He was 16 years old and what a voice! When this song first came out, I was convinced it was an older guy singing, so quite surprised when I learned years later he was only 16!!
WHAT!? You mean this gal at 72 years old is just finding out that information!? Okay, guess it's true, one learns something new everyday. Just looked up wiki..cool info on there too. peace light and love... ✌🏿
I was born in 1965 and my dad played all the oldies and I still love them 59 years later. The 60s and 70s music will put you on another planet that no one will understand unless you have a love of the the oldies music. You don't need drugs or alcohol to appreciate the best music ever. God....take me back to the 60s /70s and leave me there....I'll be just fine.
My mind simply cannot comprehend the fact that a sixteen year old kid can produce such a voice and give a vocal performance like this! It is simply uncanny! Alex was really a rare breed. Unique, even.
I was 15. When this song came out!! AND IT Takes me back to those days Even Now Jan/2024!! That's what you call Music ! Absolutely Fantastic to hear This Again 🥳🥳 ❤ xxx
Me too! Good timing eh? And just when I thought it was all over, in 1997, I got dragged to a rave, by two young German punks! Last year I got into Bookmtown festival as an artist for free. All I had to do was wear my silver sequin frock, blue foam rubber mohican, fur coat, and basically have a laugh, like it was my duty! 😊
Raw and sexy. He was a 'fox" as we said back in those days of fun and freedom. Alex literally rolled-out of bed from a long night of drinking the night before. His "bedroom" looks was authentic. There is something about his face and soulful brown eyes that I have fallen in love with. I hope is soul is at peace. At least he does not have to witness the Communist take over of country.
I’m 28, just discovered right now because a random comment on fb said to check out the keyboard man’s face while faking to play. It was funny, yes, but what a song!! Gonna add it to my playlist right now
There is a early video of the beach boys doing the same thing. They rebelling against their dad, you tell no problem. Arms crossed. You'll see when you find it
Dick clark was a real piece of s--t. I asked him for his autograph, he said get lost kid, my mom was standing right by my side. never went back to american bandstand.
Alex Chilton by name only seventeen in this video, very respected by his peers,also sung about in a song by the replacements I highly recommend called "Alex Chilton"
Ha ha totally. That's Alex Chilton. He was 16 in this vid. Hard to believe I know but true. He went on to co-found Big Star. Give em a listen. Most influential band of the 70s that no one heard of...
One of the BEST songs EVER. I was a teenager in the San Francisco Bay Area during the HIPPIE DAYS of the late 60's....Grace Slick, Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone. Such an awesome time to experience music. So glad I didn't miss it.
Growing up, this was me my sister and our dads special. In june 2009, my dad was on life support. My sister and I held his hands and sung this song to him. Right before he passed
wow tears in my old eyes reading your comment, god bless you girls, my time is close and i know i will be judged for my deeds, its all good though, they were all bad men who wanted to kill my friends, i couldnt allow that, god bless
Great song... Joined the Marine Corps in 67 and my girl wrote me 3 letters a day until one day they stopped. Found out while in Vietnam she had gotten pregnant and married to a shmuck... This song always reminds me of that period of my life. Song is excellent and still a hit in my soul....
In Vietnam, that song about it being possible to get a ticket for an airplane to get to go home and back to my "baby" in an expedited timeframe tore at my heartstrings every time I heard it. Especially the part where all I had to do was get past somebody I could address as "Mister." The Animal's "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" struck a chord, too. Thank you for our service, etc...
In hindsight..probably the BEST thing that happened for you..and I've had a few women in my life down the years..!!..Bless You and good luck always..from Plymouth UK..!!
+Daveson I know, right? It was so awesome. It was almost like he was thumbing his nose at the music industry's way of doing the miming for music videos and "live TV performances".
Not only the keyboard player.. they all (even Alex Chilton, the lead singer, cracks a smile about it a minute or two into the song) appear to be laughing about it inside and perfunctorily "going through the motions" (while not really playing).
The cut on their album is longer, which is on TH-cam. It's nice that the song & instrumental music is longer rendering more complexity, but Alex's voice is not as husky or deep as this version.
None of them were. Bands back then were pretty much pissed off that they were required to pretend to sing "on air" for the backing track. These guys weren't happy about it....and they clearly weren't in any mood to cooperate.
What a song. A classic and a quality song. The Letter was sung brilliantly by the late Alex Chilton. I cannot believe that he was just 16 years old at the time, great voice. NO.5 in the UK in October 1967, No.1 in the US during September & October 1967. The Letter was America's 2nd best seller of 1967 and the UK's 53rd. A real classic by The Box Tops which has stood the test of time. It still sounds great 55 years on.
