I'm a former lead singer/rhythm guitar player whose band opened for Elvin Bishop in the late 70's and I can tell you that Mickey Thomas has a bulletproof voice and sounded like this every time he took the stage. Love your videos. Rock on my brother... 👍
Absolutely right. I was a frontman in the 70’s as well. We used to see Elvin at a small club on one of the Avenues in SF. What a treat, but my ego really couldn’t hack it. Always drunk before the end of the night. 🥳
Me! My daughter, now age 53 we use to watch It together! She became a Music Therapist...I like to think I helped by introducing her to all music when she was little!
NuclearGrizzly yes me and my best friend used to watch every Friday night! We are still great friends, even though we live 200 miles apart. He’s coming to see me in a couple of weeks, and we still play guitar together...
I remember as just In Concert. If I remember correctly it was only Don Kirshner's for a the first year or so. But yeah we were so lucky to have these two shows growing up. First time seeing Genesis on Midnight Special and Mahavishnu Orchestra on In Concert.
Mickey is such a genuine and humble man, I'm a nobody right but got to meet him and he's one of the nicest people I've ever known, he made _me_ feel included and like what I said was really important! I'll never forget the time!
Students of music have been studying this clip for decades and most note it as being almost perfect for delivery, timing, pitch, technical accuracy, tone and creative artistry. Brilliant in every way.
Great presentation again. Im listening to music over 60 yrs this awesome performance is one of the best ever. Mickey is one of the greatest singers ever and still performing in 2024. Elvin did a fantastic job plus writing this fantastic song. Keep up the good work
Holy smokes can this guy sing! I remember hearing Jane on the radio when it was first released and being blown away by Mickey's voice. Effortless flawless vibrato, incredible range....one of the best ever in my opinion.
My ex-wife.....she is a great singer in her own right... Hey Phil......can you friend me on Facebook....I'll send you some of my unpublished tunes that I am getting ready to re-record..... would like your opinion.... I'll send them MP3's on your private messenger...not yet for public consumption...actually never copyrighted them..... you might like them...even though they were recorded quite some time ago.....
his voice has a lot of personality, you wouldn't confuse him with a lot of other male singers. I seem to remember him doing a solo album too but it must not have been a big hit.
I'm African/american. During this period of my life i was heavily into 70's Soul, R&B, and Blues and even some Disco (shoot me but i liked disco) hahahah.. Anyways I was not so much into rock. But i first heard this song on the radio, I think i was 15 years old. I took my allowance money and went straight to Tower Records to buy it , simply because of the vocals. It grabbed me and sucked me in so much, because i was a teen falling in Love with a girl named Barbara at the time. This song suited me perfectly and had a lot of meaning to me. Not to mention, it was truly my first taste of what some say is "Blue Eyed Soul". Elvin for me was even before I discovered, acts like, Hall and Oates, The Everly Bros, The Righteous Brothers and a few other blue eyed soul singers. Two things i learned today, thanks to you bro. I thought it was Elvin singing all these years and at the time I thought he was a black guy singing lead vocals. lol Damn was i wrong.. I never saw what Elvin looked like until recently. I didn't buy the Album, i had bought a 45 Wax Single disc with a "B' side song that i don't remember and it just came in a plain sleeve. So no picture. I had missed seeing him on "The Midnight Special". I knew he was going to be on the show but i fell asleep and missed it. I remember being so pissed. No DVR in those days and VCR's wouldn't come out until a decade y later for the public consumer. Here it is around 40 years later and i find out what he looks like, hahahahaha I know, i know, please spare me the Crucifixion. Thanks for the bit of trivia. Actually I hadn't heard of or thought of this song in 2 decades. For those wondering. I got my girl Barbara, and we were together for 5 years and then ONE of us, "Fooled around and Fell Out of Love" in 1983. :)
Cool story bro,I wish it was ‘76 again,I was 9 years old and now I find myself playing a lot of older music that I didn’t listen to then but now I’m loving it because it brings me back in time. Greetings from British Columbia man😎
That's frigging awesome and nobody should be surprised. Mickey Thomas is one of the very best singers of any genre in any category. His voice is golden and it elevated the Elvin Bishop Band from merely a "rock" band to rock n roll superstar status IMHO...
This was one of those songs back then that got a ton of airplay but you never got tired of it. Another one was "Taking it to the Streets" by the Doobie Brothers. Damn the 70's were great! Heck of a time to be a teenager.
Can I just say something . I live in England . West Sussex . I have been seeing Dr Hook around a lot . For like , the past 20 years!!! He was wandering around Sainsburys the other day . Not the eye patch guy .No . Dennis Locorrier. I was standing like literally behind him in the queue. I don't get why he would be living in Worthing ??? But he has been ....for years !! This guy is surely a bit of a legend . .
Wanda Watiff Either it’s his home and he likes it and/or lost all his music money like a lot of artists did. I’m sure it’s a reasonably nice place to live, though.
Hi Fil! I just heard this song the other day on 70’s radio! One of the cool songs from that era! It didn’t hurt that Mickey was so good looking too! lol! Loved his voice! Thanks Fil for taking me back to the 70’s, and some cool music! ✌️
Wow, you are an amazing teacher! The Midnight Special shows were such a big part of my teens in the 70's...nothing today compares to it! Thank you for all your reviews...
