these guys were the opening act for countless shows i saw at the fillmore east. i never thought i'd see them perform again live as so few people seem to remember them. thanks for posting this! and bless the magic of youtube...
Wow..miss those guys - we did their cat Mother Jimi Hendricks tour with them, and the early "Soundouts" in Woodstock...we had our studio at #9 Bleecker (Pablo Lights) and they lived at #7 Bleeker St...My brother Dan Firpo was their road manager and sound man... a little bit of "60" s history...great to see this - Miss ya Bob... and the rest of this great group. Your music lives on... rock on!
Great song. I was playing drums in a band back in the late 70's and our guitarist loved this song. We played it every night & the crowd loved it. Great memories. I would love to see a Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys reunion tour.
Saw Cat Mother as the opening act for (his majesty) Jimi Hendrix in San Diego shortly before the great one left this world. My first concert and one of the very best!
Hey all. Love seeing this video. Jay Ungar is my dad and he toured and recorded with Catmother although he's not seen here. I'd love to maybe start a Facebook group for descendants of Catmother. So far I've been in touch with Larry Packer's son. And I met Roy's son once but can't remember his name. Anybody else out there?
I remember Cat Mother played weekends winter 1968 into 69 at the Electric Circus on St. Marks Place. Excellent live musicians!!! Later their LP song 'Track in A' became popular in underground dance clubs of early 1970s. Still a good recording!!!
In 1973, when you couldn't just send them a video, we drove three hours from CT to audition for a well paid, full summer, room and board union rate gig up in the Catskills. I really think that the playing of this medley clinched it. Like these guys look to me, we were a quartet of crazy college boy hippies who realized that there was a good chance that the guy deciding whether you got the gig was at least ten years older than you. Not only that, but even though you were a passionate album rock musician, the stuff you were going to be playing had to get them up and dancing! We always enjoyed playing this arrangement, because it really worked, and then nobody would mind if we followed it with something more obscure !
They were one of the first bands of the "Rock'n'Roll Revival" in early 1969. Later popularized by Sha Na Na and ten Years After. At the time, it was odd to see guys who looked like this playing old rock 'n'roll instead of something "heavy".
Saw them on Labor Day Sunday in 1969 at Milwaukee County Stadium for the Midwest Rock Festival Phase 2. I was 16 and I was working my first real paycheck job as an usher. Also on the bill that day was Taj Mahal, Howlin Wolf, Mother Earth, Illinois Speed Press, Cuck Berry, Soup and maybe a few others. The entire day made quite an impression on a 16 year old boy and it was a great memory
Track in "A" was a big hit in LA underground(FM) radio in '69. Caught these guys at Devonshire Downs (Northridge, old race track) at a three day pop festival, Newport '69. Hendrix played, Jethro Tull, Joe Cocker, Ike & Tina Turner, Albert King, Edwin Hawkins Singers, Southwind, Spirit and Taj Mahal. I want to say CM played Friday night. Albert Collins, Brenton Wood, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Charity, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Eric Burdon and War, Friends of Distinction, Jethro Tull, Lee Michaels, Love, Steppenwolf and Sweetwater all played Saturday. Booker T. & the M.G.'s, The Chambers Brothers, The Flock, The Grass Roots, Johnny Winter, Marvin Gaye, Mother Earth, Jimi Hendrix jam with Buddy Miles, Eric Burdon and Mother Earth, Poco, The Byrds, The Rascals and Three Dog Night played Sunday. Good times.
OMG.. You're killing me Joe.. LOL Cat Mother and the all night newsboys? I still say a little prayer for Ricki Ticki every day.. I know he still out there prowling around somewhere in retirement. Cheers, Doc
Wow! Similar experience in 1969. I heard I believe the last Jimi Hendrix gig in that theater where everyone played back then in the Vill. Cream played the same night. My buddy and I were from Fort Monmouth living the weekends in the City, we couldn't get in because it was filled to capacity, so we just hung out right in front. Memories!
I saw these guys with my high school friend at the Woodstock Soundout(s) in the summer of '68 ...Soft Machine was also there among others...I found out later these bands were all of Hendrix's stable of opening bands that summer..
Hey all. Love seeing this video. Jay Ungar is my dad and he toured and recorded with Catmother although he's not seen here. Let's start a Facebook group for descendants of Catmother! So far I've been in touch with Larry Packer's son. And I met Roy's son once but can't remember his name. Anybody else out there?
