Hey guys,

Just been going back over a few of these and wanted to mention something else. Today is my 51st birthday so I am taking a day off from moving and reviewing a bunch of old crap of mine that I used to call songs. I now call them "Dumpster contents!"

Since these posts attract a lot of newer people who might know me or others I wanted to just mention that I am a teacher of songwriting workshops and I teach writing and the music business in Nashville. When I see threads like this they often relate to issues that come up all the time and usually there are a few first hand stories I have of people and this stuff. If you have heard some of them before or they are too long, just ignore me or fast forward past them.

This one involves two songs that were virtually identical but totally unrelated. I perform regularly at a club in Florida called the "Florabama Lounge." It is a authentic American Roadhouse, on the Fla. Alabama state line. It is very popular and increased so since we do a ten day songwriters festival in that area each November.
One of the regular writers at the Bama, was a guy named Rusty McCue. Rusty was a GREAT comedian, and wrote songs that would be WAY too dirty for general consumption, but was Great for afternoon patrons at the Bama, from Little Blue Haired ladies, to hardened bikers and everything in between. One of the songs he had written about 8 years ago was called "Tequila makes my Clothes Fall off." It was hilarious and a VERY unique title. People would sing every word, but once again, nothing you would ever hear on the radio or actually much past that area.
About four years ago, two friends of mine, Gary Hannan, and John Wiggans, were drinking in the afternoon and Gary said that exact phrase. John said they should write it and Gary said that it was a common phrase in South Africa where he grew up. He was a mercenary soldier in Rodesia in the 80's and that phrase and been said many years before that, actually dating back to the 1950's. He thought it had to have been written.
But John was insistant and the next day they wrote the song which ended up being a number one for Joe Nichols. They had never heard Rusty's original song.
That began a sore spot which lasts to this day. Rusty passed away from Cancer four years ago and of course the people in that area, his friends and family, swear it was stolen. But I can tell you it wasn't. Just another expample of similar ideas being out there all the time, even with unique ideas.
There are a lot of people on this planet. And a lot of people that write songs. It is going to happen no matter what. Just write em' good and try to get them out there. About all you can do. just hope you are first.

MAB