“I’m telling you now” that back in 1965, I was 15 years old and lived in Southern California. Trust me when I say they were part of what the media called the “British Invasion” that followed the Beatles who broke ground” in 1964 and took over our country by storm. Freddie was greatly loved and was a part of the screaming chaos that went on for several years. They were on every teenage dance and music show you could imagine including “Shindig” and “Hullabaloo” that aired on television 3-4 times a week at night. Those hour long shows showcased everyone from Tom Jones and the Byrds to Petula Clarke and Dusty Springfield. It was a great time to be a teenager! :-) Thank you for bringing back the memories; I’m 73 now. 😁
Grew up in NoCal and Australia during that year; was 11-12. My fave year and watched those shows after school too. Before FM radio so you got more variety of genres on "rock and roll/pop" radio stations than before rock migrated to FM. Maybe that has something to do with '65 being my favorite year? Who knows. Coming back to California? Music as a whole? Whatever.
"You couldn't afford to not be good". Thanks for saying that Fil. Even a minor group like Freddie and the Dreamers would blow many of today's acts off the stage. I never expected an analysis of Freddie. Thanks, Fil!
They even look like consummate professionals, suited, booted and well-groomed. The whole thing smacks of care, discipline and respect for their audience. Impressive to watch as well as to listen to.
Don't blame modern musicians for things you can't find. It's out there. And yeah, this is a fake track. AND they often didn't play on their own records. The end.
@tripbreaker this is not the original studio backing track. There are major differences, the decrease in tempo in the last few seconds, slightly different guitar parts, drums slightly different and cymbals ringing out differently. Back then if they were miming, guitarists NEVER had cords plugged into their guitars. Even the acoustic guitar is plugged in. Either way, it has nothing to do with the original comment, they were very good musicians.
Freddie Garrity was a far greater vocalist than he ever got the credit for, it was probably partly due to the fact he was viewed as a comedian as well as a singer so thank you Fil for praising his vocal ability 🙏
This brought a big grin to my face! I was 15, a Beatlemaniac and just reveling in all of the British invasion bands. Of course, he was a bit clownish, but it was a carefree time and I think he (or their manager) felt his band needed a shtick to compete with the many other groups. He was handsome and an excellent singer, but a little short so not a hearththrob type, and they had to somehow grab attention from the likes of: Gerry and the Pacemakers, Herman's Hermits, the Zombies, Billy J. Kramer, those guys from Liverpool, the Stones, Animals, etc. I found him utterly charming and delightful! This was certainly not the only gimmick band from those days. Check out these homegrown (American) acts: Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs, Ray Stevens, The Trashmen, Bobby Pickett and the Cryptkicker 5, etc. Thanks for this blast from the past!🥰
I would’ve been 11 or 12 at the time, and would try to catch every performance of every group out there, even to seeing the Stones on The Red Skelton Show! I can still picture the set and performance of Freddie performing “Do the Freddie” in my mind (in B&W, due to our lack of color TV at that point).
Whatever you think of them Freddie and the Dreamers have secured their place in history with their music and zany talent. I remember them in their hayday in 1965 I was 6 years old and I loved them because they made me happy and they made me laugh, especially Freddie.
I'm Telling You Now was #1 in the US for two weeks in 1965. I was 15 years old and remember folks doing the "Freddie" on the dance floors..... Everyone I knew thought it was just funny to do!
I was happy to see this! I used to do the website for Freddie Garrity years ago.I met a few of the band, they were the nicest guys. They actually let me, a total stranger from the US, stay with them. The gimmick which they used was a take-off on The Shadows. Freddie had the idea to exaggerate their movements for comedy. This isn't their best song IMO. Freddie and the bass player, Pete Burrell, sounded marvelous when they sang together, like on a song the band did called "A Little You." Pete did a few solos on their albums, lesser known, like "Cut Across Shorty," both are here on UA-cam. I could chat all evening about this band, I learned a lot from meeting them. Interestingly, the Dreamers as a group were crazier and funnier than Freddie actually was when he was alone! I also met their manager, he lived in California later on, and the stories he told me about their trips, they were some very funny guys.
Thank you for this. I have recently become hooked on the Dreamers, the original Dreamers, after barely thinking of them for sixty years. There's lots of info about Freddie but not so much about the others. In fact except for Pete, I don't think I've even heard their singing voices. So glad to hear they were as nice as they seem.
In 1964 went to see Roy Orbison in concert in Kingston upon Thames. Freddie was also on the tour, met him in the High Street, no problem with a chat and autograph. Decent bloke. " I Understand" is a serious ballad and shows his vocal prowess.
They always bring a smile to my face, watching this clip,aged 75 years, I’m still smiling. Loved Freddie and the Dreamers. I saw them a couple of years before Freddie died, still had a great voice. The trouble with today’s entertainers, is that they take themselves too seriously, they no longer “entertain”
It always surprised me how ‘groovy’ Merv Griffin was in choosing his musical guests, way back when. Great analysis, Fil. You took a simple pop song and showed it to actually be so much more than just that.
Merv always strove to be as cutting-edge as possible. He wasn't afraid to try new stuff, an attitude that paved the way for today's hosts. I loved watching his show after school.
Better to check out the Yardbirds doing Heart Full of Soul and the Rascals doing Groovin. Subtlety in movements matters and having good songs is more than over-showmanship. As you note the music by itself is not enough but it's still not a great live performance. I would say "an interesting bit of musical history" at best. Little Richard or others showmanship and engagement with the audience mean little without a good song. Cool or uncool, rather have good music or just bring out a dance troupe. Rather have much better music from the Freddie lookalike and better-looking Gary Lewis and the Playboys doing This Diamond Ring. How is this impossible to fake? I don't follow, Wings. Just a lot of practice in their movement that should have gone into songwriting and good harmony. Sorry If I can't appreciate their 4 part harmonies or appreciate this tongue-in-cheek. The 60s had so much better music than this. Over-analysis of Pitch. No Bravado for this Wings. You are too smart to fall for schmaltz.