This band also appeared on American Bandstand and actually played live which was extremely unusual for that show. Dick Clark even made mention that it was something they didn't usually do and the band did the set up to play live.
I saw these guys open for Jimi Hendrix at Cincinnati Gardens in (I believe) 1969... November, as I recall. Jimi produced their first album, or the one that was new at the time. They were pretty cool, as I remember... lots of brain-cells ago!!
@MrJohnnyDistortion -- With honor.... My Dad's name is George J. Ferguson from Clifton Heights, PA ... This song will always hold a special place in my heart. Thanks so much for asking :)
This is amazing, they all look so young. Bob and Loy are gone now, but what about Michael Equine? They were even better IMHO when John Chamberlin joined, and he's not even credited on Wikipedia. John and Roy were magic together. Steve Davidson coming in on congas also changed the sound to something unique. RIP Roy/Loy
Oh Yeah! Excellent! I love that U collect "records" LOL Before I got Divorced, I had a collection U would DIE for.. Some signed, some just off the wall. Do U have any Jimmie Spheeris? Isle of U ?
Believe it or not, one of the members of this group was Jay Unger, who would compose "Ashokan Fairwell," the haunting song made famous in Ken Burn's "The Civil War."
Howdy Friends, Did you ever wonder, after watching the Cat Mother video of the Florida Rock Show, or some old tapes of the Mike Bloomfield Band, what those guys are doing today playing with all the thousands they earned back in the day? Well, I'm here to tell you most of it is a myth! How do I know? My name is Michael Equine, and I was the 1st and only drummer for Cat Mother. My current musical cohorts name is Bruce Carandzaliis, and he was the keyboard player for Mike Bloomfield,,, and we are
OK, what exactly is the problem in releasing the old albums on CD? Polydor was the label for vinyl. What will it take to get this rolling??? Mike H in St. Albans WV
I saw Cat Mother at the original, small, Unicorn Coffee House on Boylston Street, Boston, around 1969. We traveled from NH to Boston 3 times to see them. They were great musicians and very personable performers - and we didn't get stoned in those days. I remember Charlie Chin guitarist, the key board player, the bass players' guitar was unique looking - can't remember the make. They sounded much better live, their records did not do them justice, what a shame. My favorite song was Bramble Bush.
@jdmfonte Sorry Jimi wasn't more receptive to the Tampa crowd. Who knows? I'm just glad that I got to see what I did that night... freakin' amazing! And Cat Mother was very cool, although I have to admit, the first Jimi show I saw had Soft Machine as the opener, and that was just drop-jaw amazing! (Xavier University; Schmidt Fieldhouse; March 18th, 1968 or 1969... I think).
@squidlycarmichael Saw the same lineup in Tampa back then. Jimi shot the crowd the bird and slammed offstage for some reason.....Cat Mother opened. So all was not lost.....as I recall I had been wired for a few days before the show.,
I wish You lived in Michigan Brother. I don't have a Chicken Coup or an Old Shed. But I Do have a House with a Bedroom You could use until you get back on your feet. From one Musician to Another. ♫
Indeed Jimi Hendrix did produce their first album! On the day of the recording for this song, the drummer was sick and my Dad filled in for him!! So that's really my Pops you hear on the studio version of this song! My Dad ROCKS!!!!
Oh man, I have the vinyl on this... No needle for my turntable though! That sucks!!!!Any contributions are accepted. LOL Is a great album. wow, I said album. lol
Hey all. Love seeing this video. Jay Ungar is my dad and he toured and recorded with Catmother although he's not seen here. I'd love to maybe start a Facebook group for descendants of Catmother. So far I've been in touch with Larry Packer's son. And I met Roy's son once but can't remember his name. Anybody else out there?
a song that is criminally underrated and NEVER gets any airplay. Rock on Cat Mother!!!!
these guys were the opening act for countless shows i saw at the fillmore east. i never thought i'd see them perform again live as so few people seem to remember them. thanks for posting this! and bless the magic of youtube...
Took a bunch of hippie, longhair, acid-rockers to teach us teeners in the late 60s what REAL rock'n'roll was all about! This is amazing.
For sure...
