Thank you for uploading! This is such an underrated song! I think I hear a bit Motown influence, but it's hard to tell. Songs influenced by the "Motown sound" fall into a genre called "Northern soul", and many of the records in the "Northern soul" genre are rare and hard to come by. Motherlode was a one-hit-wonder with this song back in 1969. The band members at the time included keyboardist William "Smitty" Smith, guitarist Ken Marco, saxophonist Steve Kennedy and drummer Wayne Stone (Kennedy and Stone were also members of another band called "Dr. Music") all of whom shared vocals here, although Smith sang the lead vocals on "When I Die". Also featured on this song was session bassist, Carol Kaye. Thank you again for uploading!
@Kevin Gavigan Great comment and information about Motherlode! I agree that there's definitely some Motown/soul influence on this song. Wish they had done more! 'Northern Soul' refers more to Motown influence in the UK. (You may want to check out the 1991 movie, "The Commitments"... about some working class kids in Dublin that form a 'soul' band. It's a highly underrated movie that's not only hilarious, but has some super Motown music performances.) Thanks so much for watching!
wow, thanks for this....I rrecall this being a hit in rotation, in about 1973 or so (Calgary, Alberta)...always LOVED the song, wished they had done more....Carol kaye on bass?? WOW, it "shows", what a groove!!
Motherlode was a pop rock group formed in 1969 in London, Ontario. The group scored some success in the US with their single, "When I Die", which hit #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969. The song sold more than 500,000 copies and it climbed to Number 1 in the Canadian charts. The group broke up in January 1970 and their second album, Tapped Out, was released posthumously only in the United States. Steve Kennedy, Ken Marco and Wayne Stone went on to be founding members of Dr. Music in Toronto. The original Motherlode members reunited in 1976, and recorded a song "Happy People" but, because of issues surrounding the name Motherlode, it had to be released as a Kenny Marco solo release.
I just lost a best friend,and he said he wanted this played at his funeral ⚰️. I’m in shock right now ,but RIP Bill S . Until we all meet again . If you could pray for his wife ,kids ,@ grandkids , he loved dearly. I pray that they , all find peace , and know he was always trying hard. He told me 2 months ago,this is the song ,he wanted played at his funeral,which ,is tomorrow. I’m praying that they can play it . , because I cannot afford to go . I wish I could, God please take care of this wonderful family.
One of my favourite songs of all time . This band from Canada was so underrated . What a great legacy , it was so long ago ! Since I was a teenager and I'm 64 now . Thank you so much .
Still remains as one of my all time favorite songs- since first heard it way back when I was in the 9th grade! Still holds up today and could be a hit today!
Canadian Band - Motherlode the Song “When I Die” Great Canadian Music Legends... "When I Die" was produced by Doug Riley and Terry Brown did not make any headway on the radio. A reciprocal deal in the US with Buddah Records made the song a Hit The song sold more than 500,000 copies and it eventually climbed to Number 1 in the Canadian charts. RIP Doug Riley ... Love this Tune... Motherlode was a Canadian pop rock group formed in 1969 in London, Ontario. The group scored some success in the US with their single, "When I Die", which hit #1 in Canada and #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969.
Fantastic song by the Canadian band, Motherlode. I heard it on the radio yesterday and realized that it should have been the first of many for this talented group. Alas, they had their own moment in the sun.
This was a huge hit in Boston! Even though It didn't make the national R&B chart, it did in fact got R&B airplay on Boston's R&B/Soul station, WILD in the Summer of 1969!
Yes! I would listen on WMEX, WRKO radio in Boston as a 9th grader! Still in my top 10 songs of all times, Immediately brings me right back to that time! Would be a hit today!!
I was 11 and the summer of 69 was epic, spending time at Douglas and Heather park in Vancouver. Thanks for taking me back to a simpler time in my life!
5th grade General Greene. This song has kept me going a lot of years. It could be played @my funeral, or even on my headstone.."...a better man than you though I'd be."
