I was a 17 year old kid and on my own in the world ... with no fucking clue and I knew it. But it was a heady time with lots of anticipation. I had nothing going on, just a '63 Plymouth and ready to flunk out of college. Now I'm retired 6 years. I'll be 65 in late January and I got it all, riding a fast carbon fiber racing bike, and still searching for that same 1969 excitement. I'm thinking that it's just an illusion for those who's job it has been to keep all the balls in the air at once. The lyrics say it all - When I die I hope to be A better man than you thought I'd be It's been hard to make you see What kind of man I'm tryin' to be All I ask for you to try To understand what it means to me It's not hard to understand why you Get discouraged all the time I keep tryin' not to worry, but I Can't help feelin' lost in you But I lo--o--o--o--ove you Love you And I need you Time goes by and you'll find That we'll achieve a love sublime When I die I hope I'll be The kind of man than you thought I'd be It's not hard to understand why you Get discouraged all the time I keep tryin' not to worry, but I Can't help feelin' lost in you But I lo--o--o--o--ove you Love you And I need you 'Cause I love you and I want you 'Cause I got to, got to have you 'Cause I, 'cause I need you When I die I hope I'll be The kind of man than you thought I'd be Be (the kind of man that you thought I'd) ...
Childhood memories unlike today, playing outside in the park, riding our bikes all over the city, playing tops, softball, basketball, handball, reading comic books, eating Twinkies for a snack, going to the candy store for soda, or to the deli for a sandwich, girls wearing short shorts in the summer, holding hands meant something, go-go boots & mini skirts, you wore English Leather cologne, making out in the hallway, good times for teen and this song brings it all back. Peace to ya who remember
Wow that would have been an amazing show haha.. Lucky bastard :) the guitar player sounds like he was majorly influenced by Bloomfield. Really notice it on the song Hard Life from this album when he takes a jazzy solo that sounds like something straight off the Super Sessions album.
I have always treasured this classic since hearing it for the first time in late September 1969. It has made such an indelible impression on me that I have asked that it be played at my funeral.
I just LOVE this song. I loved it when it came out in Summer of 1969, but for some reason, it got played a lot during that summer then seemed to disappear, presumebly forever. I never hear it played much anywhere, so I'm so thankful to you blz2nlz4 and youtube for making this great memory for me.
One of the greatest songs in the history of music. Not sure how many hundreds of times I have enjoyed this masterpiece. I just dusted of their LP, "When I Die", and gave it a spin. Am I proud to be Canadian? You bet!
What a great and rare clip. Thanks so much for this. This clip is as valuable as it is rare. There was another clip that featured part of a Motherlode clip. It's no longer on UA-cam now. Motherlode clips are as rare as Van McCoy clips.
One hit wonder for the 60's a beautiful classic, brings fond memories of JHS back in the Bronx NYC. Dedicate this to the class of 68' Linda Greene, Mickey, Anita Rivera. Raymond Torres,
This is one of those songs we loved back in the day but over time have forgotten all about it has been like a lost record in the jukebox of our mind.. this is the first time I have heard it since I can't remember but the second it starts brings back a flood of memories... great clip!
Finally found this song. Didn't know the groups name until tonight while driving home in a rental car with XM radio. Terry Young played it on XM6 and I saw the groups name on the display. I listened to all these different artist that sang When I Die that must have been done after 1969. Love the harmony and the words and the memories of a wonderful girl that never got to see the kind of man that she thought I could be...
One of my absolute favorites of 1969-- so many memories-- cruising windsor street in halifax ns-- having my first crush on an older guy name Donny Downey, bill lynchens fair on windsor street-- and so many hunky guys to chase all summer long--lol...ah to be young again!!
I hear ya! I remember walking the halls of Balfour Collegiate in Regina humming it...all those memories come flooding to me. Sometimes the best memories make us sad because they won't happen again.
This is sweet, thanks for the download, love my oldies and had forgotten this gem, immediately downloaded it from i tunes. This song brings back great memories and they make them like this anymore (sweet soul music).
I always loved this song, now hearing put back in time so many memories of my teenage years most of my friends have since passed because of the life they lived Drugs. So sad.
Listening to this now, in 2020, I'm hearing it as if one man was singing his song, being more vocal, smoothing the chord transitions with more conversational, expressive vocals, building up the intensity. Back then, I was made to love her in a world lost without her, and I wanted to be a better man as I lived.
Don't know where you found this, but I am glad you did!! Great band. Kenny Marco is in there on guitar ( he was one of the best). I think the other singers name was Michael Smith aka Smitty.
