This was my late husbands favorite song when he was in Vietnam because his best girl was named Mary and she was waiting for him to come home to her so they could get married!
@@gerrydooley951 Accomplished? I love these guys (and ones not in the band at this time, but the best) and want to learn more about them than what Google says
The vocalists back then in the 1960s were awesome because Autotune software did not exist. The vocal talent had to stand on its own. Many ostensibly talented modern singers rely on Autotune. I doubt a lot of modern singers could have made it back then.
My Schwinn Fairlady, Purple, with a peace sign sissy bar and a banana seat, Me with my headband and bellbottoms with my transistor radio in the basket playing Steppinwolf...man I wish I had a selfie of that!
By late summer of 1966 there had never been a song like this. At the middle of the musical revolution, this song leaped into the mix with a power and uniqueness that set the bar for innovativeness. Believe it. So glad I was there as a witness.
For a lot of people who don't know this time period 1964 -1970 was probably the most UNIFIED time in American History. I remember this song (I'm African American) and me and several of my White classmates sang this in a talent show. We were in grade school - lol! What was so funny - A lot of White kids were into Motown (Especially Smokey Robinson and the Temptations) and a lot of Black Kids were into soft rock. Hell Rock period! You had groups like The Turtles (Wendy) The Byrds (Turn, Turn, Turn) Three Dog Night, The Fifth Dimension, The Four Tops. White kids were marching for Civil Rights, Muhammad Ali was speaking on College Campuses, Vietnam Protesters (Black and White) were EVERYWHERE. Man, this music brings back a time in my life. Marvin Gaye, The Beatles, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Elvis, Lord, what has happened to the World, what has happened to music. All that Unity we had in this country is gone - just like the wind.
You are right on the mark ManofSteel. My sister and I ( African American ) loved a whole spectrum of Music. We were pre teens in the mid 60's and We were huge huge fans of The Beatles, Herman Hermits, Stones, Hendrix, Turtles, Byrds, Three Dog Night, Association ( especially Along Comes Mary ) and on and on as well as The Temps, 4Tops,Supremes, Al Green, et al. I personally believe that the 1960's was a very Optimistic time ( there is an intriguing book titled The Fourth Turning by William Strauss, Neil Howe, very prophetic ,and historic about the 'seasons' of time ( Spring, Summer, Fall Winter ). Indeed the tide turned around 1973 or so, and if you do your research you'll find that 1973 or so was just about the time of the 'slow' introduction of outsourcing and robotics in manufacturing which lead to a slow demise of the middle class ( for black folks and white folks ). The music of the Optimism season ( the Spring ) will never be the same as the one of the Winter.
@113624494843669232730 The people who made that music HAD to be born,as they were conceived at a time before the pill and abortion.After that,many geniuses in all fields were never born.
I have 7 feet of vinyl.... I know because my sister measured it as we were packing to move into our new house in Cali this weekend! Association, Moodys, Neil Diamond, so many beautiful songs...
It's little surprise there were so few covers of this Association marvel. It is exceedingly difficult to emulate, the lyrics are sophisticated and span the vocal ranges. The instrumentalists and second lead singers are superb. They were one of a kind, not easily copied or covered.
My God..listening in 2020 for the first time, that was just absolutely incredible. The Association are pretty much unheard of in the UK which is a real shame. An absolute gem of a band.
Right?! I have heard the song before - my parents "down-streamed" the album to me; and Pop Radio ["Oldies"] exposed me to it; but SEEING them, performing it live like this, just gave me goosebumps. Like, Wowsville, Man.
Actually .... Song is about "pot".... ie.. MaryJane.... " "Now my empty cup is as sweet as the punch" ... Smoke weed.... Don't be a juicer....which the 60-70'80's we're into...
@@thomasgarbe8354 Didn't I know some young ladies just like that? I can't vouch for how kindly or effectively I countered those situations. My favorite was my being involved with an older woman, a 9th grader, while I was a lowly 8th grader. We were briefly 'dating' (seeing each other on weekends at the mall, holding hands after school, etc.) and she comes up to me in the hall between classes demanding to know why I was "using" her as she put it. To this day I have no idea what she was referring to. None. She may actually have been troubled as I heard that she died from a drug overdose just after she graduated from high school in '73. I've made a few attempts to run down the truth of the matter over the years without any results. This girl was _very_ pretty. In memory she looked like Natalie Wood at age 21.
Yes! But I'm only here because I'd only ever heard The Bloodhound Gang cover (I'm 36, was 15 when they covered it and UA-cam wasn't a thing then!), and didn't even pick it out until I heard "and now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch" - wait, what was that? Rewind... Meanwhile, The Queen's Gambit is on pause, so...
they're a phony association,not good enough to be associated with this association,who just happens to a genius sound ,then and now,some of these groups are way too good to be in the HALL
MerleOberon John dead for four years ,Bobby will be soon ,as will be Martin . War to stop the the dominos from falling starting to go south.Nixon and Agnew looming in distance . I loved the Smother Brothers . ( mom loved you more)
...This show was, perhaps, the start of real TV. They got into a lot of trouble doing shit that other variety shows only dreamed of doing.....But, their greatest achievement was getting away with it.
@@rigelmoon9030 they got away with it until they didn't. they got cancelled. they rose to the occasion. who would have ever suspected the brothers smothers of all people to be subversive. god bless em
They had a great act....it was always something to see when they made an appearance....and, the shtick they did always had a slight edge to it. As a kid from the fifties, they scratched me right where I itched. They came along at the right time.....they were destined for greatness. I love 'em still.
"Stamped 'Made in Japan.'" Heee! Except he wasn't. Actually he's of Filipino descent and was made (and raised) in Hawaii. But hey, it was funny, and Larry didn't seem to mind. And Jim sang the living hell out of the song. Absolutely love the Association's music!
Thanks for that info. He is a great musician! You can see by Jim's (Jim Yester's) fast chord movement that he was trained in Jazz, as it seems most of this band was.
Larry Ramos (born Hilario Ramos) was Filipino with Chinese and Spanish mix born in Hawaii in 1942 and died of cancer in 2014 was a Grammy winner (with The New Christy Minstrels-1963) before his joining of The Association.
@@romanopaso This was 1967, not 2017. He wasn't a Woke pussy. He laughed, then insulted the guy who said it. Then they both laughed, since they both knew it was joking around and nothing else.
