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View Full Version : Edwin Starr / Wilson Pickett - Was there a story here

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snakepit
06-09-2020, 01:13 PM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9HzvVqhkzJk

Most Motown fans will know Edwin Starr's track "25 miles".
If your not aware if this Wilson Pickett track, you may sit up and think somebody somewhere was a bit guilty of ripping off a tune.
Not sure who came first.
Or if any legal action resulted.
What do you think?
splanky
06-09-2020, 03:00 PM
Well what I do know it was caught and legally resolved. I always wonder whose idea it
was between Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua and Edwin Starr to try to get that 5 finger discount. I'm thinking Harvey but I don't, probably never will know....

This may not be the nicest thing for me to say but even though Eds crew jacked the original tune,
25 Miles was a better song and bigger hit...
snakepit
06-09-2020, 03:14 PM
Splanky
Thanks for reply. I've never seen any reference to any legal action and I didn't realize that Edwin and co ripped off the tune.
snakepit
06-09-2020, 03:40 PM
Something on Wikipedia about earlier versions.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-Five_Miles
marv2
06-09-2020, 04:47 PM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9HzvVqhkzJk

Most Motown fans will know Edwin Starr's track "25 miles".
If your not aware if this Wilson Pickett track, you may sit up and think somebody somewhere was a bit guilty of ripping off a tune.
Not sure who came first.
Or if any legal action resulted.
What do you think?

Oh they stole that clean.........LOL!
TomatoTom123
06-09-2020, 07:32 PM
OMG, they definitely stole it, I had no idea. Especially the intro, the first line even goes "32 miles..."!!!

:D
splanky
06-10-2020, 04:59 PM
I guess I should say why I believe Harvey might have suggested the sleight of hand...
Back in the early years of The New Birth when he controlled the band he had them
record the following tune:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzMy9hL0dlg

with all of the credits being given to his people and not a peep made about this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ0gobSHgIs

I don't think he ever got caught. I don't think the writer, John Loudermilk , who was
quite a storyteller himself, even became aware of The New Birth tune....
snakepit
06-10-2020, 05:15 PM
Naughty..

I checked TCMS for 1969 and it does refer to credits being adjusted. But Edwin claims he wrote 25 Miles several years earlier. Oh well