Sam Smith Reflects on Tom Petty’s Letter Over ‘Stay With Me’ During Nashville Residency

In a recent episode of Alchemy With Anthony Mason, Sam Smith opened up about his past copyright dispute with the legendary Tom Petty. The discussion took place during Smith’s 24-show residency at Brooklyn’s Warsaw, where he also performed Petty’s 1987 track, ‘It Will All Work Out.’

Smith revealed that Petty had sent him a letter just before the Grammy Awards, expressing no hard feelings regarding the 12.5% writing credit Petty and Jeff Lynne received for Smith’s hit, ‘Stay With Me.’ Reflecting on the situation, Smith admitted, ‘I was a little sassy 22-year-old queer kid’ and regretted not responding to Petty’s kind words.

He explained that at the time, he had never heard Petty’s classic ‘I Won’t Back Down,’ saying, ‘You’ve got to understand, ‘Stay With Me’ was written in a basement in London.’ Smith emphasized the importance of inspiration in music, acknowledging the complexities that come with copyright issues.

Smith’s candid remarks showcase his growth and understanding of the music industry, highlighting the bittersweet nature of artistic inspiration and recognition. As he continues to evolve as an artist, Smith remains grateful for the lessons learned from icons like Tom Petty.

Source: www.stereogum.com

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