Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Walking through Central Park on Paul's 64th B-Day, I spotted an ambulance marked "Central Park Medical Unit."

I then noticed a huge ABKCO logo on the side of it. When I got closer saw it read "generously donated by Allen Klein ABKCO records."

Jeez. Maybe Allen was going for a jaunt in the Park and brought backup!

Wow. Very interesting! The first I've even heard his name in years. Anyone even know how old he is now? Gotta be up there. LOL Paul! Maybe he did put it there to resuscitate him if he's in the park. Didn't think ABCKO is even still a viable enterprise.

I was thinking the same thing. He's got to be pretty old.

Recently, I did ask someone I know who knows him and she said she still sees him at "industry functions" from time to time.

What is funny is, he has the logo on there. I mean, if most people made a donation to a cause I suspect they'd either do it in the name of their business or in just their name but he had both on there and it was just the name but the logo.

The fact that it is Paul's B-day and AK was his nemesis didn't escape my mind, either.

Who's publishing does he own? Stones or what?

Anyone know the biz details of what ultimately happened w/him? Especially regarding John. In the Jann Wenner 1970 i/v, John goes on about how Klein was the next Christ...

Paul has said the "others" have said he was "right" about Klein. I wonder if John is included in there and, if so, what did Paul or the Eastman's do that helped anything?

John indeed sued AK but I have heard from a reliable source that he remained on good terms with him personally until the end.

A blurb from Wikipedia:

"On their song "Bittersweet Symphony" the British outfit The Verve sampled an orchestration from The Rolling Stone's "The Last Time", the rights to which are owned by Allen Klein's ABKCO Industries. Before the release of the album, The Verve negotiated a licensing agreement with Klein, who administers the Stones catalogue, to use the sample -- at least the composition rights to the sample. In 1997, The Verve's album "Urban Hymns" peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Charts. What ensued was a bitter legal battle resulting in The Verve turning over 100% of the royalties to ABKCO. Klein argued that The Verve had violated the previous licensing agreement by using too much of the sample in their song. The Verve argued that Klein got greedy when the song became successful. Capitalizing off the success of the song, Klein licensed The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony" to Nike, who proceeded to run a multi-million dollar television campaign using The Verve's song over shots of its sneakers. Klein also allowed the song to be used in advertisements for Vauxhall automobiles. (Additionally, though the song was authored by The Rolling Stones, the Andrew Loog Oldham Orchestra performed the sampled recording and also filed suit upon the success of the song. When "Bittersweet Symphony" was nominated for a Grammy, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were named the nominees and not The Verve)"

For the life of me, I can't recall any "orchestration" on the Last Time.

I think what Klein was arguing in court is, if you want to make music for commercial purposes and get credit, as well as be left alone, write it yourself (there's a novel idea in the 21st Century.)

I just wish he could sue Puff Daddy.

I'm not a Stones expert, but I believe they released at least one album of orchestrated versions of their songs in the mid-60's credited to the 'Andrew Loog Oldham Orchestra'. I think several of the Stones also played on these sessions. Perhaps this is the version of 'The Last Time' that The Verve sampled.

Randy - you are correct, sir.

And what makes this all-the-more hilarious is the the Stones were not shy about pilfering riffs and stuff from earlier blues songs. It happens all the time; Nick Lowe said something to the effect that it's not stealing, it's borrowing.

"The Last Time" in particular fits this, as that catchy riff was a knock-off of some blues song that escapes me at the moment.

So someone should be suing Allen Klein and the Stones, if they haven't already.

And the Beatles stole all of their songs from a Mississippi bluesman named Blind Lemon Rutle. Oh wait, that was the Rutles. Never mind...

Just how about NOT sampling, and maybe coming up with a hook of your own? Then you won't get sued! DUH!

>>And what makes this all-the-more hilarious is the the Stones were not shy about pilfering riffs and stuff from earlier blues songs. <<

Or the fact that Jagger/Richards will share credit with no one, ever. The riff to Honkey Tonk Women, arguably the best Stones riff ever (with a drum track by Kenny Jones, not Charlie), was written by Mick Taylor (no wonder the Stones dropped at least a few rungs when he left.)

And they were going to put their own names on that song from one of their last albums that was written by who, KD Lang? That story was laughable. Someone from the label called and said "are you seriously thinking of putting your name on this tune?"

They should have had to pay Chuck Berry for Chuck riff abuse during that pitiful Superbowl gig.

The best ever is Page and Plant putting their names on Whole Lotta Love, which is 100% of the music and 90% of the lyrics by Willie Dixon (You Need Love.) Talk about robbery. I think this is where the idea of reparations came from.

That alone would would get them banished from the Hall of Fame if it had any cred (i.e. it was far worse than Pete Rose's gambling, which got him kicked out of baseball's HOF.)

>>So someone should be suing Allen Klein and the Stones, if they haven't already.<<

Klein must already be in the Guiness book for number of times sued. Maybe that's why he goes after others, trying to get some of that dough back. Though if he's buying ambulances, he must be doing okay.

>>>Just how about NOT sampling...<<

Would be a better world indeed.