defending George Harrison against the plagiarism claim against “My Sweet Lord” (vs. “He’s so fine”), then Klein switched sides and was the plaintiff on behalf of the “He’s so fine” writers?
Or something like that.
Oh wow I hadn’t heard about that.