Canned Heat 'Going Up The Country'' 1970 (Plagiarism)

[@daduck100]

Thank you for finally bring this to the attention of youtubers. It's bothered me for years that Canned Heat never acknowledged Henry Thomas. They should have introduced this song on stage with,"now here's our version of an old Henry Thomas tune", like the Allman Brother did with "here's one by Willie McTell when they did "Statesboro Blues".

[@larry4762]

It took all of these years for me to find this out its the only Canned Heat song that I like. I just got done listening to the original Henry Thomas version.

[@adrianascpc]

It's a cover version, not uncommon in blues music, don't have an issue with that, they don't claim to have written it.

[@LeonThe4th]

Adrian Sleeman The songwriting credit IS the issue! Alan Wilson (singer/guitarist in the video) claimed HE wrote it & took ALL the credit & money...NO credit for Henry Thomas's family...or money....if you read all of my text & some comments you'll get a clearer picture😉..Although the verses are bluesy...the ~32 note flute melody is hardly blues....more Creole really.... the copying of that flute "hook" is the most blatant case of plagiarism I've ever heard..and this record would not have been the worldwide hit it was without it....

[@bigl6322]

@@LeonThe4th agreed.... while he appears to have written the lyrics to “going up the country”, he just as clearly laid them right over the top of “bull doze blues” not just the melody itself, but that iconic flute arrangement... blatant plagiarism....

[@LeonThe4th]

@@bigl6322 Yeah...and I think the flute line is about 32 consecutive notes copied....so it's nothing like the usual "blues" riff copying or "borrowing" etc, that's been so common...this is blatant...

[@bigl6322]

@@LeonThe4th I’m a blues player.... that damn sure isn’t any “standard/traditional/common” anything.. Uniquely distinctive.... I really like canned heat but that’s sum fucked up shit right there ...

[@josephdugan9071]

I thought country Joe and the fish did this song so I was wrong twice. I have never heard of Henry Thomas. I hope canned heat gave him credit on the album.

[@LeonThe4th]

Nah...no credit...ever...& no money....ever

[@stevelawrie9115]

Should have been in copyright still. Not sure what financial situation is for the intellectual property but sounds great.

[@andrewgarratt5191]

Damn !? ....I bought this record cause I liked this track so much....I commented to my wife my disappointment as this track sticks out like a sore thumb.....nothing else the ever did has that.... “thing” ....so I can totally believe it and will be back to click the link to the original after I take the dog out. 😁👍🏽 Thanks for the heads up and possible explanation on why I completely pisssed off $17.00 🤪 Cause I wound up trading the album for $5 credit toward Hendrix’s band of gypsies....good trade,even if I did loose a few bucks.

[@ashsol2657]

This is good, but Henry Thomas version is great !

[@Guedingen]

So they didn't credit it?

[@LeonThe4th]

No....Alan Wilson was credited as the sole songwriter & got all the royalties (less the publishing company's cut of course)....Henry Thomas didn't even get a mention...

[@Guedingen]

@@LeonThe4th Thanks. Thats sickening.

[@thomaskemer8109]

Alan wrote new lyrics though

[@LeonThe4th]

​ @Thomas Kemer True, but one normally needs permission from the original songwriter (or publisher) to do so, then, if agreed upon, would be a co-writing credit. Trouble is, Henry Thomas was from a family of freed slaves and died in about 1930, so that task would have been for the publishers alone....

[@steevenfrost]

@@LeonThe4th That's wrong.His estate should get some recompense.

[@LeonThe4th]

Adrian Sleeman The songwriting credit IS the issue! Alan Wilson (singer/guitarist) claimed HE wrote it & took ALL credit & money, NO credit for Henry Thomas or money! Read all of my text & some comments you'll get a clearer picture😉the verses are bluesy but the 32 odd note flute melody is hardly "blues" & the copying of that flute "hook" is the most blatant case of plagiarism ever & this record would not have been the worldwide hit it was without it.

[@DaGSlM2015]

Led Zeppelin did the same thing, most of their songs are straight up rip offs

[@suffern63]

Whole Lotta Love a rip off of The Small Faces' You need love which is a rip off of Muddy Waters.The thieves won.

[@nharvey9425]

Ironically, Led Zep got done for "Boogie with Stu", a rip off of Richie Valen's "Oh my Head", oh by the way Richie Valens ripped that song from Little Richard's "Oh my Head". I wonder was Little Richard ever compensated by both?

[@drazzle6267]

Tooo pop!!

[@LeonThe4th]

Yes..it is rather "Pop"...certainly more so than "blues"

[@jiveturkey9993]

Why did you fuck up my good song? That is straight up plagiarism and I'll never be able to listen to this song in the same way again. the jerks should have been at least gave the guy credit. The song would have still kicked ass but it wouldn't have any skeletons in the closet.