I would sing this song to my Bel and she actuLly hated the lyrics thinking that i was throwing it in her face, but it was all about her even of today she was my everything thank you Elvin
Mickey Thomas still sings this song in every Starship concert and still sounds this good. After all these years, Mickey still sings this song almost exactly the same way. His voice has held up very well over the decades. I had this song on 45 when I was a kid and still love it when Mickey does it live now. His vocals on Jefferson Starship’s “Jane” is fantastic, too.
Mickey Thomas singing. One of my favorite male vocalists. He's always had a great set of pipes on him. No doubt it's probably why he got the gig with Jefferson Starship later on in his career. I remember in highschool choir, our teacher showing us breathing techniques to hold connecting notes longer. Have a wonderful evening Fil...🎶🎙️🎸🌃
I have always loved this song vocals, Elvin's guitar solo. I was depressed that disco was going to overshadow these "soulful 'belters.'". This song has made me smile for 44 years now. Thanks Fil, for analyzing so well what a song that works on all levels has to distinguish it!
@@PorcelainLeigh Sure he is, most people don't even know who he was. I myself spent decades believing Elvin sang it himself. People who know exactly who Paul Rodgers is, and can trace him all the way back to Free draw a blank if you mention Mickey. Then when you mention Fooled Around, they say " Oh yeah, I didn't know who it was.
I miss the "human element" in today's music … When I listen to this, I don't care that it's not "perfect" …. It's loaded with talent! Much better than much of today's robotic synthesized music made with autotune LoL!!!!
classic kool Amen! It used to be that an artist needed talent to be successful: be a great singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, etc., but nowadays, the only ones with so-called talent are the producers. They snatch good-looking people off the street, hurl 'em into the studio, and in the immortal words of Jimi Hendrix, " They just wanna wrap me in cellophane and sell me." And fooking Auto-Tune: puh-LEASE! I refuse to listen to anything at all that features that stupidly annoying computer vocalization. It's a blight on music and a harbinger of death to the industry. Good riddance, you freakin' creeps, foisting this crap on an uneducated public, droop-shouldered, slack-jawed mouthbreathers breathlessly awaiting the next offering from whatever lucky initiate you've plucked from the stable. What does it matter what some unhappy eighteen-year-old thinks about the world? Is there anything new there to be learned? Of course not. Teenage angst has been the foundation of rock from the outset, but this cookie-cutter hip-hop foolishness is stupid and undignified. Rhyming is NOT an art form. God, I HATE what people are listening to today. SUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@ToddtheExploder after the 80,s music lost its grounding and became a mass media production and electronic noise. Kids now have no idea what real music even was or is.
Elvin is a journeyman blues legend. He was never known for his singing It’s also a career-moment where the stars aligned Having Jefferson Starship vocalist, Mickey Thomas, makes the song A rare song where everything works, giving Bishop his only major chart highlight
Mickey Thomas has a unique gift of singing. It is so effortless and pure. Saw him with Starship at the Orange County CA Summer Hot Air Balloon & Wine Festival 17 years ago. "Fooled Around" has been a regular number in the master bathroom's shower stall since 1978. I'll be straining trying to sing like Mickey until they put me in a pine box.
Ive been listening to this track for the past year and keep going back to it because of the masterful vocal performance by Mickey Thomas. Effortless perfection and ease with an added helping of soul to match. I have added this to my list of classic performances of this era.
Cool video Fil FYI Mickey still has it ! we saw him a couple years ago with Eddie Money Lou Graham (who was also on the bill but was a no show) and he owned the show in Palm Desert Cali .
This song was played constantly on Southern Cal FM radio in 1976, big hit, everyone loved it. I saw Elvin Bishop in 1980. They were playing in a small club in Northern CA, right around Mt Shasta. There was a problem though, no Mickey Thomas and for some reason they could not, would not play this song. There was only a few hundred people in the club but everyone was asking for this song. Elvin stopped the show and said "can't play it,different band,sorry" and the show went on. Thanks Fil.
Dan R That's interesting. Years back I watched a list show on CMT of the biggest crossover hits. When this was mentioned, I never thought of it as Country. Anyway, talking heads in the industry all said they tried to get a cover or remake but no artist would touch it. All said it was perfect, leave it be.
Dan R I saw him a couple of years later in SF, at a cocktail club, and he did play this song, although no Mickey Thomas. I got lucky and got a table in the front row, and he would come up and play directly to me and my date. How cool is that? His playing was impeccable and a real thrill.
@@dlsmpsn I ask. Did you notice in the video Elvin is wearing what appears to be a Deputy's badge on his jacket? Perhaps this is Elvin dealing with the "who is singing, who is Mickey Thomas" problem? When people heard this tune and then went to see a show they mostly expected to see a frontman named Elvin Bishop singing. I bet that when a band's top hit happens this way it causes some problems among members. Usually videos produced by Midnight Special display better editing. Not enough emphasis on Elvin (especially during that second small solo) and concentrating on Mickey singing at a low point in the song, a point they could have easily showed us more of Elvin playing guitar. This is a cut and paste from a 1988 Chicago Tribune article about Elvin Bishop. Looking a bit like a cross between Richard Nixon and Arlo Guthrie, Bishop himself isn`t shy about ''strutting his stuff'' on stage either. During a 2-hour-plus performance, he plucked and squeezed and shook out almost every possible note his guitar could hold, once wading into the thickest part of the crowd for one of his finer solos. At the end of the interview Elvin was asked "what lies ahead for you Elvin" In his best "good ole country boy drawl Elvin replied", "well there is Thanksgiving and then there is Christmas"
@@samanthab1923 In 2005, at the Grammy Awards, this song was covered. Elvin Bishop, Dickey Betts, Keith Urban, and others, if I recall were doing it. One of Elvin Bishop's musical tastes includes old time country music, so this would be fitting to have some country influence in it. It's a great song that I remember from the mid 1970s. I saw Elvin Bishop 3 times live and met him.