I met Freddie in the 1980s and took a few photos of him, and had some taken of me with him at the Place nightclub in Hanley stoke on trent. He was a lovely man , nothing was too much trouble. He lived in stoke on trent for some years . Great entertainer and very funny man. Sadly missed R I P
Freddie was brilliant, we Brits just loved him to bits, he was such a nice bloke, he even became a presenter on childrens TV programmes which he did magnificently. What you would give to have worked with this guy.
There was a Freddie and the Dreamers kids tv programme when i was young. I remember there was a portrait of Queen Victoria that would say 'we are not amused' all the time....
@@Freya262 I remember it well Freya.Happy memories, the guy was a natural kids entertainer, Imagine having to go on tour with Freddie, what an experience that would have been.
@sledge1960 I worked at Butlins Bognor Regis in the 80s and they were one of the rotating acts one year. One of their 'jokes' was spell king. There is no king./ we don't have a king. Spell it anyway Kingf. Theres no f in king Thats what I've been telling you!
Crazy Freddy, God bless him. He always had these insane dances and laughs that he would do on stage, along with the band backing him. But man, that guy had a fantastic singing voice! To do all the movements that he did while singing was pure talent!
Oh my. I had forgotten how silly they were but entertaining as well. I was amazed at Freddie being able to sing while moving like he was but also the guitarists being able to play while moving about. Thanks for the memories and great analysis.
Oh my goodness. I'm here in the US and I do know this song and it was a favorite of mine. I always watched Merv Griffin and I distinctly remember seeing their performance. After all these years you would think I wouldn't but this is such a fun song and I loved all British groups with the Beatles at the top of the list. Thank you for analyzing this song and Freddie's voice.
How much fun was that! The band was known for their synchronized wacky dance routines. Freddie was sure a character who would bounce around the stage with his arms & legs flying. They had a few hits especially in the UK in the 60's. "If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody", "I'm Telling You Now", "You Were Made For Me", "I Understand" etc.
@@orbyfan until now I only knew the Dutch translation of this song. Now I understand why the mouse wear clogs, because it’s a Dutch mouse!!! For a Dutch kid the clogs were just a funny detail, necessary for the clicker sound of them. Funny detail, I n the Dutch version the mouse eat the traditional food at a a birth, beschuit met muisjes. Muisjes means little mice in English. It are anise seeds coated with a blue or pink sugar layer.
I was almost 16 when the song came out but we were so poor my Dad couldn’t afford a tv! I heard them on the radio and loved Freddie and the Dreamers. Never realized they were doing crazy moves!
They were a goofy bunch, they managed to cut a couple big hits that put them in the limelight for a bit. Freddy could sing good, but his ' gimmick ' was being silly. Once again, this guy is way over - evaluating them. They were just doing their thing.
I grew up watching these bands on my TV all the time, some were a fancy show, some were just standing in one spot lip - synching to their record. Freddy and the Dreamers were not exactly a super stage show. They were mediocre at best. They scored a few hits that put them on a show like Merv Griffen in the first place. It was best when they played live, like this one, even if you couldn't hear half of them.
I grew up listening to Freddie and the Dreamers and they were always sensational. Each song had a different dance routine which was amazing. During that time, many other bands were just as good as Freddie's but they all seemed to blend into one big group, as that was the style at the time. It was a difficult time, but it was also a happy one. I watched the video from the very beginning and I could see how good Freddie and his band were; they were always spot-on and never fake. The only time that fake things happened was when Top of the Pops came out. I don't know whose decision it was to mime the songs, but one thing is for sure: they were not music lovers.
Thanks for this analysis of a performance from the mid 60’s. I appreciate your bringing these older artists back to our attention. The wild kicks certainly make them stand out!!
I was a teen in the 60s and into all the groups at the time but I could never imagine myself ever liking this group at the time. I thought they were just plain silly. This video had changed my opinion. I now realise that Freddie had a great voice which was hugely underrated, maybe due mostly to the accompanying silliness that was part of their performances.
To dance like that with chords everywhere. The lyrics and melodies are simple, but, to play it so tight live was a credit to the skills and professionalism of the artists.
Amen for mentioning, "You couldn't afford not to be good at what you did," Fil! Thanks for a wonderful analysis of Freddie and the Dreamers' performance. Their performance had me smiling because it was so engaging. When you isolated Freddie's voice, I thought, "Wow, he's got some crazy vibrato!" Let's hope the auto tune producers doesn't touch their recordings! Thanks Fil for bringing your professionalism and knowledge in your music analysis videos.
I was so glad to see this performance analyzed. I always loved Freddie Garrity's singing, and this very upbeat song. I would imagine that the craziness in Freddie's performance helped this band to stand out in the crowded field of the British Invasion. Freddie had such a great voice and it's nice to see him appreciated. I also notice that like many of the British bands of the mid 1960's, they hold the guitars high on their chests.
Wow this was a real treat! Bizarre, entertaining and pitch perfect! It’s amazing how I’ve know this song my whole life but was clueless to the band’s live abilities!
I cannot watch this and be miserable. It just puts such a smile on my face. How you dance like that while playing is amazing. Just entertainment- nothing more and nothing less.
