According to Etta James, James Brown got the inspiration for "Please Please Please" after seeing a note from Little Richard backstage before he and the Famous Flames were set to hit the stage. You would think someone who inspired your hit song would be flaming mad looking for credit and partial rights. I'm surprised a dude whose ego is rightfully huge as it is would not address his rival about why he took his message and made it a song and not at least pay him.

Let's discuss.

If all that James got from him was a song title I don't think it matters. Now if that happened today you can bet that someone would have a lawyer in their ear screaming to sue.

rialb said:

If all that James got from him was a song title I don't think it matters. Now if that happened today you can bet that someone would have a lawyer in their ear screaming to sue.

I know but I'm saying, if someone inspired your song, you could give them an advance at least. Maybe it was just the times and Richard probably was flabbergasted if James told him that he was the inspiration (since James all but credit Little Richard for starting his career). I don't know. But you got a good point.

WOW i didn't know that

Well idk maybe Richard was honored by this, but he is known for throwing everyone down who he feels ''stole'' from him

Also this was 56 when Please came out right? maybe cause James was bigger at the time he had to kind of deal with it since he wasn't a big star yet?

That's my thoughts anywho

Gunsnhalen said:

WOW i didn't know that

Well idk maybe Richard was honored by this, but he is known for throwing everyone down who he feels ''stole'' from him

Also this was 56 when Please came out right? maybe cause James was bigger at the time he had to kind of deal with it since he wasn't a big star yet?

That's my thoughts anywho

James wasn't even a figment in anyone's imagination in '56. Hell he wasn't even the leader of his group yet. That was Bobby Byrd. James Brown wrestled to get his name in front of the bill but I never looked at the song as a "James Brown song". It was a Famous Flames song. People kinda forget but the Famous Flames were almost one-hit wonders after this record came out because Federal Records released like nine songs that didn't do anything. Then again, when James finally started to get leverage in the '60s, no one sued him for taking their songs either (the Famous Flames copied the Isley Brothers' "Shout" almost verbatim for "Shout and Shimmy" in '62; James' band the JB's copied the melody/groove from The Isley Brothers' "Keep On Doin'" for "The Grunt"; practically every Famous Flames recording between '56 and, say, '60, were Little Richard/Ray Charles ripoffs ).

Timmy84 said:

According to Etta James, James Brown got the inspiration for "Please Please Please" after seeing a note from Little Richard backstage before he and the Famous Flames were set to hit the stage. You would think someone who inspired your hit song would be flaming mad looking for credit and partial rights. I'm surprised a dude whose ego is rightfully huge as it is would not address his rival about why he took his message and made it a song and not at least pay him.

Let's discuss.

Inspired how?

Graycap23 said:

Timmy84 said:

According to Etta James, James Brown got the inspiration for "Please Please Please" after seeing a note from Little Richard backstage before he and the Famous Flames were set to hit the stage. You would think someone who inspired your hit song would be flaming mad looking for credit and partial rights. I'm surprised a dude whose ego is rightfully huge as it is would not address his rival about why he took his message and made it a song and not at least pay him.

Let's discuss.

Inspired how?

He saw a note from Richard with the words "please please please" and wrote it down on some napkin and told Etta "I'm gonna turn this and make it a hit".

Sounds similar to Paul & John getting song ideas from things Ringo would say like Eight Days A Week or A Hard Day's Night.

MickyDolenz said:

Sounds similar to Paul & John getting song ideas from things Ringo would say like Eight Days A Week or A Hard Day's Night.

Yeah, some folks would get inspired just on impulse. Billy Preston always had a saying "if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with." Stephen Stills took that saying (with permission) and created a hit with it. But Billy need to be credited for that still.

Timmy84 said:

Graycap23 said:

Inspired how?

He saw a note from Richard with the words "please please please" and wrote it down on some napkin and told Etta "I'm gonna turn this and make it a hit".

That is NOT a credit situation.

Graycap23 said:

Timmy84 said:

He saw a note from Richard with the words "please please please" and wrote it down on some napkin and told Etta "I'm gonna turn this and make it a hit".

That is NOT a credit situation.

Even so. I'll give them compensation at least. I knew you would say that though...

If anyone don't know, the original composers of the song were James Brown and Johnny Terry. I guess a better question wouldn't be why Richard didn't get compensation, but did Johnny Terry get paid or did King ripped him (and James) off? That could be a better question than the one I imposed.

Timmy84 said:

Even so. I'll give them compensation at least. I knew you would say that though...

Didn't that book writer sue Marvin because he said he made up the title Sexual Healing?

MickyDolenz said:

Timmy84 said:

Even so. I'll give them compensation at least. I knew you would say that though...

Didn't that book writer sue Marvin because he said he made up the title Sexual Healing?

Yup. But I take his words on how "Sexual Healing" came to be for granted. Talking about he wrote a poem because Marvin wanted him to. Please. The song was about done. I think David gave him the title "Sexual Healing" because he thought it screamed a hit. But of course he's trying to make it seem like Marvin had an otherwordly approach for David. But yeah he sure did sue Marvin.

Graycap23 said:

Timmy84 said:

He saw a note from Richard with the words "please please please" and wrote it down on some napkin and told Etta "I'm gonna turn this and make it a hit".

That is NOT a credit situation.

Agree...

How do we know that was a song lyric that Little Richard wanted to write?

James was just inspired by a phrase Little Richard had written on a note and the phrase that he took is a very common used phrase.

At the most James could acknowledge Little Richard's note inspired that song but I dont think he deserves money for it.

None of us would have been able to receive a note from Little Richard that said something like "Please please please - don't drink the last Fresca in the dressing room" and turn it into that song.

bobzilla77 said:

None of us would have been able to receive a note from Little Richard that said something like "Please please please - don't drink the last Fresca in the dressing room" and turn it into that song.

bobzilla77 said:

None of us would have been able to receive a note from Little Richard that said something like "Please please please - don't drink the last Fresca in the dressing room" and turn it into that song.

Michael Franks can. He writes songs about anything.