I got to see Evin play a live show (way back when) at the Brown Door. It was a college bar in Hammond LA. He had a wireless setup and he was from one end of the bar to the other the whole show. The whole time he was playing, he was talking to the patrons. Everyone there just loved it. One of the most memorable shows I have ever seen.
Thanks for head voice and falsetto information. Absolutely fascinating! This is actually one of my favorite songs of all time. I'll study your video numerous times young Sir. I adored this composition probably before your birth. You are so knowledgeable!
One of my favorite songs. Thank you. Heard you mention Jefferson Starship. Another one of my favorite groups. Would love to hear you do Miracles. I was a teen and early twenties in the seventies. I think some of the best music came out of that era. I feel really blessed to have grown up then especially since I grew up in New Orleans. So much live music. It was great and the tickets were SO cheap back then!
What a great performance! Liking it much more than the recorded version, especially Mickey's vocals. Thank you, Fil, for shedding a fresh new light on a song I've heard about a million times!
One of my favorite songs. One which it is difficult to imagine either the lead guitar or the vocals being any better. And the rest of the band is so tight. Great analysis. And thanks for the guitar tips. I have worked on the recorded version, but your video makes me want to get back to it again.
You're hitting close to home. Elvin lived near home during the San Francisco Sound times. I'd seen Elvin with Paul Butterfield and B.B. King and sitting in with countless other greats and of course his own gig. He was a local guy. My gang sat and talked with him at Crabshaws Corner, a club named after him, in downtown Sacramento. We bought this older guy beers and talked all hot summer day with him. He never let on who he was and we never caught on. Just a guy in coveralls to jaw with. Years later I flew down from Oregon where I'd been designing lighting to see Elvin at Armadillo Willie's. Elvin had gone through some rough times. The three of us were his only audience. Didn't matter, he and the band played a full gig, 2 sets. A great musician and a gentleman. I wouldn't be exaggerating by saying I've seen him 25+ times, and loved it every time. After the tragedy of his daughter's death, I heard he went permanently on the road. He's a great guy and a great musician. Thanks Fil for reminding me. Great times, fan-damn-tastic.
I was working a big festival here and it was during the late morning and sound checks going on sitting in my cart and this guy who looked like Harp Marx comes walking around the corner and into catering and if was Elvin. Went in an grab a bite and sat down next to him and talked for a good 45 minutes. Great guy, laid back just passing some time.
kurtisle - thanks for the story! When I saw him in 78', he was backup for the Grateful Dead and had Jerry play with him for a song or two- guess that must have been at the top of his game... played this song and the crowd was loving it!
Thank you for reviewing this song. It is one of my all-time favorites! Micky nails the vocals and the guitar solo by Elvin grabs me every time. The definition of soul!
Hi Fil, Mickey is a clear as a bell. Perfect! He knows it too. A split second after @16:50 he has the look, "I really nailed THAT," That chick singing backup is doing a superb job staying with him. I really learned a lot today about pentatonic shapes and the technique of major and minor. Great Analysis. You have the gift of teaching for sure. Just one more thing. I was afraid Elvin was going to dislocate his neck with his head bobbing!!
So many memories, some good, some not so much. Mickey's voice always made me weak in the knees. Beautiful song, with unbelievable singing. Love it. Thanks Fil, great analysis.
@@EclecticHillbilly okay. Just making sure. Natural inclination is to say KY-ro, like the Egyptian capital. But I remember hearing someone saying it.. I have a brother who lives in Thomasville, which I believe is not too far from Cairo.
Mickey Thomas is one of the most vastly underrated vocalists ever. That may have something to do with his very wobbly choice of material over the years. This great song here may be his signature vocal, and it proves without a doubt that this man had a tremendously soulful voice, but if you really want to hear this man cut loose, if you really want to hear this man slay and kill, check out his vocals on "Silent Night." (with the Elvin Bishop Band) Yes, it's the classic Christmas song, but Mickey turned it into a soulful, foot-stomping, gospel-ized, earth shaking, get-cho-ass-outta-yo-chair-and-start-moving type of song. It's not only his greatest soul-shaking moment, it's one of the greatest soul-shaking moments in the history of music. Look it up here on TH-cam .... and thank me later. lol
I love the fact that you can speak to just about every aspect of the music that you are listening to with authority, and that you can appreciate so many different varieties of music.
I’ve always loved this song as a kid. That guy can sing his ass off! Love it!! Thanks, Fil!! I love your guitar presentation too!! You’re a good teacher and you make me wish I was a musician. 💕👏
Excellent analysis of this great performance. . .YOU are the best at explaining the nuances that are so important to be aware of to truly appreciate a band and its music. I always learn something of real value when I watch your videos!