+Aubrey Hart The Association were indeed a very special west coast harmony band. They really thrilled me in the sixties and now I am in my sixties they still do. These guys really encapsulated all that was best of the golden age of pop. Such sublime melodies and such beautiful romantic lyrics. Wonderful!!
I remember watching this live on the Smothers Brothers. It was impressive then to my 16 year old self and even more impressive now to my 67 year old self. It was a great time for pop music.
What it is, is pretty simple. It's REAL musicianship. What THIS is, is NOT simple. It's six very accomplished musicians playing a very difficult piece of music together along with three and four part harmony. Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it because this is almost unHEARD of today!
mrfester42, you've lost touch! You are so out of it. You must be ancient. You are an f-ing dinosaur. Go back under your rock! How dare you actually listen to a popular musical composition applying a level of education and/or experience in the artistic and technical difficulty in creating such a piece of music, and then make the outrageous claim that it is somehow BETTER than the computer-generated endless 3-beat loops found everywhere, particularly in lazy urban, rap, hip-hop, and pop music today. Your comment mrfester42, so short, so simple and TRUE is nothing short of genius.
Well actually, Jim Yester, who was the one singing the song, says in a video interview that for the song (written by the late Tandyn Almer, friend of L.A. artist like Brian Wilson), the instruments were played by members of the Wrecking Crew, a group of studio musicians who played on mostly all of the records coming out of L.A. in the Sixties.Still, it was a great tune, and the Association was one of my personal favorites in that day...
Michael Luther While it is true the Wrecking Crew played on the Association's records, the band could play instruments themselves. The recording studio required this arrangement. The Association played instruments in live performances. They were the opening at at Monterey Pop Festival but because they performed the 1:20 Association Machine bit, festival organizer John Phillips edited the band out of the film. He told them it wasn't the image he was looking for! Because of that decision, the Association did not achieve as much notoriety as the other artists in the film had.
What's interesting about this group was that their songs were more complicated that the usual pop songs of that era--that's what made them stand out---plus they clearly had a good and unique stage show down. Always loved the hell out of this song, even if I thought it was strange and didn't get some of the lyrics. Cool to hear them sing this live instead of lip-synching like more groups of that era did.
mysticmaverick: They still were popular and had major hits of their own--including this one, which is one of their best known hits, and was a staple of classic rock stations for years. Loved their performance at the Monterey Pop Festival when I saw it years ago. Apparently they weren't hippyish and wild enough for the Monterey fest,lol!
The 60s really was an exciting time! Everything was being questioned clothes, music, relationships, and the government. Music was really exciting and rapidly changing the Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, The Temptations, the Doors, Chicago, Santana, The Moody Blues. "There was Revolution in the air"
It was the best era ever!! (Although, we certainly would've been much better off to not have lost so many of our young soldiers in 'Nam!!) Also, the Drug scene took way too many lives! But, everything else was Amazing! I'm so glad I'm a Baby Boomer too!
Yes Sir Buddy, We of that generation had the greatest music ever. The 60's and 70.s were almost unbelievable as far as the music went. When I hear some of the music now I almost go into a trance and remember exactly what it was like back then.
We like to think our music was the best and sometimes I think it's true. I feel validated when twenty-somethings like all the old stuff (like my eldest son does, for example). Then again, there are lots of new bands doing really cool music as well, you just have to sift through the garbage to find it, which we always had to do anyway. The only reason people nowadays don't know about garbage from back in the day is because it was...well, garbage. It's musical Darwinism at its finest.
They are definitely singing live here . And they are also plugged in live with their instruments. And yet when the song starts, the music itself is a backing track so they are pretend playing their instruments through the whole song, which I find strange since they went through the trouble of the first two points I mentioned. Regardless, they sound great here vocally at least.
They’d have fooled me but for the (pretty great) opening guitar riff sounding like a 12-string yet dude has a 6-string. Wish that riff repeated more in the song. Off to find recorded version now...
@@bobbillings a lot of times the acoustics in these studios weren't very good, or sometimes other audio "issues" Would Arise So It Was Easier To "cheat".
I with you man! These guys, as nerdy as they look, put out some serious tunes! and vocals that require serious talent and not assisted by some machine!
Ronald E. Childs Amen to that I miss the 70's. I remember the peace sign and we'd say "Peace man!!!". lol. an era never to be captured again were in a different America now.
My dad listened to this music when I was a kid because it was from his era and I just got hooked on it. I wasn't born until '79, but i guess it doesn't matter. I hate today's music. I like his oldies 😊
The slide from the warm-up into the song is just amazing. So is the song! It has a wistful, beautiful quality that encapsulates so much about the 1960's... so bad, and so good. Very, very good.
Loved these guys... and dressed in suits and ties... I could watch Jim sing that song over and over. It amazes me the way he can spout those words so fast.
I don't know why but I think these guys are so damn cool in this ancient low tech video. I had their greatest hits "album" but never actually saw them until this....
They were very underrated...definitely...great harmony...I laugh at people (especially young people from 30 and under) who dismissed them as simple, nerdy, corny, etc...Btw, the history of rock music is built on the shoulders of the ones who preceded them...if you went back in time, this type of music was the innovation of the moment and expanded to other ideas... yeah, you'll dismiss what you're parents listen to and your kids (or the next generation will do the same to you and your generation)..this group like others experimented in arranging harmonies...like Brian Wilson, John Philips, Roger Mcguinn, Lennon & McCartney, etc,etc.... all that you hear today has some element drawn from the past...music always evolves
Wow! Sounded live, not lip synched. I became a disc jockey in the summer of '66, and this was one of the first 45s I played. It was so bitchin' that I played it 'til I memorized it. Got the words right, and I still remember them 50 freakin' years later!!
it was so rare back then ( for television anyway ) that this was actually live playing and not lip synching to the record. and even more impressive is that it is a very good live performance
Hahahaahaa “live playing” hahaha ahahahahah ohhh my... just look at the drummer,.... ya, not playing it... they didn’t even play the song on the RECORD themselves... The Wrecking Crew did.
@@gordonclement7550 true they were a pr band with good voices. They were an Avenue for well written unbranded songs. But even though they weren’t the greatest musicians, or song writers they did “perform”some well written songs that were hits.
This clip is so creative and engages the audience on an intellectual level. Then, the real fun starts. Great hook throughout! Bands like this really worked on harmonies and fundamental skills to deliver memorable music that lasts.
Hi EVAN ... Good post . I loved the introduction & it was refreshing to see the Smothers brothers have great live performances instead of the lip-synching.