A terrific song! Thanks for the video of Motherlode. I saw them live at teen dance in 1969 in Hamilton, Ontario. They only had a short set list so they started and finished with "When I Die." A splinter group from Grant Smith and The Power featuring saxaphonist/vocalist Steve Kennedy. He would be part of the group Dr. Music.
A mainstay that gets regular rotation on my MP3 player. That Hammond sounds wonderful and helps paint a picture of times gone by but forever lodged in memory.
I first heard this tune at our cottage in Leamington Ontario 69-70...must have been 6 or 7...when I heard that tasty little guitar lick, I was like wtf is that...I never forgot it...probably my all time favorite song! Band was from London Ontario, about 2 hours away from us. So many great Canadian (& American) pop tunes from back then cranking out on Windsor Ontario's AM Giant, CKLW. Bass legend Carol Kaye played on this track
I bought this album new in 1969, I was 17. I was a young long haired rock guitarist but this was my favorite record that year. The bass player was incredible and I've tried to follow Carol Kaye's career ever since. The guitarist was very tasteful and advanced for that time. This song is still on my mp3 player.
The great Kenny Marco playing guitar … I’ve been lucky enough to play dozens of gigs with this Canadian hero and learned something about soulfulness every time we got together. Love you Kenny.
@@kennethrussell1158 CKLW ruled AM with songs like this (thanks to CRTC regs on Canadian content). Same age as you, but listening in southern Ontario on a tobacco farm.
What a great song by a great Canadian band...I was there in the day however unfortunately never got to see these guys...They are outstanding...Love you Motherlode...from Sudbury Ontario...
@Kevin Gavigan Wrecking Crew bass legend Carol Kaye, also said in an interview, that when she came up from L.A. to do the session, she was so knocked out by the city of Toronto, she seriously thought about moving there. She stayed in Toronto for a few weeks for vacation and actually looked into the school systems for her kids.
I knew Steve way back in the day. I recall he would sit in with Hawkins on Yonge St. for some gigs. Great memories. Girl from Uxbridge enjoying the memories. Tx, Steve
Seems more to have a SoCal-type Black/Hispanic vibe, especially from a couple of the keyboard riffs ...thinking more East LA and acts of that day such as El Chicano...perfect song for legendary SoCal radio personality Art Laboe to read off requests and dedications prior to playing it.
The oldies radio station here in Yakima Washington (with a large Hispanic population) plays this song. That's how I discovered it. Such a wonderful song.
I love this song, but is anyone aware of the "hook theft" they pulled off? The main vocal line is the same melody and phrasing as Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions' "Man Oh Man (I Want to Go Back)." It even works the same way structurally in the song; the melodic hook is the first part of the verse lines. I first heard the Impressions' song in the trailers for the film "Dead Presidents" back in the 90s, and I immediately recognized the hook. In the decades since, I've never heard anyone else notice the similarity. Probably because I've yet to meet anyone in person who knows both songs.
just listened to "Man..."..yes, definite copy on that first line ("when I die, I hope to be..the kind..")....as I understand musical copyright law, this example would be pretty close, to where liability is acknowledged, and royalites/rights revisited.....it is based upon a certain number of consecutive notes in a melody....
Absolutely noticed it! Curtis was such a heavy influence on a few people Bob Marley, Hendrix, and Van Morrison...oh yeah and "Maurice and the Radiants" too.
If only groups today could be guided by groups like this...I haven't heard this song since 70...It didn't last long; but in their defense; there were 100,000, at least, utterly amazing bands at the time...:)...This is the early 70's sound...Just a nice groove...:)Thanks so much for the upload
I did too! And the Dj talked about how underrated this band and song were. I had forgotten about that song but loved it in the '60s. It made me look up this video!
Harry S. Anchan Thanks!! Didn't know I still had the software to get it done right. At first, the video ended totally out of sync. But I figured out how to slow down the audio. Hope no one noticed the song is 1% slower, haha!