The singer was only 16!? That I didn't know! The guitar player on In A Gadda Da Vida (Iron Butterfly) was 15 or 16 when they recorded that song. I think the guitar player for Santana at Woodstock was only 16. I wonder how many people under 18 made it in the 60s?
My band The Left Banke played a few gigs with The Boxtops in 1967. We became friends with Alex. He snd our lead singer Steve Martin Caro really hit it off. Alex was a truly special person, he called when he came to NYC and invited Steve to join him in the green room on the. Johnny Carson show. He was a really funny, nice and generous person. What a cool cat.
i remember left bank. i think their big hit was WALK AWAY RENEE. different sound than most of the other popular music of that time in the 60's. good tune.
0:48 I love the cheesy fake smile on keyboardist face. It's like he was instructed to smile for the camera and a sarcastic smile is what we the viewers get.
Yeah and he was messing around taking his hands off the keyboard, pretty funny. The right after the singer smiles after watching the keyboardist on the screen. They were obviously not playing live and they didn't like it so made fun of it.
It's funny how a certain song can connect you to an exact place when it was playing. Same thing happens to me and it's not necessarily the first time I heard it but the planet were aligned at that moment I guess.
One of the best recorded and mixed songs of all time. I'm 64 and can literally imagine being at the Jersey shore hearing this. A tribute to the group, Alex Chilton and how uncompressed, analog recordings can still equal and surpass the best of modern stuff. In my top 10 of most listenable songs ever recorded...I wish there were more.
Whoaw, whoaw, whoaw - what a vocal, what a guy, what a band and it’s so well produced - TALENT ! remember what that was?then keep remembering because it’s a whole different ball game out there today my friends.- JaneR
Oh my god this is so funny. The drummer slowly and woodenly tapping away, staring ahead blankly. The guitarist making strange faces at the camera and trying not to smile. The keyboardist- lifting his hands mid-song and shrugging at the camera, then gesturing at the keyboard as the part magically continues to play...! Oh my god. Alex Chilton repressing a grin and banging lightly on the tambourine. I'm dying of laughter here.
Mae MaeMae I think the video was done just for laugh, better times when the important regarding the music was the music itself and not the face of the singer
Ester Blanco I know, it's pretty obvious the band was having fun here. I'm just saying they did a great job and the result was hilarious... clearly they were making fun of the lip-syncing.
Watched this video a dozen times, and never fails to put a smile on my face. A good matured middle finger to the whole farce of music marketing and TV fakery. John Evans magically playing the keyboard without touching it is the best part.
I never knew this a fake music til you pointed it out. I am 13 years old, and still new to 80's music techniques. You would think if they are faking it, they would put a little effort into it. Drummer just barely taps his snare. Heard that one of these guys (Mike) also played with the Monkees.
james helm What happened is a lot of these 60s shows either didn't have proper setup for live playback or were too worried about safety (someone else in this thread mentiosn the producers were worried about the band tripping over their power cords!) Imagine if you showed to play live on national TV and were told you had to lip sync? This is why they're goofing it, just as a comment on how absurd things are.
David Wright Nail on the head! I love they keyboard player smiling as he displays his-self playing keyboard...hilarious! Now "artists" ehem lip sync and auto tune out of choice lol.
Yup. I was thinking the same thing. Their expressions. The electric guitar - not even a cable for show. Performed in protest. Saw that with the Beach Boys also. Their faces said - "should have read that contract closer."
At first, I did, too. Then, I recalled what it was like to be so disappointed that a band only cared about themselves, and not squat about the viewers who longed for, at least the fantasy, that the band was really singing and playing instruments. I'm glad I was blissfully unaware.
Whenever there are a whole lot of guys stuck halfway 'round the world fighting a bloody war, lyrics about their yearnings and hopes to be able to get back home aren't considered sappy.
While in the army in '67 my room mate brought this record back to base after he had be on leave and we almost wore a hole in it playing it so much.. what a great song
The year was 1968, the Vietnam War was going hot and heavy, the black B52's were flying out of Anderson, I was in the service and this was the most popular song. I think we all wanted to take an airplane home.
