As A DJ back then, I picked this song to make it into the "Top 10". I was disappointed when it didn't however it never stopped my love for the song. Glad I found it here and was able to listen to it again.
@@SherryAnnOfTheWest are you implying that you believe those accusations, Michelle Phillips said it was bullshit, and the case with woody Allen, sounds a bit off,Roman Polanski is a story that we don't know the truth. I don't judge them from accusations
@@deanvaughan6900 Oh, Michelle Phillips said it was bullshit? Well then, I guess I was totally wrong! ROTFLMAO!!!! She was a victim of him as well!!! He "groomed' her when she was 17 years old, he was a married man of 27 years old. He had children. He divorced his wife and married Michelle when she was 18. He manipulated and dominated her and she rebelled by having many relationships with other men under the guise of "free love." She was F'd UP!!!! I believe all of it. I believe the women ... except Michelle Phillips ... she had no idea what was going on. John Phillips was a very talented man, but he was also a controlling, mean person - according to many sources. He was also an addict with a true addict's personality ... do what you have to to get what you want. Highly charismatic, handsome, talented ... scary. And Polanski? He originally pleaded not guilty to all charges but later accepted a plea bargain whose terms included dismissal of the five more serious charges in exchange for a guilty plea to the lesser charge of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. That dude is GUILTY. Woody Allen? I know his wife is not about 50 ... but the way they became involved and their relationship and her age when they got together leaves a bad taste in most peoples' mouths ... he's also made a lot of statements over the years that have NOT "aged" well ... sexist, predatory, just plain weird. He's creepy and possibly, legally, a child molester.
@@SherryAnnOfTheWest I just don't give a shit. It's all old news,having been falsely accused at one time I always believe there is more going on than anyone knows. It was only about a song and now you bring up all the accusations, who cares anymore. Everyone pays for their wrongs one way or another. John Phillips was a great songwriter. I wasn't their to comment on their personal lives,and it's not something I care about. I WAS COMMENTING ON A SONG,FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.
@@deanvaughan6900 LOL --- I just made a comment how I love the song, don't love the singer. Separating the art from the artist is difficult for me sometimes and there are times I can't do it. I really can't see why you are getting so worked up, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. You answered my comment so I told you why I said it ... if you don't want to hear it, don't engage. And, as for all that stuff being "old news," I'm wondering if the victims feel that way --- something like that affects you for your whole life ... you never get rid of it. It's the people who say "It's all old news" who give perpetrators a better chance to offend since they know some people will let them get away with it. I don't know about you, but I'm a parent and that kind of stuff has always been a major concern, as I think it is for most parents.
I first heard this song as a jingle for an advert here in australia in the seventies.The tune stuck in my head and i searched for a long time. Finally yes. I look forward to playing it for my brother. (i think the ad was for lipton tea, but i stand corrected.)
This was played a TON in the Pittsburgh / Northern West Virginia area when it first came out. In 1991 I was programming an oldies station in Morgantown, WV and this came in on a Dick Bartley CD. It was an "unlisted track" on the CD & when I heard it I literally started shivering! Radio programmers of today can go and do all the "research" they want, but they can't research songs they never knew existed! As I continued to listen I noticed it's not the original version. Still great, though!
The only time I remember hearing this song was when it played as audience was entering / leaving performance of Kentucky Fried Theater on Pico Blvd in Los Angeles sometime in the 70's. Although I think it was a different group, more laid back as I recall, don't know why I didn't recognize as a Mamas and Papas song. I'm sure glad to find it again after all these years thanks to casting a wide net in the music service I subscribe to - a version by another group came up that I didn't particularly like but I found the song! Lots of versions, hope I can track down the group I heard back then.
Certainly appreciate the post however is there a cleaner version of this one out there? (by the way...love the video and particularly the "legs"......and the hitchin' rump) Good stuff man!
John experimented with a lot of different types of drugs, but his favorites were cocaine and heroin. 12 pages of his 1986 autobiography "Papa John" refer toi his heroin addiction; 30 document his bouts with cocaine. He's just a really sad case of a great talent who,was both a professional success and a personal failure. His flaws as a human being hurt the most important people in his life -- especially his wives and children. Did he eventually regret his actions? Yes -- I think so.
