Industry Jun 29, 2026

Clive Davis initially missed the mark on a '70s chart-topper

Of the song's title, co-writer Peter Beckett says: "We had the tune, we had the chords and it just came into my head. It’s like a trumpet blast"

Originally published by MusicRadar
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Clive Davis initially missed the mark on a '70s chart-topper
Music executive Clive Davis once famously passed on a song that later became a major hit, reportedly telling the band they sounded good but lacked a "hit" single. This decision is noted as a rare misjudgment in Davis's career.

The song, which went on to be a US number one, was described by co-writer Peter Beckett as having a title that "just came into my head" like a "trumpet blast" after the melody and chords were in place. Originally reported by MusicRadar.

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