James Blunt's Bedlam battle

Jul 17, 2007, 11:20 GMT

James Blunt plays at Wembley Park Stadium in London, Britain, EPA/DANIEL DEME

James Blunt is suing his former producer in a multi-million pound royalties row.

The musician insists he and his publishing company EMI own the copyright to six disputed tracks, some of which appear on his worldwide hit debut album 'Back To Bedlam'.

Producer Lukas Burton claims he helped Blunt to write the songs in question - 'Goodbye My Lover', 'No Bravery', 'Cry', 'I Don't Believe', 'I Really Want You' and 'Don't Lose 'Yourself' - and is entitled to some of the royalties.

A source told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "Now that James is a multi-millionaire star it seems a string of people are expecting a slice of the cake. This dispute with Lukas has been rumbling for a while - and James has decided to take action."

All royalty payments were suspended after Burton claimed Blunt cut ties with him.

Blunt insists he has vital details about where the tracks were written which prove Burton wasn't involved.

He says he penned 'No Bravery' while he was serving with the British Army in Kosovo in August 1999, while 'Goodbye My Lover' was composed at his London flat in September 2000 and 'Don't Lose Yourself' at his Bristol home in 1994.

'Back To Bedlam' has sold more than 11 million copies and is the world's second biggest selling album of the 21st Century after Dido's 'No Angel'.

Blunt's second album 'All The Lost Souls' is due to be released in September.

(C) BANG Media International