'What a Fool Believes' & 'Steal Away'

voicebug · 02-17-2003, 10:18 PM

Apologies all around if this is a beaten to death subject, but what is the deal with the similarities between The Doobie Brothers 'What A Fool Believes' and Robbie Dupree's 'Steal Away?'

Is 'Steal Away' a homage? Or is this a plaigarism suit that never happened? The instrumental/keyboard riff is definately too close for comfort. However, I do love both songs.

Anyone have any insight on this ever being an issue, or am I off my rocker?

Grant · 02-17-2003, 10:53 PM

It's a plaigarism suit that never happened, or so I haven't heard about one...

czeskleba · 02-17-2003, 11:02 PM

Doesn't Michael McDonald sing backup on "Steal Away"? I swear I remember Casey Kasem mentioning that on American Top 40. Or am I delusional?

tim_neely · 02-18-2003, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by czeskleba
Doesn't Michael McDonald sing backup on "Steal Away"? I swear I remember Casey Kasem mentioning that on American Top 40. Or am I delusional?

I believe you are correct. Perhaps Robbie played the "plagiarism suit avoidance" card.

Michael McDonald got to be so omnipresent in those days (among other places, he was on hit records by Christopher Cross, Amy Holland, Nicolette Larson and James Ingram, all seemingly within months of each other, and I think he also might have been on a Kenny Loggins hit) that it was almost a joke after a while.

JonUrban · 02-18-2003, 07:11 AM

Patti Labelle too (On my Own), and yes, Kenny Loggins, Carly Simon (You Belong to Me) and a bunch of others.

There is a new DVD Video with DTS 5.1 of a "tribute" concert with Michael and a lot of these "co-artists" performing their co-written tunes.

Unfortunatly, it is horrible! Age has taken it's effect.

Blue Moon · 02-18-2003, 07:38 AM

[quote]Originally posted by voicebug
Apologies all around if this is a beaten to death subject, but what is the deal with the similarities between The Doobie Brothers 'What A Fool Believes' and Robbie Dupree's 'Steal Away?'

Is 'Steal Away' a homage? Or is this a plaigarism suit that never happened? The instrumental/keyboard riff is definately too close for comfort. However, I do love both songs.

Anyone have any insight on this ever being an issue, or am I off my rocker? [/QUOTE

voicebug, I am so glad someone else realized this. I remember hearing these similarities back in the early eighties and I was quite upset. But what can you do, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.]

Norbert Becker · 02-18-2003, 11:10 AM

I thought the Doobies were the backing band on Steal Away, sort of like
how Fleetwood Mac does the backing on (ex-member) Bob Welch's
"Sentimental Lady".

stever · 02-18-2003, 11:24 AM

Michael McDonald seemed to guest on many recordings in the 70's and early 80's. He also had a couple of solo LPs around this time.

I never put two and two together, but, "Steal Away" does sound a bit like, "What a Fool Believes."

reechie · 02-18-2003, 11:28 AM

I just checked the discography on Robbie Dupree's web site http://robbiedupree.com, and according to the personnel listing for his debut record, there's no sign of Michael McDonald, or any other Doobie Brothers anywhere on "Steal Away" or the rest of the album

I'd completely forgotten about the follow up single "Hot Rod Hearts" though. That one was all over radio when I was a teen.

Grant · 02-18-2003, 11:40 AM

There was a lot of silent guest starring on records back in those days. Stevie Nicks, Lindsay Buckingham, Michael McDonald, Carly Simon, the Bee Gees, all sang on each other's records.

That was the sound of southern California rock!

02-17-2003, 10:18 PM	#1
voicebug Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: now in Houston, TX Posts: 1,544	'What a Fool Believes' & 'Steal Away' Apologies all around if this is a beaten to death subject, but what is the deal with the similarities between The Doobie Brothers 'What A Fool Believes' and Robbie Dupree's 'Steal Away?' Is 'Steal Away' a homage? Or is this a plaigarism suit that never happened? The instrumental/keyboard riff is definately too close for comfort. However, I do love both songs. Anyone have any insight on this ever being an issue, or am I off my rocker? __________________ Christopher Holland

02-18-2003, 07:11 AM	#5
JonUrban SHF Member #497 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Connecticut Posts: 8,122	Patti Labelle too (On my Own), and yes, Kenny Loggins, Carly Simon (You Belong to Me) and a bunch of others. There is a new DVD Video with DTS 5.1 of a "tribute" concert with Michael and a lot of these "co-artists" performing their co-written tunes. Unfortunatly, it is horrible! Age has taken it's effect. __________________ "We were staying up all night giving the days away. And the music was flowing, amazing and blowing my way." :-jon

02-18-2003, 07:38 AM	#6
Blue Moon Formerly GammaSpace Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,378	Re: 'What a Fool Believes' & 'Steal Away' [quote]Originally posted by voicebug Apologies all around if this is a beaten to death subject, but what is the deal with the similarities between The Doobie Brothers 'What A Fool Believes' and Robbie Dupree's 'Steal Away?' Is 'Steal Away' a homage? Or is this a plaigarism suit that never happened? The instrumental/keyboard riff is definately too close for comfort. However, I do love both songs. Anyone have any insight on this ever being an issue, or am I off my rocker? [/QUOTE voicebug, I am so glad someone else realized this. I remember hearing these similarities back in the early eighties and I was quite upset. But what can you do, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.] __________________ "You are what you think." -- Me

02-18-2003, 11:28 AM	#9
reechie Forum Legend Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Baltimore Posts: 18,504	I just checked the discography on Robbie Dupree's web site http://robbiedupree.com, and according to the personnel listing for his debut record, there's no sign of Michael McDonald, or any other Doobie Brothers anywhere on "Steal Away" or the rest of the album I'd completely forgotten about the follow up single "Hot Rod Hearts" though. That one was all over radio when I was a teen. __________________ \|8#/ reechie (Rich) ______________________________ "...I'll believe it when it's in my hands."

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02-17-2003, 10:53 PM	#2
Grant Forum Legend Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: USA Posts: 73,769	It's a plaigarism suit that never happened, or so I haven't heard about one...

02-17-2003, 11:02 PM	#3
czeskleba Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 6,064	Doesn't Michael McDonald sing backup on "Steal Away"? I swear I remember Casey Kasem mentioning that on American Top 40. Or am I delusional?

02-18-2003, 11:10 AM	#7
Norbert Becker Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pa Posts: 1,005	I thought the Doobies were the backing band on Steal Away, sort of like how Fleetwood Mac does the backing on (ex-member) Bob Welch's "Sentimental Lady".

02-18-2003, 11:24 AM	#8
stever Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lincoln, Nebr. Posts: 4,919	Michael McDonald seemed to guest on many recordings in the 70's and early 80's. He also had a couple of solo LPs around this time. I never put two and two together, but, "Steal Away" does sound a bit like, "What a Fool Believes."

02-18-2003, 11:40 AM	#10
Grant Forum Legend Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: USA Posts: 73,769	There was a lot of silent guest starring on records back in those days. Stevie Nicks, Lindsay Buckingham, Michael McDonald, Carly Simon, the Bee Gees, all sang on each other's records. That was the sound of southern California rock!