Beautiful song, I remember it well and knew they were Canadian, but only recently discovered they were from London ON, where I currently live. Love the soulful harmonies and I agree with others that it could easily be mistaken for Motown or perhaps Philadelphia. Can someone identify each member shown in the video, and if they are still living? I found the names of some of the original members, but can't match them with their faces.
Marc Carruthers - The trick is to look up the four members and what instruments they played. These are the members you can match, assuming the video is accurate: William "Smitty" Smith (keyboards, vocals), Ken Marco (guitar, vocals), Wayne Stone (drums), and Steve Kennedy (sax, harmonica, vocals).
@@60s70sVintageRock Thank you! With that information, I was able to find out that 3 of these 4 gentlemen are still living. The one who passed away is William (Smitty) Smith. I imagine the rest of them would be in their late 70s by now.
Thank you for uploading! This is such an underrated song! I think I hear a bit Motown influence, but it's hard to tell. Songs influenced by the "Motown sound" fall into a genre called "Northern soul", and many of the records in the "Northern soul" genre are rare and hard to come by. Motherlode was a one-hit-wonder with this song back in 1969. The band members at the time included keyboardist William "Smitty" Smith, guitarist Ken Marco, saxophonist Steve Kennedy and drummer Wayne Stone (Kennedy and Stone were also members of another band called "Dr. Music") all of whom shared vocals here, although Smith sang the lead vocals on "When I Die". Also featured on this song was session bassist, Carol Kaye. Thank you again for uploading!
@Kevin Gavigan Great comment and information about Motherlode! I agree that there's definitely some Motown/soul influence on this song. Wish they had done more! 'Northern Soul' refers more to Motown influence in the UK. (You may want to check out the 1991 movie, "The Commitments"... about some working class kids in Dublin that form a 'soul' band. It's a highly underrated movie that's not only hilarious, but has some super Motown music performances.) Thanks so much for watching!
The Commitments was EXCELLENT! (Proud Motown Detroiter here)
Love all...peace music is so universal...
wow, thanks for this....I rrecall this being a hit in rotation, in about 1973 or so (Calgary, Alberta)...always LOVED the song, wished they had done more....Carol kaye on bass?? WOW, it "shows", what a groove!!
@@jamesparker1063 Yes, that's Carol Kaye on bass.
Motherlode was a pop rock group formed in 1969 in London, Ontario. The group scored some success in the US with their single, "When I Die", which hit #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969. The song sold more than 500,000 copies and it climbed to Number 1 in the Canadian charts. The group broke up in January 1970 and their second album, Tapped Out, was released posthumously only in the United States. Steve Kennedy, Ken Marco and Wayne Stone went on to be founding members of Dr. Music in Toronto. The original Motherlode members reunited in 1976, and recorded a song "Happy People" but, because of issues surrounding the name Motherlode, it had to be released as a Kenny Marco solo release.
I bought one of those copies.
I just lost a best friend,and he said he wanted this played at his funeral ⚰️. I’m in shock right now ,but RIP Bill S . Until we all meet again . If you could pray for his wife ,kids ,@ grandkids , he loved dearly.
I pray that they , all find peace , and know he was always trying hard. He told me 2 months ago,this is the song ,he wanted played at his funeral,which ,is tomorrow.
I’m praying that they can play it . , because I cannot afford to go . I wish I could, God please take care of this wonderful family.
One of my favourite songs of all time . This band from Canada was so underrated . What a great legacy , it was so long ago ! Since I was a teenager and I'm 64 now . Thank you so much .
Still remains as one of my all time favorite songs- since first heard it way back when I was in the 9th grade! Still holds up today and could be a hit today!
Canadian Band - Motherlode the Song “When I Die” Great Canadian Music Legends... "When I Die" was produced by Doug Riley and Terry Brown did not make any headway on the radio. A reciprocal deal in the US with Buddah Records made the song a Hit The song sold more than 500,000 copies and it eventually climbed to Number 1 in the Canadian charts. RIP Doug Riley ... Love this Tune... Motherlode was a Canadian pop rock group formed in 1969 in London, Ontario. The group scored some success in the US with their single, "When I Die", which hit #1 in Canada and #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969.