Wow..miss those guys - we did their cat Mother Jimi Hendricks tour with them, and the early "Soundouts" in Woodstock...we had our studio at #9 Bleecker (Pablo Lights) and they lived at #7 Bleeker St...My brother Dan Firpo was their road manager and sound man... a little bit of "60" s history...great to see this - Miss ya Bob... and the rest of this great group. Your music lives on... rock on!
Dan Firpo for President! Dan was an awesome man. Such a bad-ass. I can't believe he passed the way he did. God bless him!
Bob Smith is my great uncle!! So cool to see this video
Very Cool!
Bob Smith was a good friend I still miss him
Great song! Had the 45 single back in 1969, at age 16. Popped into my head yesterday and today I finally found it on youtube. What a treat!
How cool is it that they all take a verse. Sound Great ! They all could be the lead singer !
THE BEST!
Great song. I was playing drums in a band back in the late 70's and our guitarist loved this song. We played it every night & the crowd loved it. Great memories. I would love to see a Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys reunion tour.
Saw Cat Mother as the opening act for (his majesty) Jimi Hendrix in San Diego shortly before the great one left this world. My first concert and one of the very best!
Hey all. Love seeing this video. Jay Ungar is my dad and he toured and recorded with Catmother although he's not seen here. I'd love to maybe start a Facebook group for descendants of Catmother. So far I've been in touch with Larry Packer's son. And I met Roy's son once but can't remember his name. Anybody else out there?
Ruthy Ungar I’m related to Bob Smith
I bought the album after I saw them on American Bandstand. My son still has it.
Hi Ruthy! Loved "The Mammals"! I know you're Dad, I grew up in Elk, CA. Your dad remembers me, and my Mom, Hannah Hughes. We lived across the street!
@@gonetowin I saw that also. They played live, which was not the way it was normally done on American Bandstand.
@@michaelhudson6533 one of my favorite old school groups.
Such an extreanly underrated band 1st album was put on cd for awhile then went out out of print. I have all 3 on wax
Yup, got it through Columbia Record Club, still have it.
Thank you so much for posting this, brother. Clips like this are priceless and helped me in learning that little lead lick going into the medley.
Love this....One of my fav dance tunes from the 60's still makes me want to! Perfect...
I was 10 and the proud owner of my first electric guitar when this came out. Thanks Cat Mother.
1968 The Street Giveth... and the Street Taketh Away
1970 Albion Doo Wah (My personal favorite)
1972 Cat Mother
1973 Last Chance Dance
Lovin' it Cat Mother...good ole rock n' roll. damn straight!! Love you guys and appreciate cha!!
I remember Cat Mother played weekends winter 1968 into 69 at the Electric Circus on St. Marks Place. Excellent live musicians!!!
Later their LP song 'Track in A' became popular in underground dance clubs of early 1970s. Still a good recording!!!
This is what music sounded like in 1969...killer musicianship.
this song kicks major ass. i love the echo effects, very different from studio version. love this stuff. i have all of their lps
I saw these guys at the Live Peace- John Lennon concert in Toronto in 1969. Didn't think any video existed.
WOw..! These guys are great and before their time!
In 1973, when you couldn't just send them a video, we drove three hours from CT to audition for a well paid, full summer, room and board union rate gig up in the Catskills. I really think that the playing of this medley clinched it. Like these guys look to me, we were a quartet of crazy college boy hippies who realized that there was a good chance that the guy deciding whether you got the gig was at least ten years older than you. Not only that, but even though you were a passionate album rock musician, the stuff you were going to be playing had to get them up and dancing! We always enjoyed playing this arrangement, because it really worked, and then nobody would mind if we followed it with something more obscure !
Bob Smith excelent piano playero and good composer.
Yes he was...great singer, and person too!
They were one of the first bands of the "Rock'n'Roll Revival" in early 1969. Later popularized by Sha Na Na and ten Years After. At the time, it was odd to see guys who looked like this playing old rock 'n'roll instead of something "heavy".
This is so great!
Charlie Chin played the banjo part on Bluebird by Buffalo Springfield!
Those boys were rockin those staches! Good performance. Cool how they traded off leads!
Saw them on Labor Day Sunday in 1969 at Milwaukee County Stadium for the Midwest Rock Festival Phase 2. I was 16 and I was working my first real paycheck job as an usher. Also on the bill that day was Taj Mahal, Howlin Wolf, Mother Earth, Illinois Speed Press, Cuck Berry, Soup and maybe a few others. The entire day made quite an impression on a 16 year old boy and it was a great memory
Track in "A" was a big hit in LA underground(FM) radio in '69.