Last night in Oshawa at The Lighthouse Band concert (June 10th 2022) Steve Kennedy of Motherlode/Lighthouse, writer of this song and saxophonist extraordinaire played his final concert with Lighthouse (40 years of Sunny Days).
I absolutely love this song, what great vocals & harmony, I didn't know that one of the singers played the sax along with singing, they sure don't make them like that anymore is absolutely right!
I had never heard this song before.....but I heard it the first time on XM radios's Soul Town.... I never knew they were a white Canadian group...not that THAT matters....these guys have soul.....and great harmonies.
Omg this song and album is so damn good. Picked it up not knowing anything but Carol Kaye was on bass for most of the songs. I'm glad I did, what a gem! Thanks for this.
I remember when this song came out and I bought the 45. I didn't understand why Blood Sweat & Tears' song got more air play than this. I like BS&T, but this one was under-rated.
Unfortunately these guys broke up soon after this but the three white guys went on to be a part of a project called Dr. Music, and "Sun goes by" is an excellent track if you can find it.
Wow! Did not know that! I was just listening to this from my collection recently. Did not know that. I also love listening to "One More Mountain (To Climb)".
Esto es música de verdad y no la que se difunde en sudamérica, lamentablemente. Las radios comerciales torturan con el pop latino, música tropical y melódico internacional, verdadero calvario para los oídos!!!! Tengo el vinilo de esta brillante banda canadiense, que supo conjugar como pocos la música rural, soul, funky y rock, excelentes armonías vocales e instrumentales. Hace tiempo encontré un comentario suelto que quería compartir para saber algo más de este grupo. "Motherlode went through a ton of personnel changes over the course of its brief existence, but when this LP was recorded in 1969 the lineup was William "Smitty" Smith (organ, piano, vocals), Ken Marco (guitar, vocals), Wayne "Stoney" Stone (drums) and Steve Kennedy (saxophone, harmonica and vocals). The four had previously been members of Grant Smith and The Power, but split and formed Motherlode in order to play their own material. After holing up in London, Ontario and playing any gig they could get, they caught the ear of Mort Ross, who signed them to his label Revolver Records in 1969. Their first single, "When I Die," didn't go anywhere in Canada at first, but hit the Top 20 in the States and subsequently sold over 500,000 copies. Their first full-length, also named When I Die, was released before the end of the year, and although "Memories Of A Broken Promise" was also a moderate hit, that was pretty much it for Motherlode. The quartet had trouble recording their second album and broke up in early 1970; the album (Tapped Out) was posthumously released in the U.S. only. Kennedy, Stone and Marco immediately joined Doug Riley's band Dr. Music, while Smith brought in three new guys and recorded another single as Motherlode. When it flopped they broke up, but that didn't stop Revolver (who owned the rights to the name) from going through three more incarnations of "Motherlode" before calling it quits for good. The original foursome did get together in 1976 for a single ("Happy People," which had to be released as a Ken Marco solo number for legal reasons) and a series of Toronto reunion performances in 1989".
You are welcome :) I wanted to post some of these obscure but wonderful hits of the 60's and 70's. They were just as special to me as the 'Top 20' lists that are still played endlessly today!
These guys are from London?! I just learned they were Canadian after I fell in love with this album and the fact they are from my city is blowing my mind lol..
Great song and video...but audio is terrible...maybe it could have clearer audio synced with it?...then there would never be a reason to watch it on another channel ;)
Yeah, I know it sounds bad... but I posted it mainly because of the rare footage. And there's no way to dub new audio into a video that's already uploaded. May remake it someday, but thanks anyway for watching!
jakebunnymusic Only original member here is Steve Kennedy. Not the same without William 'Smitty' Smith on vocals, but a good live version. There are some other posts of the song... this one's the most recent digital copy: ua-cam.com/video/8MyPSFnyaTQ/v-deo.html
Dagwood GlobalMMA Wrong on what? I was replying to 'jakebunnymusic' about his 2008 live video missing all the originals except for Steve Kennedy... Bernie LaBarge on guitar there. My original comment about William Smith's (lead) vocals on the original recording still stands... tho I do realize Kenny Marco's vocals were in there as well.
Remember this video must be from 1969. How can you expect hi fi audio quality from it? Trust me, I know because I have lived through that time and audio at that time sucked on video and film. It did not approach vinyl quality.
One of my favorites in 1969..Just great memories, they never will return.
Sadly.