Chicago Window Tint By Major Tint Unlimited CBS, who famously fired the bros for speaking against the War in Vietnam. But it was okay for Uncle Walter to say the same thing. PS It came on at 9, right after Ed Sullivan.
Literally had no idea Bloodhound Gang didn’t write this themselves. As if it came out 30 something years earlier and the lyrics will never not make sense. Simply incredible talent.
I remember some lady trying to get me to arrest them at Knott's Berry Farm for smoking Pot in their trailer ( I didn't of course). I think they were great.
I must've watched this video about 20 times already in the past 2 or 3 months since I found it. I was about 9 years old when this song came out. This is one of those bands that had a lot of hit songs. I love bands like that. Also, I think it's real impressive for a singer to even remember the tangle of verses without making a mistake during a performance. Great singing!
@@ernestmoney7252 No insult....just facts. You made an absurd claim that of all the songs recorded in the rock and roll era, this song has the most complexity of any song ever written. Most of the Beatles songs on Abbey Road, The White Album, and Sgt. Pepper are far more complex in their lyrical composition and melodic arrangement and production.
@@JulezWinnfield I am a massive beatles fan but would insist that this song is indeed of the caliber of their greatest work. a slightly different style sure, just as cheeky however and catchy with genius lyrics. Personally i feel the Beatles have many more genius songs overall than any band truly! although i don't feel that should ever diminish the best piece and incredible skill of another band. this song gives me chills when i hear the intro horns!
@@ButtersDaBaller If the members of The Association wrote, produced, and actually played all the instruments on this record, then I would concur with your opinion. The Beatles were one of the only super groups of the 60's not to use a stable of producers, writers, and musicians (i.e The Wrecking Crew, etc.) to create their records. I'm not knocking The Association because it was a common practice of that era. Comparing them to The Beatles is like comparing apples to oranges, with The Beatles being the apples (Apple Records, get it😉).
When I see this golden age of pop - the songs are just superbly constructed - as opposed to harder rock that is often carried by a dominating guitar or a certain instrument - as songs like this have simple parts of each instrumentalist blended as an orchestra would - the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts - which tends to provided richer, more textured and interesting layers to the music.
Hadn't heard this in a while so I called it up. Nothing prepared me for Brian Cole's spoken intro. That took my breath away more than Jim Yester's vocal performance. And, yes, "Mary" refers to marijuana.
I never dreamed that The Association could sound this could "live." Awfully hard to do. "The Machine" was originally an (unreleased) album track. It appears on their 2 CD Rhino collection.
I worked for Dick Smothers briefly in the 70's. I cleared his backyard for his vineyard in Scotts Valley, CA. Nice guy. I used to swim in his pool with his kids.
I cannot believe it's been 51 years since this song came out. And how a song about marijuana back in 1967 went to number #7 on the Billboard charts. Should of gone to number #1. Only these men could pull off a song about cannabis. Awesome!
mr54nomore, they got a few by the censors, Windy was about blow jobs . That's what the y called a blowjob. "who's bending down to give me a ... rainbow,every one knows it's Windy "
When people could sing live. I guess I have bad hearing. My sister made fun of me because I thought sweet as the punch was sugar to munch. I also thought they said Come to Mars, instead of Boppa Du Wa.
From the song, " When vague desire is the fire in the eyes of chicks whose sickness is the games they play ". That perfectly describes a female who is aggressive towards you as a guy but will not come out and say what it is she really wants, but neither will she leave you alone. She expects you to know what she wants when she doesn't know herself. Run, don't walk away from such a person.
The very first concert I went to was a Battle of the Bands hosted by the local radio station. The Association won and got their recording contract. It has always been a source of pride to have been at some of the earliest concerts of some of the most notable bands of my era.
I was lucky enough to see these guys live. Blown away as they all played every instrument and they all sang those incredible harmonies to perfection. Love their many lp's and they sounded even better live!!!
The studio version of this song has two voices singing the verse.This certainly seems to be live vocals. As a semi pro musician myself I can appreciate the power vocals needed to pull this off. Two thumbs up for the writing, arrangement and execution of this true classic. Second only to (Everything that touches you )
An intricate interesting song that clearly stands the test of time.. I am impressed that they perfoprmed it live with no back up musicians on the Smothers Brothers show.
@@amycarl7538 Very sad, and kinda shocking since it happened to a member of a seemingly wholesome band. Not really a buncha psychedelic hippies were it wouldn't be a shock.
Agreed, and he has to stay on track since the tambourine is an integral and noticeable part of this complex arrangement. He can't just shake it willy nilly.
This is such a great song. But what makes it even greater are the lyrics--the meter, the rhyming scheme within a line itself, it's brilliant! Also, the ambiguity of the words is what gets me--so enigmatic (although to me, it's as plain as day it's about marijuana)! Props to Tandyn Almer for writing such a catchy tune with deep lyrics.
I just laughed my ass off at the "Machine" intro. It is definitely going on a mix. In general, The Association is the most underrated band of that time. Brilliant songwriting.
Agreed. Saw Tandyn on an interview on here from a couple years back. He basically said that the song indeed was about marijuana although he said (and the band) didn't set out to make "a dope song hit" I rolled my eyeballs when he said that last thing. But most of those guys still are touring nowadays and maybe he was being "politically correct." Lot of grandmas & young-uns in those audiences.
Vitreous Lamella never a doubt about the meaning......................now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch . This version is obviously done live , these guys were good and underrated . One of , if not , my favorite group of the time ............
Wow! A lot of Television performances in the mid to late 60's were everything from live vocals sang over prerecorded music, to full lip syncing(over prerecorded music); like a modern day music video. I believe this performance was performed live, all the way. If it was performed 100% live, that's quite a feat, especially considering the flute(recorder) and multiple backing vocals performed and mixed with such quality. This sounded very close to the recording. WOW!!!
It was definitely a live lead vocal, but probably over a recorded backing track. However, if you check out their performance of this song at the Monterey Pop Festival, they clearly had the musical chops to play it live just as well, with all the complex harmonizing.
Terry Kirkman sadly passed away the other day, aged 83. For those who don't know, he was the cat playing the flute. RIP ❤️
Very sad, thanks for the notice. This Kirkman guy was talent extraordinaire.
Recorder
@@M-isty correct
As all humans are mortal and all flautists are human, all flautists are thus mortal. I think it total bs but them's the brakes apparently.
Sad to hear 😢
This was my late husbands favorite song when he was in Vietnam because his best girl was named Mary and she was waiting for him to come home to her so they could get married!
That's so cute. Thanks for sharing the story Mary.
