EVERYBODY watched Ed on Saturday night. They talked to Ed momentarily after they performed sometimes but that was it. There were numerous variety acts each week. Comedians, ventriloquists, people spinning plates, some crazy stuff.
Nope, Ed Sullivan was a music/variety show and acts would just be BAM! BAM! BAM! one after the other. Once in a while he would motion them over and he’d say something or ask a question, but it was a very fast-paced show. You never knew what you’d get next - a popular rock act, opera, comedy, plate spinner, acrobats, magician or the Muppets! (That’s where they got their start). There are plenty of full shows on you tube - you should watch some of them!
Reading the comments, it looks like others have already mentioned what I was going to say, except for one thing and I'll try to put that in context. I turned 16 in '67 so yeah, I saw this performance. My parents loved the music of their generation, back when there was no TV. So it was a treat to them to see shows like The Lawrence Welk Show on TV. As a teenager of my times, it made me and brother just cringed! Ed Sullivan's format and guests were as mentioned in these comments. Variety. Very little talk. If you wanted more talk with your music, you watched Johnny Carson. Anyway, Ed Sullivan was the first prime time variety show to feature bands the younger generation liked. The Beatles, no less. His ratings skyrocketed and the other major stations followed suit. It was great!
Watching the Ed Sullivan show with my family brings memories, probably going back to when I was four or five years old. Watched, The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show when I was five. Mom and dad had this record.
Ed had to implement a lip-sync rule after The Doors did "Light My Fire" and Jim didn't change the lyrics "Girl, we couldn't get much higher". Before that, most, if not all of the musical acts were live. The Mamas & the Papas mocked it on an appearance when Michell ate a banana during her vocal part.
Lip synchronization was a common practice back then. Not only did it avoid mistakes, but assured that nobody would sneak any "naughty" lyrics onto a live show. All songs and performers had to pass the censors before being allowed on air. The absolute KING of skirting right to the edge of the censors was Paul Lynde when he was on Hollywood Squares (game show) for years. His snappy comebacks were a huge part of why the show had continued success for so long
Beautiful harmonies. We watched Ed Sullivan every Sunday night. Don't remember much interviews, maybe a few comments. This was a variety show. There might be a rock band, then a lamb puppet - LOL!
_A lot_ of the TV performances you see from the 1960's were "lip-synched" so that anyone who was watching from home would hear the record version while the singers were singing along with it (which you at home would not hear). There were exceptions...
The Mamas and the Papas were notorious for flaunting that they were not actually singing what you heard. You can't even call it lip-synching a good bit of the time.
Classic tune. "And the darkest hour is just before dawn" -- you can bet that at some point the thought of the boys fighting in Vietnam ran through the minds of everybody who heard this song back then. My memories of The Ed Sullivan Show are hazy because I was still a little kid when it aired. The show ran on Sunday nights with Ed Sullivan introducing musical artists, comedians, jugglers, dancers, etc., It was kinda like America's Got Talent, to cite a contemporary ancestor, except with professional artists and without the competition aspect. Aside from some occasional small talk with artists in between songs, he did not interview the artists he showcased. For a sit down interview show from the late sixties and early seventies, check out The Dick Cavett Show. He interviewed Jimi Hendrix, David Crosby & Joni Mitchell, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, and many others.
Ed Sullivan was a variety show made up of different acts, musicians of all genres, magicians, acrobats, dancers, comedians etc. It wasn’t like a talk show where the performers sat down and chatted with Ed Sullivan. He introduced them and that was about it.
Ed Sullivan was one of the very first variety shows. He would chit chat a little after performances, but it was not a talk show. No one sat down! Thank you for reacting to this one! Look how modestly the singers dressed. I like that!❤
Oh, and yes. There was a lot of controversy about whether or not TV performances like this were dubbed or not. Groups like the Mamas and Papas, especially. Their harmony was SO tight, so perfect and so like the studio version, how could it be a live performance? But, if you've ever sung harmony at all, you know you pretty much have to sing the same notes and the same way or you spoil it. Or start all over with more rehearsals before performing.
No. Ed would announce an act. They would come out and perform. Then after they were done, Ed would have a brief chat with them for a minute and then it would be on to the next act. They never sat and talked.
The mamas and the papas have so many great songs, straight shooter, safe in my Garden, monday monday, but my favorite is a cover of the beatles twist and shout❤
It was a variety show. Appearing on his show could make a performer a star. It was a very big deal. It was a very small auditorium. Later on the David Letterman Show was filmed in the same theater. But the TV audience was huge.
Hey Biz. Ed Sullivan was a straight-up variety show. It had everything from rock acts to clowns, acrobats, broadway show tunes, animal acts, and comedians. Ed was always on the lookout for talent so he would have popular music acts from America and abroad and he also brought over many diverse acts from Europe. It was on Sunday nights at 8PM and was considered a family show, something that everyone could watch together. The rock acts did sometimes play live but they also had lip-synch ones and even ones where the music track was recorded and the singers would sing live. Many of the singing groups performed live and were backed up by Ed's house orchestra. From the sound of this Mammas and Pappas performance I believe it was a lip-synch. I always enjoy your reactions and keep on doing what you're doing. Peace.