Hi pickrhead Your welcome for sure.If you really love the river check out "old man river" by the flamingos on my site. You may see pictures of parts of the river you love.. Thanks Hwaj5300
The book The Wrecking Crew by Kent Hartman solves mysteries about this record. "Third Hand" was keyboard player Larry Knechtel's nickname. Drummer Hal Blaine & bassist Joe ("Joseph") Osborne fill out the rhythm section, with Ricky Nelson's (and later Elvis') guitar player ("Do it to me") James Burton on dobro. Need confirmation that it's Darlene Love & The Blossoms on background vocals, and who's on fiddle? This is about the best anyone has ever done with just three chords over and over.
Thanks. I understood the calling of Hal Blaine and James Burton but I wasn't sure of the others. I love this song and I didn't come onto this song until about 2017. Really neat arrangement and I like it that John gave credit to all those musicians with their solos.
Yes Darlene love (See: The Blossoms they were all on the Wolfking album) John Phillips - vocals, guitar, harmonica Buddy Emmons - pedal steel James Burton - guitar, dobro Red Rhodes - steel guitar Darlene Love - vocals Fanita James - vocals Jean King - vocals Gordon Terry - fiddle, violin Hal Blaine - drums David Cohen - guitar Dr. Eric Hord - guitar Larry Knechtel - keyboards Joe Osborn - bass Larry Knechtel was also on Johnny River's "Rockin' Pneumonia." and most famously received a Grammy for the piano work on Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Waters.
@@8176morgan A very catchy tune alright. I used to hear it several times a day on the local radio station, Famous 56, WFIL!, out of Philadelphia, PA, in the song's heyday. Good memories.
@@TralfazConstruction I grew up in the New England area and although I was listening to the radio quite a lot back then I never remembered it being played on either WRKO in Boston, or WPRO in Providence. You were more fortunate than I was as it is indeed a catchy tune written and sung by a very talented musician.
Believe it or not, this song was a hit in Chicago, where it made it up to #7 on the WCFL chart on 7/6/70. Was not played on WLS. One of my favourites growing up.
I think though that the words are "why you never know just what you're doin". First heard this in early December 1970 having gone down to Raleigh, NC from DC to attend a party. Bought the album. Haven't tried yet, but will see if possible to get it on CD. Thanks so much for the wonderful story book you created to go with this even more wonderful song. Allen
Good gracious haven't heard this song in what...40 years?! Amazing what one stumbles on here in the middle of the night. Great job and thanks so much for posting this!
Back when this first came out I had no idea that it was the guy from The Mamas and the Papas!.....Great old song!....Hope it never completely fades into obscurity !
Holy SMOKES! I have been a M&P fan all my life. But I was only familiar with their much played radio hits. I should have dug deeper! This is now my new favorite !.... even though it is 40 years old! Just goes to show no matter how old something is, if you've never heard it it's new to YOU! Thanks for posting this .... it so rocks!
Actually, this recording WAS a hit, reaching #32 over a 12 week run beginning 5-16-70 as ABC Dunhill 4239. It was the only one of JP's solo releases to chart. It's off his only solo album, "Wolf King of L.A.", which Phillips described in his biography as a dud, even though it did reach #181 over 9 weeks on Billboard's LP charts.
I remember it getting a lot of airplay on WRKO in Boston. I even sounded OK on one of those wretched little pocket radios that were all the rage back then.
I always liked this song, but there's something about it that makes me feel Phillips kind of "ran out of gas" while composing lyrics. There's an incomplete story in all this. Great music, great lyrics, and then...drops off entirely.
My parents had this on 45. They’d play it at parties they’d have on weekends. Everyone seemed to love it. Including myself as a nine year old kid at the time
A couple of mistakes in the lyrics as displayed ... "Lewisville" should be "Louisville" and "Down on the bayou, boy" should be "Down on the bayou, why" ... if I'm not deaf.
Great song,great album!I first heard this album in 1971,and have it on my I-pod today-in fact i listened to it today on my way back from breakfast.The back up band on this album reads like a who's-who.The video is stunning also.
0:06 - "Hit it, Hal" refers to drummer Hal Blaine of the famed Wrecking Crew. At 0:36 - "Do it to me, James" refers to famed studio guitarist James Burton (Elvis, Ricky Nelson). At 1:06, "Third Hand" is the nickname for famed Wrecking Crew keyboardist Larry Knechtel. This must be an album version - I don't remember Blaine's trick drum burst at 3:17. Cool !