Caught these guys at Devonshire Downs (Northridge, old race track) at a three day pop festival, Newport '69. Hendrix played, Jethro Tull, Joe Cocker, Ike & Tina Turner, Albert King, Edwin Hawkins Singers, Southwind, Spirit and Taj Mahal. I want to say CM played Friday night. Albert Collins, Brenton Wood, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Charity, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Eric Burdon and War, Friends of Distinction, Jethro Tull, Lee Michaels, Love, Steppenwolf and Sweetwater all played Saturday.
Booker T. & the M.G.'s, The Chambers Brothers, The Flock, The Grass Roots, Johnny Winter, Marvin Gaye, Mother Earth, Jimi Hendrix jam with Buddy Miles, Eric Burdon and Mother Earth, Poco, The Byrds, The Rascals and Three Dog Night played Sunday. Good times.
Got their song on an oldies record album. They really got into it and I know that Rock is still king!!
one of my favorite bands from back n the day
this is very kool, I still have this 45
Thank you for posting the link off your song, this was great.
OMG.. You're killing me Joe.. LOL Cat Mother and the all night newsboys? I still say a little prayer for Ricki Ticki every day.. I know he still out there prowling around somewhere in retirement. Cheers, Doc
Wow! Similar experience in 1969. I heard I believe the last Jimi Hendrix gig in that theater where everyone played back then in the Vill. Cream played the same night. My buddy and I were from Fort Monmouth living the weekends in the City, we couldn't get in because it was filled to capacity, so we just hung out right in front. Memories!
I saw them open for Hendrix at the Baltimore civic center...probably late 60's.
The Buddy Miles Express also opened that night.
LOVE IT!
Amazing video!!!!They were from the Mendocino coast area of Northern Ca.
This is the best of times, like they do say, so I won't go yawning myself to
Hour fave song on the rez back in the day when the Branvin flowed
I saw these guys with my high school friend at the Woodstock Soundout(s) in the summer of '68 ...Soft Machine was also there among others...I found out later these bands were all of Hendrix's stable of opening bands that summer..
these guys rock. i learned to play drums with the 45(little record with big hole in the center) the dave clark 5 did a killer version too.
My old friends 💜💜💜
Hey all. Love seeing this video. Jay Ungar is my dad and he toured and recorded with Catmother although he's not seen here. Let's start a Facebook group for descendants of Catmother! So far I've been in touch with Larry Packer's son. And I met Roy's son once but can't remember his name. Anybody else out there?
This band also appeared on American Bandstand and actually played live which was extremely unusual for that show. Dick Clark even made mention that it was something they didn't usually do and the band did the set up to play live.
Kewl! Thanks for the listing! Im sure I will enjoy it!
I saw these guys open for Jimi Hendrix at Cincinnati Gardens in (I believe) 1969... November, as I recall. Jimi produced their first album, or the one that was new at the time. They were pretty cool, as I remember... lots of brain-cells ago!!
We're waiting for the info on where to get the box set...
Great Music!
@MrJohnnyDistortion -- With honor.... My Dad's name is George J. Ferguson from Clifton Heights, PA ... This song will always hold a special place in my heart. Thanks so much for asking :)
I see the drummer around all the time here in Santa Rosa CA
EXTREMELY cool!
Does the set have Dribble Works Blues? I loved that song from the album "Cat Mother" and would love to hera it again after all these years.
they opened for Hendrix in 68 in St. Louis!
This is amazing, they all look so young. Bob and Loy are gone now, but what about Michael Equine? They were even better IMHO when John Chamberlin joined, and he's not even credited on Wikipedia. John and Roy were magic together. Steve Davidson coming in on congas also changed the sound to something unique.
RIP Roy/Loy
great tune.
My Dad too!!!!
Oh Yeah! Excellent! I love that U collect "records" LOL Before I got Divorced, I had a collection U would DIE for.. Some signed, some just off the wall. Do U have any Jimmie Spheeris? Isle of U ?
I'm trying to find the song strike another marijuana cigarette as I heard back in the 1960s but I don't know if it's available on UA-cam or not.