I remembered the song, had never seen the group. Freddy had a great voice and you gotta give the band credit for being able to coordinate playing and dancing. Reminded me of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Bands had to be good, but they needed a niche get attention. Thanks for this one Fil.
I loved Freddie and would watch him with my mum when I was about 4/5 years old, he just acted and clowned about like a big kid. Happy childhood memories of him.
Geezer here: I am retired psychologist. With one special patient, when I ran out of clever answers we got up and did The Freddie!! Clears out all the bad blood. When having a blue date then get up and DO IT. Better than Fred Astaire.
Most of these shows were mimed. This one is actually LIVE for anyone doubting. Apart from the sound itself and watching the drummer, the KEY giveaway is the fact that they are PLUGGED IN! Lip synced shows never bothered to plug in the guitars. Notice even the acoustic guitar has an electric pickup and is plugged. There’s no way any studio would bother with the detail of plugging in an acoustic guitar, most people would never even know that’s a thing to fake. It’s amazing how steady Freddie & guys were jumping around!
Thank You for your time and consideration with Freddie & the Dreamers. What an understated lot! From what I understand, the musicians were all exceptional, musicians musicians so to speak. Thanks again for putting it all under the microscope and then some. Many look at the Dreamers as being as one off band, yet they were so much more. Much respect to them all~
Fil, this is MY era! I loved this music from the British Invasion. I saw Freddie live in Phoenix years ago. Thanks for your positive analysis. Cheers, mate!
I could tell that this was live because I was a teenager when I heard the song, and there were bits of harmony in the record that I'm not hearing in this performance.
@@MovieMakingManthey had to back the mics up because the guys were jumping around so much. Too far to pick up the backing vocals properly. They also wouldn’t be able to hold notes like Freddie, so the just didn’t bother. I missed hearing those vocal harmonies on the studio recording- key to the song. They may have done a second song where they used the mics.
@@thirdday07 No, he played the song with all the instrumentation and other vocals, and there was not the harmony that they had on the record. After he played the complete song, then he played the isolated vocal.
Wow...I so remember this. I was 15 and in Jr. High School. We had teen dances and this was one of our favorite songs we danced to....and we did the Freddie. It made us feel so cool. We had so much with these kind of songs. Your analysis is spot on as usual. This brought happy memories for me. You made this very enjoyable. Thank you for doing this video.
Thanks for another spot on analysis! Love your commentary and the vocal isolation. So inspiring to visually watch the vocal waves as well as hearing these performances in such detail ! I really enjoy your appreciation of vocal accuracy and talent! 💝🎶🎶😊
Thanks for the analysis, Fil. I'd always underrated Freddie as a singer but, obviously, I was doing him a disservice. That isolated vocal reveals good technique.
This was my era...After the Beatles,the British Invasion was HUGE...I got tp see many of these bands....Hermits,Stones,Pacemakers,Freddie,Searchers...They all came around.I became a drummer because of Ringo...But,I was lucky to have seen them all...Don't forget, back then, many bands played on these shows live.
I remember this well, silly, but great fun! He even got Frankie and Annette to do The Freddie with him on one TV appearance! I think it's on UA-cam, too.
Rick Beato recently commented that today's music is missing something...key changes! This song is a great example of tunes back in the day that usually had at least one, possibly two before they ended. I loved Freddie and his "The Freddie" dance moves back then. I'm so grateful to have grown up while music like this was being created...I really think it helped me develop a good "ear" and learn to sing harmony better. On this song, his goofy antics were during the instrumental break before the vocals came back in. When you're the front man and not playing an instrument, you gotta do SOMEthing to keep the crowd watching...lol! 😉❤
I thought this was the goofiest video I'd ever seen years ago. You point out the talent in the performance very well and help to give a new perspective.
Freddie and the Dreamers were such a fun group. I first heard of them when I saw a documentary on the British Invasion when I was 9 years old. Freddie was a delightful guy. He kbew how to put on a show. Thank you for doing this analysis. It brings attention to groups and singers that would otherwise be forgotten.
Freddie and the Dreamers were musically very tight, let alone the co-ordinated dance moves. Freddie had a great voice backed up with great musisicianship from the Dreamers. Sadly missed. Love and peace.
Man, does that t.ake me back! A song I hadn't heard or thought of in decades. We heard it a lot on the radio in Michigan. I've never seen them perform before.
Shout out to the guy involved in writing this song, Mitch Murray, Murray alone and with others wrote many hits, "How do you do It", "I like It", "You were made for me", "Hitch en a Ride", "Bonnie and Clyde", "Billy don't be a Hero", "The Night Chicago Died" etc.
That was a fun performance! I'm familiar with the song, but I don't think I've ever watched them perform. I love bands from this era - they had great melodies and great singing, which not only wasn't pitch corrected, it wasn't overdone. I appreciate plain good singing, without a bunch of vocal gymnastics.
Hello there Fil. Well you wanted a comment, so here goes and i'll keep it brief. You basically took over 18 mnutes of my life, to tell me something that i already knew. That Freddie Garrity could really sing ✔ . But i must admit it was good to see them again, so thank you for that 👍
I was 7 in 1965 (USA). Yes, I remember this group, and their songs. I never saw this performance, (probably on after my bedtime). The crazy stuff during the break looks like a Jerry Lewis imitation. But, there were a lot of groups out back then. They needed to stand out. FYI, Merv Griffin was a big band singer in the 40s. He always had a great talk show in the 70s, which I got to see, (syndicated, on after I got home from school).
Fil, the way you educate us, and your appreciation of singers whose style is entirely different from your own, is the reason so many of us value you and love you.