This was the beauty of AM radio and Top 40 music. So many hits that today would be lost among niche radio.
Killer band, killer tune... soul in Canada.. yeah!
Also, the great American bass player Carol Kaye (of The Wrecking Crew) can be heard on this track.
I was a 17 year old kid and on my own in the world ... with no fucking clue and I knew it. But it was a heady time with lots of anticipation. I had nothing going on, just a '63 Plymouth and ready to flunk out of college. Now I'm retired 6 years. I'll be 65 in late January and I got it all, riding a fast carbon fiber racing bike, and still searching for that same 1969 excitement. I'm thinking that it's just an illusion for those who's job it has been to keep all the balls in the air at once. The lyrics say it all -
When I die I hope to be
A better man than you thought I'd be
It's been hard to make you see
What kind of man I'm tryin' to be
All I ask for you to try
To understand what it means to me
It's not hard to understand why you
Get discouraged all the time
I keep tryin' not to worry, but I
Can't help feelin' lost in you
But I lo--o--o--o--ove you
Love you
And I need you
Time goes by and you'll find
That we'll achieve a love sublime
When I die I hope I'll be
The kind of man than you thought I'd be
It's not hard to understand why you
Get discouraged all the time
I keep tryin' not to worry, but I
Can't help feelin' lost in you
But I lo--o--o--o--ove you
Love you
And I need you
'Cause I love you and I want you
'Cause I got to, got to have you
'Cause I, 'cause I need you
When I die I hope I'll be
The kind of man than you thought I'd be
Be (the kind of man that you thought I'd) ...
Childhood memories unlike today, playing outside in the park, riding our bikes all over the city, playing tops, softball, basketball, handball, reading comic books, eating Twinkies for a snack, going to the candy store for soda, or to the deli for a sandwich, girls wearing short shorts in the summer, holding hands meant something, go-go boots & mini skirts, you wore English Leather cologne, making out in the hallway, good times for teen and this song brings it all back.
Peace to ya who remember
Amen brother! I agree 100%
You choked me up, bro.
Yep... I guess your feelin' me on this one. That's how it was at my end in NYC. Stay wellPeace 2 ya
You hit the nail on the head!
I loved this band. I still have the 45, and saw them at the Rock Pile in TO, opening for Paul Butterfield.
Wow that would have been an amazing show haha.. Lucky bastard :) the guitar player sounds like he was majorly influenced by Bloomfield. Really notice it on the song Hard Life from this album when he takes a jazzy solo that sounds like something straight off the Super Sessions album.
I have always treasured this classic since hearing it for the first time in late September 1969. It has made such an indelible impression on me that I have asked that it be played at my funeral.
Wow! Great axe, sax, keyboard, skins and voices of harmony! Takes me waaay back to those high school slow dances.
I just LOVE this song. I loved it when it came out in Summer of 1969, but for some reason, it got played a lot during that summer then seemed to disappear, presumebly forever. I never hear it played much anywhere, so I'm so thankful to you blz2nlz4 and youtube for making this great memory for me.
I had forgotten all about this song - somewhere some place I heard it and came here right away....a great little song.
One of the greatest songs in the history of music. Not sure how many hundreds of times I have enjoyed this masterpiece. I just dusted of their LP, "When I Die", and gave it a spin. Am I proud to be Canadian? You bet!
Better video now posted :) ua-cam.com/video/EA3ATKjRS1Y/v-deo.html
Absolutely love this song...best memories from my youth....thank you Vintagre rock :)
What a great and rare clip. Thanks so much for this. This clip is as valuable as it is rare. There was another clip that featured part of a Motherlode clip. It's no longer on UA-cam now. Motherlode clips are as rare as Van McCoy clips.
Many thanks for this!! I remember this song so well!! What a great song.
Love this song. Steve Kennedy...Thanks for the memories.
Neil Pereira
STEVE still plays with A other CANADIAN band LIGHTHOUSE now
One hit wonder for the 60's a beautiful classic, brings fond memories of JHS back in the Bronx NYC. Dedicate this to the class of 68' Linda Greene, Mickey, Anita Rivera. Raymond Torres,
A rare Canadian gem..love it!
This is one of those songs we loved back in the day but over time have forgotten all about it has been like a lost record in the jukebox of our mind.. this is the first time I have heard it since I can't remember but the second it starts brings back a flood of memories... great clip!
Me too. Oh, those memories...thank God for music.
