John Manship`s listing of Ruperts People and mention of Procul Harum`s masterpiece reminded me of how many classical pieces of music that have been ripped off by the popular music business. Both Gary Brooker & Keith Reid with “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” and Rod Lynton with “Reflections Of Charles Brown” used Johan Sebastian Bach`s “Air on a “G” string” for their melody. Whilst on the soul front, Denny Randell and Sandy Linzer took “Minuet in G major” by Christian Petzold (via J.S. Bach) as the basis for the “Toys - A Lovers Concerto”. Similarly, when Nashville legends Billy Sherrill & Larry Butler were given The Poppies to work with they purloined Johannes Brahms “Lullaby” for their debut hit “Lullaby Of Love”. This tune was also used by former Beathovens singer Jimmy Stevens with his killer 1966 Fontana single “I Love You” A fabulous arrangement but a terrible vocal (I actually played it once at Prestatyn and got a few chin scratchers). I am sure that “The Fathers Angels – Bok To Bach must reference one of JS Bach`s tunes but my knowledge of that great man`s work doesn`t stretch that far. Anyone got a clue about that one and are there many others out there?
John Manship`s listing of Ruperts People and mention of Procul Harum`s masterpiece reminded me of how many classical pieces of music that have been ripped off by the popular music business. Both Gary Brooker & Keith Reid with “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” and Rod Lynton with “Reflections Of Charles Brown” used Johan Sebastian Bach`s “Air on a “G” string” for their melody. Whilst on the soul front, Denny Randell and Sandy Linzer took “Minuet in G major” by Christian Petzold (via J.S. Bach) as the basis for the “Toys - A Lovers Concerto”. Similarly, when Nashville legends Billy Sherrill & Larry Butler were given The Poppies to work with they purloined Johannes Brahms “Lullaby” for their debut hit “Lullaby Of Love”. This tune was also used by former Beathovens singer Jimmy Stevens with his killer 1966 Fontana single “I Love You” A fabulous arrangement but a terrible vocal (I actually played it once at Prestatyn and got a few chin scratchers). I am sure that “The Fathers Angels – Bok To Bach must reference one of JS Bach`s tunes but my knowledge of that great man`s work doesn`t stretch that far. Anyone got a clue about that one and are there many others out there?