3:12 Kind of reminds me of the early stereos that had a mono-stereo-reverse switch, which was probably meant to accommodate kludgey things like AM-FM/L-R stereo and tapes recorded on one of four tracks. Anyway, it was always fun to flip from stereo to reverse in the middle of a song.
Hey Thanks. You just made my new year, because as a whole that is what I try to do. I am trying to upload songs that I do not see too much of if any I do hope you enjoyed it
9 років тому+2
80th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY TODAY JOHN PHILLIPS (August 30, 1935 - March 18, 2001)
at 1:06 I don't believe he says: "third hand alone" before the piano vamp solo. I think he might very likely be saying "Bert Hanlon". Bert Hanlon was a ragtime composer who wrote a song called M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I ... Coincidence? www.loc.gov/jukebox/recordings/detail/id/6164
Yep, Phillips says "Third hand Lawrence (or Laurence)". As pointed out "three hands" or "third hand" was a nickname given to Larry Knechtel. He was the great keyboardist that is responsible for the beautiful piano lead on "Bridge Over Troubled Water" Won a Grammy for it too!
@hunkydaboyz I always thought he was saying "third hand, Loren (Lauren?). I don't know...was there a pianist named Loren (Lauren) back then? Anyway,'third hand' means a piano player who's so good it's as if they played with three hands.
Pays homage to The Wrecking Crew. And has The Blossoms (with Darlene Love) on background vocals. Also, please turn up the volume so you can hear the pre-song reference to Hal Blaine on drums.
Searched for John Phillips Mississippi about three months ago and found nothing. For no particular reason done the same tonight and found this. Merry Christmas, me!!!!!
Now if the "butt holes" that won't let their copy-writes be infringed...take a lesson they too will soon learn that these post remind people of a time in their livesthat are usually precieved as " better". and they purchase it. Thanks for that
I don't know how anyone can pick anyone's side on wether the accusations against John are true or not. They both had their problems with drugs, both messed up. Both parties could have lied, who knows. And John can't even defend himself. I just don't know how you all can pick a side. The fact is, we will probably never know what happened.
This was John's only solo hit, reaching.#32 over a 12 week chart run in the summer of 1970. He recorded it for his "Wolf King" album while still heavily addicted, which is why the rest of the album is nowhere as good as this genuine gem. Note that it appears to be cut together from three different takes. The first edit is at 1:58 when he appears to say "Chelsea" for no apparent reason. The second is at 3:18 when there is a brief out-of-context hard drum solo -- again for no apparent reason. ;
@actionsub I checked a site that has scanned old KXOK surveys. I started at May, 1970 and found it listed for only one week...June 27, 1970 at position #26. I checked a few weeks after that just to make sure. I'm sure I heard it for more than just one week, so the DJays must have tried to get it to go somewhere and played it more than for just for the one week it was on the survey.
Another long-lost OBG (oldie but goodie) - but this version is a bit longer than the one I remember (my brother's 45). That one skipped from the second chorus of "And the Mississippi River runs...I don't hardly mind" into repetition of "Down on the bayou..." until fade out. About a half to a full minute shorter than this version - but no matter, still good to hear it. These days it hardly gets any airplay to speak of on the OBG stations.
See what happens when I type at 2 AM? Of course, "Louisville" is the correct spelling. Sometimes late at night he two fingers I type with get tangled in knots. The 00-track CD box set I assembled for Reader's Digest, by the way, is now out of print but contained virtually everything the M&P recorded together plus solo material. Half the reason I put it together was as an excuse to reissue "Mississippi"!
Sadly, Phillips was in terrible shape while making his solo album due to the out-of-control drug use which cost him his wife, family, fortune and career. "Mississippi" is a GREAT track. Sadly, though, the rest of the album truly IS junk. JP was a musicial genius -- destroyed by his inability to retain any sense of right or wrong in his life.
@actionsub --Yeah, I guess they must have. I listened to KXOK mostly, and I definitely remember it well. I had it (still do...on the original Dunhill label, nearly mint) on a 45 and on c.d., but I come here to listen to it because this is a slightly longer version.
I remember my late friend Roy Norris used to play this on his morning show. Besides working at the radio station, Roy also farmed. He would drive in from his farm to do his show.