My dad was serving on a Navy ship in 1967 during The Vietnam war when I was born. As an adult, I am forever grateful he came home as I know so many didn’t. Thank You for your service. 🇺🇸❤️
14 years and I’m still Loving this masterpiece of A Song, Ty Alex Chilton, We Love You, I Love You and You will be missed! Look after for him us for God! Ty, R.I.P. Mr. Chilton this is for you, same name as me Ty, to me You’re A Sir Chilton, I Love You Man.🙌🏿🔥❤️
I think Alex was downright sexy (not cute) with his look and voice. He was a dream for a girl in the 1960's-1970's. I was in high school in the early 1970's, and I know that he would have been very popular, or a "fox' as we used to say.
I thought he was 15. See the "Everlasting Love " video by Love Affair from the same period, whose lead singer I understand was 16 or 17; wasn't the young talent from that era amazing?!!!
I was 15 living at Newport Beach California. I was a little wild. I left home and was hitching north with a couple of friends when a flatbed semi picked us up. There was not room for all of us in the cab so I rode outside behind the cab, north toward San Francisco. This song was at it's height then and I loved it!
One of the band members (Bill Cunningham) used to work down the hall from me in my Federal agency. After retirement, the last I heard was that he was still playing music.
I'm going to see them next week.. I'll be bopping like an old fool in person - live! Although it would have been funnier to watch the keyboard player lip sync! they're coming to Alaska!!!!! They're still on tour - see if you can find them..! Let's support these older guys who got ripped off by the music industry years ago.. they don't make the billions they do now And it ain't even music anymore! Rock on!
Anyone else listen to this song as a kid and completely forget about it and then just wake up with it in your head? Yeah it's the greatest. It's like seeing a friend you haven't seen in forever. It just makes your heart sing😩💖
Siamo nel 2023 e ascolto questa canzone 20 volte al giorno ! Che epoca gli anni ‘60 , centinaia di capolavori musicali una cosa simile non sarà più possibile !
I was born in 1992 and I'm a big Big Star fan and showed this to my dad, who was born in 1948. He remembered this song and had a big smile on his face. He hadn't heard it in decades, and still remembered some of the lyrics.
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Who's listening in 2024...still an awesome track
Absolutely. A great song.
I’m listening in 2024 , I remember listening to it when I was young I’m 66 now some how !!!! Still love it
Me listen.
2028 still going strong
Here !!😎
He was 16 years old and what a voice! When this song first came out, I was convinced it was an older guy singing, so quite surprised when I learned years later he was only 16!!
Hello Suzanne, How are you doing?
WHAT!? You mean this gal at 72 years old is just finding out that information!? Okay, guess it's true, one learns something new everyday. Just looked up wiki..cool info on there too. peace light and love... ✌🏿
OMG ! I really love his voice
I was 14💗
Wow!
GOD, did I love this song. I was 21 when this came out. Those were some of the best times of my life ! I wish I could do it all over again......
Legendary song
I was born in 1965 and my dad played all the oldies and I still love them 59 years later. The 60s and 70s music will put you on another planet that no one will understand unless you have a love of the the oldies music. You don't need drugs or alcohol to appreciate the best music ever. God....take me back to the 60s /70s and leave me there....I'll be just fine.
You took the words right outta my mouth: born in '65 too and enjoyed my dad playing all these good tunes !
You bloody legends.. I was born in 83 but was lucky enough to have my awesome parents that raised me with this amazing proper music..
I was also born in 1965 and growed up with this music, and still enjoying it
I like how the pianist is joking about the session being fake.
Yeah. Producers did that a lot in the sixties, lip synching songs for TV performances. Thinking inside the box, ya think? 😋
Should see some of the Stranglers early appearances, swopped instruments, moved the set, guitars without strings.....
@@jonathansteadman7935 Found one, it's hilarious ! th-cam.com/video/Db0VB_MmeK0/w-d-xo.html
@@Bobywan75 yep, you got the one I was thinking of. 😂👍
@@Bobywan75 there's another one that they move the stage around while they're playing, leaping up and down 👍
Alex Chilton, a 16 year old with more soul than anyone's allowed!!!
Yes!
Total example of midtown Memphis
And looking quite demented.
@@harryknackers7892 Demented???? I think he’s quite lovely 🥰!!!!!!!
@@harryknackers7892 uh, no.
My mind simply cannot comprehend the fact that a sixteen year old kid can produce such a voice and give a vocal performance like this! It is simply uncanny!
Alex was really a rare breed. Unique, even.
Agree! First I learned last month Brenda Lee was 13 when she sang Rockin Around the Christmas Tree and now this.
He was only sixteen when this was recorded?! He really had the voice of someone two or three times as old.