No internet or TH-cam then. Had to sneak out and turn on the TV and watch Midnight Special to see our fave groups. I remember my mom coming out to "Shhhh" me too many times to count. This and Don Kirschner's Rock Concert. And if we were lucky we'd get an episode of the Old Grey Whistle Test. Gosh darn,,,those were really good times.
I love the expression of wonder, appreciation, and sheer love you display while watching these performances. It must be hard for you at times to remember to pause the videos since you get so lost in the music.
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I'm a former lead singer/rhythm guitar player whose band opened for Elvin Bishop in the late 70's and I can tell you that Mickey Thomas has a bulletproof voice and sounded like this every time he took the stage. Love your videos. Rock on my brother... 👍
Thanks!
Absolutely right. I was a frontman in the 70’s as well. We used to see Elvin at a small club on one of the Avenues in SF. What a treat, but my ego really couldn’t hack it. Always drunk before the end of the night. 🥳
@@shakubob
😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅
Very nice of you to comment so positively about a former band mate. ❤❤ This song hit so strong in '76!
Guess you saw me.....Mickey and I came out from Georgia to join Elvin's band along with Mickey
Who else remember being a kid and staying up late to see The Midnight Special or Don Kirshner's Rock Concert?
I do! 😀
Me! My daughter, now age 53 we use to watch It together! She became a Music Therapist...I like to think I helped by introducing her to all music when she was little!
NuclearGrizzly yes me and my best friend used to watch every Friday night! We are still great friends, even though we live 200 miles apart. He’s coming to see me in a couple of weeks, and we still play guitar together...
I never missed it
I remember as just In Concert. If I remember correctly it was only Don Kirshner's for a the first year or so. But yeah we were so lucky to have these two shows growing up. First time seeing Genesis on Midnight Special and Mahavishnu Orchestra on In Concert.
The smile on your face while you listen to Mickey sing says it all. No breakdown necessary!
Mickey Thomas gives one of the best live performances I've ever seen!
And he’s so doggone relaxed!
Mickey is such a genuine and humble man, I'm a nobody right but got to meet him and he's one of the nicest people I've ever known, he made _me_ feel included and like what I said was really important! I'll never forget the time!
One of the best live vocal performances EVER...... .
Students of music have been studying this clip for decades and most note it as being almost perfect for delivery, timing, pitch, technical accuracy, tone and creative artistry. Brilliant in every way.
Great presentation again. Im listening to music over 60 yrs this awesome performance is one of the best ever. Mickey is one of the greatest singers ever and still performing in 2024. Elvin did a fantastic job plus writing this fantastic song. Keep up the good work
Mickey Thomas is an underrated, fantastic singer!!
Mickey has never been underrated
Holy smokes can this guy sing! I remember hearing Jane on the radio when it was first released and being blown away by Mickey's voice. Effortless flawless vibrato, incredible range....one of the best ever in my opinion.
Sara was a great Performance
He and Ann Wilson can do a lot of the same things with their voices. Ann at her best can do things nobody else can.
…and not to mention, gorgeous tone!
Poor guy goes from this to one of most drug-fueled psycho bands in the history of rock and roll. Got his face re-arranged because of it.
The Backup singer is Reni Slais. Love your channel.
Thank you!! She was wonderful and nobody has recognized her on this thread.
My ex-wife.....she is a great singer in her own right... Hey Phil......can you friend me on Facebook....I'll send you some of my unpublished tunes that I am getting ready to re-record..... would like your opinion.... I'll send them MP3's on your private messenger...not yet for public consumption...actually never copyrighted them..... you might like them...even though they were recorded quite some time ago.....
@@williamslais2548 is a lucky man!
@@williamslais2548 Is there a beef between Reni and Thomas? They don't seem to have a lot of warmth between them.
Heard this back in about 1976. Loved it then. Love it still. 😊
I love his backup singer. She is incredible
Reni Slais...... Oh man......
Has there ever been a better live capture of a vocalist in a moment in time singing the best he will ever sing.
Not only was Mickey one of the best blues/rock vocalists ever, he could rock a bell-bottom jumpsuit like few can.
Ha ha yes he could!!!😊
😂 RIGHT?!!
his voice has a lot of personality, you wouldn't confuse him with a lot of other male singers. I seem to remember him doing a solo album too but it must not have been a big hit.
Cringey, but he took Starship to a resurgent life 🎶
@@in2livinitJane and Find Your Way Back were the Mickey Thomas gems from that Starship iteration.
I'm African/american. During this period of my life i was heavily into 70's Soul, R&B, and Blues and even some Disco (shoot me but i liked disco) hahahah.. Anyways I was not so much into rock. But i first heard this song on the radio, I think i was 15 years old. I took my allowance money and went straight to Tower Records to buy it , simply because of the vocals. It grabbed me and sucked me in so much, because i was a teen falling in Love with a girl named Barbara at the time. This song suited me perfectly and had a lot of meaning to me. Not to mention, it was truly my first taste of what some say is "Blue Eyed Soul". Elvin for me was even before I discovered, acts like, Hall and Oates, The Everly Bros, The Righteous Brothers and a few other blue eyed soul singers.
