Sued
John Lennon over a line in "Come Together" that borrowed from a
Chuck Berry song ("You Can't Catch Me") that he published. Made an
agreement with Lennon in 1973 to drop the suit if Lennon recorded at
least three Levy-published songs on his next album; this became the
basis for the "Rock'n'Roll" LP. When a further deal in 1974 to
distribute the album directly through his Adam VIII mail-order label
turned sour (EMI insisted on retaining distribution, since they paid
for the recordings), Levy issued his own edition titled "Roots",
drawing on the rough-mix tape Lennon gave him to review, and sued him
and EMI. Both counter-sued and won the next year (1975), stopping
distribution of the "Roots" album, and finally settling the "Come
Together" matter.
