Often there are songs that sound similar to other songs. We’re all “borrowing” licks and riffs from each other at one time or another. Sometimes they’re overlooked, and sometimes they end up in court. There are two songs that I remember from the early-mid 70s, that for the first 3 seconds of each, are identical as identical can be. Same key, same tempo, and same instrumentation. Additionally, they’re both ballads…one R&B and one Pop/Rock. Both were huge pop hits in their time. One released in 1973, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. The other released in 1975, “Take It To The Limit” by The Eagles. Listen to the first 3 seconds of each, and judge for yourself. If you’re like me, you will find virtually no difference in these two intros. Good? Bad? Neither. We only have 12 notes to work with. It’s amazing that there aren’t more like this.
http://youtu.be/YwASii2f5c8
– Submitted by Bill Spencer, Music Design