Two things i learned today, thanks to you bro. I thought it was Elvin singing all these years and at the time I thought he was a black guy singing lead vocals. lol Damn was i wrong.. I never saw what Elvin looked like until recently. I didn't buy the Album, i had bought a 45 Wax Single disc with a "B' side song that i don't remember and it just came in a plain sleeve. So no picture. I had missed seeing him on "The Midnight Special". I knew he was going to be on the show but i fell asleep and missed it. I remember being so pissed. No DVR in those days and VCR's wouldn't come out until a decade y later for the public consumer. Here it is around 40 years later and i find out what he looks like, hahahahaha I know, i know, please spare me the Crucifixion. Thanks for the bit of trivia. Actually I hadn't heard of or thought of this song in 2 decades. For those wondering. I got my girl Barbara, and we were together for 5 years and then ONE of us, "Fooled around and Fell Out of Love" in 1983. :)
Tee Bee a nice back down memory lane.😎
Cool story bro,I wish it was ‘76 again,I was 9 years old and now I find myself playing a lot of older music that I didn’t listen to then but now I’m loving it because it brings me back in time. Greetings from British Columbia man😎
disco rules, no apology necessary
'Saturday Night Fever" didn't hurt disco either.
She left bro? I wanna know!!
I recently did a gig opening for Micky T and he still sings his butt off !!
That's frigging awesome and nobody should be surprised. Mickey Thomas is one of the very best singers of any genre in any category. His voice is golden and it elevated the Elvin Bishop Band from merely a "rock" band to rock n roll superstar status IMHO...
Have always loved his voice. Good to hear he's still got it
Now if you could only play like Elvin
Mickey Thomas' effortless vocals....wow!
Crazy that you google Elvin Bishop and you see Mickey Thomas at the top of the results. Should've worn name tags.
I had no idea how good he is. I hated Starship so much beginning with We Built This City. I need to re-evaluate.
I've found, when I do muster the courage, I sing quite effortlessly in a denim jumpsuit too!!!
Unabashed vocals
@@TheColdrush22 saw them(starship) at a county fair here in Ohio years ago-great show- the drummer was a beast too
Can't take my eyes off Reni Slais, wow how cool is she!
Off the chart! Oh, by the way.... You are a hoot to watch while that soul expression spills over
THank you Fil! One of the greats!
Standing ovation!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🎤
I just want to hug Fil every time I see him.
One cool lad.
This was one of those songs back then that got a ton of airplay but you never got tired of it. Another one was "Taking it to the Streets" by the Doobie Brothers. Damn the 70's were great! Heck of a time to be a teenager.
Rick Barton we were still free
Best radio car music, Arena concerts every week, great rock clubs......
Rick Barton , the best time to be young for sure.
Can I just say something . I live in England . West Sussex . I have been seeing Dr Hook around a lot . For like , the past 20 years!!! He was wandering around Sainsburys the other day . Not the eye patch guy .No . Dennis Locorrier. I was standing like literally behind him in the queue. I don't get why he would be living in Worthing ??? But he has been ....for years !! This guy is surely a bit of a legend .
.
Wanda Watiff Either it’s his home and he likes it and/or lost all his music money like a lot of artists did. I’m sure it’s a reasonably nice place to live, though.
Mickey Thomas had an awesome voice. One of my favorite songs!
Has
A year later...still just loving watching it again, and again and again...
I'm back again doing the same!
You're appreciation and insight makes the music that much more enjoyable.
Great video Fil. "Mr. Music Encyclopedia", keep up all the hard work and smiling, you are the best at what you do. Thank you
Hi Fil! I just heard this song the other day on 70’s radio! One of the cool songs from that era! It didn’t hurt that Mickey was so good looking too! lol! Loved his voice! Thanks Fil for taking me back to the 70’s, and some cool music! ✌️
I had a big crush on the female backup singer when I first saw this show back then! And I still do!
🎼 reni slais simon singer
Wow, you are an amazing teacher! The Midnight Special shows were such a big part of my teens in the 70's...nothing today compares to it! Thank you for all your reviews...
A lot of great 70’s bands on the Midnight Special. I used to watch that show.
My favorite thing about "the midnight special" is that you got to see and hear live music ✌️
Can we just all go back to this time...
Music was so much better..hell everything was better..
Yes please!
Take America back again 🙏🏽
terry walker 👍🏻❤️
@whoa...EVERYTHING was better? Well that might be pushing things a bit. 😑
@@brucedillinger9448 true
Excellent commentary! Mickey Thomas is freakin' incredible. Your guitar playing is amazing too.
I would sing this song to my Bel and she actuLly hated the lyrics thinking that i was throwing it in her face, but it was all about her even of today she was my everything thank you Elvin
I had to give this another watch. What an incredible vocal performance. One of my favorite 70s soft rock songs!
Mickey Thomas’ ..forever soulfully outstanding!! 🌹🎶🌹 🙏
Fil, you are so knowledgeable and fun! Your review was extraodinary!
Thanks!
What a voice😮 Mickey Thomas is blessed with. Great song and guitar solo sound. Wow❤Wings of Pegasus
Mickey Thomas still sings this song in every Starship concert and still sounds this good. After all these years, Mickey still sings this song almost exactly the same way. His voice has held up very well over the decades. I had this song on 45 when I was a kid and still love it when Mickey does it live now. His vocals on Jefferson Starship’s “Jane” is fantastic, too.
I'm going to see Starship on 8.12.23 in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Can't wait!
Elvin Bishop requested Micky to sing this when he wrote it...
