This one brings back memories! Whenever they would play this at my local skating rink, we all skated faster when the sirens came in. The song is about a man wanted in Indiana for killing a man who insulted his woman. Because he's now a wanted man, he can't go back to Indiana. So he misses his woman, the very woman he was defending that caused him to kill the man in the first place. Of course, he makes a desperate attempt to get to her, and then we hear the resultant shootout at the end and we know, sadly, that he died. He should have had more hits.
I always took it from the gunshots at the end that he didn't go quietly and he is not in the prison that he dreaded so much! The older you get the more emotional you become, mostly because you have your own children by this point in your life and those feelings have been awakened by just having those beautiful children!
I'd have to ask what would be the point but you wouldn't know why they did that, probably for the radio version! Thank you for telling me this information though I found it very interesting and if I remember correctly I didn't hear any gunshots on the radio back in the day! Also thank you for your reply, replies are always welcome! Deb
@@debbers My guess would also be it was for radio, my 45 had the gunshots. On the radio it did a slow fade out of the lines "Indiana wants me but I can't go back there" interspersed with "this is the police" "give yourself up" and "you are surrounded" repeated over and over..
Yes, that's how I remember it too! Unfortunately all of my 45's were stolen along with my 78's and all of my children's records that had books with them, I also had the 45 of this! Thank you for your reply! Rock on!
@@juliepearson1644 Did you run out of capital letters ??? Right in the middle of your sentence ??? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Just joking, but it IS hard for those unfamiliar to pick out the name of songs when they aren't capitalized.
@@juliepearson1644 Your ignorance is WHY I mentioned it. It's ok, I really tried saying it nicely, and even TOLD you I was joking but, I figured, no matter HOW I said it, you'd take offense anyway ... and then try to say something in a smart-ass way. Turns out, I was right. That makes TWICE now. I'll explain it again ... People who have never heard a song or seen it's title, may NOT be able to pick it out of a sentence ... if they don't know what it's name is. Try reading that again a couple of times, and maybe it will sink in over time. If not, and no one ever has a problem with your writing, then fine ... just assume, "I'm the fool". However, if you want to reduce the probably of being misunderstood, try using proper English. It really doesn't hurt as much as they say it will. Incidentally, I understood what you meant, but I KNEW what the title was. If you didn't know what it was, what part of "Love love love Take a letter Maria" would you think your audience was supposed to pick out of the sentence ??? RIDICULOUS
2nd comment ... I should have said before that I used to have a similar phenomenon happen to me all the time. I would be telling someone about a movie, cartoon, song, etc. and I would turn on a TV when I got home and , not only would the same thing be on, but it would be in the same scene. I always used to think to myself, "I'm positive ... I AM psychic, but it sure would have been nice if it was in a more useful and/or profitable way, cause this is doing me absolutely no good at all" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
First reactor to do R Dean Taylor I think. Thank you. Considered a one hit wonder in USA but had 3 hits in the UK. You must do 'Gotta See Jane' (his best song) now and his other biggie 'There's A Ghost In My House'.
Harri- I get emotinal now when I hear the songs of my youth from the 60's...or early 70's. Thanks for reacting to this song. How about reacting to "It's the Last Song" by The Bear. It's an oldie and so sweet and really gets me now when I hear it. Also, "It Never Rains in California"...is a good one.
Wow, I bought this 45 when I was just a kid. I live in Indiana and loved that it said Indiana! I had no idea what it was about, til my older brother explained 😳
The reason you get emotional with songs like this is because you have reached an age where you understand you are not immortal and death is real. It happens to all of us. Of course I could be wrong.😬
Well, Harri... you finally did it. I am now 75 y/o (ugh!) and I went to listen to James Last Orchestra's version. OMGOD... I love James Last's version more. Thank you. Oh WTH...? I didn't realize the guy didn't give up. He died. Oh... sad.
takes me back to riding the school bus and the driver was into current music at the time and always had these old tunes playing. good memories! Cheers she was my favourite driver in my day.
On the subject of Indiana.... "Indian Lake" by the Cowsills. Also, "I did what I did for Maria"...Tony Christie.. another song where the guy is running from the law. "Break it to them Gently" Burton Cummings.. A guy who has to leave his family to escape the Mafia...
Love this tune - remember it playing on the radio when I was about 9. Hearing it again I appreciate it more - the lyrics, the sad story and those soaring strings in the background!! I would like to add though that it wasn't a one hit wonder - R. Dean Taylor released one of my favourite Northern Soul tracks There's a ghost in my house and also another good tune I gotta see Jane ❤
I'm from Indiana used to get in trouble as a kid this was my theme song lol it still makes me cry. I have a Crime Prevention page on Facebook now...Thank You Harri.
