Reggae singer Patrick Alley posited that Mick Jagger not only copied the title of his song, “Just Another Night,” but also ripped off the lyrics directly. In Alley’s song, he sings, Can I spend another, just another night, just another night with you. Jagger sings, Give me just another night, just another night with you. Give me just another kiss, just before the dawn breaks through. Alley’s legal team employed the expertise of a pre-collegiate course instructor at Julliard, who claimed his transcription of the two songs proved they’re identical. Peter Parcher, one of Jagger’s lawyers, said the testimony was “as phony as a $19 bill” in his closing summation.
Another Julliard employee, the chairman of the literature and materials division of the prestigious New York City school, said the songs shared only a closing, tonic note when transposed in the same key. Jagger’s legal counsel brought up several more instances of contrasting elements between the two songs, including tempo, rhythm, and general harmonic structure. Alley’s team argued that the fact that their client and Jagger’s songs both feature the same drummer, Sly Dunbar, was a damning piece of evidence in their favor.
A substantial part of any copyright lawsuit is the proof that the defendant had access to the piece of art in question. Alley’s lawyers said that Jagger had either heard the song, which came out three years before Jagger’s solo debut, or Dunbar tipped Jagger off to the song when they were working together. While on the stand, Dunbar testified to playing as a session drummer on countless records and said he couldn’t confirm with absolute certainty that he had played on Alley’s “Just Another Night.”
The Rock Frontman Didn’t Mince His Words
At the end of the seven-day trial, a jury concluded that Mick Jagger was not guilty of stealing Patrick Alley’s “Just Another Night.” The songs were too different in form and style, and the phrase just another night was too commonplace to consider worthy of copyright. But Alley wasn’t ready to give up the fight. The reggae singer filed for an appeal but the court ultimately denied the request, upholding the original ruling. Amidst all the headache and grief of the trial, Jagger didn’t hold back his true feelings on the matter.
Speaking to the New York Times after the trial, Jagger said, “My reputation is really cleared. If you’re well-known, people stand up and take shots at you. It’s one of those things in a litigious society.”
Photo by Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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