Andrew Strong was 16/17 when he was in the Commitments movie. Another powerful voice
Close my eyes- this is coming out of the dashboard AM radio, windows down just gliding along
they used ai back then
I was 15. When this song came out!! AND IT Takes me back to those days Even Now Jan/2024!! That's what you call Music ! Absolutely Fantastic to hear This Again 🥳🥳 ❤ xxx
And I was just born in ´67
Just a year younger than Alex Chiltern the lead singer on here then!
Thankyou I'll treasure this ...
Me too! Good timing eh? And just when I thought it was all over, in 1997, I got dragged to a rave, by two young German punks! Last year I got into Bookmtown festival as an artist for free. All I had to do was wear my silver sequin frock, blue foam rubber mohican, fur coat, and basically have a laugh, like it was my duty! 😊
🎉🎉🎉😊💚🎉👍
The dude playing the organ is killing me 😂
Me too 😂😂😂
Look ma, no hands......
Who adam Sandler lol
March!
is a organ, not a piano
Young people in the 60s looked so flipping cool, I can't take it. We never thought we'd get old 😞
Youth is wasted on the young,,,, Chinese proverb 🍲👌
Damals war sogar die Zukunft besser👍
Couldn't agree more. 60 got here a LOT quicker than I thought it would.
We were cool. Bell bottoms, boots etc lol
We make being old look good!
This song drove me to move from Buffalo to San Francisco in 1984. What good times.
I love this song, love his voice! Classic! UK 🇬🇧
Alex Chilton was only 16 when he first recorded this tune!
👍🏴
What a voice. RIP Alex Chilton
Chilton*
Raw and sexy. He was a 'fox" as we said back in those days of fun and freedom. Alex literally rolled-out of bed from a long night of drinking the night before. His "bedroom" looks was authentic. There is something about his face and soulful brown eyes that I have fallen in love with. I hope is soul is at peace. At least he does not have to witness the Communist take over of country.
Didn't he die about 11 years ago??
@@l2string Alex did die in 2011 or 2010 from a heart attack.
I still sing this song in memory of Alex Chilton!
Who else is sitting here in the 2020 Quarantine listening to this awesome song?
me ....what awesome vocals
Me
Me 🤘🏻
Me
Wasn't one of these guys only 16? The drummer? The singer looks pretty young.
Just shy of two minutes, but one of the best pop songs ever written.
The best songs are all < 2 minutes.
Minions
@@cheponis Some of them extend to 3-5 minutes or so, but the song is really all
This is one of those great unforgettable songs from a band that a lot of people don’t know about.
I’m 28, just discovered right now because a random comment on fb said to check out the keyboard man’s face while faking to play. It was funny, yes, but what a song!! Gonna add it to my playlist right now
They way they mock the lip-syncing is just hilarious. Diamond in the rough.
My videos are playing outa sinc so what they are doing is unwittingly in sinc. Lol.
Yeah, they're thrilled to death. Back then, who knew? But to look at American Bandstand from back then, now it's blatantly obvious.
Right?
There is a early video of the beach boys doing the same thing. They rebelling against their dad, you tell no problem. Arms crossed. You'll see when you find it
Dick clark was a real piece of s--t. I asked him for his autograph, he said get lost kid, my mom was standing right by my side. never went back to american bandstand.
The vocalist looks like a grandfather of grunge in his youth. Class.
Alex Chilton by name only seventeen in this video, very respected by his peers,also sung about in a song by the replacements I highly recommend called "Alex Chilton"
yep, so true Urbann! He's quite sexy.
Ha ha totally. That's Alex Chilton. He was 16 in this vid. Hard to believe I know but true. He went on to co-found Big Star. Give em a listen. Most influential band of the 70s that no one heard of...
Yes true the Box Top was early influence to the Alternative and Grunge movement of the 90's
I knew it!
One of the BEST songs EVER. I was a teenager in the San Francisco Bay Area during the HIPPIE DAYS of the late 60's....Grace Slick, Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone. Such an awesome time to experience music. So glad I didn't miss it.
I used to play it as a 45
Nice to see in 2023 😊
Heard this one over Armed Forces Radio..1968
Great song, I think he was only 16 or 17 when he sang this.
Yes those were the Days really young and full of, well you know. I was 19
brad Kennett Thank you for your service!
Thanks for your service
Glad your home brother
Growing up, this was me my sister and our dads special. In june 2009, my dad was on life support. My sister and I held his hands and sung this song to him. Right before he passed
I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you have wonderful memories of your dad. ☺️
wow tears in my old eyes reading your comment, god bless you girls, my time is close and i know i will be judged for my deeds, its all good though, they were all bad men who wanted to kill my friends, i couldnt allow that, god bless
@Blake R oh sorry to hear that :(
Sorry to hear your lost Jensen
I'm sorry for your loss
I was born 1967 still listening at 56😅❤
Great song... Joined the Marine Corps in 67 and my girl wrote me 3 letters a day until one day they stopped. Found out while in Vietnam she had gotten pregnant and married to a shmuck... This song always reminds me of that period of my life. Song is excellent and still a hit in my soul....