Well, are you Mary and if not, did they marry?
*hey wait a minute*
It’s like those situations where someone’s hinting about an ancient legend only for the viewer to find out that they were a key factor of that legend
@@axjagfilms brilliant storytelling on mary's part, one of the most wholesome things i've read in the comments section lol
My lord, what a song. Eternally brilliant, and mood evoking.
evocative of time gone by -- from an eternal past to an eternal future.
This is acid generated
kind of corny makes me glad I died before it came out
@@dufunia8313 you should have lived in the 50's
@@thegreenbird795 I did I died not long ago
The Association was a very underrated group. Thanks for the video.
They weren't underrated. They just wrote one or two good songs. Overall they were boring.
@@tixximmi1 na underrated
@@rcruz262 Gentle Giant was underrated. The Association got their fame back then.
@@tixximmi1 “Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.”
The Association weren’t underrated, of course not! Great hit this group had!
The melody, the Harmonies, the musicianship...one of a kind!!!
Totally gay you can't be serious?
These guys were actually damn good musicians- very impressive
yes, they were very accomplished musicians and great vocalists.
@@gerrydooley951 Accomplished?
I love these guys (and ones not in the band at this time, but the best) and want to learn more about them than what Google says
the bands in the 60's were hardcore musicians and performers.
The Monterey Pop footage is proof. I was shocked at how great they were.
A lot of the old groups used the Wrecking Crew... Google it.
This one is my favorite because of my Uncle Brian's witty opening. I just love watching it and listening to his voice.
The vocalists back then in the 1960s were awesome because Autotune software did not exist. The vocal talent had to stand on its own. Many ostensibly talented modern singers rely on Autotune. I doubt a lot of modern singers could have made it back then.
Just saw them on the Happy Together Tour. There were three performing. It was like looking at a legend.
Tried to tag you in this one before I saw your comment
And i wonder what he would think about today’s society and machinery.
Brian Cole was immensely talented, not only for his humor, but also his creative bass lines and vocals. We lost him far, far too soon.
The song speaks for itself and is a 60's classic perfectly performed.
Please, someone, invent a time machine to take me back to my carefree days of my youth
Only dead people are care free
I’m working on it !!!
I'm listening to great Group.
March 2020
They remind me here of Devo
Jump on! You can ride me back all the way...
I miss my Stingray Bike with balloons an Cards in the Spokes. Not to mention my ice cold bottle of Orange Crush.
Yup stingray bike with a sissy bar & a big Icee that was great time's love to go back!!!!
Did it
My bell bottoms got caught in the chain!
My Schwinn Fairlady, Purple, with a peace sign sissy bar and a banana seat, Me with my headband and bellbottoms with my transistor radio in the basket playing Steppinwolf...man I wish I had a selfie of that!
I peddle with you or ride me on your handlebars.
I never really knew how good this group was until I saw them here on UA-cam. These guys are standing on the top rung of a very tall ladder !!!
By late summer of 1966 there had never been a song like this. At the middle of the musical revolution, this song leaped into the mix with a power and uniqueness that set the bar for innovativeness. Believe it. So glad I was there as a witness.
I was there as a witness..14 years old. This song blew me away!
I like my rock and roll to be 3 guitars and drums, not backed up with 50 piece orchestras. It's about the trip and not the destination.
I was only 11 in 66, but this song blew me away, still does after all these years....!
Brilliant comment.
I'm glad you were there, so you can share what it was like.
For a lot of people who don't know this time period 1964 -1970 was probably the most UNIFIED time in American History. I remember this song (I'm African American) and me and several of my White classmates sang this in a talent show. We were in grade school - lol! What was so funny - A lot of White kids were into Motown (Especially Smokey Robinson and the Temptations) and a lot of Black Kids were into soft rock. Hell Rock period! You had groups like The Turtles (Wendy) The Byrds (Turn, Turn, Turn) Three Dog Night, The Fifth Dimension, The Four Tops. White kids were marching for Civil Rights, Muhammad Ali was speaking on College Campuses, Vietnam Protesters (Black and White) were EVERYWHERE. Man, this music brings back a time in my life. Marvin Gaye, The Beatles, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Elvis, Lord, what has happened to the World, what has happened to music. All that Unity we had in this country is gone - just like the wind.
You are right on the mark ManofSteel. My sister and I ( African American ) loved a whole spectrum of Music. We were pre teens in the mid 60's and We were huge huge fans of The Beatles, Herman Hermits, Stones, Hendrix, Turtles, Byrds, Three Dog Night, Association ( especially Along Comes Mary ) and on and on as well as The Temps, 4Tops,Supremes, Al Green, et al. I personally believe that the 1960's was a very Optimistic time ( there is an intriguing book titled The Fourth Turning by William Strauss, Neil Howe, very prophetic ,and historic about the 'seasons' of time ( Spring, Summer, Fall Winter ). Indeed the tide turned around 1973 or so, and if you do your research you'll find that 1973 or so was just about the time of the 'slow' introduction of outsourcing and robotics in manufacturing which lead to a slow demise of the middle class ( for black folks and white folks ). The music of the Optimism season ( the Spring ) will never be the same as the one of the Winter.
I'm Black and I love all kinds of music too. Maybe the next generation of kids coming up will bring the unity back.
Clearly the best time.. Music now divides everyone more than anything...
ManofSteel3720 I believe you're referring to the song 'Windy' by The Association, not The Turtles.
@113624494843669232730 The people who made that music HAD to be born,as they were conceived at a time before the pill and abortion.After that,many geniuses in all fields were never born.
The Association and The Moody Blues deserve the Hall Of Fame. I had vynil records from both groups
You have very good taste.
Alberto Olmos good news the Moody Blues were inducted in the 2018 class.
I have 7 feet of vinyl.... I know because my sister measured it as we were packing to move into our new house in Cali this weekend! Association, Moodys, Neil Diamond, so many beautiful songs...
Go Now
Yep
Rest in peace, Terry Kirkman. Thanks for the great tunes!
Association had incredible harmonies ;
Lyrics we're unique , sophisticated ,
Excellent musicians , !!
Bravo 👏😃🏆
It's little surprise there were so few covers of this Association marvel. It is exceedingly difficult to emulate, the lyrics are sophisticated and span the vocal ranges. The instrumentalists and second lead singers are superb. They were one of a kind, not easily copied or covered.
The Bloodhound Gang did a cover of this!!
Think i prefer the BHG version tbh both are good!