@MrBertla I would guess that, since he introduced everybody doing a solo in this song ie James Burton-dobro, and Joe Osborn-bass, he's probably referring to Larry Knechtel who was on piano.
Thanks, Harry. This overlooked gem -- one of my all-tiume favorites -- reached only #32 nationally in the summer of 1970 as John Phillips' only solo hit. Superb though it is, the rest of his solo album is, well, nowhere as good. Tiny lyric corrections: "Lewisville" is actually spelled "loiusville>" Also, where you write "boy" each time, the lyric appears to have been sung as "why." I produced a 3 CD M&P box set that included this track.
To add a correction again to "Lewisville" and "Loiusville" --the correct spelling is "Louisville." I grew up and have relatives in the area. The pronunciation as best I can spell it is "Lou-vul". You pretty much swallow that last syllable. Yet I keep hearing Louie-ville. Just two cents worth from a Kentucky girl.
Great song... "Swamps all around make ya feel kinda funny, don't they, honey/ She crossed her legs and looked at me funny" is one of the funniest lines ever.
As A DJ back then, I picked this song to make it into the "Top 10". I was disappointed when it didn't however it never stopped my love for the song. Glad I found it here and was able to listen to it again.
Still one of the best songs ever
Really good ... but it's sure a hard job to separate the "man" from the "art," like Woody Allen or Roman Polanski ....
@@SherryAnnOfTheWest are you implying that you believe those accusations, Michelle Phillips said it was bullshit, and the case with woody Allen, sounds a bit off,Roman Polanski is a story that we don't know the truth. I don't judge them from accusations
@@deanvaughan6900 Oh, Michelle Phillips said it was bullshit? Well then, I guess I was totally wrong! ROTFLMAO!!!! She was a victim of him as well!!! He "groomed' her when she was 17 years old, he was a married man of 27 years old. He had children. He divorced his wife and married Michelle when she was 18. He manipulated and dominated her and she rebelled by having many relationships with other men under the guise of "free love." She was F'd UP!!!!
I believe all of it. I believe the women ... except Michelle Phillips ... she had no idea what was going on.
John Phillips was a very talented man, but he was also a controlling, mean person - according to many sources. He was also an addict with a true addict's personality ... do what you have to to get what you want. Highly charismatic, handsome, talented ... scary.
And Polanski? He originally pleaded not guilty to all charges but later accepted a plea bargain whose terms included dismissal of the five more serious charges in exchange for a guilty plea to the lesser charge of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. That dude is GUILTY.
Woody Allen? I know his wife is not about 50 ... but the way they became involved and their relationship and her age when they got together leaves a bad taste in most peoples' mouths ... he's also made a lot of statements over the years that have NOT "aged" well ... sexist, predatory, just plain weird. He's creepy and possibly, legally, a child molester.
@@SherryAnnOfTheWest I just don't give a shit. It's all old news,having been falsely accused at one time I always believe there is more going on than anyone knows. It was only about a song and now you bring up all the accusations, who cares anymore. Everyone pays for their wrongs one way or another. John Phillips was a great songwriter. I wasn't their to comment on their personal lives,and it's not something I care about. I WAS COMMENTING ON A SONG,FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.
@@deanvaughan6900 LOL --- I just made a comment how I love the song, don't love the singer. Separating the art from the artist is difficult for me sometimes and there are times I can't do it.
I really can't see why you are getting so worked up, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. You answered my comment so I told you why I said it ... if you don't want to hear it, don't engage.
And, as for all that stuff being "old news," I'm wondering if the victims feel that way --- something like that affects you for your whole life ... you never get rid of it. It's the people who say "It's all old news" who give perpetrators a better chance to offend since they know some people will let them get away with it.
I don't know about you, but I'm a parent and that kind of stuff has always been a major concern, as I think it is for most parents.
I have loved this song since the first time I heard it back in 1970.
I love this song. I love Papa John. I love the mamas & papas . Thanks for posting it
I remember our local oldies station used to play this song in the wee hours of the morning back in 1996, haven't heard it since then.
@4string59 They used to play this song at the roller skating rink (ring?). North Denver 1970. wow.
I first heard this song as a jingle for an advert here in australia in the seventies.The tune stuck in my head and i searched for a long time. Finally yes. I look forward to playing it for my brother. (i think the ad was for lipton tea, but i stand corrected.)