In Vietnam, that song about it being possible to get a ticket for an airplane to get to go home and back to my "baby" in an expedited timeframe tore at my heartstrings every time I heard it. Especially the part where all I had to do was get past somebody I could address as "Mister." The Animal's "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" struck a chord, too. Thank you for our service, etc...
You deserved better,brother. Semper Fi.
Lucky you. You should be grateful to the shmuck.
In hindsight..probably the BEST thing that happened for you..and I've had a few women in my life down the years..!!..Bless You and good luck always..from Plymouth UK..!!
Thank you for your service. I would wish to do the same, but I am mentally and physically unable to serve in any branches of the army.
The keyboardist cracks me up, "hey look! I'm not playing!"
+Daveson I know, right? It was so awesome. It was almost like he was thumbing his nose at the music industry's way of doing the miming for music videos and "live TV performances".
+Daveson ai 1:53! God its awesome!> I would have never noticed otherwise.
hes looking drunk ! hehe
Not only the keyboard player.. they all (even Alex Chilton, the lead singer, cracks a smile about it a minute or two into the song) appear to be laughing about it inside and perfunctorily "going through the motions" (while not really playing).
He just showed his middlefinger at 1:34 so definitely theres something going behind the scenes
I wish this song was longer
me tooo
its because in those years a song needed to be about 2 minutes to get air play
They accomplished more in 2 minutes than bands did with 8 minutes in the 70s
That's what she said...... Sorry, just watched the office
The cut on their album is longer, which is on TH-cam. It's nice that the song & instrumental music is longer rendering more complexity, but Alex's voice is not as husky or deep as this version.
The keyboard player is a legend, guy was having the time of his life goofing on the "live performance." RIP Alex.
What a tune....nobody makes them like that anymore....
I love how the keyboard player isn't even trying to mime to the soundtrack. 😊
None of them were. Bands back then were pretty much pissed off that they were required to pretend to sing "on air" for the backing track. These guys weren't happy about it....and they clearly weren't in any mood to cooperate.
He's an asshole. At least Alex is trying.
What a song. A classic and a quality song. The Letter was sung brilliantly by the late Alex Chilton. I cannot believe that he was just 16 years old at the time, great voice. NO.5 in the UK in October 1967, No.1 in the US during September & October 1967. The Letter was America's 2nd best seller of 1967 and the UK's 53rd. A real classic by The Box Tops which has stood the test of time. It still sounds great 55 years on.
Wow uk got no taste
@@matthewleahy4363 lol everyone likes there own taste..
@@matthewleahy4363 loads of us bought it and loved it though. So loads of us did have taste 😊
Well said Brother!!! 👏👏👏
The singer was only 16!? That I didn't know! The guitar player on In A Gadda Da Vida (Iron Butterfly) was 15 or 16 when they recorded that song. I think the guitar player for Santana at Woodstock was only 16. I wonder how many people under 18 made it in the 60s?
Wow!
This song brought back many memories from my childhood.
Beautiful golden classic
Forget the plane ticket.
Just give me a ticket to go back in time to when songs like this were around.
George Vreeland Hill Damn straight lyrics you go there,pal :v keep it up
Get me a ticket, I'll go too.
Amen to that.
Songs like these play in my garage everyday.
yep
My band The Left Banke played a few gigs with The Boxtops in 1967. We became friends with Alex. He snd our lead singer Steve Martin Caro really hit it off. Alex was a truly special person, he called when he came to NYC and invited Steve to join him in the green room on the. Johnny Carson show. He was a really funny, nice and generous person. What a cool cat.
The Left Banke, one of the best bands ever... Thank you for your beautiful songs. For me, as great as Big Star.
i remember left bank. i think their big hit was WALK AWAY RENEE. different sound than most of the other popular music of that time in the 60's. good tune.
amazing band !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom Finn
Happy 2017 from France ! Pretty Ballerina is the most beautiful song ever, thanx
Thanks for the great music Tom!
Alex Chilton, the lead singer, was 16 years old in this video. I am blown away by the voice and talent he had at such a young age. Godspeed brother!
