Did they ever make a bad song?
Bittersweet symphony is definitely one of my favourite music videos lol
this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2026
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I recently heard a cover of 'the drugs don't work' which was almost verbatim, but with another singer. I was confused, then appalled.
Shame they got screwed over by the rolling stones over that string arrangement.
screwed over by the rolling stones over that string arrangement.
wait what?
They originally had permission from the stones for the main (string) sample in bittersweet. However stones said it went slightly longer than they agreed to, sued and won royalties I believe. Fuck the Stones.
It's more on Allen Klein who was a scumbag.
"After a lawsuit by the Rolling Stones' former manager, Allen Klein, the Verve relinquished all royalties to the Rolling Stones members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, who were also added to the songwriting credits. In 2019, ten years after Klein's death, Jagger, Richards, and Klein's son ceded the rights to the Verve songwriter, Richard Ashcroft."
Thanks for linking that, it's worth a full read
According to the Verve's bassist, Simon Jones, the Verve were told they would be given half the royalties, but when the single began selling well, they were instructed to relinquish 100% or remove it from sale.
Not fair!
I just listened to the Rolling Stone's 1965 version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdFQtbXAWdc (First 20 seconds at 0.5 speed), and it's not a great comparison
That being said the Andrew Oldham 1966 cover version is a pretty strong match:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YrllfAMwHI
(I'd also say it's artistically better, with Futurama themes)
Edit:
Woah, okay I'm a fan of Andrew Oldham's Orchestra. They've done a few covers of Rolling Stones songs, and they all sound way waay better than the whiney steeley sound that I find grating about the Rolling Stones
I liked Bittersweet Symphony but I thought it was weird there was “The Verve” and “The Verve Pipe” at roughly the same time. I’m not sure who came first, but my friend had the latter’s album and it was good.
Verve Pipe rocked but in a different completely different way.
And even back then the names were confusing af. XD
They were amazing, Richard Ashcroft is still one of my favourite singers/composers
Very good, even though they're not my cup of tea musically, the songwriting and musicianship were top notch.