Their album was an unknown classic.
The way it should be!
Believe it or not, one of the members of this group was Jay Unger, who would compose "Ashokan Fairwell," the haunting song made famous in Ken Burn's "The Civil War."
Howdy Friends, Did you ever wonder, after watching the Cat Mother video of the Florida Rock Show, or some old tapes of the Mike Bloomfield Band, what those guys are doing today playing with all the thousands they earned back in the day? Well, I'm here to tell you most of it is a myth! How do I know? My name is Michael Equine, and I was the 1st and only drummer for Cat Mother. My current musical cohorts name is Bruce Carandzaliis, and he was the keyboard player for Mike Bloomfield,,, and we are
OK, what exactly is the problem in releasing the old albums on CD? Polydor was the label for vinyl. What will it take to get this rolling???
Mike H in St. Albans WV
Does anybody know what year this is? I met Cat Mother in 1968 when they would come down and play in Monteray Ca. They lived in Elk Ca. then.
realy good 5 star
My god those mustaches.
I saw Cat Mother at the original, small, Unicorn Coffee House on Boylston Street, Boston, around 1969. We traveled from NH to Boston 3 times to see them. They were great musicians and very personable performers - and we didn't get stoned in those days. I remember Charlie Chin guitarist, the key board player, the bass players' guitar was unique looking - can't remember the make. They sounded much better live, their records did not do them justice, what a shame. My favorite song was Bramble Bush.
good music
I'm trying to find the the song strike another marijuana cigarette but can't find it on UA-cam don't know if they have it or not.
The Dave Clark Five had a UK Top 10 single covering this medley ;)
@jdmfonte Sorry Jimi wasn't more receptive to the Tampa crowd. Who knows? I'm just glad that I got to see what I did that night... freakin' amazing! And Cat Mother was very cool, although I have to admit, the first Jimi show I saw had Soft Machine as the opener, and that was just drop-jaw amazing! (Xavier University; Schmidt Fieldhouse; March 18th, 1968 or 1969... I think).
@squidlycarmichael Saw the same lineup in Tampa back then. Jimi shot the crowd the bird and slammed offstage for some reason.....Cat Mother opened. So all was not lost.....as I recall I had been wired for a few days before the show.,
I wish You lived in Michigan Brother. I don't have a Chicken Coup or an Old Shed. But I Do have a House with a Bedroom You could use until you get back on your feet. From one Musician to Another. ♫
Jimi Hendrix produced this song for them and their album. Now you know.
Dig It!
Hey, that's my dad!!
Thanks. Have these been remastered or are they just CD copies of the albums?
last song I heard before I got on the big bird to nam.....
Their album was produced by Jimi.
Where did you find all four ablums on CD?
Michael, I am the DJ from the Electric Circus that sold you my drums. I live in Northern cal, not far from Santa Rosa. Get in touch.
Stu
Indeed Jimi Hendrix did produce their first album! On the day of the recording for this song, the drummer was sick and my Dad filled in for him!! So that's really my Pops you hear on the studio version of this song! My Dad ROCKS!!!!
I was the drummer,and I wasn't sick during ANY of our recordings!
Sorry to burst your bubble 🎶
1967? : )
Oh man, I have the vinyl on this... No needle for my turntable though! That sucks!!!!Any contributions are accepted. LOL Is a great album. wow, I said album. lol
@carriebean0924 Tell us your dads name.This is R&R history and he deserves his contribution and name to be known.
good thing vitus1111 had a brother who turned him on to the best band that never made it. Long Live Cat mother
Is there a better instumental than Track in A?
Check out my new Cat Mother video for more songs from their first album.
Jimi Hendrix produced their album. 🥁
If anybody has trials and tribulations could you post it.
Albion doo wah
Spinal Tap!
Jimi Hendrix produced this song and their album.
Believe it or not, Jimi Hendrix produced these guys!
Meanwhile back in albion...
This band created WOODSTOCK! But it was stolen from them by Michael Lang and Woodstock Ventures.
Jimi Hendrix produced these guys.
basuraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Hey all. Love seeing this video. Jay Ungar is my dad and he toured and recorded with Catmother although he's not seen here. I'd love to maybe start a Facebook group for descendants of Catmother. So far I've been in touch with Larry Packer's son. And I met Roy's son once but can't remember his name. Anybody else out there?