Check out the intro to Journey‘s 1976 track “I’m Gonna Leave You” next to Kansas‘ 1976 “Carry On Wayward Son”.
Journey - "I'm Gonna Leave You" (1976)
Kansas - "Carry on Wayward Son" (1976)
Submitted by rh
That Song Sounds Like
Songs that Sound Like Other Songs (Since 2007)
Using a one-riff comparison to rip an entire song or number shows how little we know about what goes on in the music industry. Kansas was about to be dropped by the Kirshner label (after three totally original releases) for failing to chart on Billboard.
Seven out of eight tracks (totally original) were already recorded. One more song was needed to fill the eight-number requirement LP vynil. Kerry had all of the creative pressure on him, since Steve wasn’t able to churn out lyrics.
Finally (In Bogaloosa, LA) The band turned to Kerry and said,”What do you have?”. Kerry pulled out this one song, origionally to stick at the end, and the band loved it. It became the lead track. In those days, label pressure on talent was extream. You don’t want to know!
What most people don’t realize is that many of the production staff are former musicians and song writers. Even “The Doors ‘Light My Fire'” was not written entirely by the band. A producer, who was a former musician, wrote the opening movement for Ray.
I have heard both “Carry On…” and “I’m Gonna Leave You.” Both riffs were similar variants, but NOT exact copies! I used to hear “April Wine” get ripped for “I Like To Rock” for copying both a “Beatles” and a “Rolling Stones” riff at the end of that song. All they were doing was paying respect to their idols.
Hey Keith, thanks for the background info on this!
“Carry on my wayward son For there’ll be peace when you are done” That reminds me of a soldier going to war. Thats what I think this song is about.