Thanks! This was fun! 😎
Mickey Thomas singing. One of my favorite male vocalists. He's always had a great set of pipes on him. No doubt it's probably why he got the gig with Jefferson Starship later on in his career.
I remember in highschool choir, our teacher showing us breathing techniques to hold connecting notes longer.
Have a wonderful evening Fil...🎶🎙️🎸🌃
Ride the Tiger live at Musconi center is awesome!
@@giftedplanksify ~ Thank you, I'll have to take a listen to it...👍🎶🙂
@@Deborahtunes it's a whole Starship concert and ride the Tiger is the second song I think! See you at the show Deborah!😉
@@giftedplanksify ~ Ok, thank you...😊🎶🎸
IMO he should have stayed away from singing that starship crap.
I have always loved this song vocals, Elvin's guitar solo. I was depressed that disco was going to overshadow these "soulful 'belters.'". This song has made me smile for 44 years now. Thanks Fil, for analyzing so well what a song that works on all levels has to distinguish it!
A year later, still making me happy! ❤️
This solo is perfection!
We always ignored disco(it really wasn't good music).
There's no weakness in this track.
Instruments, song writing, vocals and pacing are all fantastic.
Quality never ages.
A perfect tune. Written, produced, and performed at the highest level of the musical art!
1976! What a great time to be 13. I remember this song so well. ❤️
This song, and "Jane" by Starship are probably the two best vocals of Mickey Thomas' career.
Mickey Thomas one of the most underrated lead vocalists I have ever seen/heard , and he still sounds as good today in his 70,s , absolutely amazing .
"Underated"
The number 1 comment on any artist. Yawn.
Mickey, Is NOT.
@@PorcelainLeigh Sure he is, most people don't even know who he was.
I myself spent decades believing Elvin sang it himself.
People who know exactly who Paul Rodgers is, and can trace him all the way back to Free draw a blank if you mention Mickey. Then when you mention Fooled Around, they say " Oh yeah, I didn't know who it was.
Mick did it right 🤘
And Grace ... 🙏
@@PorcelainLeigh I'm curious to your thoughts... Hopefully., Your a vocalist 😇
I miss the "human element" in today's music … When I listen to this, I don't care that it's not "perfect" …. It's loaded with talent! Much better than much of today's robotic synthesized music made with autotune LoL!!!!
Agree, the reality is todays music doesn,t have anything memorable.
Yes correct, this is great music. get rid of the autotuned lets hear the real stuff and stop compressing cd's so much.
classic kool Amen! It used to be that an artist needed talent to be successful: be a great singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, etc., but nowadays, the only ones with so-called talent are the producers. They snatch good-looking people off the street, hurl 'em into the studio, and in the immortal words of Jimi Hendrix, " They just wanna wrap me in cellophane and sell me." And fooking Auto-Tune: puh-LEASE! I refuse to listen to anything at all that features that stupidly annoying computer vocalization. It's a blight on music and a harbinger of death to the industry. Good riddance, you freakin' creeps, foisting this crap on an uneducated public, droop-shouldered, slack-jawed mouthbreathers breathlessly awaiting the next offering from whatever lucky initiate you've plucked from the stable. What does it matter what some unhappy eighteen-year-old thinks about the world? Is there anything new there to be learned? Of course not. Teenage angst has been the foundation of rock from the outset, but this cookie-cutter hip-hop foolishness is stupid and undignified. Rhyming is NOT an art form. God, I HATE what people are listening to today. SUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@ToddtheExploder -Exactly! .... You nailed it!
@@ToddtheExploder after the 80,s music lost its grounding and became a mass media production and electronic noise. Kids now have no idea what real music even was or is.
add a compliment to Reni Slais for her back up singing
Just love this pure perfection! 💜
Saw Mickey at a fair grounds free concert about 12 years ago- he is the epitome of a vocal master to this day
Elvin is a journeyman blues legend.
He was never known for his singing
It’s also a career-moment where the stars aligned
Having Jefferson Starship vocalist, Mickey Thomas, makes the song
A rare song where everything works, giving Bishop his only major chart highlight
Mickey didn't join Jefferson Starship until 3 years after this was released in case a few folks aren't sure
Elvins singing was superb on My Dog.
He was in the "Paul Butterfield blues band"...his work in that band is just as impressive as this song is.
His one and only wonder hit! Still gives me the chills! Pure sexy!!😎🎸🎶
Mickey still has his voice still singing live in his 70s. What a timeless and phenomenal tenor and human being.
Mickey grabs the song by the neck and throttles it for dear life. Magnificently skilled vocal instrument and Mickey still has it to this day.
It was indeed a wonderful and magical time to be in my early 20's! I remember everything like it was yesterday.
Mickey Thomas has a unique gift of singing. It is so effortless and pure. Saw him with Starship at the Orange County CA Summer Hot Air Balloon & Wine Festival 17 years ago. "Fooled Around" has been a regular number in the master bathroom's shower stall since 1978. I'll be straining trying to sing like Mickey until they put me in a pine box.
Ive been listening to this track for the past year and keep going back to it because of the masterful vocal performance by Mickey Thomas. Effortless perfection and ease with an added helping of soul to match. I have added this to my list of classic performances of this era.
Mickey is just gifted. We throw that word around today, but he really is.