I remember seeing this on the Smothers Brothers Show when it aired. God, I'm old.
Not alone dude!
God, you're cool.
Not old.. older!!..
As soon as I started this video, I thought I saw this when it was aired way back when.....Class of 1966 coming up on 72 and still like this song
Right there with you, CL 👍
That 90 second intro alone had more creativity than past 20 years of music....
Top Comment...LoL...
Right? Irresistible!
Smothers Brothers valued the music acts, and their show was the best host, I'd say better than Ed Sullivan, who often rushed groups on and off.
Yes great intro...even though he didn't add..."and the machine shall be called The Wrecking Crew!" lol
AGREED!!!!
My God..listening in 2020 for the first time, that was just absolutely incredible. The Association are pretty much unheard of in the UK which is a real shame. An absolute gem of a band.
This music never gets old, incredible indeed.
Right?! I have heard the song before - my parents "down-streamed" the album to me; and Pop Radio ["Oldies"] exposed me to it; but SEEING them, performing it live like this, just gave me goosebumps. Like, Wowsville, Man.
Listening in Match 2021
Nope, I'd never heard of them either, shame, I reckon they may have gone down well given the chance.
yes they are a gem
These guys are so underrated and so talented they're harmonizing is out of this world!!!!!!
"When vague desire is the fire in the eyes of chicks whose sickness is the games they play" is such an unbelievably good line
@Tony Harris this ain't no joke, bloke. This is critique of girls who take little interest in anything but their being.
Actually .... Song is about "pot".... ie.. MaryJane.... " "Now my empty cup is as sweet as the punch" ... Smoke weed.... Don't be a juicer....which the 60-70'80's we're into...
I need a Dramamine just reading it.
@@thomasgarbe8354 Didn't I know some young ladies just like that? I can't vouch for how kindly or effectively I countered those situations. My favorite was my being involved with an older woman, a 9th grader, while I was a lowly 8th grader. We were briefly 'dating' (seeing each other on weekends at the mall, holding hands after school, etc.) and she comes up to me in the hall between classes demanding to know why I was "using" her as she put it. To this day I have no idea what she was referring to. None. She may actually have been troubled as I heard that she died from a drug overdose just after she graduated from high school in '73.
I've made a few attempts to run down the truth of the matter over the years without any results. This girl was _very_ pretty. In memory she looked like Natalie Wood at age 21.
One of the greatest tunes of the 60s. Still a joy to hear this tune played today. “The Association” group should be in the rock and roll hall of fame.
THEY TOO HIP FOR hof
Who has come here after watching the queen's gambit on Netflix.
Yes! But I'm only here because I'd only ever heard The Bloodhound Gang cover (I'm 36, was 15 when they covered it and UA-cam wasn't a thing then!), and didn't even pick it out until I heard "and now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch" - wait, what was that? Rewind...
Meanwhile, The Queen's Gambit is on pause, so...
@@8point6seconds holy shit its eactly the same for me, 36 bloodhound gang and the movie on pause in the background :D
@@stixdude that's weirdly comforting lol
Before!
Я :)
The Association should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
are you saying the association should be part of the association?
They're NOT?!
they're a phony association,not good enough to be associated with this association,who just happens to a genius sound ,then and now,some of these groups are way too good to be in the HALL
DONGOE You got that right!
I wouldn't want to be associated with an association that would associate with me! (with apologies to Groucho!).
The Smothers Brothers were cutting edge in 1967.
MerleOberon John dead for four years ,Bobby will be soon ,as will be Martin . War to stop the the dominos from falling starting to go south.Nixon and Agnew looming in distance . I loved the Smother Brothers . ( mom loved you more)
...This show was, perhaps, the start of real TV. They got into a lot of trouble doing shit that other variety shows only dreamed of doing.....But, their greatest achievement was getting away with it.
@@waynemartin2399 mom liked you best
@@rigelmoon9030 they got away with it until they didn't. they got cancelled. they rose to the occasion. who would have ever suspected the brothers smothers of all people to be subversive. god bless em
They had a great act....it was always something to see when they made an appearance....and, the shtick they did always had a slight edge to it. As a kid from the fifties, they scratched me right where I itched. They came along at the right time.....they were destined for greatness. I love 'em still.
"Stamped 'Made in Japan.'" Heee! Except he wasn't. Actually he's of Filipino descent and was made (and raised) in Hawaii. But hey, it was funny, and Larry didn't seem to mind. And Jim sang the living hell out of the song. Absolutely love the Association's music!
Thanks for that info. He is a great musician! You can see by Jim's (Jim Yester's) fast chord movement that he was trained in Jazz, as it seems most of this band was.
Larry Ramos (born Hilario Ramos) was Filipino with Chinese and Spanish mix born in Hawaii in 1942 and died of cancer in 2014 was a Grammy winner (with The New Christy Minstrels-1963) before his joining of The Association.
@@romanopaso This was 1967, not 2017. He wasn't a Woke pussy. He laughed, then insulted the guy who said it. Then they both laughed, since they both knew it was joking around and nothing else.
I was gonna say, he looks Filipino not Japanese!
The guitar was a fender knock off made in Nippon.
The lyrics in this song are masterful -- riveting and powerful. 💐💐💐
There aren't many bands, past or present, who would write a whole skit to introduce a song. Awesome clip!!
+Aubrey Hart The Association were indeed a very special west coast harmony band. They really thrilled me in the sixties and now I am in my sixties they still do. These guys really encapsulated all that was best of the golden age of pop. Such sublime melodies and such beautiful romantic lyrics. Wonderful!!
Aubrey Hart True! I remember seeing this performance when I was 7 years old! Always liked the"Smothers Brothers show".
Bowling for Soup is hilarious when the lights are out and they're wasting time while stuff is being set up on stage.
These guys are like a pre version of devo.
+Aubrey Hart
This is no different than any other group's pre-song snappy patter.
I remember watching this live on the Smothers Brothers. It was impressive then to my 16 year old self and even more impressive now to my 67 year old self. It was a great time for pop music.
I was only 11. Love this song. It's from a different time. Wish I was back there ☺
I remember it like it was yesterday. What a great time to grow up and be alive.
To be able to even sing along with the words of this song is a marvel.
Sitting in a rice paddy waiting for Charlie to strike. I remember this song well. 3/4 Cav 25 Inf Div
Master Sergeant thank you for your service.
Thank you for your service sir.
Thank you for your service!
Thank you very much for your service!!
God bless you.