I feel sorry that kids today do not get the musical education that was once standard in public schools. It didn't matter few would go on to use it professionally; we all benefited from the brain rewiring, the improved manual dexterity and the appreciation for the more technical aspects of music and its performance. These videos really help to make up a bit for that lost education.
Hi Fil! Another great memory from back in the day. YES, it was HUGE here in the States. I LOVED all of The British Invasion!!! Thanks for this one and all your content. Stay safe and sane. Rosemarie 🙂🧡
Well now, that was kinda groovy! I'm in the US. We know the song. I had it on 45, actually. I believe guys like this were the precursors to punk rock.❤ Thanks, Fil! Nice find! Edit - and the drummer says " thank god i don't have to do the dance!"
They were Manchester group, so definitely precursors to punk. I have a big playlist of Manchester sound and it's full of so much great stuff! London pub rock is another that was precursors to punk (and New Wave).
@@lauraallen55 very cool! I've loved the rock from Britain all the way back to the 60's. I was just a grade schooler, but i loved the music. Always! Y'all saved our souls over here!
I was 12- in 1964, 13 in '65- the peak of the amazing "British Invasion" in America. I loved anything and everything British- all of the bands that had big hits here, are now part of my cherished memories. Just a wonderful time, never to be repeated again.
Merv Griffin showcased so many different talents. Actually, they were popolar her in the US. This live performance was amazing and fun! Thank you, Fil for this great analysis. I don't know anyone who didn't love Freddy & The Dreamers!
I never thought of just how amazingly talented this once young man was until I see you put his voice through the pitch analysis. Your work truly is important Fil! What fun! Freddie sure should have gotten so much more credit than I remember him getting. I love REAL performances from back in the day! Where's the Tardis so I can travel back to the 1960's and earlier! I'd love to hear you do some of the big band era music too Fil. Loved the Glenn Miller Band and so many others. I loved music from my grandmother's to my own era's. I don't care for the music today with the exception of some of the Christian music from the early 2000's.
I remember how happy they made my boyfriend (now my husband for almost 54 years) and me feel whenever they were played on AM radio. One couldn’t help smiling when they were playing. They were popular when we were young teenagers growing up in Canada. 🇨🇦
I'm old and I remember this performance when it happened. In the US it got a fair amount of attention for about a week or so, then we forgot about them. I hadn't thought about them since but this is exactly what I remembered right down to the peg-trousered suits.
“I’m telling you now” that back in 1965, I was 15 years old and lived in Southern California. Trust me when I say they were part of what the media called the “British Invasion” that followed the Beatles who broke ground” in 1964 and took over our country by storm. Freddie was greatly loved and was a part of the screaming chaos that went on for several years. They were on every teenage dance and music show you could imagine including “Shindig” and “Hullabaloo” that aired on television 3-4 times a week at night. Those hour long shows showcased everyone from Tom Jones and the Byrds to Petula Clarke and Dusty Springfield. It was a great time to be a teenager! :-) Thank you for bringing back the memories; I’m 73 now. 😁
Grew up in NoCal and Australia during that year; was 11-12. My fave year and watched those shows after school too. Before FM radio so you got more variety of genres on "rock and roll/pop" radio stations than before rock migrated to FM. Maybe that has something to do with '65 being my favorite year? Who knows. Coming back to California? Music as a whole? Whatever.
Freddie is always smiling when he sings and you can hear it in his voice. He just seems really happy to be doing what he's doing.
You can REALLY hear it in his voice when it's isolated! Wildly great voice. He's a cutie too, under all that goofiness.
I had almost forgotten Freddy and the dreamers. Enjoyable.
It was better than having to work for a living. 😆
"You couldn't afford to not be good". Thanks for saying that Fil. Even a minor group like Freddie and the Dreamers would blow many of today's acts off the stage. I never expected an analysis of Freddie. Thanks, Fil!
They even look like consummate professionals, suited, booted and well-groomed. The whole thing smacks of care, discipline and respect for their audience. Impressive to watch as well as to listen to.
He was big in America too. Freddy got a great voice and did not take himself seriously .A natural-born joker.
Such joyful silliness. Our world needs more of this now.
Back in the day when singers could sing, musician's can play - nothing fake
It’s a backing track.
So true! Ifeel privileged to have been born in the rock and roll era at the perfect time in all of human history.
Don't blame modern musicians for things you can't find. It's out there. And yeah, this is a fake track. AND they often didn't play on their own records. The end.
@tripbreaker this is not the original studio backing track. There are major differences, the decrease in tempo in the last few seconds, slightly different guitar parts, drums slightly different and cymbals ringing out differently. Back then if they were miming, guitarists NEVER had cords plugged into their guitars. Even the acoustic guitar is plugged in. Either way, it has nothing to do with the original comment, they were very good musicians.
Freddy was horrible!
I cannot help but be amused by this performance. Brings a smile to my face.
I remember this broadcast. Still makes me smile.
Freddie Garrity was a far greater vocalist than he ever got the credit for, it was probably partly due to the fact he was viewed as a comedian as well as a singer so thank you Fil for praising his vocal ability 🙏
This brought a big grin to my face! I was 15, a Beatlemaniac and just reveling in all of the British invasion bands. Of course, he was a bit clownish, but it was a carefree time and I think he (or their manager) felt his band needed a shtick to compete with the many other groups. He was handsome and an excellent singer, but a little short so not a hearththrob type, and they had to somehow grab attention from the likes of: Gerry and the Pacemakers, Herman's Hermits, the Zombies, Billy J. Kramer, those guys from Liverpool, the Stones, Animals, etc. I found him utterly charming and delightful! This was certainly not the only gimmick band from those days. Check out these homegrown (American) acts: Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs, Ray Stevens, The Trashmen, Bobby Pickett and the Cryptkicker 5, etc. Thanks for this blast from the past!🥰
Great comment! I agree..I was there for it all, too!! 🥰
@@roseyc.5846 🤗🤗
I would’ve been 11 or 12 at the time, and would try to catch every performance of every group out there, even to seeing the Stones on The Red Skelton Show! I can still picture the set and performance of Freddie performing “Do the Freddie” in my mind (in B&W, due to our lack of color TV at that point).