Cool video Fil FYI Mickey still has it ! we saw him a couple years ago with Eddie Money Lou Graham (who was also on the bill but was a no show) and he owned the show in Palm Desert Cali .
That's a lot like Burton Cummings singing who sings in the band Guess Who. Always clear and precise.
This song was played constantly on Southern Cal FM radio in 1976, big hit, everyone loved it. I saw Elvin Bishop in 1980. They were playing in a small club in Northern CA, right around Mt Shasta. There was a problem though, no Mickey Thomas and for some reason they could not, would not play this song. There was only a few hundred people in the club but everyone was asking for this song. Elvin stopped the show and said "can't play it,different band,sorry" and the show went on. Thanks Fil.
Dan R That's interesting. Years back I watched a list show on CMT of the biggest crossover hits. When this was mentioned, I never thought of it as Country. Anyway, talking heads in the industry all said they tried to get a cover or remake but no artist would touch it. All said it was perfect, leave it be.
Dan R I saw him a couple of years later in SF, at a cocktail club, and he did play this song, although no Mickey Thomas. I got lucky and got a table in the front row, and he would come up and play directly to me and my date. How cool is that? His playing was impeccable and a real thrill.
@@dlsmpsn I ask. Did you notice in the video Elvin is wearing what appears to be a Deputy's badge on his jacket? Perhaps this is Elvin dealing with the "who is singing, who is Mickey Thomas" problem? When people heard this tune and then went to see a show they mostly expected to see a frontman named Elvin Bishop singing. I bet that when a band's top hit happens this way it causes some problems among members. Usually videos produced by Midnight Special display better editing. Not enough emphasis on Elvin (especially during that second small solo) and concentrating on Mickey singing at a low point in the song, a point they could have easily showed us more of Elvin playing guitar.
This is a cut and paste from a 1988 Chicago Tribune article about Elvin Bishop.
Looking a bit like a cross between Richard Nixon and Arlo Guthrie, Bishop himself isn`t shy about ''strutting his stuff'' on stage either. During a 2-hour-plus performance, he plucked and squeezed and shook out almost every possible note his guitar could hold, once wading into the thickest part of the crowd for one of his finer solos.
At the end of the interview Elvin was asked "what lies ahead for you Elvin" In his best "good ole country boy drawl Elvin replied", "well there is Thanksgiving and then there is Christmas"
@@samanthab1923 In 2005, at the Grammy Awards, this song was covered. Elvin Bishop, Dickey Betts, Keith Urban, and others, if I recall were doing it. One of Elvin Bishop's musical tastes includes old time country music, so this would be fitting to have some country influence in it. It's a great song that I remember from the mid 1970s. I saw Elvin Bishop 3 times live and met him.
"Guardians of the Galaxy" had that song. I love Mickey's singing. Brilliant voice.
Greatest soundtrack in a very long time.
@@NuclearGrizzly -- I agree. It made the movie so much better.
NuclearGrizzly was on Boogie Nights soundtrack before that. Which is one of the best ST’s ever!
I’ve never actually even watched that movie but it would be worth it for the soundtrack alone!
I got to see Evin play a live show (way back when) at the Brown Door. It was a college bar in Hammond LA. He had a wireless setup and he was from one end of the bar to the other the whole show. The whole time he was playing, he was talking to the patrons. Everyone there just loved it. One of the most memorable shows I have ever seen.
Never get tired of your analysis and explanations, Fil, thanks so much for that!
this was a pivotal song in my life back then and it still impresses me, great choice Fil
Thanks for head voice and falsetto information. Absolutely fascinating!
This is actually one of my favorite songs of all time.
I'll study your video numerous times young Sir. I adored this composition probably before your birth.
You are so knowledgeable!
I ALWAYS thought this was Elvin Bishop's voice. Your enthusiasm is contagious especially when I know something special is about to happen!
One of my favorite songs. Thank you.
Heard you mention Jefferson Starship. Another one of my favorite groups. Would love to hear you do Miracles. I was a teen and early twenties in the seventies. I think some of the best music came out of that era. I feel really blessed to have grown up then especially since I grew up in New Orleans. So much live music. It was great and the tickets were SO cheap back then!
I just wanna say that good old Music didn't needed autotune just talent
Outstanding song/performance. Excellent critique
I had that jumpsuit in 1976 too . Good job with the guitar Fil, one of the best solos💙💙
Omg! Mickey! ❤️❤️❤️
Phil I learn so much from you on every reaction. Thank you for sharing your vast musical knowledge and experience. Priceless!
I LOVE IT!!!! Those Midnight Special episodes are just SO AMAZING. Can’t get enough.
Yes! Mickey Thomas!!!!!! One of my all-time favorite songs!!!
Thank you; you are great at visual/audio tutorials! Much appreciated, Teacher!
May I just give your smile a thumbs up 👍 😊
What a great performance! Liking it much more than the recorded version, especially Mickey's vocals. Thank you, Fil, for shedding a fresh new light on a song I've heard about a million times!
Wings Of Pegasus you ROCK MY FRIEND!! THANK YOU for all these wonderfully produced videos..😊😊😊
One of my favorite songs. One which it is difficult to imagine either the lead guitar or the vocals being any better. And the rest of the band is so tight. Great analysis. And thanks for the guitar tips. I have worked on the recorded version, but your video makes me want to get back to it again.