What it is, is pretty simple. It's REAL musicianship. What THIS is, is NOT simple. It's six very accomplished musicians playing a very difficult piece of music together along with three and four part harmony. Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it because this is almost unHEARD of today!
mrfester42, you've lost touch! You are so out of it. You must be ancient. You are an f-ing dinosaur. Go back under your rock!
How dare you actually listen to a popular musical composition applying a level of education and/or experience in the artistic and technical difficulty in creating such a piece of music, and then make the outrageous claim that it is somehow BETTER than the computer-generated endless 3-beat loops found everywhere, particularly in lazy urban, rap, hip-hop, and pop music today.
Your comment mrfester42, so short, so simple and TRUE is nothing short of genius.
Well actually, Jim Yester, who was the one singing the song, says in a video interview that for the song (written by the late Tandyn Almer, friend of L.A. artist like Brian Wilson), the instruments were played by members of the Wrecking Crew, a group of studio musicians who played on mostly all of the records coming out of L.A. in the Sixties.Still, it was a great tune, and the Association was one of my personal favorites in that day...
Michael Luther While it is true the Wrecking Crew played on the Association's records, the band could play instruments themselves. The recording studio required this arrangement. The Association played instruments in live performances. They were the opening at at Monterey Pop Festival but because they performed the 1:20 Association Machine bit, festival organizer John Phillips edited the band out of the film. He told them it wasn't the image he was looking for! Because of that decision, the Association did not achieve as much notoriety as the other artists in the film had.
What's interesting about this group was that their songs were more complicated that the usual pop songs of that era--that's what made them stand out---plus they clearly had a good and unique stage show down. Always loved the hell out of this song, even if I thought it was strange and didn't get some of the lyrics. Cool to hear them sing this live instead of lip-synching like more groups of that era did.
mysticmaverick:
They still were popular and had major hits of their own--including this one, which is one of their best known hits, and was a staple of classic rock stations for years. Loved their performance at the Monterey Pop Festival when I saw it years ago. Apparently they weren't hippyish and wild enough for the Monterey fest,lol!
I envy you guys who grew up with this music so much. The heart, the sincerity, the musicianship. What a great time to be a music fan.
Being in a cover band made it more fun.
The 60s really was an exciting time! Everything was being questioned clothes, music, relationships, and the government. Music was really exciting and rapidly changing the Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, The Temptations, the Doors, Chicago, Santana, The Moody Blues. "There was Revolution in the air"
It was the best era ever!! (Although, we certainly would've been much better off to not have lost so many of our young soldiers in 'Nam!!)
Also, the Drug scene took way too many lives! But, everything else was Amazing! I'm so glad I'm a Baby Boomer too!
Yes Sir Buddy, We of that generation had the greatest music ever. The 60's and 70.s were almost unbelievable as far as the music went. When I hear some of the music now I almost go into a trance and remember exactly what it was like back then.
We like to think our music was the best and sometimes I think it's true. I feel validated when twenty-somethings like all the old stuff (like my eldest son does, for example). Then again, there are lots of new bands doing really cool music as well, you just have to sift through the garbage to find it, which we always had to do anyway. The only reason people nowadays don't know about garbage from back in the day is because it was...well, garbage. It's musical Darwinism at its finest.
Unlike most shows that featured music acts of the day, the Smothers Brothers actually let the bands perform live, and not lip sync.
Yup.
The vocals are live, but except for the "machine" intro, the backing is mimed from tape. Which was the norm at the time (mimed backing, live vocals).
They are definitely singing live here . And they are also plugged in live with their instruments. And yet when the song starts, the music itself is a backing track so they are pretend playing their instruments through the whole song, which I find strange since they went through the trouble of the first two points I mentioned. Regardless, they sound great here vocally at least.
They’d have fooled me but for the (pretty great) opening guitar riff sounding like a 12-string yet dude has a 6-string. Wish that riff repeated more in the song. Off to find recorded version now...
@@bobbillings a lot of times the acoustics in these studios weren't very good, or sometimes other audio "issues" Would Arise So It Was Easier To "cheat".
I never realized how hard this song is to sing. WOW! Amazing
I could have told you, because I sang it in the shower for years! (Or attempted to...)
Compared to "Subterranean Homesick Blues", "Along Comes Mary" is a breeze.
It is, and for some of the parts, hard to play.
I'm so blessed to be a boomer, I thank God. The music was the soundtrack of our youth.
Yep,boomers have lived the life........
I with you man! These guys, as nerdy as they look, put out some serious tunes! and vocals that require serious talent and not assisted by some machine!
Ronald E. Childs Amen to that I miss the 70's. I remember the peace sign and we'd say "Peace man!!!". lol. an era never to be captured again were in a different America now.
@@franniebanani6532 and putin...............yup, different
Ronald E. Childs Amen
My dad listened to this music when I was a kid because it was from his era and I just got hooked on it. I wasn't born until '79, but i guess it doesn't matter. I hate today's music. I like his oldies 😊
Wow, these guys are talented. Like someone mentioned already, damn good musicians. It seems they're were pretty underrated?
Not really; 4 songs of theirs were HUGE hits.
Has anyone notice he's singing a very difficult lyric AND playing guitar???
the Wrecking Crew did the recording. sound track playing in the background.
smothered brothers probably played the backing track over them.
Lip Syncing in this instance. I saw them last week...still going strong!
I knew Hal Blaine did the drumming on Windy
@@trnzprnt1699, those vocals are "live" vocals. The music is all on tape.
The slide from the warm-up into the song is just amazing. So is the song! It has a wistful, beautiful quality that encapsulates so much about the 1960's... so bad, and so good. Very, very good.
You're right that slide from the warm-up was brilliant caught me by surprise ......
I like that, the song about weed encapsulating the 60's
Ah, the Summer of 1966. All kinds of good music. Along Comes Mary is THE song that conjures up memories of happier times.
Great intro
Loved these guys... and dressed in suits and ties... I could watch Jim sing that song over and over. It amazes me the way he can spout those words so fast.
Love their fashion -- velvet, stripes, etc. Wow.
@@topofthecircle know what you mean!..
The harmony and vocals on this group is as good as any Beach Boys song.
one of the best openings I have ever seen an act do into an opening of a song. Wow! The ASSOCIATION could jam!
I don't know why but I think these guys are so damn cool in this ancient low tech video. I had their greatest hits "album" but never actually saw them until this....