2023 here. I love this song. Love love love 💞💖💕
Yes, Aberdeen here 🏴
Rest in Peace Alex Chilton, lead singer of the BOXTOPS.
I think the lead vocalist and keyboardist were best friends when they did this. Those faces.
That's his younger brother singing. ✌️
Both cool looking ladies men kinda guys ... maybe competing for the hottest fan gals
They're not brothers, lol
They were lip syncing and making fun of it
Quite possibly the most self-aware music video to date; they know what they're doing they just don't care.
Phenomenal song. Rest in peace Alex.
0:48 I love the cheesy fake smile on keyboardist face. It's like he was instructed to smile for the camera and a sarcastic smile is what we the viewers get.
1:29 "Hey, I'm not playing!"
yes and the singer's smile after that too
Yeah and he was messing around taking his hands off the keyboard, pretty funny. The right after the singer smiles after watching the keyboardist on the screen. They were obviously not playing live and they didn't like it so made fun of it.
A masterpiece, this song hits deep.
Soul deep
I absolutely concord, this masterpiece engulfs a great era; the vibrations are electrifying, but also beautifully nostalgic!
Tatsächlich real true 😂💯💬😋
T rotzallem ein wunderbarer song♡
I first heard this on a juke box in a cafe in Victoria (London) at 830 in the morning. It hits me as hard now as it did then. Pure genius.
It's funny how a certain song can connect you to an exact place when it was playing. Same thing happens to me and it's not necessarily the first time I heard it but the planet were aligned at that moment I guess.
I heard this song night before, maybe tonight.. 🏴
Omg what a song reliving the 60-90s what a time to be alive
His voice sounds exactly like he looks.
Like a serial killer?
I think Alex Chilton was 16 or 17 when he recorded these vocals.
Gorgeous
Sexy
@@therussiandragon616 wow😳
One of the best recorded and mixed songs of all time. I'm 64 and can literally imagine being at the Jersey shore hearing this. A tribute to the group, Alex Chilton and how uncompressed, analog recordings can still equal and surpass the best of modern stuff. In my top 10 of most listenable songs ever recorded...I wish there were more.
Whats the name of the rest 9 ?
Analog > digital
I remember this as a kid, cheerful song, great beat. 🎶👍🎶🎶🎶🎶😎
everytime I watch these old clips..i can't believe how bad their lip syncing was...
agree to the sonic aural pleasure. It sounds different that digital
Whoaw, whoaw, whoaw - what a vocal, what a guy, what a band and it’s so well produced - TALENT ! remember what that was?then keep remembering because it’s a whole different ball game out there today my friends.- JaneR
This one great song in 1960s when in high school wow
Oh my god this is so funny. The drummer slowly and woodenly tapping away, staring ahead blankly. The guitarist making strange faces at the camera and trying not to smile. The keyboardist- lifting his hands mid-song and shrugging at the camera, then gesturing at the keyboard as the part magically continues to play...! Oh my god. Alex Chilton repressing a grin and banging lightly on the tambourine. I'm dying of laughter here.
It's a great song though.
eddy leirens Absolutely! One of my all-time favorites! I just feel so bad for them in this video, but I'm laughing at the same time!
Mae MaeMae I think the video was done just for laugh, better times when the important regarding the music was the music itself and not the face of the singer
But it's cool.
Ester Blanco I know, it's pretty obvious the band was having fun here. I'm just saying they did a great job and the result was hilarious... clearly they were making fun of the lip-syncing.
Watched this video a dozen times, and never fails to put a smile on my face. A good matured middle finger to the whole farce of music marketing and TV fakery. John Evans magically playing the keyboard without touching it is the best part.
I agree - was in hysterics when the keyboardist was pulling faces
I never knew this a fake music til you pointed it out. I am 13 years old, and still new to 80's music techniques. You would think if they are faking it, they would put a little effort into it. Drummer just barely taps his snare. Heard that one of these guys (Mike) also played with the Monkees.
james helm
What happened is a lot of these 60s shows either didn't have proper setup for live playback or were too worried about safety (someone else in this thread mentiosn the producers were worried about the band tripping over their power cords!) Imagine if you showed to play live on national TV and were told you had to lip sync? This is why they're goofing it, just as a comment on how absurd things are.
David Wright Nail on the head! I love they keyboard player smiling as he displays his-self playing keyboard...hilarious! Now "artists" ehem lip sync and auto tune out of choice lol.
You are of course are aware that the lead singer was all of 16 years old when he recorded the single.
And here I am, 55 years after its release, loving this song. Unbelievable. 🎶
Wow what a voice, Alex Chilton was a mere 16 years old when he sang the Letter with the Box Tops in 1967 Rest in Peace Alex you were the best.