You're hitting close to home. Elvin lived near home during the San Francisco Sound times. I'd seen Elvin with Paul Butterfield and B.B. King and sitting in with countless other greats and of course his own gig. He was a local guy. My gang sat and talked with him at Crabshaws Corner, a club named after him, in downtown Sacramento. We bought this older guy beers and talked all hot summer day with him. He never let on who he was and we never caught on. Just a guy in coveralls to jaw with. Years later I flew down from Oregon where I'd been designing lighting to see Elvin at Armadillo Willie's. Elvin had gone through some rough times. The three of us were his only audience. Didn't matter, he and the band played a full gig, 2 sets. A great musician and a gentleman. I wouldn't be exaggerating by saying I've seen him 25+ times, and loved it every time. After the tragedy of his daughter's death, I heard he went permanently on the road. He's a great guy and a great musician. Thanks Fil for reminding me. Great times, fan-damn-tastic.
I was working a big festival here and it was during the late morning and sound checks going on sitting in my cart and this guy who looked like Harp Marx comes walking around the corner and into catering and if was Elvin. Went in an grab a bite and sat down next to him and talked for a good 45 minutes. Great guy, laid back just passing some time.
kurtisle - thanks for the story! When I saw him in 78', he was backup for the Grateful Dead and had Jerry play with him for a song or two- guess that must have been at the top of his game... played this song and the crowd was loving it!
Thank you for reviewing this song. It is one of my all-time favorites!
Micky nails the vocals and the guitar solo by Elvin grabs me every time. The definition of soul!
Hi Fil, Mickey is a clear as a bell. Perfect! He knows it too. A split second after @16:50 he has the look, "I really nailed THAT,"
That chick singing backup is doing a superb job staying with him.
I really learned a lot today about pentatonic shapes and the technique of major and minor.
Great Analysis. You have the gift of teaching for sure.
Just one more thing. I was afraid Elvin was going to dislocate his neck with his head bobbing!!
So many memories, some good, some not so much. Mickey's voice always made me weak in the knees. Beautiful song, with unbelievable singing. Love it. Thanks Fil, great analysis.
Mickey Thomas, the pride of Cairo, GA. And Fil is right, the solo is a highlight of the song.
EclecticHillbilly and syrup!
Pronounced be CAY-ro, right?
@@emiromiranda1214 Yes
@@EclecticHillbilly okay. Just making sure. Natural inclination is to say KY-ro, like the Egyptian capital. But I remember hearing someone saying it.. I have a brother who lives in Thomasville, which I believe is not too far from Cairo.
Cairo, Ga... (Kayrow)... Cairo, Egypt (K-eye-row).... Mickey, still had the upper register when I heard him with Starship, about 7 years ago!
My favorite song in 1976.
Mickey Thomas is one of the most vastly underrated vocalists ever.
That may have something to do with his very wobbly choice of material over the years.
This great song here may be his signature vocal, and it proves without a doubt that this man had a tremendously soulful voice, but if you really want to hear this man cut loose, if you really want to hear this man slay and kill, check out his vocals on "Silent Night." (with the Elvin Bishop Band) Yes, it's the classic Christmas song, but Mickey turned it into a soulful, foot-stomping, gospel-ized, earth shaking, get-cho-ass-outta-yo-chair-and-start-moving type of song. It's not only his greatest soul-shaking moment, it's one of the greatest soul-shaking moments in the history of music.
Look it up here on TH-cam .... and thank me later. lol
Yeah, he lost vast amounts of credibility with his turn in Starship. A great shame because clearly his vocal talents are well beyond top notch.
@@chuckschillingvideos Starship still had some good stuff though, like Jane.
This was f****** great! Thanks Fil!
From a period when they wrote great ballads that weren't cheesy.
What a great live performance. Loved it.
I used to roller skate to this in the mid 70's. Makes me feel melancholic ... great video, Fil
Marty McGill - me, too! Every Friday & Saturday night!!
“All skate, all skate please...”
" Couples only skate"😉
Im just thinking of Eric from that 70s show as rainbow
Excited that you spend so much time and attention on the singer. We knew back then Mickey was awesome. Thx Fil.
I love the fact that you can speak to just about every aspect of the music that you are listening to with authority, and that you can appreciate so many different varieties of music.
I’ve always loved this song as a kid. That guy can sing his ass off! Love it!! Thanks, Fil!! I love your guitar presentation too!! You’re a good teacher and you make me wish I was a musician. 💕👏
Nobody has mentioned the great Johnny V Vernazza on slide guitar . He was with Elvin for 5 albums.
Excellent analysis of this great performance. . .YOU are the best at explaining the nuances that are so important to be aware of to truly appreciate a band and its music. I always learn something of real value when I watch your videos!
Wow... Mickey Thomas could really sing... loved that live vocal...
Your commentary and critique are the best. Thanks for the expertise on a wide range of music. Always edifying.
No internet or TH-cam then. Had to sneak out and turn on the TV and watch Midnight Special to see our fave groups. I remember my mom coming out to "Shhhh" me too many times to count. This and Don Kirschner's Rock Concert. And if we were lucky we'd get an episode of the Old Grey Whistle Test. Gosh darn,,,those were really good times.
I love the expression of wonder, appreciation, and sheer love you display while watching these performances. It must be hard for you at times to remember to pause the videos since you get so lost in the music.