An American court has decided it will hear a copyright suit brought against Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant for allegedly having plagiarized the most famous rock song of all: “Stairway to Heaven.” (Yes, that’s debatable, but it’s surely a candidate.) On the heels of a court awarding Marvin Gaye‘s heirs a multi-million dollar copyright infringement decision in its case against “Blurred Lines” singer Robin Thicke, the courts better be staffing up for a deluge of lyrical legal action.
Because the beginning arpeggios of “Stairway to Heaven” do sound a little like the beginning of Spirit’s song “Taurus”. It’s also true that every blues song in existence sounds a little like the rest, some more than others. Here’s a list of songs where the chord progression — the heart of the Zeppelin lawsuit — also bears a resemblance to “Stairway To Heaven.” Have a listen:
- Time in A Bottle — Jim Croce
- Cry Me A River — Davy Graham
- Music To Watch Girls By — Andy Williams
- Dido’s Lament — Henry Purcell
- Summer Rain — James Hendricks