Remember it well, way back in 67/68!
I'm listening in 2021, February. Anyone else?
Me to😃
Me...used to play this many years ago in fact 1968 and ended up playing for 45 years...my always 2nd job....
I'm not Geneva Gray....that was my mom and don't know how her name came up...
You bet I am . At 74 I still want to dance to this music. God Bless.
The question should be who had it on 45rpm besides me? Lol
Gotta love the keyboardist showing the world they were lip syncing.
The guitarist too..
Well he kinda fake strums
What about the bass being played like a guitar
That was pretty common actually. If you watch enough 60s videos you will see many bands did that...making a point that they didn't like doing it.
Love it how they don't give a shit
This song is timeless. It reminds me of my tween years.
Oldies but goodies ! The best music and I am only in my thirties
Lead singer was 16/17yo. Amazing voice & stage presence.
pamla motown ....wow !!! ...he actually looked like eddie money ....
He did better in big star
@@michaelkoszowski3716 tree
6r)poo
Incredibly short record. But wow what an impact!
March 2024 anyone
April.
April on blue eyed northern soul playlist
May 2024!
Mayyy
May 4th
Grew up with this groovy tune; lead singer is sure cute…love his cheeky smile and what a great, masculine voice!
😻
Uh oh meow. Someone's feeling frisky 😂
@@DavidMoore-co2ze Can’t help myself; I ripped open a bag of catnip!!!
😹
Ah, the days when people were actually embarrassed by having to fake a performance.
well said brother...!
Yup. I was thinking the same thing. Their expressions. The electric guitar - not even a cable for show. Performed in protest.
Saw that with the Beach Boys also. Their faces said - "should have read that contract closer."
Hey man, my girl here Ashlee Simpson said she's about to knock the hell outta you for sayin' something like that!
No matter if it's a fake it's a wonder song You son of a wirch
uhuh, check out nirvana playing teen spirit on top of the pops '91
Love how they're totally taking the piss about lip-synching.
is live tv!
At first, I did, too. Then, I recalled what it was like to be so disappointed that a band only cared about themselves, and not squat about the viewers who longed for, at least the fantasy, that the band was really singing and playing instruments. I'm glad I was blissfully unaware.
So many amazing songs from 1967! I can't think of any songs these days about a guy singing about his yearning to get back to his baby.
love is still an insanely popular topic of today's pop music. but it's not as good as this obviously.
I was a Marine, in Viet Nam when I first heard this song. Did I want to go home?
@@glennroberts321 welcome home!✌️❤️
Whenever there are a whole lot of guys stuck halfway 'round the world fighting a bloody war, lyrics about their yearnings and hopes to be able to get back home aren't considered sappy.
While in the army in '67 my room mate brought this record back to base after he had be on leave and we almost wore a hole in it playing it so much.. what a great song
This Guys were Higher than the Airplane he was trying to catch 🤣😂, LOVE , LOVE This Song and the Video is Super Funny
Gimme a tiggit for an arrowplane
*Give me a ticket for an aeroplane.
+Mert Anaral give me a cricket for an ear o pain . .
+Jack Ripper
How about a Ticket to a Higher Plane ; )
+Mert Anaral It's a joke dumbass
+Jack Ripper give me a twiglet for an aeroplane
I was negative 20 when this came out! Still remember like it was yesterday.
I found this song today and I'm sure I'll remember it the same way...be happy to know that another generation is still finding this great music
I'm still digging it in June 2023 this is real stuff that holds the test of time
Bought this album from June 1967 today ...it's 2021
the keyboardist is trolling all of us xD
yep, he is absolutely taking the piss, I luv it
Донна саммэр
The year was 1968, the Vietnam War was going hot and heavy, the black B52's were flying out of Anderson, I was in the service and this was the most popular song. I think we all wanted to take an airplane home.
My dad was serving on a Navy ship in 1967 during The Vietnam war when I was born. As an adult, I am forever grateful he came home as I know so many didn’t. Thank You for your service. 🇺🇸❤️
14 years and I’m still Loving this masterpiece of A Song, Ty Alex Chilton, We Love You, I Love You and You will be missed! Look after for him us for God! Ty, R.I.P. Mr. Chilton this is for you, same name as me Ty, to me You’re A Sir Chilton, I Love You Man.🙌🏿🔥❤️
Fantastic voice, great track!
RIP Alex Chilton-one of rock's great voices.............
I interview with Alex Clift
다 외국인기잖아!