This was played a TON in the Pittsburgh / Northern West Virginia area when it first came out. In 1991 I was programming an oldies station in Morgantown, WV and this came in on a Dick Bartley CD. It was an "unlisted track" on the CD & when I heard it I literally started shivering! Radio programmers of today can go and do all the "research" they want, but they can't research songs they never knew existed! As I continued to listen I noticed it's not the original version. Still great, though!
thanks for diggin' up this rare gem!!!
Great presentation! I really enjoyed it having recently returned from "Nawlins"! Thanks for that!
I love the snare drum! great post. thanks
@bookkeeper57 Especially since John Phillips' Wolf King Of L.A. album has been out of print for far too long.
Would love to have spent just one day with the Wolf King...not sure I would have survived it, but what a way to go!
Just love this song. I had it on Spotify but it´s taken away :(
Download this one then - it will disappear someday as well...
The only time I remember hearing this song was when it played as audience was entering / leaving performance of Kentucky Fried Theater on Pico Blvd in Los Angeles sometime in the 70's. Although I think it was a different group, more laid back as I recall, don't know why I didn't recognize as a Mamas and Papas song. I'm sure glad to find it again after all these years thanks to casting a wide net in the music service I subscribe to - a version by another group came up that I didn't particularly like but I found the song! Lots of versions, hope I can track down the group I heard back then.
You are quite welcome & Happy new year! to you
thanks for your comment.
Certainly appreciate the post however is there a cleaner version of this one out there?
(by the way...love the video and particularly the "legs"......and the hitchin' rump) Good stuff man!
amazing know loads that love this!
And that's why I love it
Thanks
Hwaj5300
hwaj great sound. thanks
@horarwgt What was John Phillips' drug of choice?
At least in terms of music, I'm agraid I do too.
early in the a.m. someone hitched a ride ..... then what happened.
John experimented with a lot of different types of drugs, but his favorites were cocaine and heroin. 12 pages of his 1986 autobiography "Papa John" refer toi his heroin addiction; 30 document his bouts with cocaine. He's just a really sad case of a great talent who,was both a professional success and a personal failure. His flaws as a human being hurt the most important people in his life -- especially his wives and children. Did he eventually regret his actions? Yes -- I think so.
Great song! Thanks for posting. Just for the record, though, it's Louisville, not Lewisville.
Hi pickrhead
Your welcome for sure.If you really love the river
check out "old man river" by the flamingos on my site.
You may see pictures of parts of the river you love..
Thanks Hwaj5300
Great song but, for your info, the correct spelling of the northernmost Southern city is "Louisville."
just ace
@KyplayaZ4lyfe
Picky.....Picky.....Picky
Thanks
Hwaj5300
Lewisville.............? Try Louisville.
The book The Wrecking Crew by Kent Hartman solves mysteries about this record. "Third Hand" was keyboard player Larry Knechtel's nickname. Drummer Hal Blaine & bassist Joe ("Joseph") Osborne fill out the rhythm section, with Ricky Nelson's (and later Elvis') guitar player ("Do it to me") James Burton on dobro. Need confirmation that it's Darlene Love & The Blossoms on background vocals, and who's on fiddle? This is about the best anyone has ever done with just three chords over and over.
Thanks. I understood the calling of Hal Blaine and James Burton but I wasn't sure of the others. I love this song and I didn't come onto this song until about 2017. Really neat arrangement and I like it that John gave credit to all those musicians with their solos.
Yes Darlene love (See: The Blossoms they were all on the Wolfking album)
John Phillips - vocals, guitar, harmonica
Buddy Emmons - pedal steel
James Burton - guitar, dobro
Red Rhodes - steel guitar
Darlene Love - vocals
Fanita James - vocals
Jean King - vocals
Gordon Terry - fiddle, violin
Hal Blaine - drums
David Cohen - guitar
Dr. Eric Hord - guitar
Larry Knechtel - keyboards
Joe Osborn - bass
Larry Knechtel was also on Johnny River's "Rockin' Pneumonia." and most famously received a Grammy for the piano work on Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Waters.
Yes, this was in the very first American Top 40 countdown with Casey Kasem on Sun July 4, 1970!!
Thank you for that interesting bit of information. That's noteworthy.
@@TralfazConstruction I believe that it reached as high as #32 on the Billboard charts.
