The Stones wrote it first in 1965, then the Who came out with theirs in 1969. Were the Stones pissed that they would use the same song title as theirs?
I would think that the Stones were not too happy about the Who's use of the same title. Back in the 60's that few select super British groups did have some rivalry to one another.
The Stones use of Little Queenie, Love in Vain are from different era's of music, the Who and the Stones are from the same era, and both songs arrived 4 years apart.
It's a very basic title, I can't imagine the stones caring about it being repeated for another song. How many songs must there have been called "I'm Free" before the stones'? Besides, I believe the Who song was only an album track (though album-oriented rock was begining to appear with Tommy).
Also, I think the stones' "I'm Free" is more dated and trippy than the Who's. The 1975(?) film soundtrack version of the song is a hard rocker that works in a way that the stones' 1969 performances of their song do not.
I'm actually more partial to Lou Reed's 1972 "I'm So Free" than either of these.
There's no claim of copyright in a song title. How many bands have written songs called "Heartbreaker"? Yeah, the Stones tried to hide theirs by calling it "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo," but who are we trying to kid? I've often thought it would a pisser if some band did an entire album of original songs which bear the titles of someone else's classic rock hits. E.g., "Comfortably Numb?" That's how I feel around 10:30!
Anyway, the studio version of I'm Free on Tommy ain't much, but the Who's '75-76 versions of Townshend's song beats any version of the Stones song of the same title, even that extended one from early in the '69 tour. Check out the Who's Swansea or Houston shows for examples.
Fleetwood Mac released "Don't Stop" in 1977. The Stones used the same title for their "Don't Stop" in 2002. It's not entirely uncommon for an artist to use the same or similar song title as another artist. As long as the composition is different, it's okay.
Interestingly, Pete Townshend admitted to being so impressed by the unusual rhythm and beat of Street Fighting Man, that he styled I'm Free around this arrangement.
Two years earlier, Pete had owned up to basing Substitute around the 19th Nervous Breakdown riff.
You can't use the terms different versions because that'd be omplying that they are in fact the same song. I like both songs, but I think The Who just edge it here. I like the drumming on the Who's I'm Free.
Carolina's finest citizen arrives into 2007 without a hiccup. Happy New Year brother.
The Stones "I'm Free" gets a lot of airplay today as a tv commercial for a credit card company. It does sound good live in Oakland during the 1969 tour.
I don't like The Who's rendition of Under My Thumb, though I give them credit for compleley changing its arrangment. I've never heard their version of The Last Time though. Both were recorded in 1967 and released as a single imn support of Mick and Keith during their trial.
Sheryl Crow covered Bob Dylan's "Mississippi" (The Globe Sessions album) before Dylan himself released it (Love and Theft)......I could be mistaken....Gazza? Erik? help me out on this one please.
The Sicilian Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The Stones wrote it first in 1965, then the Who > came out with theirs in 1969. Were the Stones > pissed that they would use the same song title as > theirs? > > Which bands version do you like best?
They're completely different songs. I'm Free by The Who was off Tommy, and not one of it's strongest songs - or theirs. So The Stones' I'm Free by a country mile.