They were lip synching. No other instruments seen. And since I grew up in the 60s, I heard this song a lot and know it well enough to know. Usually, live performances sounded different; faster or slower tempo, other instrumentalists on the set. Most shows back then bands lip synched. At least there was no auto tune.
There was no love dedication with this group…..especially by John Phillips….Ed Sullivan had full control on his show….there were no conversations with straight laced Ed Sullivan….most rock singers hated him by the way….even Elvis
Mostly Ed only announced the act, often screwing up their name lol, infrequently talked to them. But he was the guy who made sure he promoted African American Acts, old and new...he had old affiliations from old New York like the Apollo theater, The Cotton CLub people like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horn,Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, you name them. So he promoted Motown acts and others old and new. A good man. Yet he put Elvis on, The Beatles,... The Supremes were one of his Favorites and appeared 17 times between 1964 and 1969, way more than the Beatles..
Michelle Phillips is still one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. Love her voice too. Not meant to take anything from Cass, just pointing out that Michelle has talent also
John Phillips guitar.denny daurity.michelle Phillips and mammy cass Elliot on the end Michelle is the only one left.the were together for only two years
EVERYBODY watched Ed on Saturday night. They talked to Ed momentarily after they performed sometimes but that was it. There were numerous variety acts each week. Comedians, ventriloquists, people spinning plates, some crazy stuff.
a lot of spinning plates back then! lol
Sunday nights. I wasn't sure and looked it up.
For some reason Ed Sullivan really liked the Mamas and the Papas and would have then on frequently, talk to them.
Nope, Ed Sullivan was a music/variety show and acts would just be BAM! BAM! BAM! one after the other. Once in a while he would motion them over and he’d say something or ask a question, but it was a very fast-paced show. You never knew what you’d get next - a popular rock act, opera, comedy, plate spinner, acrobats, magician or the Muppets! (That’s where they got their start). There are plenty of full shows on you tube - you should watch some of them!
Reading the comments, it looks like others have already mentioned what I was going to say, except for one thing and I'll try to put that in context. I turned 16 in '67 so yeah, I saw this performance. My parents loved the music of their generation, back when there was no TV. So it was a treat to them to see shows like The Lawrence Welk Show on TV. As a teenager of my times, it made me and brother just cringed! Ed Sullivan's format and guests were as mentioned in these comments. Variety. Very little talk. If you wanted more talk with your music, you watched Johnny Carson.
Anyway, Ed Sullivan was the first prime time variety show to feature bands the younger generation liked. The Beatles, no less. His ratings skyrocketed and the other major stations followed suit. It was great!
The 5 Royales recorded the song in 1957 (the writer was a member of the band).
The Shirells covered it in 1959.
I love them all ❤
Great song. Mama Cass has such a beautiful voice.
Mama Cass had a set of pipes. California Dreamin' is my favorite of theirs. Great harmonizing.
not forgetting denny as well!!
You've GOT to hear Mama Cass Elliott sing "Words of Love".
OMG!!!!
Watching the Ed Sullivan show with my family brings memories, probably going back to when I was four or five years old. Watched, The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show when I was five. Mom and dad had this record.
Ed had to implement a lip-sync rule after The Doors did "Light My Fire" and Jim didn't change the lyrics "Girl, we couldn't get much higher". Before that, most, if not all of the musical acts were live. The Mamas & the Papas mocked it on an appearance when Michell ate a banana during her vocal part.
Lip synchronization was a common practice back then. Not only did it avoid mistakes, but assured that nobody would sneak any "naughty" lyrics onto a live show. All songs and performers had to pass the censors before being allowed on air. The absolute KING of skirting right to the edge of the censors was Paul Lynde when he was on Hollywood Squares (game show) for years. His snappy comebacks were a huge part of why the show had continued success for so long
This was one the few songs that Michelle sang lead on. Check out "I saw her again last night" and "Twelve Thirty" both great songs.
Creeque Alley is a great song, they are almost rapping in that one.
Beautiful harmonies. We watched Ed Sullivan every Sunday night. Don't remember much interviews, maybe a few comments. This was a variety show. There might be a rock band, then a lamb puppet - LOL!
Lamb Chop
@@NancyMoran-r3b That's right, thanks for jogging my memory 😆
_A lot_ of the TV performances you see from the 1960's were "lip-synched" so that anyone who was watching from home would hear the record version while the singers were singing along with it (which you at home would not hear). There were exceptions...
The Mamas and the Papas were notorious for flaunting that they were not actually singing what you heard. You can't even call it lip-synching a good bit of the time.
Every song they sing plays with you emotions a bit.