@@8176morgan A very catchy tune alright. I used to hear it several times a day on the local radio station, Famous 56, WFIL!, out of Philadelphia, PA, in the song's heyday. Good memories.
@@TralfazConstruction I grew up in the New England area and although I was listening to the radio quite a lot back then I never remembered it being played on either WRKO in Boston, or WPRO in Providence. You were more fortunate than I was as it is indeed a catchy tune written and sung by a very talented musician.
Man, I could never understand why Phillips' solo stuff didn't go. He was such a great song writer.
Believe it or not, this song was a hit in Chicago, where it made it up to #7 on the WCFL chart on 7/6/70. Was not played on WLS. One of my favourites growing up.
Yep, I remember this song well, brings back some unique memories....
listened to CFL and LS all the time back then......great music stations......Lujack, Winston, Landecker.........
Lujack...the best there ever was
I think though that the words are "why you never know just what you're doin".
First heard this in early December 1970 having gone down to Raleigh, NC from DC to attend a party. Bought the album. Haven't tried yet, but will see if possible to get it on CD. Thanks so much for the wonderful story book you created to go with this even more wonderful song. Allen
Here's a high five for catching that, and for the correct usage of "you're."
0:22 It's spelled "Louisville" -- as in Kentucky. And this was actually a Top 40 hit!
+trfesok Maybe she was headed out of Lewisville, TX.
That isn't on the Mississippi...
+trfesok "Louisville", you forgot the 'i'.....
+Dewey Cedarblade .... Yes, there is a Lewisville Highway isn't there? It also sounds like "... down THE Lewisville.... " not 'TO' Lewisville....
+Kenni Kuhlmann-Clark corrected, thx!
Good gracious haven't heard this song in what...40 years?! Amazing what one stumbles on here in the middle of the night. Great job and thanks so much for posting this!
Back when this first came out I had no idea that it was the guy from The Mamas and the Papas!.....Great old song!....Hope it never completely fades into obscurity !
Somehow, it was a hit here in Philadelphia. It got a lot of airplay here.
Famous 56, WFIL! I remember too.
Holy SMOKES! I have been a M&P fan all my life. But I was only familiar with their much played radio hits. I should have dug deeper! This is now my new favorite !.... even though it is 40 years old! Just goes to show no matter how old something is, if you've never heard it it's new to YOU! Thanks for posting this .... it so rocks!
Rest In Peace Papa John Phillips (1935-2001)
Actually, this recording WAS a hit, reaching #32 over a 12 week run beginning 5-16-70 as ABC Dunhill 4239. It was the only one of JP's solo releases to chart. It's off his only solo album, "Wolf King of L.A.", which Phillips described in his biography as a dud, even though it did reach #181 over 9 weeks on Billboard's LP charts.
I remember it getting a lot of airplay on WRKO in Boston. I even sounded OK on one of those wretched little pocket radios that were all the rage back then.
Number 12 on WSAI in June, 1970.
Fred Ross I heard it there too!
+Fred Ross Another incinnati Boy
This song is the essence of the summer of 1970 for me (also from the 'nati).
I always liked this song, but there's something about it that makes me feel Phillips kind of "ran out of gas" while composing lyrics. There's an incomplete story in all this. Great music, great lyrics, and then...drops off entirely.
My parents had this on 45. They’d play it at parties they’d have on weekends. Everyone seemed to love it. Including myself as a nine year old kid at the time
Ahhhhhh, I bet you were cute😁
A couple of mistakes in the lyrics as displayed ... "Lewisville" should be "Louisville" and "Down on the bayou, boy" should be "Down on the bayou, why" ... if I'm not deaf.
Great song! John Phillips was such a great songwriter. Too bad it wasn't a big hit when it came out. It's got such a feel to it.
This song was a minor hit.
It reached the top-40 & just missed the top-30, hitting #32.
Great song,great album!I first heard this album in 1971,and have it on my I-pod today-in fact i listened to it today on my way back from breakfast.The back up band on this album reads like a who's-who.The video is stunning also.