Me, too@@byzcath
A very talented and hard working band.
Whatever you think of them Freddie and the Dreamers have secured their place in history with their music and zany talent. I remember them in their hayday in 1965 I was 6 years old and I loved them because they made me happy and they made me laugh, especially Freddie.
I'm Telling You Now was #1 in the US for two weeks in 1965. I was 15 years old and remember folks doing the "Freddie" on the dance floors..... Everyone I knew thought it was just funny to do!
That was one of my favorite songs! Loved the music that year!
I still listen to the song today. Even my kids grew up liking it.
So much talent and so much fun.....
I was happy to see this! I used to do the website for Freddie Garrity years ago.I met a few of the band, they were the nicest guys. They actually let me, a total stranger from the US, stay with them. The gimmick which they used was a take-off on The Shadows. Freddie had the idea to exaggerate their movements for comedy. This isn't their best song IMO. Freddie and the bass player, Pete Burrell, sounded marvelous when they sang together, like on a song the band did called "A Little You." Pete did a few solos on their albums, lesser known, like "Cut Across Shorty," both are here on UA-cam. I could chat all evening about this band, I learned a lot from meeting them. Interestingly, the Dreamers as a group were crazier and funnier than Freddie actually was when he was alone! I also met their manager, he lived in California later on, and the stories he told me about their trips, they were some very funny guys.
Thanks! Great story.
+mitzicrabtree: Great post, Mitz! Thx joelintucson
I once had a chat with a couple of the Dreamers in the Red Lion behind Sheffield City Hall when they had nipped out for a pint. As you say, nice guys.
Thank you for this. I have recently become hooked on the Dreamers, the original Dreamers, after barely thinking of them for sixty years. There's lots of info about Freddie but not so much about the others. In fact except for Pete, I don't think I've even heard their singing voices. So glad to hear they were as nice as they seem.
In 1964 went to see Roy Orbison in concert in Kingston upon Thames. Freddie was also on the tour, met him in the High Street, no problem with a chat and autograph. Decent bloke. " I Understand" is a serious ballad and shows his vocal prowess.
They always bring a smile to my face, watching this clip,aged 75 years, I’m still smiling. Loved Freddie and the Dreamers. I saw them a couple of years before Freddie died, still had a great voice. The trouble with today’s entertainers, is that they take themselves too seriously, they no longer “entertain”
I actually remember watching this performance on tv, in the 60s, when i was a child 😊
It always surprised me how ‘groovy’ Merv Griffin was in choosing his musical guests, way back when. Great analysis, Fil. You took a simple pop song and showed it to actually be so much more than just that.
Merv always strove to be as cutting-edge as possible. He wasn't afraid to try new stuff, an attitude that paved the way for today's hosts. I loved watching his show after school.
And he was must-see tv for my grandparents, too, which only added to his mystique!!
I saw Flock of Seagulls on his show. He had some fun acts on the show.
Merv even had Phil Spector on the show.
Merv sang, “Christmas City of the North,” also, in the 1960’s. Back when Duluth, (MN) was a bustling city. Fun Song. Both side A&B were nice, songs
As soon as I saw this title, I remembered not only the song but the dance/antics too. Lovely to see this again.
I remember this song, I didn't realize how good Freddy was. A very enlightening video, thanks.
Better to check out the Yardbirds doing Heart Full of Soul and the Rascals doing Groovin. Subtlety in movements matters and having good songs is more than over-showmanship. As you note the music by itself is not enough but it's still not a great live performance. I would say "an interesting bit of musical history" at best. Little Richard or others showmanship and engagement with the audience mean little without a good song. Cool or uncool, rather have good music or just bring out a dance troupe. Rather have much better music from the Freddie lookalike and better-looking Gary Lewis and the Playboys doing This Diamond Ring. How is this impossible to fake? I don't follow, Wings. Just a lot of practice in their movement that should have gone into songwriting and good harmony. Sorry If I can't appreciate their 4 part harmonies or appreciate this tongue-in-cheek. The 60s had so much better music than this. Over-analysis of Pitch. No Bravado for this Wings. You are too smart to fall for schmaltz.
I met Freddie in the 1980s and took a few photos of him, and had some taken of me with him at the Place nightclub in Hanley stoke on trent. He was a lovely man , nothing was too much trouble. He lived in stoke on trent for some years . Great entertainer and very funny man. Sadly missed R I P
in the midst of the war and the heavy politics, this was a totally welcome giggle - loved it!
Oh my gosh, I was 10 years old when this song came out. Thanks for the memories.
I was 12
I was 9!
I was 10. We liked to do "the Freddie" at recess in 5th grade!😅😅😅
I was 13. I remember the Merv Griffith show.
Freddie was brilliant, we Brits just loved him to bits, he was such a nice bloke, he even became a presenter on childrens TV programmes which he did magnificently. What you would give to have worked with this guy.
There was a Freddie and the Dreamers kids tv programme when i was young. I remember there was a portrait of Queen Victoria that would say 'we are not amused' all the time....
@@Freya262 I remember it well Freya.Happy memories, the guy was a natural kids entertainer, Imagine having to go on tour with Freddie, what an experience that would have been.