Finally found this song. Didn't know the groups name until tonight while driving home in a rental car with XM radio. Terry Young played it on XM6 and I saw the groups name on the display. I listened to all these different artist that sang When I Die that must have been done after 1969. Love the harmony and the words and the memories of a wonderful girl that never got to see the kind of man that she thought I could be...
great tune, love the vocal sound.
awesome guitar player!
Love this song always , what a great hit for these guys. !
One of my absolute favorites of 1969-- so many memories-- cruising windsor street in halifax ns-- having my first crush on an older guy name Donny Downey, bill lynchens fair on windsor street-- and so many hunky guys to chase all summer long--lol...ah to be young again!!
I hear ya! I remember walking the halls of Balfour Collegiate in Regina humming it...all those memories come flooding to me. Sometimes the best memories make us sad because they won't happen again.
This is sweet, thanks for the download, love my oldies and had forgotten this gem, immediately downloaded it from i tunes. This song brings back great memories and they make them like this anymore (sweet soul music).
When I Die...Written at Thee IMAGE Discotheque in London Ontario Canada ..! 1969
I always loved this song, now hearing put back in time so many memories of my teenage years most of my friends have since passed because of the life they lived Drugs. So sad.
Listening to this now, in 2020, I'm hearing it as if one man was singing his song, being more vocal,
smoothing the chord transitions with more conversational, expressive vocals, building up the intensity.
Back then, I was made to love her in a world lost without her, and I wanted to be a better man as I lived.
Don't know where you found this, but I am glad you did!! Great band. Kenny Marco is in there on guitar ( he was one of the best). I think the other singers name was Michael Smith aka Smitty.
Saw these guys live the same weekend as Woodstock in a field in southern Ontario.
Last night in Oshawa at The Lighthouse Band concert (June 10th 2022) Steve Kennedy of Motherlode/Lighthouse, writer of this song and saxophonist extraordinaire played his final concert with Lighthouse (40 years of Sunny Days).
Lucky You. !😀
One of my all time favorites!
A couple of these guys were with Dr. Music (Marco and Kennedy)
Aruably the coolest dude harmony soul ballad everrr #CanadianSoul
What a great song from this London Ontario band 🇨🇦
One hit wonders
I absolutely love this song, what great vocals & harmony, I didn't know that one of the singers played the sax along with singing, they sure don't make them like that anymore is absolutely right!
Just woke up just beautiful morning Monday thinking about this song I had to play it brings back memories growing up in the summertime 69
I bought this song on Amazon. Sounds too good to be true!
This song makes me happy and sad as time goes by.
I had never heard this song before.....but I heard it the first time on XM radios's Soul Town.... I never knew they were a white Canadian group...not that THAT matters....these guys have soul.....and great harmonies.
Omg this song and album is so damn good. Picked it up not knowing anything but Carol Kaye was on bass for most of the songs. I'm glad I did, what a gem! Thanks for this.
Rip Dilla
19. THE MOTHERLODE-WHEN I DIE? (BUDDAH) 4 Weeks and it's New to THE HOT 40 and it's Canada to The USA's 1-Hit Wonder Band.
Awesome song and clip, heading for my 'Rarities' playlist! :)
I remember when this song came out and I bought the 45. I didn't understand why Blood Sweat & Tears' song got more air play than this. I like BS&T, but this one was under-rated.
And Many more great tunes
I have a tear in my eye.......
i was waiting for this!!!
Found it here on YT...nice one! Thanks for the info :)
Great song
Thank you!!
i just saw d'angelo doing a live version of this tune...in 2012...wow...
Unfortunately these guys broke up soon after this but the three white guys went on to be a part of a project called Dr. Music, and "Sun goes by" is an excellent track if you can find it.
Wow! Did not know that! I was just listening to this from my collection recently. Did not know that. I also love listening to "One More Mountain (To Climb)".
A band produced a great song only as they could produce in the wonderful seventies.😁😎😊
magnific...
