One Bobby nicks another
Last September Bob Dylan lashed out at those who noticed similarities between his work and others’. Dylanologists will know that he’s been dogged by accusations of plagiarism at least as early as his Freewheelin’ days and they will accept and point out that the appropriation of idiom and folk tradition is what the pop culture process is all about. But Dylan’s full songwriting claim for his recent “Soon After Midnight,” in which he purloins the entire chord structure of the Bobby Fuller Four’s “New Shade of Blue” is kind of eyebrow-raising, and I’m surprised that only a few muffled “wussies” (Bob’s words) in comments sections of the online wilderness have taken notice of this. “New Shade of Blue” songwriters Bobby Fuller and Mary Stone have both passed on, but giving them a bit of songwriting credit where it’s due shouldn’t strike anyone as being an unnecessary gesture.
[P.S. Remember when Dylan gave Rod Stewart the business over “Forever Young”? Quoting myself: “In 1978 Stewart would get in trouble … when his ‘Forever Young’ irritated Bob Dylan, whose own ‘Forever Young’ was an obvious influence. So the two mammoths ended up splitting the royalties, which was no compensation for those of us who were irritated by the song in general.”]
The Bobby Fuller Four – “A New Shade of Blue” (1966) (excerpt)
Songwriting credits: Bobby Fuller and Mary Stone
Bob Dylan – “Soon After Midnight” (2012) (excerpt)
Songwriting credits: Bob Dylan
July 18th, 2015 at 9:34 am
Bobby Fuller’s “A New Shade Of Blue” is based on an old country tune. Dylan did not take the melody from Bobby Fuller. Both Bobby Fuller and Dylan took it from the old song.
Dylan (and the musicians he has been influenced by) have always worked like that. Just one (of many) examples: In 1929 Jimmie Rodgers recorded “Jimmie’s Texas Blues”. Gene Autry took the melody and in 1931 used it for his own “The Rheumatism Blues”. In 1966 Dylan took the main riff of the song and turned it into “Rainy Day Women ‘ 12 & 35”.
July 18th, 2015 at 11:28 am
Obviously it would be difficult for Mr. Fuller to complain, although he might if he weren’t dead.
Soon after Midnight also has similarities to “Sincerely”, which predates “New Shade of Blue”
July 19th, 2015 at 8:12 am
Thanks, Uncle John and Terry, for chiming in. Uncle John, if you know which song Fuller used for “New Shade” I’d love to know what it is. Yes – Dylan is an acknowledged master practitioner of the folk and pop borrowing process, which all great artists are. But what’s unusual about this case is that Dylan mimics to a tee “New Shade”‘s entire chord structure and road map (not the vocal melody), including beats per chord change and the chord changes themselves. It seems to me like Dylan’s appropriation of it is unusually complete, compared to what he’s taken from Rodgers, Autry, and others. And it goes beyond “New Shade”‘s relationship to the Moonglows’ “Sincerely,” which shares a similar tempo and spirit but doesn’t match up to its every chord change. But again, maybe “New Shade” really does have a precedent…
July 19th, 2015 at 9:33 am
Funny enough, all those smart people dont seem to mention:
1. Regardless of similarities, Dylans incarnation of the song, its almost always better, giving new life to it.
2. Plus it brings to the general public, “original” authors that “nobody” knows.
3. So why people insist on putting dylan down..does he still have to prove he is the absolute best, in terms of consistent long carrer.
July 19th, 2015 at 9:36 am
” a girl name honeye, took my money, she was passing by..its soon after midnight and the day has just began”…i mean people should be mentioning this lyrics..Genius!
July 19th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Shakespeare lifted a few things himself–and made them better and gave them wider exposure. That’s a part of what true geniuses do. Go Bobby, go!
July 20th, 2015 at 3:37 pm
Dylan takes full credit, full publishing rights, full financial rewards, with no acknowledgment of sources. Take the money and run – I guess that’s part of “what true geniuses do?” He’s been doing cut n’ past songwriting with no acknowledgment of source since the beginning, even that Hank Snow lyric he took credit for at age 16 – both the joker and the thief, indeed! What do the pieces all add up to? “Nothing more than what the broken glass reflects.”
July 20th, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Also, check out Sugar Baby from Love and Theft and compare to 1930’s song Lonesome Road by Gene Austin. It’s taken note for note. Bob Dylan has full publishing rights. Take that melody, insert your own lyrics and try publishing. How long do you think it will be before you receive a letter from one of Mr. Zimmerman’s lawyers?
July 21st, 2015 at 7:43 am
Jack you are so funny when you get outraged, its cute.
Im afraid 1930’s rights are expired, first of all.
Secondly, yeah you are right, bob dylan never knew how to write a song! jjaja
Im going to ask you a question…can you play an instrument at all? i thought so..
Do you know what popular music even means? folk tradition? i thought so..
Get a life!
July 21st, 2015 at 12:16 pm
Mr. Oscar,
Whether the artist Dylan steals from is dead or alive and whether the rights have expired does not alter the fact that the entire melody, note for note, was not written by Bob Dylan. With a few exceptions, Mr. Dylan is quite judicious in his stealing, targeting sources who can not or probably will not sue him.
Bob Dylan, in my view is a brilliant song writer, though a very corrupt one. Evidence suggests he is quite a ruthless business man. And do not mistake the folk tradition with the business of music. The tradition acknowledges sources as part of the evolution of music as it is experienced in the community. Bob Dylan has exploited this tradition for his own profit. It is now part of his legacy. He could have had an incredible career without doing it, but the fact is, he did it and continues to do it. Anyone who calls this out honestly, in the eyes of Mr. Dylan, is a “wussy and a pussy.” That response speaks for itself.
Thank you for your concern about me having a life. I feel quite blessed with the one I have. I do enjoy playing guitar and indulging in my life long passion for music.
July 21st, 2015 at 8:05 pm
Sure mate, no insults.
The way i see it , but i dont know, is he probably doesnt care, he s made some amazing songs for decades, now he just wants to perform, and by performaing an existing song and carrying it out…he plays 100 concerts a year..as a life style.
i dont think its about originality any more, but a way of relating throw music through the life in the road and foot prints of the times..
etc…
May 27th, 2019 at 5:11 pm
This is straight up note for note theft of the Bobby Fuller melody