@sledge1960 I worked at Butlins Bognor Regis in the 80s and they were one of the rotating acts one year. One of their 'jokes' was spell king.
There is no king./ we don't have a king.
Spell it anyway
Kingf.
Theres no f in king
Thats what I've been telling you!
@@Freya262 unbelievable guy, great story.
Love this song, I was 18 years old in 1965. Thank you for explaining the science.... fascinating.
That was fun! Freddie and The Dreamers sure could sing and be goofy at the same time. This was a great performance and analysis!
Crazy Freddy, God bless him. He always had these insane dances and laughs that he would do on stage, along with the band backing him. But man, that guy had a fantastic singing voice! To do all the movements that he did while singing was pure talent!
Oh my. I had forgotten how silly they were but entertaining as well. I was amazed at Freddie being able to sing while moving like he was but also the guitarists being able to play while moving about. Thanks for the memories and great analysis.
They were a great, fun band! Their music always lightened the heart and brought a smile to your face.
Oh my goodness. I'm here in the US and I do know this song and it was a favorite of mine. I always watched Merv Griffin and I distinctly remember seeing their performance. After all these years you would think I wouldn't but this is such a fun song and I loved all British groups with the Beatles at the top of the list. Thank you for analyzing this song and Freddie's voice.
I'm in the US too and was 11 when this came out and I definitely did the "Freddie" all through the house.
I saw Freddie do this live at Doncaster Geumont theatre when I was 10 with mum and 14 year old sister. Never been the same since. 68 now. 😃
I saw him at Great Yarmouth in the late 1960s with Herman’s Hermits. I was around 5 or 6. Loved them!
Whoda thought that this singing was so astonishingly accurate. Brilliant analysis.
How much fun was that! The band was known for their synchronized wacky dance routines. Freddie was sure a character who would bounce around the stage with his arms & legs flying. They had a few hits especially in the UK in the 60's. "If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody", "I'm Telling You Now", "You Were Made For Me", "I Understand" etc.
That dancing was so cute.
"Windmill in Old Amsterdam" was another one, from the fall of 1965.
Freddie was later a regular on children's TV in the UK, IIRC.
@@orbyfan until now I only knew the Dutch translation of this song. Now I understand why the mouse wear clogs, because it’s a Dutch mouse!!!
For a Dutch kid the clogs were just a funny detail, necessary for the clicker sound of them.
Funny detail, I n the Dutch version the mouse eat the traditional food at a a birth, beschuit met muisjes.
Muisjes means little mice in English. It are anise seeds coated with a blue or pink sugar layer.
Do The Freddie!
I was almost 16 when the song came out but we were so poor my Dad couldn’t afford a tv! I heard them on the radio and loved Freddie and the Dreamers. Never realized they were doing crazy moves!
I bet the drummer's glad he didn't have to "Do The Freddie" like the other's did! 😂
🤣I agree!
i would looool. the freddie or the fairies?
They were a goofy bunch, they managed to cut a couple big hits that put them in the limelight for a bit.
Freddy could sing good, but his
' gimmick ' was being silly.
Once again, this guy is way over - evaluating them. They were just doing their thing.
I grew up watching these bands on my TV all the time, some were a fancy show, some were just standing in one spot lip - synching to their record.
Freddy and the Dreamers were not exactly a super stage show. They were mediocre at best. They scored a few hits that put them on a show like Merv Griffen in the first place.
It was best when they played live, like this one, even if you couldn't hear half of them.
The drummer was awesome.Dwyer.Listen to him rip through Do the Freddie.
I grew up listening to Freddie and the Dreamers and they were always sensational. Each song had a different dance routine which was amazing. During that time, many other bands were just as good as Freddie's but they all seemed to blend into one big group, as that was the style at the time. It was a difficult time, but it was also a happy one. I watched the video from the very beginning and I could see how good Freddie and his band were; they were always spot-on and never fake. The only time that fake things happened was when Top of the Pops came out. I don't know whose decision it was to mime the songs, but one thing is for sure: they were not music lovers.
IT is nice to hear real music with the musicians being their selves, Love it!!!
It's hard enough to play instruments without doing the Freddie too. Thanks again for the trip down memory lane!
Thanks for this analysis of a performance from the mid 60’s. I appreciate your bringing these older artists back to our attention. The wild kicks certainly make them stand out!!
I grew up with this music and LOVED Freddie and the Dreamers
OMG! I remember Freddy & the Dreamers. He did have good voice. Loved your face when Freddy did The Freddy! That was a fun analysis!!
I was a teen in the 60s and into all the groups at the time but I could never imagine myself ever liking this group at the time. I thought they were just plain silly. This video had changed my opinion. I now realise that Freddie had a great voice which was hugely underrated, maybe due mostly
to the accompanying silliness that was part of their performances.
I have watched this video multiple times. I'm fascinated by how Freddie could control his voice so well while doing his Freddie dance.
I loved Freddie when I was about 8 ... he was full of fun to a youngster as this video shows ... 67 years young now & still love the guy :)
To dance like that with chords everywhere. The lyrics and melodies are simple, but, to play it so tight live was a credit to the skills and professionalism of the artists.
Amen for mentioning, "You couldn't afford not to be good at what you did," Fil! Thanks for a wonderful analysis of Freddie and the Dreamers' performance. Their performance had me smiling because it was so engaging. When you isolated Freddie's voice, I thought, "Wow, he's got some crazy vibrato!" Let's hope the auto tune producers doesn't touch their recordings! Thanks Fil for bringing your professionalism and knowledge in your music analysis videos.
