Midnight Train to Georgia

Managing Editor
Posts: 8015

sebcat @ 2018-12-23 13:00:08 UTC

It would be good to sort out (finally) the status of this iconic and well-covered song. VV has raised this a few times, most recently here and here.

Do people think that Midnite Train to Georgia should be a separate adaptation to the original Midnight Plane to Houston or just treated as a cover? The lyrics are only slightly amended, so VV has a point. On the other hand, the two works have separate entries in ASCAP. But if it was indeed Houston who amended the lyrics, then the copyright database doesn't really reflect the position in any case.

There's a nice write-up about the history of the song in the Financial Times.

Copying Jeff, as the originator of the work.

Quentin

Retired Editor
Posts: 3427

Quentin @ 2018-12-23 13:24:53 UTC

I can't access the FT article or the "song background info", but wikipedia quotes Weatherly as follows: "I wrote it as a kind of a country song. Then we sent the song to a guy named Sonny Limbo in Atlanta and he wanted to cut it with Cissy Houston... he asked if I minded if he changed the title to "Midnight Train to Georgia". And I said, I don't mind. Just don't change the rest of the song."

So, I guess it's not an adaptation; also, Weatherly appears to have very little to do with the amended lyrics. Sonny Limbo, maybe...

______
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Tar Heel

Member
Posts: 5777

Tar Heel @ 2018-12-23 15:52:40 UTC

Maybe it's impossible to create a clear and objective rule for these cases, but relatively slight lyrical alterations to adjust for time and place just aren't material enough in my view to justify adaption treatment.

By chance, this same (or at least similar) question arose here: https://secondhandsongs.com/case/91974

Last edit: 2018-12-23 16:03:11 UTC by Tar Heel

camembert electrique

Editor
Posts: 6517

camembert electrique @ 2018-12-24 05:03:46 UTC

Quote from VirileVagabond

By chance, this same (or at least similar) question arose here: https://secondhandsongs.com/case/91974

I agree that only altering names or places but otherwise sticking to original lyrics doesn't constitute adaptations (and handle such versions accordingly).

The Revolution Was Not Televised's lyrics were entirely rewritten, though. This being done in the spirit of the original's by line by line adopting to today's media and current political issues is not relevant for having to be classified as an adaptation - the nearly completely new wording is.

As for "Midnight Train to Georgia": PG's quote probably says all needed to know...

walt