This is still the greatest video on youtube...and bonus...a real live version of this has popped up on here too!!!
I’m 23 years old and I’m so happy to have found this gem. It’s easily become one of my favorite songs and absolutely love it!!
Same, can't believe I've never heard this before 2022.
Fantastic song by the Canadian band, Motherlode. I heard it on the radio yesterday and realized that it should have been the first of many for this talented group. Alas, they had their own moment in the sun.
WOW.... The Energy in this song is UN-Real.... God Bless you Dilla
No blessings to the writers of this original? 😢
@@WOWTODAZ Now you know how I feel.
Loving this in 2020
Me too!
One of the greatest songs of all time.
My all time favorite
Great production on this record. Vocals, arrangement, every instrument, perfect.
This was a huge hit in Boston! Even though It didn't make the national R&B chart, it did in fact got R&B airplay on Boston's R&B/Soul station, WILD in the Summer of 1969!
Yes! I would listen on WMEX, WRKO radio in Boston as a 9th grader! Still in my top 10 songs of all times, Immediately brings me right back to that time! Would be a hit today!!
Memories growing up Culver City California I was nine years old listening to this classic transistor radio taped to my Handlebars on my bike
Ray Lopez awesome stuff !
I was 11 and the summer of 69 was epic, spending time at Douglas and Heather park in Vancouver. Thanks for taking me back to a simpler time in my life!
5th grade General Greene. This song has kept me going a lot of years. It could be played @my funeral, or even on my headstone.."...a better man than you though I'd be."
A terrific song! Thanks for the video of Motherlode. I saw them live at teen dance in 1969 in Hamilton, Ontario. They only had a short set list so they started and finished with "When I Die." A splinter group from Grant Smith and The Power featuring saxaphonist/vocalist Steve Kennedy. He would be part of the group Dr. Music.
Thanks for watching!
The legendary Charlie O'Brien. CKLW AM radio, Windsor, Canada 👍
Omg 😱. I loved this song like 50 years ago!! I still do ….. ageless ….
I remember buying this 45 rpm for $69 cents at Kmart back in 1969!!!
This tune brings me back to easy breezy 70’s Canadian Summers 🇨🇦 Love Canadian 60’s /70’s music !! Good Stuff
I didn't know Motherlode was from Ontario , what a great song , thank you .
An all time favourite song. Excellent sound!
Wow....just wow. Memories
rest in peace j dilla
Love this and oh that guitar.
A masterpiece. I have the album. The pride of London, Ontario. 1969 forever in our memories.
A gem, a classic, a masterpiece.
Remember listening on my transistor radio and singing along!
It took me years to find this gem. There is! Also a gem done by the Dell's in 1969, l couldn't find it for the longest time....
Another forgotten oldie that is hardly ever played , even on the oldies channels. Thanks so much for posting this classic, and God Bless.
@Dave Hoskins - Thank you for watching! :)
One of my faves from 1969!
A mainstay that gets regular rotation on my MP3 player. That Hammond sounds wonderful and helps paint a picture of times gone by but forever lodged in memory.
This has to be the best music video of its time!!
This song is so good it's on my ALL-TIME favourite R&B songs list .. TWICE!!
Memories growing up summertime 69
Yep, I was eleven!
An underated gem from an epic musical era!
Black and white band, love it!
@Everything Thrice And Canadian too🇨🇦
I first heard this tune at our cottage in Leamington Ontario 69-70...must have been 6 or 7...when I heard that tasty little guitar lick, I was like wtf is that...I never forgot it...probably my all time favorite song! Band was from London Ontario, about 2 hours away from us. So many great Canadian (& American) pop tunes from back then cranking out on Windsor Ontario's AM Giant, CKLW. Bass legend Carol Kaye played on this track
I bought this album new in 1969, I was 17. I was a young long haired rock guitarist but this was my favorite record that year. The bass player was incredible and I've tried to follow Carol Kaye's career ever since. The guitarist was very tasteful and advanced for that time. This song is still on my mp3 player.
ole CJSP -Leamington!! -used to shut down at night b/c of interference with U.S. stations -bedtime kiddies!
