"More or less a blatant rip-off"-type cues

[Mr]

I find this is often people's first assumption of what library music is - sloppy 'sound-alikes' piggybacking off of famous pieces of music. Somewhat surprisingly, perhaps, most library isn't.
I do quite enjoy those sort of cues, however! Do you know any cues that have taken a bit much inspiration from elsewhere?

Some of my favourites:
"Silent Witness" (Zack Laurence, Music House MHA-2)

(Mike Oldfield - "Tubular Bells")

"License to Kill - Pt. 2" (Anthony Mawer, Southern Library of Recorded Music MQ/LP-31)

(John Barry/Nancy Sinatra - "You Only Live Twice")

"Stingray", "Purple Moon" (David Reilly, Programme Music PM 026)

(Gary Numan - "Cars")

(Pink Floyd - "Breathe")

"Participation" (Ole Georg, Media Music the Professional PSE-17)

(Michael Jackson - "Thriller")

[stackjackson]

David Reilly's "Purple Moon" was the first track I had in mind when I saw your post here, Mr. The title of this is such a clever wink to the listener
I know there are numerous "Shaft" sound-alikes out there, but don't have time to track them down.

[apmnut]

"Chicken Sax" by Gerhard Trede is obviously a ripoff of "Yakety Sax" by Boots Randolph.

[Retronic]

There's a KPM which is a blatant rip of 'Pick Up the Pieces' by The Average White Band.   I forget the LP.
DWS/LP 3513 - 'Let's All Be Happy' is 'Best Years of Our Lives' by Modern Romance.  Same LP has Thriller rip off 'Black Heart'

[Lord Thames]

Keith Mansfield's 'Bubble Machine' on the KPM album Lifeforce was withdrawn after Gershon Kinglsey objected to the similarity to 'Popcorn' - it was re-recorded as 'Micro Pops' with a new bass and melody line and appeared on KPM CD 099.  The original remains unavailable.

[Upgrade]

Steve Gray did a History of Jazz series for Bruton Music.

“Midnight Serenade” sounds an awful like Glenn Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade”.

“Take Your Time” is a take-off of Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five”.

[Lord Thames]

Here's one I found recently - compare and contrast Dave Richmond's 'Confunktion' (aka the tune off the Denim aftershave adverts)

.....with obscure 1971 British prog rock track 'Sing' by Ransome Head:

Although Dave Richmond didn't play on the Ransome Head track, guitarist Clive Hicks did - I wonder if there was a bit of subconscious influencing going on there?

[stackjackson]

Wow, LT. That's an obscure catch there. I dig that Ransome Head track.

[Lord Thames]

I love it!  Some very familiar names playing on it too, including Brian Dee, Harold Fisher and John Fiddy.

[owlglass]

Sauveur Mallia's "Digital Proton" (Cosmosynthetic Vol. 1) is a clear rip-off of Devo's "Girl U Want".

[keir]

David Reilly's "Purple Moon" was the first track I had in mind when I saw your post here, Mr. The title of this is such a clever wink to the listener
I know there are numerous "Shaft" sound-alikes out there, but don't have time to track them down.

If I recall correctly one of them is actually called Shafty or something. Makes it easy for the sound editor to find the sort of thing they're looking for I guess!

[Mr]

I feel Joerg Reiter's three "Fun Key" LPs have several moments that sound very *cough* "inspired".

[GraniteCity]

‘Mile High’ by Yellowjackets

‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ by Tears for Fears

‘Truth or Consequences’ by Stop Gap

‘I Love Lucy’ by Wilbur Hatch

‘Liberty’ by Steve Vai

‘Don’t Take Your Guns to Town’ by Ry Cooder from the Blue City motion picture soundtrack

[Dick Turpin]

Mono Ski Keith Mansfield

And Glen Somers Band, Walking Boots

[puppydog]

 Reg Owen again 

       sounding very like Jimmy Webb's By The Time I get to Phoenix