Re-making a song, public domain, licensing question...

[mjr]

If you wanted to re-make a song "in the style of" a certain singer or group, but the song would otherwise be in the public domain (I think), I would think you would still need to secure a mechanical license for it. Is that correct?

I'd like to record my own version of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" (the old Leadbelly song) similar to the way Nirvana did during the MTV Unplugged show (but with only one acoustic guitar instead of three), without the screaming at the end, for a possible future album.

 

[up-fiddler]

The fact that it is in the public domain would clear you in my view. Unless your style copy is spot on I think you would be OK. The Harry Fox Agency has a member question section and they are very good about answering these types of questions. Give them a try too.

 

[mjr]

The fact that it is in the public domain would clear you in my view. Unless your style copy is spot on I think you would be OK. The Harry Fox Agency has a member question section and they are very good about answering these types of questions. Give them a try too.

It would be similar to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKopbQKi5LE

But I'd change it up some, and not have the screaming at the end.

 

[cannabis]

the song (aka in the pines)

is in the public domain



as far as i know

style is not copyrightable

so you can do it any way you want

in the exact cobain style if you like



here's the leadbelly version

IN THE PINES (BLACK GIRL)

Black girl, black, girl, don't lie to me,
Where did you sleep last night?
In the pines, in the pines
Where the sun never shines,
I shivered the whole night long.

My father was a railroad man
Killed a mile and a half from town
His head was found neath the driver's wheel
His body has never been found.

You caused me to weep, you caused me to moan
You caused me to leave my home
I'm going where the cold wind blows
In the pines, in the pines,
Where the sun never shines,
I'll shiver the whole night long.

The longest train I ever saw
Was a hundred coaches long
And the only boy I ever loved
Is on that train and gone.

Black girl, black girl, don't lie to me,
Where did you sleep last night?
In the pines, in the pines,
Where the sun never shines,
I shivered the whole night long.

 

[mjr]

Cool! Thanks for the info.