The Toronto Sound: Hammond B3, horns, tasty guitar work and great, soulful vocals.
Memories of my early childhood.
The great Kenny Marco playing guitar … I’ve been lucky enough to play dozens of gigs with this Canadian hero and learned something about soulfulness every time we got together. Love you Kenny.
This song brings me right back 💖
Released around this time 51 years ago. I remember hearing this on CKLW am radio (Windsor). 13 years old living in Michigan. Hunnie B👍
@@kennethrussell1158 CKLW ruled AM with songs like this (thanks to CRTC regs on Canadian content). Same age as you, but listening in southern Ontario on a tobacco farm.
Three and Four part harmonies all the way through, while playing instruments too. Whoa.. Song kinda has a Philly-Soul sound. Beautiful.
This forgotten soul classic from 1969 could be a hit today given the proper treatment!
Instead, it gets sampled in some guy's tune from a decade back.
Awesome song from the year I turned 13. Thanks for posting!
Thanks for watching! 😉
S2K, ditto. Love these one hit wonders.
What a great song by a great Canadian band...I was there in the day however unfortunately never got to see these guys...They are outstanding...Love you Motherlode...from Sudbury Ontario...
Back in the summer of '69 .... this song brings back so many memories of high school days. Love it!
A truly fantastic song. Thanks for uploading this.
Thanks for watching!!
LOVE this band.....best memories from my youth.
Wow! What memories👍🏾
@Kevin Gavigan Wrecking Crew bass legend Carol Kaye, also said in an interview, that when she came up from L.A. to do the session, she was so knocked out by the city of Toronto, she seriously thought about moving there. She stayed in Toronto for a few weeks for vacation and actually looked into the school systems for her kids.
I remember hearing this on my granny’s radio station always somehow I’m a 90s baby but when I heard this song it caught my ear tho I’m glad I found it
I forgot how good this song was. Thanks for the upload.
Holy fuck so glad I found this in my lifetime
RIP JD
I knew Steve way back in the day. I recall he would sit in with Hawkins on Yonge St. for some gigs. Great memories. Girl from Uxbridge enjoying the memories. Tx, Steve
Thanks for posting this classic!
Beautiful music back in the day baby
What a great song.
Thanks for sharing the video. I knew the song but I never saw the group.
Simply Superb!!
Thank you, Motherlode
What a sound ! Memories ♥️♥️♥️
Love this tune, killer vocal sound. Tasty guitar playing!
This song is so beautiful
One of my favorite songs of all time Brothers could listen to it everyday happy and safe 4th of July 20 22 everybody
Wow...Thank You.....Wonderful and FUNTASTIC.....What a great time to be alive
Very cool. I didn't realize they were Canadian.
Thank you for this gem
Wow, 4got about this song & 4got how much I loved it. So glad I happened upon it!
I swear this makes me wanna go back to 69 so bad!!!
I'm with you all the way . .
I graduated h.s. in 69, and it was filled with great memorable music like this terrific track. Take me back!
Really love this song,an I wish I could give this to my love.maybe haven't found him yet.for mark in heaven.
Seems more to have a SoCal-type Black/Hispanic vibe, especially from a couple of the keyboard riffs ...thinking more East LA and acts of that day such as El Chicano...perfect song for legendary SoCal radio personality Art Laboe to read off requests and dedications prior to playing it.
The oldies radio station here in Yakima Washington (with a large Hispanic population) plays this song. That's how I discovered it. Such a wonderful song.
Funny. That is my same exact take. Song belongs to Whittier Blvd. Chicano oldies library. Monte Carlo stroll with it.