I was so glad to see this performance analyzed. I always loved Freddie Garrity's singing, and this very upbeat song. I would imagine that the craziness in Freddie's performance helped this band to stand out in the crowded field of the British Invasion. Freddie had such a great voice and it's nice to see him appreciated. I also notice that like many of the British bands of the mid 1960's, they hold the guitars high on their chests.
Wow this was a real treat! Bizarre, entertaining and pitch perfect! It’s amazing how I’ve know this song my whole life but was clueless to the band’s live abilities!
I cannot watch this and be miserable. It just puts such a smile on my face. How you dance like that while playing is amazing. Just entertainment- nothing more and nothing less.
I remembered the song, had never seen the group. Freddy had a great voice and you gotta give the band credit for being able to coordinate playing and dancing. Reminded me of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Bands had to be good, but they needed a niche get attention. Thanks for this one Fil.
I can't believe I've heard that song so many times but never seen the band - I was half appalled and half delighted lol
I loved Freddie and would watch him with my mum when I was about 4/5 years old, he just acted and clowned about like a big kid. Happy childhood memories of him.
Geezer here: I am retired psychologist. With one special patient, when I ran out of clever answers we got up and did The Freddie!! Clears out all the bad blood. When having a blue date then get up and DO IT. Better than Fred Astaire.
And there we have it. Great performance and great analysis. Excellent choice
I was 12 yrs. old when this came out and I absolutely loved them. I thought Freddie was great fun, but, also, an awesome singer. I still love them.
Most of these shows were mimed. This one is actually LIVE for anyone doubting. Apart from the sound itself and watching the drummer, the KEY giveaway is the fact that they are PLUGGED IN! Lip synced shows never bothered to plug in the guitars. Notice even the acoustic guitar has an electric pickup and is plugged. There’s no way any studio would bother with the detail of plugging in an acoustic guitar, most people would never even know that’s a thing to fake. It’s amazing how steady Freddie & guys were jumping around!
Thank You for your time and consideration with Freddie & the Dreamers. What an understated lot! From what I understand, the musicians were all exceptional, musicians musicians so to speak. Thanks again for putting it all under the microscope and then some. Many look at the Dreamers as being as one off band, yet they were so much more. Much respect to them all~
Fil, this is MY era! I loved this music from the British Invasion. I saw Freddie live in Phoenix years ago. Thanks for your positive analysis. Cheers, mate!
I could tell that this was live because I was a teenager when I heard the song, and there were bits of harmony in the record that I'm not hearing in this performance.
I noticed that too. They were on stage live and the other mics don’t look like they’re even being used by the rest of the band. It’s all Freddie.
@@MovieMakingManthey had to back the mics up because the guys were jumping around so much. Too far to pick up the backing vocals properly. They also wouldn’t be able to hold notes like Freddie, so the just didn’t bother. I missed hearing those vocal harmonies on the studio recording- key to the song. They may have done a second song where they used the mics.
Well Fil did say he isolated the vocal, so he must have isolated only the lead vocal, and left the harmonies out.
@@thirdday07 There were no harmonies to leave out, the other guys weren’t singing.
@@thirdday07 No, he played the song with all the instrumentation and other vocals, and there was not the harmony that they had on the record. After he played the complete song, then he played the isolated vocal.
I was just thinking of this song this week! It’s been playing in my head over and over again. So crazy, huh?
Wow...I so remember this. I was 15 and in Jr. High School. We had teen dances and this was one of our favorite songs we danced to....and we did the Freddie. It made us feel so cool. We had so much with these kind of songs. Your analysis is spot on as usual. This brought happy memories for me. You made this very enjoyable. Thank you for doing this video.
Thanks for another spot on analysis! Love your commentary and the vocal isolation. So inspiring to visually watch the vocal waves as well as hearing these performances in such detail ! I really enjoy your appreciation of vocal accuracy and talent! 💝🎶🎶😊
Thanks for the analysis, Fil. I'd always underrated Freddie as a singer but, obviously, I was doing him a disservice. That isolated vocal reveals good technique.
This was my era...After the Beatles,the British Invasion was HUGE...I got tp see many of these bands....Hermits,Stones,Pacemakers,Freddie,Searchers...They all came around.I became a drummer because of Ringo...But,I was lucky to have seen them all...Don't forget, back then, many bands played on these shows live.
I remember this well, silly, but great fun! He even got Frankie and Annette to do The Freddie with him on one TV appearance! I think it's on UA-cam, too.
Fil
You do such a great job with your Analysis of the different types of music.
I learn much every time I watch your videos
Rick Beato recently commented that today's music is missing something...key changes! This song is a great example of tunes back in the day that usually had at least one, possibly two before they ended. I loved Freddie and his "The Freddie" dance moves back then. I'm so grateful to have grown up while music like this was being created...I really think it helped me develop a good "ear" and learn to sing harmony better. On this song, his goofy antics were during the instrumental break before the vocals came back in. When you're the front man and not playing an instrument, you gotta do SOMEthing to keep the crowd watching...lol! 😉❤
I thought this was the goofiest video I'd ever seen years ago. You point out the talent in the performance very well and help to give a new perspective.
Freddie and the Dreamers were such a fun group. I first heard of them when I saw a documentary on the British Invasion when I was 9 years old. Freddie was a delightful guy. He kbew how to put on a show. Thank you for doing this analysis. It brings attention to groups and singers that would otherwise be forgotten.
I'm from TX, USA, born in '72 and I remember this song. My mother remembers the Freddie dance, so it definitely was popular in America.
Freddie and the Dreamers were musically very tight, let alone the co-ordinated dance moves. Freddie had a great voice backed up with great musisicianship from the Dreamers. Sadly missed.
Love and peace.
