So much for conventional wisdom. Surprise! After the Beatles broke up in 1970, the first # 1 chart topper came from George Harrison. My Sweet Lord was a testament to the Hari Krishna faith and hit #1 in December 1970.
Despite the song going to #1, it was not a feat accomplished without some controversy. There were those who did not approve of the song when they learned that it was about the Hari Krishna faith. But, in the long run, that was a smaller problem. Ultimately the song proved an embarrassment to George. The songwriters of the earlier hit song He's So Fine, sued George claiming that he had plagiarized their tune. Five years later a judge determined that George had plagiarized the song but that it was not a deliberate action. George contended that he had not been aware of the similarities between his song, and the oldie, until people started commenting on the two on the radio. He wished that he had been aware of that situation prior to the release because he said that he could have changed a few notes, without really altering the song. Take a listen to the original and see what you think. Sound the same to you?
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Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
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