Spinoff: Article about John Legend and Dennis Yost and The Classics IV

JOHN LEGEND TAKES CARE OF ‘SAVE ROOM’ SONGWRITERS: Pair compensated for writing song used in new single.
(October 5, 2006)Email to a friend | Print Friendly *Buddy Buie and James B. Cobb Jr., the songwriters behind such 1960s hits as “Spooky” and “Traces of Love” by Dennis Yost & the Classics IV, were paid 50 percent of the publishing from John Legend’s new single “Save Room” because it borrows heavily from their song, “Stormy.”


“We wouldn’t have accepted the deal otherwise,” Buie told Fox 411’s Roger Friedman of securing half of the song’s income in perpetuity. Legend will pocket the other 50 percent along with two collaborators—the Blackeyed Peas Will.i.am, aka Will Adams, and newcomer Jessyca Wilson—who allegedly helped him pen the new lyrics.


Buie said he’s had his songs sampled before, but never with permission beforehand.

“This time it was very easy,” he said. “No lawyers were required.”

On sharing songwriting credit for “Save Room” with Legend, an artist he’s never met, Buie says: “That is a little odd. …“I think he did a pretty good job with it, but I think the original is better.”

*Legend, meanwhile, says in the press release for his new album “Once Again” that he’d never heard of “Stormy.”

“I didn’t even know the original.” Legend writes. “I just knew it was a nice organ sound and wanted to write it.”

Re: Spinoff: Article about John Legend and Dennis Yost and The Classics IV

WOW!

I knew I wasn't crazy! I definitely could hear "Stormy" in his song.... (me and my crazy oldies obsession!)

thanks for posting!

Re: Spinoff: Article about John Legend and Dennis Yost and The Classics IV

*Legend, meanwhile, says in the press release for his new album “Once Again” that he’d never heard of “Stormy.”

“I didn’t even know the original.” Legend writes. “I just knew it was a nice organ sound and wanted to write it.”
hmmmm, I find that hard to believe