Hi Harri, I couldn't believe you'd posted this, no-one ever plays it nowadays. I was a 14-year-old when it came out and I still love it. I wish they had records of this quality in the charts now. I don't know if you've noticed but it was released on Rare Earth records which was part of Tamla Motown, so I always thought of him as really being a soul singer. When I hear this song, I always think of Clarence Carter singing "Patches." They are nothing like each other but they were hits around the same time. You ought to play "Patches" some time although it's listed as "Real Tear Jerker" with a five handkerchief rating. Tony Christie also released a single about killing a man in revenge for what he did to a woman in 1972. That was called "I Did What I Did For Maria." Finally, R Dean Taylor had two hit records in the UK, the other one was "Gotta See Jane" which is also excellent. Right, I'm off now to explore his other songs.
Have not heard this song in a long time ! thanks for reacting to it. Requesting A song called VEHICLE by IDES OF MARCH ...and A song by a band called CHASE called GOT TO GET IT ON,,LIVE, BOTH GREAT songs.
I second "Take a Letter, Maria." Please also do Suzi Quatro's "Can the Can." You only did the duet that was a departure from her typical rocking sound. She inspired Jian Jett & many others. I subscribed after the duet but you haven't followed up on her. Btw, she was more popular in the UK than USA even though she's from the US.
Hey, that's down on my request list for him too. When I used to occasionally do an internet radio show I often played the B side of the single, "Wilhelmina." When the group reformed later and re-recorded the "Hollywood Dreams" album, Peter Townshend's son, Josh was a member which is especially interesting as Townshend himself had originally played Bass Guitar on the album as well as producing it.
I've loved this song for decades, never heard any other version. I've been hoping a reactor would play this one. I think it was a 1-hit wonder. For an even better song that starts with a siren you need to hear the 1967 'San Franciscan Nights' by Eric Burdon and the Animals. The spoken intro is a spoof of the long-running "Dragnet" TV show. Beautiful song, a lost classic.
A song I remember really emotionally is “Last Kiss”. It was probably around the same era as this one…can’t remember the artist..but it was so wild when just a few years ago, I heard it on the radio!! Couldn’t believe it was a cover by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam!! Made my flipping day! Either version would be a great reaction (or maybe both?) Happy day to you Harri. ♥️
Haven't heard this song in a long time it brought back memories when I traveled from the State's to Canada and they played it all the time up there. Been listening watching and finding join the channel. Please check this group out the ( Damn Yankees ) 4 famous rock stars from 4 different groups that got together in the 90s for a few years . Check this song by them ( Come Again ).You will probably figure out who some of them are. Stay Safe X Up.
Likely got a lot of airplay as it was CanCon (Canadian content) which was mandated around that time, 1971, and the song came along previously in 1970. While CanCon was somewhat derided in the early days, (mainly because of the repetition of artists and songs), it helped build a great industry of performers, engineers, labels etc. Think of how many Canadian performers led their genres: Twain, Dion, Adams, Buble, Morrissette, Murray, the list goes on and on.
R Dean Taylor was a Canadian singer songwriter who was signed by Motown and assigned to a couple of Motown subsidiaries. Until the Rare Earth label (for Motown white artists) he may have been one of the very few white performers with Motown. He had a hand in The Supremes smash hit Love Child.
R Dean Taylor had another big hit in the UK with 'Gotta See Jane' ..... which I think is better than this one. He was at Motown where he was a singer, producer and song writer.
Sorry Harri, but James Last's version is not in the same league as R Dean Taylor's .. Like most of James Last's music, it is pleasant background stuff, but when I hear this version, I stop what I'm doing and give it my full attention .. I suspect it's only because you heard JL's first that there's even a question in your mind over which one you prefer .. Sentimental attachment etc .. Cheers, Wayne
![R. Dean Taylor -- Indiana Wants Me [COUNTRY HEART SERIES]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/I7cOBqOl5xk/mqdefault.jpg)
![R. Dean Taylor -- Indiana Wants Me [COUNTRY HEART SERIES]](/img/tr.png)
I had this on 45. I used to play it on my little record player over and over. I loved this song. I was really young.
Same :)
A beautiful sad song, Yeah...but a hit single that is totally on God's iPod. Timeless! Bravo...ENCORE!
The 70s man when even the bubblelgum hits had meaning.