0:06 - "Hit it, Hal" refers to drummer Hal Blaine of the famed Wrecking Crew. At 0:36 - "Do it to me, James" refers to famed studio guitarist James Burton (Elvis, Ricky Nelson). At 1:06, "Third Hand" is the nickname for famed Wrecking Crew keyboardist Larry Knechtel. This must be an album version - I don't remember Blaine's trick drum burst at 3:17. Cool !
burlingtonbill1 I knew it was Burton,such a talented guitarist,Elvis,Gram Parsons etc
The Wrecking Crew was...THE...... band back in those days!
He also refers to Wrecking Crew bassist Joe Osborn before the bass solo..."Joseph".
Yost??? He says Yost!!
burlingtonbill1 is a time
Yes
3:12 Kind of reminds me of the early stereos that had a mono-stereo-reverse switch, which was probably meant to accommodate kludgey things like AM-FM/L-R stereo and tapes recorded on one of four tracks. Anyway, it was always fun to flip from stereo to reverse in the middle of a song.
Hey
Thanks. You just made my new year, because as a whole that is what I try to do.
I am trying to upload songs that I do not see too much of if any I do hope you enjoyed it
80th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY TODAY
JOHN PHILLIPS
(August 30, 1935 - March 18, 2001)
at 1:06 I don't believe he says: "third hand alone" before the piano vamp solo. I think he might very likely be saying "Bert Hanlon". Bert Hanlon was a ragtime composer who wrote a song called M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I ... Coincidence? www.loc.gov/jukebox/recordings/detail/id/6164
+Kenni Kuhlmann-Clark
I believe it's also ."why you never know just what you're doin'" not "Boy you never know"
But nice presentation !!
+Peter Crowl ... Correct, I didn't notice that....
"Third Hand" was the nickname for the great Wrecking Crew keyboardist Larry Knechtel.
Maybe it's both....maybe they switch the words?
Yep, Phillips says "Third hand Lawrence (or Laurence)". As pointed out "three hands" or "third hand" was a nickname given to Larry Knechtel. He was the great keyboardist that is responsible for the beautiful piano lead on "Bridge Over Troubled Water" Won a Grammy for it too!
@jackmackeral1
To Me.....Words are only trivializing The important thing......The sound..Thanks
Hwaj5300
In our hearts...... they are HITS
Alas by the charts............They are not
@hunkydaboyz I always thought he was saying "third hand, Loren (Lauren?). I don't know...was there a pianist named Loren (Lauren) back then? Anyway,'third hand' means a piano player who's so good it's as if they played with three hands.
Pays homage to The Wrecking Crew. And has The Blossoms (with Darlene Love) on background vocals.
Also, please turn up the volume so you can hear the pre-song reference to Hal Blaine on drums.
Guess all comments mean We Love This Song! Funny and intro into Bayou songs,,,,,,
Shoulda known it was Hal Blaine's drums - what a great session guy !
Sort of reminds of "Ruby" by the First Edition.
Great memories for us Aussies.
Searched for John Phillips Mississippi about three months ago and found nothing. For no particular reason done the same tonight and found this. Merry Christmas, me!!!!!
@lrd9999 Well..this was definitely a hidden gem in 1970 and even in the modern era!
Oh boy - those were the days...
Not really country, not really rock. PERFECT.
Now if the "butt holes"
that won't let their copy-writes be infringed...take a lesson they too will soon learn that these post remind people of a time in their livesthat are usually precieved as " better".
and they purchase it.
Thanks for that
Very nice! Loved the pictures and music.
I don't know how anyone can pick anyone's side on wether the accusations against John are true or not. They both had their problems with drugs, both messed up. Both parties could have lied, who knows. And John can't even defend himself. I just don't know how you all can pick a side. The fact is, we will probably never know what happened.
just listen to all the recordings from the group the mamas & the papas and listen to the stereophonic sound, you will be amaze by the quality!
Funky & Fun
Absolutely! ..... fun and funky!!!!!!!!!
I havent heard this song in a million yrs....thank you for posting!!!!!
@ThorVonLomax
Not as big as those two but better for sure
Thanks
Hwaj5300
His Wolf King of LA was regarded as the perfect next M and the P album. But that it could have been... :-(
@navajopete
What can I say except I like it .....And your welcome
hwaj5300
@hwaj5300 Thanks for posting this! Haven't heard it in ages. The city is spelled "Louisville."