..
kneelandpray2 terrible voice what a weirdo.
Good grief, I forgot how cute that lead singer was. Great song!!
I think Alex was downright sexy (not cute) with his look and voice. He was a dream for a girl in the 1960's-1970's. I was in high school in the early 1970's, and I know that he would have been very popular, or a "fox' as we used to say.
In 67 I was in high school. I'm now 70 and enjoy that song more than ever.
I love this song when I was a kid and it still sounds great. I never tired hearing this classic. I am 66 now.
What a hell of a voice for a 16 year old
I thought he was 15. See the "Everlasting Love " video by Love Affair from the same period, whose lead singer I understand was 16 or 17; wasn't the young talent from that era amazing?!!!
Yeahhh
I was 15 living at Newport Beach California. I was a little wild. I left home and was hitching north with a couple of friends when a flatbed semi picked us up. There was not room for all of us in the cab so I rode outside behind the cab, north toward San Francisco. This song was at it's height then and I loved it!
It's 2023 now and I still love it!
Hello Renee
How are you doing today?
Born in 1968.
The best music I've ever heard comes from those years. Rock exploded in billions of different colors and sounds.
See that guy singing? That guy right there? He was fifteen when this was recorded.
What guy? Where? I don't see him. Oh, him. Yeah, Alex Chilton. Wow! He is hot!!!!!
but his voice is like 65
BDconrad he's not 15 he looks 18-20
Alex Chilton, born December 28, 1950. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Chilton
16 i think when they made the song, tho he does look around late 30s and rough as fuck!
The Box Tops - The Letter ( Upbeat 1967 )
Great Oldie .
can I have this dance for the rest of my like
Mary Magras You sure can my dear :)
One of the band members (Bill Cunningham) used to work down the hall from me in my Federal agency. After retirement, the last I heard was that he was still playing music.
The year was 1989 and my baby really wrote me a letter...been together since then...this song is a timeless classic.
Yaaaaah! The keyboard player....just letting us know!!! Look , Ma, no hands!!! Great memories!
2021, anyone STILL bopping like the first time hearing this? 🕺
I'm going to see them next week.. I'll be bopping like an old fool in person - live!
Although it would have been funnier to watch the keyboard player lip sync!
they're coming to Alaska!!!!!
They're still on tour - see if you can find them..! Let's support these older guys who got ripped off by the music industry years ago.. they don't make the billions they do now
And it ain't even music anymore!
Rock on!
Alex Chilton - 16 years old singing vocals. What a voice. I was in 8th grade when this song came out. Those where the days!
Hello Nancy
How are you doing today?
They don't make music like this anymore. Simple song, yet it's so damn good.
One of the great 60s pop songs, in less than 2 minutes.
The keyboardist is my favourite 😂😂😂
You're right. He is handsome.
I think he's making fun of the lip syncing and not playing live. lol
Solid goofing the sync, LOL.
😂😂 love them ❤
Dude gets it
This is, and always will be, my favorite thing on the internet. Oh, Alex!
I always loved this song from the first time I heard it! It's very catchy. What a great voice he had and only 16 amazing! Continue to RIP ALEX
Shame he couldn't maintain his momentum. A total classic.
0:34
Anyone else listen to this song as a kid and completely forget about it and then just wake up with it in your head? Yeah it's the greatest. It's like seeing a friend you haven't seen in forever. It just makes your heart sing😩💖
Always loved this song. What a gorgeous deep voice. Sad eyes and pouty lips.
+Rosey Gates agree - absolutely love it
+Rosey Gates the sad eyes may be due to the fact that he's taken too much of something. he looks so burned out it's depressing.
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Sounds like your depressed..
Siamo nel 2023 e ascolto questa canzone 20 volte al giorno ! Che epoca gli anni ‘60 , centinaia di capolavori musicali una cosa simile non sarà più possibile !
I was born in 1992 and I'm a big Big Star fan and showed this to my dad, who was born in 1948. He remembered this song and had a big smile on his face. He hadn't heard it in decades, and still remembered some of the lyrics.
Give me a ticket to get out of 2020.
@Telios Abraxas make that 2!
Escape the plant of the apes...lol
Two tickets to Eddie muenster
I keep looking for the reset button
@@kristibrda3637 lol u find the reset button yet I still lookin
If u find it let me know
I've never seen a more sarcastic performance in my life, and I LOVE it!
Check out Joplin (Janice not Scott)
Still hits in 2024 confirmed.
Superb track. Eternal. Heard it when first released. Just as good in 2024. 👍😎🇳🇿✨🌹🎸