100%
Amen brother. 😊
Ever time I hear the word Indiana this song pops into my mind. You have great taste in music Harri!
I was 7 years old when this song came out.
Still love it, even more now than back then.
RIP R Dean Taylor
OMG where are you coming up with these songs? Haven't heard this in decades.
I was gonna say the same thing.
Nobody plays it anymore.
I haven't heard this song in such a long time!!! it was one of my favorites ***
This one brings back memories! Whenever they would play this at my local skating rink, we all skated faster when the sirens came in. The song is about a man wanted in Indiana for killing a man who insulted his woman. Because he's now a wanted man, he can't go back to Indiana. So he misses his woman, the very woman he was defending that caused him to kill the man in the first place. Of course, he makes a desperate attempt to get to her, and then we hear the resultant shootout at the end and we know, sadly, that he died. He should have had more hits.
What a great 70's song and the story involves murder, honor and the police. The words tell a sad story but the song itself sounds pretty damn good.
I can't believe that you found this one. I love this song.
It's a very emotional song indeed. It's the last message of a desperate cornered man. I like the orchestration sounds like a moan.
Wow, I haven't heard this for decades. I was just thinking of songs I haven't heard in decades and just remembered ( Ohio Express- Yummy Yummy Yummy)
Yes! and, "1-2-3 Redlight'... somehow one of those always reminds me of the other.
@@k_salter yep. I agree.
I still listen to this song quite a lot. Love it.
I always took it from the gunshots at the end that he didn't go quietly and he is not in the prison that he dreaded so much!
The older you get the more emotional you become, mostly because you have your own children by this point in your life and those feelings have been awakened by just having those beautiful children!
There's a different version that leaves out the gun shots.
I'd have to ask what would be the point but you wouldn't know why they did that, probably for the radio version! Thank you for telling me this information though I found it very interesting and if I remember correctly I didn't hear any gunshots on the radio back in the day! Also thank you for your reply, replies are always welcome! Deb
@@debbers My guess would also be it was for radio, my 45 had the gunshots. On the radio it did a slow fade out of the lines "Indiana wants me but I can't go back there" interspersed with "this is the police" "give yourself up" and "you are surrounded" repeated over and over..
Yes, that's how I remember it too! Unfortunately all of my 45's were stolen along with my 78's and all of my children's records that had books with them, I also had the 45 of this! Thank you for your reply! Rock on!
I feel same way. Because we are not young and bad now. Its guilt and regret. 😢
Just found you ! you describe the song perfectly ,a good decent man pushed in to a corner and forced to fight for what he loves , keep safe brother
love R. Dean Taylor...."Ghost in my House" and "Gotta see Jane" 🥰❤
RIP R Dean Taylor
OK, if you are gonna go in the wayback machine...how about a little 'Take a Letter Maria' by RB Greaves. Sad song with a happy ending.
@@juliepearson1644 Did you run out of capital letters ??? Right in the middle of your sentence ??? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Just joking, but it IS hard for those unfamiliar to pick out the name of songs when they aren't capitalized.
@@juliepearson1644 Your ignorance is WHY I mentioned it. It's ok, I really tried saying it nicely, and even TOLD you I was joking but, I figured, no matter HOW I said it, you'd take offense anyway ... and then try to say something in a smart-ass way. Turns out, I was right. That makes TWICE now.
I'll explain it again ... People who have never heard a song or seen it's title, may NOT be able to pick it out of a sentence ... if they don't know what it's name is. Try reading that again a couple of times, and maybe it will sink in over time.
If not, and no one ever has a problem with your writing, then fine ... just assume, "I'm the fool". However, if you want to reduce the probably of being misunderstood, try using proper English. It really doesn't hurt as much as they say it will.
Incidentally, I understood what you meant, but I KNEW what the title was. If you didn't know what it was, what part of "Love love love Take a letter Maria" would you think your audience was supposed to pick out of the sentence ???
RIDICULOUS
.....There's a ghost in my House was a later hit for him....all of his hits were pleasingly quirky and atmospheric....
Wow, thx for the James Last tip!! Love Last and this track from back in the day didnt know Last covered it!
Loved it when I first heard it. I was about 12 or 13.
im 66 and only know R. Dean Taylor love this song from young girl
I play this every time I go to Indiana
Yes.
Haven’t heard this song in years…and yet just this morning my wife and I were talking about it.
The world is a freaky place sometimes!