Man, does that t.ake me back! A song I hadn't heard or thought of in decades. We heard it a lot on the radio in Michigan. I've never seen them perform before.
Shout out to the guy involved in writing this song, Mitch Murray, Murray alone and with others wrote many hits, "How do you do It", "I like It", "You were made for me", "Hitch en a Ride", "Bonnie and Clyde", "Billy don't be a Hero", "The Night Chicago Died" etc.
great synopsis, Fil. nice job, as usual..
That was a fun performance! I'm familiar with the song, but I don't think I've ever watched them perform. I love bands from this era - they had great melodies and great singing, which not only wasn't pitch corrected, it wasn't overdone. I appreciate plain good singing, without a bunch of vocal gymnastics.
Hello there Fil. Well you wanted a comment, so here goes and i'll keep it brief.
You basically took over 18 mnutes of my life, to tell me something that i already knew. That Freddie Garrity could really sing ✔ . But i must admit it was good to see them again, so thank you for that 👍
Yes my dad loved him when i was a kid and said he was a great singer
That performance appears to be a live performance. P.S. thanks for verifying it's live.
Freddy was definitely one of the greatest entertainers in the history of of music, love their music,
Oh Fil you are just a GEM this is so awesome! I completely forgot about this song this is so cool thank you❤❤❤❤❤
Hi Fil, they were popular here in the states also and thank you for another great video many blessings to you and your family.
I remember Freddie and The Dreamers.Especially doing the Freddie hilarious 😅I think that was what it supposed to be
@Wings of Pegasus him wow, this brings back memories. I remember when folk complained when bands started to mime lol
I was 7 in 1965 (USA). Yes, I remember this group, and their songs. I never saw this performance, (probably on after my bedtime). The crazy stuff during the break looks like a Jerry Lewis imitation. But, there were a lot of groups out back then. They needed to stand out.
FYI, Merv Griffin was a big band singer in the 40s. He always had a great talk show in the 70s, which I got to see, (syndicated, on after I got home from school).
Fil, the way you educate us, and your appreciation of singers whose style is entirely different from your own, is the reason so many of us value you and love you.
I feel sorry that kids today do not get the musical education that was once standard in public schools. It didn't matter few would go on to use it professionally; we all benefited from the brain rewiring, the improved manual dexterity and the appreciation for the more technical aspects of music and its performance. These videos really help to make up a bit for that lost education.
True, they certainly dont have a good ear for music either!..
Thanks for showing this to us Fil! Having grown up in those days I learned to play rhythm guitar behind my head while singing - showmanship.
At dances in Jr. High Someone always requested “Do the Freddie”. And we did it! ✌️❤️
Hi Fil! Another great memory from back in the day. YES, it was HUGE here in the States. I LOVED all of The British Invasion!!! Thanks for this one and all your content. Stay safe and sane. Rosemarie 🙂🧡
Well now, that was kinda groovy!
I'm in the US. We know the song. I had it on 45, actually. I believe guys like this were the precursors to punk rock.❤ Thanks, Fil! Nice find!
Edit - and the drummer says " thank god i don't have to do the dance!"
That was Bernie, the drummer! He was a very funny guy and always had a "Well, it's a living..." look on his face.
They were Manchester group, so definitely precursors to punk. I have a big playlist of Manchester sound and it's full of so much great stuff! London pub rock is another that was precursors to punk (and New Wave).
@@UCafe238 lol!!
@@lauraallen55 very cool! I've loved the rock from Britain all the way back to the 60's. I was just a grade schooler, but i loved the music. Always! Y'all saved our souls over here!
@@Every_Day_islike_Sunday I'm from the US too! I just love the British rock and pop sound so much especially from those days. :)
So glad you highlighted the great voice of Freddie Garrity. Saw them with the Beatles in another lifetime, wonderful times.
Freddie Garrity knew not to take himself too seriously & simply enjoyed every live performance.
I was 12- in 1964, 13 in '65- the peak of the amazing "British Invasion" in America. I loved anything and everything British- all of the bands that had big hits here, are now part of my cherished memories. Just a wonderful time, never to be repeated again.
Merv Griffin showcased so many different talents. Actually, they were popolar her in the US. This live performance was amazing and fun! Thank you, Fil for this great analysis. I don't know anyone who didn't love Freddy & The Dreamers!
I was 14 at this time and I thought they were sappy, unattractive. I certainly was never gonna do the Freddy.
@@gymshoe8862 It was pretty goofy!
I never thought of just how amazingly talented this once young man was until I see you put his voice through the pitch analysis. Your work truly is important Fil! What fun! Freddie sure should have gotten so much more credit than I remember him getting. I love REAL performances from back in the day! Where's the Tardis so I can travel back to the 1960's and earlier! I'd love to hear you do some of the big band era music too Fil. Loved the Glenn Miller Band and so many others. I loved music from my grandmother's to my own era's. I don't care for the music today with the exception of some of the Christian music from the early 2000's.
The 60’s were weird/great man, great vocals! Thanks for video!
I remember how happy they made my boyfriend (now my husband for almost 54 years) and me feel whenever they were played on AM radio. One couldn’t help smiling when they were playing. They were popular when we were young teenagers growing up in Canada. 🇨🇦
For a brief moment in time, 'The Freddie' was a smash dance-craze. You just can't imagine!
I'm old and I remember this performance when it happened. In the US it got a fair amount of attention for about a week or so, then we forgot about them. I hadn't thought about them since but this is exactly what I remembered right down to the peg-trousered suits.
This is a really fun breakdown Fil! I used to listen to them when I was in grade school.
absolutely LOVE this song!!! thank you for another well done analysis ❤️