@@stevengutierrez3510. But it’s a Canadian group
From London Ontario
I think the background vocals were done "choral" style, with a fair dose of reverb, which gives it a special "bite".....
Classic!
Great tune. Man, it brings back memories. No weak links on this one. Thanks for posting.
thanks again for posting. loved this song
I love this song, but is anyone aware of the "hook theft" they pulled off? The main vocal line is the same melody and phrasing as Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions' "Man Oh Man (I Want to Go Back)." It even works the same way structurally in the song; the melodic hook is the first part of the verse lines. I first heard the Impressions' song in the trailers for the film "Dead Presidents" back in the 90s, and I immediately recognized the hook. In the decades since, I've never heard anyone else notice the similarity. Probably because I've yet to meet anyone in person who knows both songs.
Great point. “Man Oh Man” is one of my favorite songs of all time.
just listened to "Man..."..yes, definite copy on that first line ("when I die, I hope to be..the kind..")....as I understand musical copyright law, this example would be pretty close, to where liability is acknowledged, and royalites/rights revisited.....it is based upon a certain number of consecutive notes in a melody....
Absolutely noticed it! Curtis was such a heavy influence on a few people Bob Marley, Hendrix, and Van Morrison...oh yeah and "Maurice and the Radiants" too.
J Dilla sampled this for his last song on his last album before he died. And now I discovered this other amazing song
0:14 1:36
Good song...good memories! HiSchool, dating, AbbeyRoad, CCR, Woodstock, great movies, Chicago™, first job. Aahhhhh!!!
Such an amazing and touching song! Thank you for uploading!
You're welcome, thanks for visiting!
James Yancey brought me here
wow a classic
A classic gem 💎💫🥳
Very beautiful song
great trip down memory lane
Oh man thanks for the upload, I was searching for lyrics, charts or anything to find this song
@Relic Reapers Glad you found it... thanks for commenting!
If only groups today could be guided by groups like this...I haven't heard this song since 70...It didn't last long; but in their defense; there were 100,000, at least, utterly amazing bands at the time...:)...This is the early 70's sound...Just a nice groove...:)Thanks so much for the upload
I heard this song on 60s On 6 over the weekend. I wish this band had done more songs.
I did too! And the Dj talked about how underrated this band and song were. I had forgotten about that song but loved it in the '60s. It made me look up this video!
much much better sound quality...great job!!!
Thanks!!
Mike Levine from Triumph played on 3rd version of this band.
Carole Kaye on bass
Wow! What a fantastic job you have done with the audio by replacing the previous one! Fabulous job! Does the guys proud. Thank you.
Harry S. Anchan Thanks!! Didn't know I still had the software to get it done right. At first, the video ended totally out of sync. But I figured out how to slow down the audio. Hope no one noticed the song is 1% slower, haha!
Good band. Good song. Wonder what happened to them.
Beautiful song, I remember it well and knew they were Canadian, but only recently discovered they were from London ON, where I currently live. Love the soulful harmonies and I agree with others that it could easily be mistaken for Motown or perhaps Philadelphia. Can someone identify each member shown in the video, and if they are still living? I found the names of some of the original members, but can't match them with their faces.
Marc Carruthers - The trick is to look up the four members and what instruments they played. These are the members you can match, assuming the video is accurate: William "Smitty" Smith (keyboards, vocals), Ken Marco (guitar, vocals), Wayne Stone (drums), and Steve Kennedy (sax, harmonica, vocals).
@@60s70sVintageRock Thank you! With that information, I was able to find out that 3 of these 4 gentlemen are still living. The one who passed away is William (Smitty) Smith. I imagine the rest of them would be in their late 70s by now.
@@marccarruthers4837 Thanks for adding this info!
A classic from days gone by 1969 Ft. Wainwright, AK.
Gorgeous
Such a beautiful video love ❤️ it thanks my friend.😊.
been a long time since I heard this awesome sounds
RIP J Dilla.