Now that's cool 😎
2nd comment ... I should have said before that I used to have a similar phenomenon happen to me all the time. I would be telling someone about a movie, cartoon, song, etc. and I would turn on a TV when I got home and , not only would the same thing be on, but it would be in the same scene. I always used to think to myself, "I'm positive ... I AM psychic, but it sure would have been nice if it was in a more useful and/or profitable way, cause this is doing me absolutely no good at all" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
@@StevesFunhouseI hear you friend. Same thing has happened to me.
First reactor to do R Dean Taylor I think. Thank you. Considered a one hit wonder in USA but had 3 hits in the UK. You must do 'Gotta See Jane' (his best song) now and his other biggie 'There's A Ghost In My House'.
His other UK hits are good songs, too.
Love your channel. You react to songs no one else is and songs I've completely forgotten about 🎵🎶
He was on the Motown label. He was a very underrated Singer!
I do too, older you get you understand the lyrics
Harri- I get emotinal now when I hear the songs of my youth from the 60's...or early 70's. Thanks for reacting to this song. How about reacting to "It's the Last Song" by The Bear. It's an oldie and so sweet and really gets me now when I hear it. Also, "It Never Rains in California"...is a good one.
Wow, I bought this 45 when I was just a kid. I live in Indiana and loved that it said Indiana! I had no idea what it was about, til my older brother explained 😳
Same era try Sugarloaf's "Green Eyed Lady"...
Same memories. Always think of this song when I hear the name Indiana. 💜
The reason you get emotional with songs like this is because you have reached an age where you understand you are not immortal and death is real. It happens to all of us. Of course I could be wrong.😬
I agree
Bringing back memories! Thank you! 🤗
Well, Harri... you finally did it. I am now 75 y/o (ugh!) and I went to listen to James Last Orchestra's version. OMGOD... I love James Last's version more. Thank you. Oh WTH...? I didn't realize the guy didn't give up. He died. Oh... sad.
takes me back to riding the school bus and the driver was into current music at the time and always had these old tunes playing.
good memories! Cheers she was my favourite driver in my day.
I was about 16 years old when I heard this song.
Rare Earth records through Motown.
On the subject of Indiana.... "Indian Lake" by the Cowsills. Also, "I did what I did for Maria"...Tony Christie.. another song where the guy is running from the law. "Break it to them Gently" Burton Cummings.. A guy who has to leave his family to escape the Mafia...
I still have the 45 record of this !
Love this tune - remember it playing on the radio when I was about 9. Hearing it again I appreciate it more - the lyrics, the sad story and those soaring strings in the background!! I would like to add though that it wasn't a one hit wonder - R. Dean Taylor released one of my favourite Northern Soul tracks There's a ghost in my house and also another good tune I gotta see Jane ❤
Have you ever heard the song by the Commoders three times a lady! You got me wondering g here ! Thanks, for the review for Indiana wants me?
The story of this song is so richly layered. It's not common to hear songs written like this.
What makes this song so powerful is that the guy is a murderer.....you feel sorry that he obviously died in a hail of gunfire.
There's another enjoyable version of this with extra police sirens. It's on YT
This is a good old song. My mom had the 45 when i was a small child in the early 70s ☺
I was 12 years old when this song came out ❤
First whte man on motown.
I'm from Indiana used to get in trouble as a kid this was my theme song lol it still makes me cry. I have a Crime Prevention page on Facebook now...Thank You Harri.
Wow! Harri, you’ve been hitting it out of the ballpark lately💕Love it💕💕💕Thanks so much💕💕💕
The first time my husband heard this was in Vietnam and the sirens sent all into nearest foxhole!
_Hồ Chí Minh_ Wants Me!
Hi Harri, I couldn't believe you'd posted this, no-one ever plays it nowadays. I was a 14-year-old when it came out and I still love it. I wish they had records of this quality in the charts now.
I don't know if you've noticed but it was released on Rare Earth records which was part of Tamla Motown, so I always thought of him as really being a soul singer.
When I hear this song, I always think of Clarence Carter singing "Patches." They are nothing like each other but they were hits around the same time. You ought to play "Patches" some time although it's listed as "Real Tear Jerker" with a five handkerchief rating.
Tony Christie also released a single about killing a man in revenge for what he did to a woman in 1972. That was called "I Did What I Did For Maria."
Finally, R Dean Taylor had two hit records in the UK, the other one was "Gotta See Jane" which is also excellent.
Right, I'm off now to explore his other songs.
'There's A Ghost In My House'.................
Those gunshota at the end. You know what happened.
A random oldie just hit me: Bryan Hyland singing "Sealed with a Kiss". You'll like it, and may have heard it in your past.