Classic tune. "And the darkest hour is just before dawn" -- you can bet that at some point the thought of the boys fighting in Vietnam ran through the minds of everybody who heard this song back then. My memories of The Ed Sullivan Show are hazy because I was still a little kid when it aired. The show ran on Sunday nights with Ed Sullivan introducing musical artists, comedians, jugglers, dancers, etc., It was kinda like America's Got Talent, to cite a contemporary ancestor, except with professional artists and without the competition aspect. Aside from some occasional small talk with artists in between songs, he did not interview the artists he showcased. For a sit down interview show from the late sixties and early seventies, check out The Dick Cavett Show. He interviewed Jimi Hendrix, David Crosby & Joni Mitchell, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, and many others.
Yeah man, if you got invited to the Ed Sullivan Show you were somebody.
And it's something everybody needs...each night before you go to bed my baby, whisper a little prayer for me (my) baby...
Ed Sullivan was a variety show made up of different acts, musicians of all genres, magicians, acrobats, dancers, comedians etc. It wasn’t like a talk show where the performers sat down and chatted with Ed Sullivan. He introduced them and that was about it.
Ed Sullivan was one of the very first variety shows. He would chit chat a little after performances, but it was not a talk show. No one sat down! Thank you for reacting to this one! Look how modestly the singers dressed. I like that!❤
This is so very awesome. Loved them then and I still love them today. Love your reaction!
This was the music I listened to the most in the 80's when I was a kid. So absolutely terrific.
One of my faves btw
You nailed it there’s so much flavor from this period in music
Have you done California dreaming
If you got on Ed, you've made it ❤
Love this sung by the Mamas and the Papas I remember it very well well, thanks Biz.
Mamas and Papas were one of the many sounds of the '60s. For a deep dive I recommend "Twelve Thirty"
+/or "Creque Alley" (story of the M+P).
Oh, and yes. There was a lot of controversy about whether or not TV performances like this were dubbed or not. Groups like the Mamas and Papas, especially. Their harmony was SO tight, so perfect and so like the studio version, how could it be a live performance? But, if you've ever sung harmony at all, you know you pretty much have to sing the same notes and the same way or you spoil it. Or start all over with more rehearsals before performing.
Always loved Michelle Phillips ❤️ ❤❤
This was the first album I ever bought😁 -at 12yo. At 13 I bought the just released Sgt. Pepper and never looked back 😉
No. Ed would announce an act. They would come out and perform. Then after they were done, Ed would have a brief chat with them for a minute and then it would be on to the next act. They never sat and talked.
The mamas and the papas have so many great songs, straight shooter, safe in my Garden, monday monday, but my favorite is a cover of the beatles twist and shout❤
It was a variety show. Appearing on his show could make a performer a star. It was a very big deal. It was a very small auditorium. Later on the David Letterman Show was filmed in the same theater. But the TV audience was huge.
Hey Biz. Ed Sullivan was a straight-up variety show. It had everything from rock acts to clowns, acrobats, broadway show tunes, animal acts, and comedians. Ed was always on the lookout for talent so he would have popular music acts from America and abroad and he also brought over many diverse acts from Europe. It was on Sunday nights at 8PM and was considered a family show, something that everyone could watch together. The rock acts did sometimes play live but they also had lip-synch ones and even ones where the music track was recorded and the singers would sing live. Many of the singing groups performed live and were backed up by Ed's house orchestra. From the sound of this Mammas and Pappas performance I believe it was a lip-synch.
I always enjoy your reactions and keep on doing what you're doing. Peace.
Great song
Yes it was like
They were lip synching. No other instruments seen. And since I grew up in the 60s, I heard this song a lot and know it well enough to know. Usually, live performances sounded different; faster or slower tempo, other instrumentalists on the set. Most shows back then bands lip synched. At least there was no auto tune.
❤❤❤❤❤
I love this
Send
Young girls
The Shirrells? Sang this originally.
✨💖✨🕊✨
I'm here man and I delivered a like! 🙏🏻
Thanks for the visit
There was no love dedication with this group…..especially by John Phillips….Ed Sullivan had full control on his show….there were no conversations with straight laced Ed Sullivan….most rock singers hated him by the way….even Elvis
Mostly Ed only announced the act, often screwing up their name lol, infrequently talked to them. But he was the guy who made sure he promoted African American Acts, old and new...he had old affiliations from old New York like the Apollo theater, The Cotton CLub people like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horn,Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, you name them. So he promoted Motown acts and others old and new. A good man. Yet he put Elvis on, The Beatles,... The Supremes were one of his Favorites and appeared 17 times between 1964 and 1969, way more than the Beatles..
Michelle Phillips is still one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. Love her voice too. Not meant to take anything from Cass, just pointing out that Michelle has talent also
Always down
John Phillips guitar.denny daurity.michelle Phillips and mammy cass Elliot on the end
Michelle is the only one left.the were together for only two years
That’s the hit single. They were lip syncing. Look up The Shirelles and react to their version-a big hit in the early 60s.
You should check out Foxes and Fossils' cover of this song. It's so good, I like it better than this one.
I believe this was the studio version lip synched. Nice video though. Words of Love is a good one
🛏🙏