They were very underrated...definitely...great harmony...I laugh at people (especially young people from 30 and under) who dismissed them as simple, nerdy, corny, etc...Btw, the history of rock music is built on the shoulders of the ones who preceded them...if you went back in time, this type of music was the innovation of the moment and expanded to other ideas... yeah, you'll dismiss what you're parents listen to and your kids (or the next generation will do the same to you and your generation)..this group like others experimented in arranging harmonies...like Brian Wilson, John Philips, Roger Mcguinn, Lennon & McCartney, etc,etc.... all that you hear today has some element drawn from the past...music always evolves
Some of the greatest harmonies of any band to ever have back up vocals
Holy Smokes! I've never seen this intro. What a hoot ! Always loves the song.
☆
This should have 700,000,000 Views minimum ...
RIP Terry Kirkman. Thanks for this gem.
Still listening to this in 2019 ♡♡
July 3, 2019
Wow! I never had so many people like a comment ever! One more will make 100 Thank u
Me too
Just discovered in 2019
@@dubdeuce1517 n joy
@@rickmcclure7430 good sound rii?
ditto. And chose to check here after "Never My Love" (1967)
oh my god. i have never heard this, or of these guys. i happened upon this video on accident.
this is pure art
Hope u n joy
I love these videos but they are lip syncing and pantomiming.... really electric guitars and mikes with no wires amps etc.....
@@laurachristianson1688 That's the way everyone did it on TV back then. I've seen them do this for real, live, and it sounds just as good.
@@laurachristianson1688 the music is a track but those vocals were live 🎶❤🎤🎶
Wow! Sounded live, not lip synched. I became a disc jockey in the summer of '66, and this was one of the first 45s I played. It was so bitchin' that I played it 'til I memorized it. Got the words right, and I still remember them 50 freakin' years later!!
it was so rare back then ( for television anyway ) that this was actually live playing and not lip synching to the record. and even more impressive is that it is a very good live performance
Hahahaahaa “live playing” hahaha ahahahahah ohhh my... just look at the drummer,.... ya, not playing it... they didn’t even play the song on the RECORD themselves... The Wrecking Crew did.
@@gordonclement7550 true they were a pr band with good voices. They were an Avenue for well written unbranded songs. But even though they weren’t the greatest musicians, or song writers they did “perform”some well written songs that were hits.
The worst was American Bandstand. For whatever reason, no one could even lip sync their own songs at show.
Lead vocals were a live track, that's about it.
@@circusitchlook at John Mellancamp’s American Bandstand performance. He is just mocking the whole idea.
This clip is so creative and engages the audience on an intellectual level. Then, the real fun starts. Great hook throughout!
Bands like this really worked on harmonies and fundamental skills to deliver memorable music that lasts.
They were a class act all the way.
Kate Nelson And they are still performing on occasion - to the best of my knowledge.
If I remember correctly, this show was on NBC, but forgot what day; want to say Sunday?
Hi EVAN ... Good post . I loved the introduction & it was refreshing to see the Smothers brothers have great live performances instead of the lip-synching.
Chicago Window Tint By Major Tint Unlimited CBS, who famously fired the bros for speaking against the War in Vietnam. But it was okay for Uncle Walter to say the same thing. PS It came on at 9, right after Ed Sullivan.
This is pure talent! No one in 2020 compares.
listen to a guy called bladee
opinion
You got it Talent not like the shit thst comes out of todays so called singers
Cool band, real musicians and vocalists. Try that vocal phrasing sometime!
Literally had no idea Bloodhound Gang didn’t write this themselves. As if it came out 30 something years earlier and the lyrics will never not make sense. Simply incredible talent.
I remember some lady trying to get me to arrest them at Knott's Berry Farm for smoking Pot in their trailer ( I didn't of course). I think they were great.
Well the song IS about marijuana, after all ...
I must've watched this video about 20 times already in the past 2 or 3 months since I found it. I was about 9 years old when this song came out. This is one of those bands that had a lot of hit songs. I love bands like that. Also, I think it's real impressive for a singer to even remember the tangle of verses without making a mistake during a performance. Great singing!
That intro though.. I love how it blends into the groove. This band should be better known. Talented musicians.
In their time at least, they were certainly well-known, for their hits like this one, and the huge #1 hit Cherish, Windy and Never My Love.
In the history of pop music, this song is the most complex.
Apparently you've never listened to the Beatles last 3 studio albums.
@@JulezWinnfield
You need to learn how to make a point without insult.
@@ernestmoney7252
No insult....just facts. You made an absurd claim that of all the songs recorded in the rock and roll era, this song has the most complexity of any song ever written. Most of the Beatles songs on Abbey Road, The White Album, and Sgt. Pepper are far more complex in their lyrical composition and melodic arrangement and production.
@@JulezWinnfield I am a massive beatles fan but would insist that this song is indeed of the caliber of their greatest work. a slightly different style sure, just as cheeky however and catchy with genius lyrics. Personally i feel the Beatles have many more genius songs overall than any band truly! although i don't feel that should ever diminish the best piece and incredible skill of another band. this song gives me chills when i hear the intro horns!
@@ButtersDaBaller
If the members of The Association wrote, produced, and actually played all the instruments on this record, then I would concur with your opinion. The Beatles were one of the only super groups of the 60's not to use a stable of producers, writers, and musicians (i.e The Wrecking Crew, etc.) to create their records. I'm not knocking The Association because it was a common practice of that era. Comparing them to The Beatles is like comparing apples to oranges, with The Beatles being the apples (Apple Records, get it😉).
Now THIS is music!!!!
When I see this golden age of pop - the songs are just superbly constructed - as opposed to harder rock that is often carried by a dominating guitar or a certain instrument - as songs like this have simple parts of each instrumentalist blended as an orchestra would - the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts - which tends to provided richer, more textured and interesting layers to the music.
Absurdly hard song to sing, & Jim Yester rocks it.
Hadn't heard this in a while so I called it up. Nothing prepared me for Brian Cole's spoken intro. That took my breath away more than Jim Yester's vocal performance. And, yes, "Mary" refers to marijuana.
Still rocking - saw them last night (7-25-18) and they still sound good.
What an intro!!!
And not lip-sync'd! ... GREAT lyrics by Tandyn Almer!
So from now on I'm just going to default to the assumption that any post-80s song that really grabs me is almost certainly a cover.
That's been going on since music first started!
+ellaphx I am inclined to agree. I thought this was a Bloodhound Gang original!
Padraig Cronin On the one hand, annoying. On the other, well, they did a damn good cover..
+ellaphx Bloodhound Gang cover is from 1998... not quite 80s then...
1998 is post-80s...