Owned the 45 record.
Have not heard this song in a long time ! thanks for reacting to it.
Requesting A song called VEHICLE by IDES OF MARCH ...and A song by a band called CHASE called GOT TO GET IT ON,,LIVE, BOTH GREAT songs.
That was a crossover hit more like radio stations from WABC and other one the a black radio stations all over the United States
I second "Take a Letter, Maria." Please also do Suzi Quatro's "Can the Can." You only did the duet that was a departure from her typical rocking sound. She inspired Jian Jett & many others. I subscribed after the duet but you haven't followed up on her. Btw, she was more popular in the UK than USA even though she's from the US.
I'm a new face in the group and I have a request? Anything by postmodern jukebox please? Hello my name is rob, pleasure to meet you.
Harri, how about another one hit wonder THUNDERCLAP NEWMAN with "Something in the Air", you'll dig it.
Hey, that's down on my request list for him too. When I used to occasionally do an internet radio show I often played the B side of the single, "Wilhelmina."
When the group reformed later and re-recorded the "Hollywood Dreams" album, Peter Townshend's son, Josh was a member which is especially interesting as Townshend himself had originally played Bass Guitar on the album as well as producing it.
Can you react to Get Together by the Youngbloods. You will enjoy it!
I've loved this song for decades, never heard any other version. I've been hoping a reactor would play this one. I think it was a 1-hit wonder.
For an even better song that starts with a siren you need to hear the 1967 'San Franciscan Nights' by Eric Burdon and the Animals. The spoken intro is a spoof of the long-running "Dragnet" TV show. Beautiful song, a lost classic.
A song I remember really emotionally is “Last Kiss”. It was probably around the same era as
this one…can’t remember the artist..but it was so wild when just a few years ago, I heard it on
the radio!! Couldn’t believe it was a cover by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam!! Made my flipping day!
Either version would be a great reaction (or maybe both?) Happy day to you Harri. ♥️
The original version was by Wayne Cochrane in 1961, but the one you’re probably thinking of was by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers in 1964.
A cautionary tune about letting your rage overtake your common sense.
He was a Canadian singer, but apparently he wasn't just wanted by the police in all the provinces but Indiana also 😜🤣
The Shootout ending was removed because of Car Accidents.
Thanks H. This is a great song. Fantastic memories of this song in Junior High.
Same here only I was in grade school still.
Haven't heard this song in a long time it brought back memories when I traveled from the State's to Canada and they played it all the time up
there. Been listening watching and finding join the channel. Please check this group out the ( Damn Yankees ) 4 famous rock stars from 4 different groups that got together in the 90s for a few years . Check this song by them ( Come Again ).You will probably figure out who some of them are. Stay Safe X Up.
High enough is a great song. I saw them.. The short time they were together. I really liked them.
Likely got a lot of airplay as it was CanCon (Canadian content) which was mandated around that time, 1971, and the song came along previously in 1970. While CanCon was somewhat derided in the early days, (mainly because of the repetition of artists and songs), it helped build a great industry of performers, engineers, labels etc. Think of how many Canadian performers led their genres: Twain, Dion, Adams, Buble, Morrissette, Murray, the list goes on and on.
R Dean Taylor was a Canadian singer songwriter who was signed by Motown and assigned to a couple of Motown subsidiaries. Until the Rare Earth label (for Motown white artists) he may have been one of the very few white performers with Motown. He had a hand in The Supremes smash hit Love Child.
❤🎵
R Dean Taylor had another big hit in the UK with 'Gotta See Jane' ..... which I think is better than this one. He was at Motown where he was a singer, producer and song writer.
What an awesome song…this was played A LOT in our shitty cars . Always found it very 😢 The artist is Canadian and was signed by Motown FYI
Do more old 70’s music. 💕
For some unknown reason the James Last version doesn't have verse 3, nor the sirens, not the end shootout and therefore fails to tell the whole story.
A sad song? Well it sure ain't happy. 😢
sad for the person he killed, just because he said something about his girl or wife whatever
Sorry Harri, but James Last's version is not in the same league as R Dean Taylor's .. Like most of James Last's music, it is pleasant background stuff, but when I hear this version, I stop what I'm doing and give it my full attention .. I suspect it's only because you heard JL's first that there's even a question in your mind over which one you prefer .. Sentimental attachment etc .. Cheers, Wayne
Check out "38 Years Old" by the Tragically Hip. Also a story of a man going to prison.
We must be worrying about Ukraine not the songs yo better serve your channel to Ukraine