Esto es música de verdad y no la que se difunde en sudamérica, lamentablemente. Las radios comerciales torturan con el pop latino, música tropical y melódico internacional, verdadero calvario para los oídos!!!! Tengo el vinilo de esta brillante banda canadiense, que supo conjugar como pocos la música rural, soul, funky y rock, excelentes armonías vocales e instrumentales. Hace tiempo encontré un comentario suelto que quería compartir para saber algo más de este grupo. "Motherlode went through a ton of personnel changes over the course of its brief existence, but when this LP was recorded in 1969 the lineup was William "Smitty" Smith (organ, piano, vocals), Ken Marco (guitar, vocals), Wayne "Stoney" Stone (drums) and Steve Kennedy (saxophone, harmonica and vocals). The four had previously been members of Grant Smith and The Power, but split and formed Motherlode in order to play their own material. After holing up in London, Ontario and playing any gig they could get, they caught the ear of Mort Ross, who signed them to his label Revolver Records in 1969. Their first single, "When I Die," didn't go anywhere in Canada at first, but hit the Top 20 in the States and subsequently sold over 500,000 copies. Their first full-length, also named When I Die, was released before the end of the year, and although "Memories Of A Broken Promise" was also a moderate hit, that was pretty much it for Motherlode. The quartet had trouble recording their second album and broke up in early 1970; the album (Tapped Out) was posthumously released in the U.S. only. Kennedy, Stone and Marco immediately joined Doug Riley's band Dr. Music, while Smith brought in three new guys and recorded another single as Motherlode. When it flopped they broke up, but that didn't stop Revolver (who owned the rights to the name) from going through three more incarnations of "Motherlode" before calling it quits for good. The original foursome did get together in 1976 for a single ("Happy People," which had to be released as a Ken Marco solo number for legal reasons) and a series of Toronto reunion performances in 1989".
You are welcome :) I wanted to post some of these obscure but wonderful hits of the 60's and 70's. They were just as special to me as the 'Top 20' lists that are still played endlessly today!
RIP Smitty
RIP James D. Yancey....Jay Dee...J. Dilla. Donuts.
yes .. And God Bless Smitty
and Steve Kennedy GREAT SONG...
Why Diane Brooks who sang background is uncredited is a shame. She gave song a Fifth Demension, Friends Of Distinction sound.
When ya get that black flare and sprinkle some white on it, it's a piece of Jesus....great Canadian band
You said it, bro. Love your prose.
@jimbeamrye Thanks for the info. That's a sad story about J Dilla on the 'Donuts (intro)'
@mskookaburra You're welcome and thanks for sharing a great memory! :)
1969 time warp. That was a very good year for just about everything, except Nam. Thanks politicians.
Well-said.
#JayDeeLovesLO (London, Ontario).
These guys are from London?! I just learned they were Canadian after I fell in love with this album and the fact they are from my city is blowing my mind lol..
J. Dilla!!!! 😇❤️🤘🏾
@strangecluesinfriday The exact user name on the channel is....'Motherlode1969'....but thanks for the info. :)
well that was cool too.
duuuuude
Motherlode sample, search: J Dilla Donuts Intro *reconstruction by Cycle-Ogic* FL Studio 10
1050 CHUM lives!
Dillas Virsion. BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE . . .BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. . . . BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
love it , can you improve the sound quality, its a keeper.
rayslist1961 Sorry I no longer have software to dub over the original tv audio, but thanks for watching!
60s70sVintageRock If anyone wants to do it, there is decent copies of the tune to do it with if they must here on UA-cam.
+rayslist1961 New video now posted... ua-cam.com/video/EA3ATKjRS1Y/v-deo.html
+Christopher Sobieniak Done! ua-cam.com/video/EA3ATKjRS1Y/v-deo.html
60s70sVintageRock Thanks!
along with CKLW!!!
Who here from dilla
Me!!
LOVELY song.
j dilla sampled this :)
Tell me who was better?
@John Robertson What are you referring to?
Great song and video...but audio is terrible...maybe it could have clearer audio synced with it?...then there would never be a reason to watch it on another channel ;)
Yeah, I know it sounds bad... but I posted it mainly because of the rare footage. And there's no way to dub new audio into a video that's already uploaded. May remake it someday, but thanks anyway for watching!
60s70sVintageRock
try looking at Jakebunnymusic,com on you tube for a live show from 2008 sound a may be a little better.
jakebunnymusic Only original member here is Steve Kennedy. Not the same without William 'Smitty' Smith on vocals, but a good live version. There are some other posts of the song... this one's the most recent digital copy: ua-cam.com/video/8MyPSFnyaTQ/v-deo.html
Dagwood GlobalMMA Wrong on what? I was replying to 'jakebunnymusic' about his 2008 live video missing all the originals except for Steve Kennedy... Bernie LaBarge on guitar there. My original comment about William Smith's (lead) vocals on the original recording still stands... tho I do realize Kenny Marco's vocals were in there as well.
Remember this video must be from 1969. How can you expect hi fi audio quality from it? Trust me, I know because I have lived through that time and audio at that time sucked on video and film. It did not approach vinyl quality.