I will never ever ever get tired of this song
I never dreamed that The Association could sound this could "live." Awfully hard to do. "The Machine" was originally an (unreleased) album track. It appears on their 2 CD Rhino collection.
I worked for Dick Smothers briefly in the 70's. I cleared his backyard for his vineyard in Scotts Valley, CA. Nice guy. I used to swim in his pool with his kids.
Great material...plus instruments.
Sound's 🎼🎶🎶🎵🎸🥁🎹
That is too cool
He forgot the most important part of the machine called The Wrecking Crew
WC did not play on this.
Some people never get it right!
Yes!!! The Wrecking Crew for sure, I just watched this brilliant! documentary last night!
Now hold on! You can see the guitarists are ACTUALLY plugged in! No lipsyncing...no pretend playing.
If you see the footage from the Monterey Pop festival , The band play all their hits and are faithful to their records. A very good group indeed.
Tough lyrics to sing.
Check out the lyrics! This had to be one of the hardest songs ever to sing.
Surprisingly, the story is it's a song about marijuana, aka Mary.
i think cole was a very underrated bassist he died way to young- very talented bass player
how good do you have to be to do a song that complex live. amazing
I don't know if you noticed, but when the music started playing, even the band was surprised.
@@jsmall10671 ha! I just noticed
They were lipping silly
And who knew they had wireless guitars way back in the sixties lol.
They are actually singing live and the backing tracks are recording. Notice there's a horn section playing a couple of low sax parts etc?
Including the witty introduction, this is COMPLETELY EPIC!!! Hate to say it, but music truly WAS better back in the day.
Most so called bands today could not hold a candle to these guys. Amazing group underrated and amazing musicianship!
I cannot believe it's been 51 years since this song came out. And how a song about marijuana back in 1967 went to number #7 on the Billboard charts. Should of gone to number #1. Only these men could pull off a song about cannabis. Awesome!
WHAT!! I am sure this was about a real person named Mary-not marijuana. Shesh. lol :)
www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1877 Nope- It is about pot
@Mr54nomore: Peaked at #7 in 1966 But it's a great song! It should have gone to #1!!
cajuncocoa Thanks for that update. I stand corrected...Peace!
mr54nomore, they got a few by the censors, Windy was about blow jobs . That's what the y called a blowjob. "who's bending down to give me a ... rainbow,every one knows it's Windy "
THIS is their masterpiece.
When people could sing live. I guess I have bad hearing. My sister made fun of me because I thought sweet as the punch was sugar to munch. I also thought they said Come to Mars, instead of Boppa Du Wa.
From the song, " When vague desire is the fire in the eyes of chicks whose sickness is the games they play ". That perfectly describes a female who is aggressive towards you as a guy but will not come out and say what it is she really wants, but neither will she leave you alone. She expects you to know what she wants when she doesn't know herself. Run, don't walk away from such a person.
The very first concert I went to was a Battle of the Bands hosted by the local radio station. The Association won and got their recording contract. It has always been a source of pride to have been at some of the earliest concerts of some of the most notable bands of my era.
Wow. This is really live! Gee, for a band who recorded with studio musicians, this is awesome!!!!
Written about the joys of Mary Jane.
I was lucky enough to see these guys live. Blown away as they all played every instrument and they all sang those incredible harmonies to perfection. Love their many lp's and they sounded even better live!!!
The studio version of this song has two voices singing the verse.This certainly seems to be live vocals. As a semi pro musician myself I can appreciate the power vocals needed to pull this off. Two thumbs up for the writing, arrangement and execution of this true classic. Second only to (Everything that touches you )
I think the voice was double tracked in the studio version. Double tracking was very common in those days.
An intricate interesting song that clearly stands the test of time.. I am impressed that they perfoprmed it live with no back up musicians on the Smothers Brothers show.
They had many good songs, Never My Love, Windy and of course one of the greatest hits of all time Cherish.
So glad I found this song easily. Hell yea for the 60s-70s man, real glad we have UA-cam and past generations to show newer ones this music.
Brian Cole, the bass player doing the introductions died in 1972 at the age of 29 due to a heroin overdose. What a sad ending for such a talented guy.
How sad is that?
@@amycarl7538 Very sad, and kinda shocking since it happened to a member of a seemingly wholesome band. Not really a buncha psychedelic hippies were it wouldn't be a shock.
He died a month after I was born
That is so very sad....
You have to be off your rocker to be shooting up drugs. I would call it an eventual suicide.
I’d forgotten how fabulous this was,,the 60s was truly epic folks,! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🇬🇧
You have to give it up to any guy who proudly shakes a tambourine with the confidence of Eric Clapton on guitar.
Agreed, and he has to stay on track since the tambourine is an integral and noticeable part of this complex arrangement. He can't just shake it willy nilly.
This is such a great song. But what makes it even greater are the lyrics--the meter, the rhyming scheme within a line itself, it's brilliant! Also, the ambiguity of the words is what gets me--so enigmatic (although to me, it's as plain as day it's about marijuana)! Props to Tandyn Almer for writing such a catchy tune with deep lyrics.
Good post VITREOUS...
Awesome post---you captured all the virtues of this song perfectly!! (For a song about pot it's pretty damn complex isn't it LOL!!)
I just laughed my ass off at the "Machine" intro. It is definitely going on a mix. In general, The Association is the most underrated band of that time. Brilliant songwriting.
Agreed. Saw Tandyn on an interview on here from a couple years back.
He basically said that the song indeed was about marijuana although he said
(and the band) didn't set out to make "a dope song hit" I rolled my eyeballs when
he said that last thing. But most of those guys still are touring nowadays and maybe he was being "politically correct." Lot of grandmas & young-uns in those audiences.
Vitreous Lamella never a doubt about the meaning......................now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch . This version is obviously done live , these guys were good and underrated . One of , if not , my favorite group of the time ............
I thank God for this music. It makes me feel just right.
What a great band, and how awesome of an introduction!
Wow! A lot of Television performances in the mid to late 60's were everything from live vocals sang over prerecorded music, to full lip syncing(over prerecorded music); like a modern day music video.
I believe this performance was performed live, all the way. If it was performed 100% live, that's quite a feat, especially considering the flute(recorder) and multiple backing vocals performed and mixed with such quality. This sounded very close to the recording. WOW!!!
It was definitely a live lead vocal, but probably over a recorded backing track. However, if you check out their performance of this song at the Monterey Pop Festival, they clearly had the musical chops to play it live just as well, with all the complex harmonizing.