This was John's only solo hit, reaching.#32 over a 12 week chart run in the summer of 1970. He recorded it for his "Wolf King" album while still heavily addicted, which is why the rest of the album is nowhere as good as this genuine gem. Note that it appears to be cut together from three different takes. The first edit is at 1:58 when he appears to say "Chelsea" for no apparent reason. The second is at 3:18 when there is a brief out-of-context hard drum solo -- again for no apparent reason. ;
@actionsub
I checked a site that has scanned old KXOK surveys. I started at May, 1970 and found it listed for only one week...June 27, 1970 at position #26. I checked a few weeks after that just to make sure. I'm sure I heard it for more than just one week, so the DJays must have tried to get it to go somewhere and played it more than for just for the one week it was on the survey.
Another long-lost OBG (oldie but goodie) - but this version is a bit longer than the one I remember (my brother's 45). That one skipped from the second chorus of "And the Mississippi River runs...I don't hardly mind" into repetition of "Down on the bayou..." until fade out. About a half to a full minute shorter than this version - but no matter, still good to hear it. These days it hardly gets any airplay to speak of on the OBG stations.
See what happens when I type at 2 AM? Of course, "Louisville" is the correct spelling. Sometimes late at night he two fingers I type with get tangled in knots. The 00-track CD box set I assembled for Reader's Digest, by the way, is now out of print but contained virtually everything the M&P recorded together plus solo material. Half the reason I put it together was as an excuse to reissue "Mississippi"!
Sadly, Phillips was in terrible shape while making his solo album due to the out-of-control drug use which cost him his wife, family, fortune and career. "Mississippi" is a GREAT track. Sadly, though, the rest of the album truly IS junk. JP was a musicial genius -- destroyed by his inability to retain any sense of right or wrong in his life.
Very beautiful . The sound of my childhood and of my parents . I am a Disco Rock Hippy .
@actionsub --Yeah, I guess they must have. I listened to KXOK mostly, and I definitely remember it well. I had it (still do...on the original Dunhill label, nearly mint) on a 45 and on c.d., but I come here to listen to it because this is a slightly longer version.
I remember my late friend Roy Norris used to play this on his morning show. Besides
working at the radio station, Roy also farmed. He would drive in from his farm to do his show.
@bearcatowner
Thanks for sharing that Bearcatowner
Hwaj5300
First heard this song in Vietnam. Had to buy it when I got home. 1970
Alumni of this song is the who's who of music Darlene Love, Hal Blaine and James Burton.
@MrBertla I would guess that, since he introduced everybody doing a solo in this song ie James Burton-dobro, and Joe Osborn-bass, he's probably referring to Larry Knechtel who was on piano.
Every time I hear this song, it takes me Up & Away!
Thanks, Harry. This overlooked gem -- one of my all-tiume favorites -- reached only #32 nationally in the summer of 1970 as John Phillips' only solo hit. Superb though it is, the rest of his solo album is, well, nowhere as good. Tiny lyric corrections: "Lewisville" is actually spelled "loiusville>" Also, where you write "boy" each time, the lyric appears to have been sung as "why." I produced a 3 CD M&P box set that included this track.
To add a correction again to "Lewisville" and "Loiusville" --the correct spelling is "Louisville." I grew up and have relatives in the area. The pronunciation as best I can spell it is "Lou-vul". You pretty much swallow that last syllable. Yet I keep hearing Louie-ville. Just two cents worth from a Kentucky girl.
Agreed, horarwgt. When the OP writes "boy" in the song, John Phillips is actually saying "why".
Great song...
"Swamps all around make ya feel kinda funny, don't they, honey/
She crossed her legs and looked at me funny" is one of the funniest lines ever.
Actually in certain areas of the country this got lots of airplay.I for one played the heck out of this plus the wolfking album cut April anne...
@hwaj5300 As for the drummer, it was Hal Blaine. And John introduces him at the very beginning of the song when he says "Hit it, Hal".
Q (anybody): Is this the same John Phillips that was from The Mamas And The Papas?
@tinkmarz1 ok , right , because he normaly says the name of the guy who plays the instrument , , i'll go back ands listen again
I Found this in a 45 bin when I was about 10, loved it ever since
I would have loved to have heard Elvis's version of this but Colonel Tom Parker rejected the song from "some hippy".
@djgoose57
It was my pleasure
Thanks
Hwaj5300
Great song!!!
We recieved a lot of airplay on this in the summer of 1970 and were in Eastern Canada.I loved it then and still love it now.