One thing is for sure, there were certainly no racial barriers with this song. It was played like crazy on many radio stations. It sold over a million copies and went to number one on the billboard chart. Many people loved it!
@bedandbreakfastman11 I like elements of both, really. The original was a little more funky. But on this version, the lead vocalist rips on it. Plus, I like the guitar/strings interplay.
I also graduated in 1974. Will be going to my 50 year high school reunion next week. 1956 was a hoof year to be born. Bought this s8ngle when it came out. Wasn't it 1973 when this came out?
When this came out, it was unique in addressing interracial relationships. While the older folks back then may have been a little shocked, the younger people were part of the whole "peace, love and understanding" thing, so it was cool. EXTREMELY popular song back in the day.
True. Funny this got reviewed today. This song got stuck in my head just a couple of days ago. Then I thought about some other similar ones from my childhood like "Black and White" by Three Dog Night, "Black Betty" by Ram Jam, and "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. I guess due to similarities of political and social challenges during the Nixon years and now Trump/Biden years are what triggered this. I remember this song from my youth and later from a film soundtrack for "Nixon." Crazy how things work. For me, I've always been able to remember events in my life through music.
What's interesting is this song received widespread acceptance, going all the way to Billboard #1 in that great musical summer of '73 -- whereas the 1967 song "Society's Child" by Janis Ian, which covered the same subject matter, was banned on a number of radio stations, especially in the south. It's amazing how attitudes changed over just six years.
And amazing still is how things have unfortunately reverted back to some of those same prejudices! banning books in school, anti-diversity and anti love. I remember this played at my 7th grade dance. We loved it! Sang along, and thought it was great that we hung out with many different kinds of people. Today this would probably be banned in school and some idiots would be boycotting radio for playing it. So sad, the 70's were such a diverse, inclusive and beautiful time to grow up in! And the best decade ever for music!
My dad, a white man , married a black woman in 1972. I was 11. This song really hit a spot at that time in my life. The town we lived in was not very accepting . I wish we had moved to Dallas LOL . Its all good now and I still have a place in my heart for this one. ✌❤
I’m a Texan. I’m also a black man. My uncle was a high school star athlete in my hometown around the time this song was popular in the 70s. He was intimate with several white high school girls which was frowned upon back in those days in a small Texas town. But attraction isn’t limited by color.
I was 13 1n 1972. A "mixed" couple began attending my church. There were more than a few raised eyebrows and bigoted voices at the time. Personally, though a little startled at 1st seeing them, I was immediately struck by their beautiful children. (An angelic toddler and a 4 yo both with huge eyes and huger smiles.) It was strange to have one of my close buddies suddenly parrot some bigoted invective against this cute young couple and their innocent children. I'll never understand it.
This song had big impact on me when it came out. It cemented my belief (instilled by my Mom) that we are all the same under our skin. "Ain't no difference if you're black or white...".
When this came out mixed marriages were still scandalous in some communities. Shoot, where I lived they considered it a mixed marriage if it was between a Methodist and a Presbyterian.
My mom used to have this blasting! 🙂 Amber, I love your story about your parents and grandfather. I was born in 1968, in the south/Alabama, so interracial couples were definitely frowned upon, but many made it work. I grew up with my mom, uncle, and older cousins their age (mom was 19 when I was born) with them being somewhat flower children. No hippies as they all had jobs, homes, stayed out of trouble, but were about peace and love. ✌🏽 We'd have people of various races and ethnic backgrounds in our family, biracial/multi-racial children, interracial couples, and music was a _huge_ part of the scene. This song seemed to be a bit about what I saw with the couples being of different skin colors. I'm of African American, Native American and European Jewish ancestry, and I remember back then, people would ask my mom, brother, grandmother, me (and others in the family) "Are you mixed", "What are you mixed with?", "Your family must not be full black, right?" 🤔 😀 Whenever my mom would braid flowers together for a halo in my waist length hair at the time, I would always feel like I was connected more to the group of women in the room with their halos as we listened to the music. Thanks, Mama.❤
FINALLY!! This song was my jam back in my senior year in high school. Still love it 50 years later!! Unfortunately, they never had any more hits that I knew of.
I was a little young when this came out. However, my experience was I met my wife over 31 years ago, we've been married 30 years. I am white she is black. The strange thing is the opposite happened, my mom and dad were more accepting, but my father in law was not onboard at first. He told me "no white man could respect his daughter" But he came around and he called me son and I called him dad. And he was the best grandfather to our two daughters. Both my wife and I love this song and do remember it from our childhood.
This song was written by Errol Brown & Tony Wilson from the British soul band, Hot Chocolate, released as a single in 1973, who I don't think you've ever done on your channel. You really need to check them out, as they had loads of hits during the 70's & early 80's; think Emma charted quite high on the Billboard 100. Songs to check out are You Sexy Thing (used in the movie 'The Full Monty'); No Doubt about It; Put You Together Again; You Win Again; It Started With A Kiss; Girl Crazy; Everyone's A Winner & Are You Getting Enough Of What Makes You Happy....to name but a few! Think you'd both really like them as they were funky & soulful & the lead singer, Errol Brown, was very charismatic. His scream on Emma is something to behold.
Can't agree enough with this comment. Not sure why Jay and Amber have a blind spot when it comes to some bands , particularly UK ones. Slade and Hot Chocolate are long overdue for a blitz on this channel.
Such an amazing song that was my awakening to social injustice. Another great song from the time was Three Dog Night’s Black & White. It’s a must listen.
Saw them perform this live in 1975. They opened for Rare Earth. The concert was held at Tri-City Raceways in Richland, WA. Back when there was no such thing as a big dude wearing a T-shirt that said "Security" and you could lean your elbows on the stage. The most memorable part of the night was when the large percussion section of Rare Earth did the long percussive intro into the tune "Hey Big Brother". It was much longer than the studio intro and it was incredible to behold live. It literally sent chills down my spine. Both bands were awesome.
I first heard Brother Louie by Hot Chocolate in 1973. Errol Brown the lead singer co-wrote it with Tony Wilson, another band member.. Their original song explains what happened much more clearly.
Growing up in the 60's and 70's this was one of my favorite songs and The Sweet Little Willy..I grew up in the best era of music soul funk and rock and roll
Has been one of my favorite songs since I was a young kid; so smooth, such a classy way to handle such a serious subject as well. Perfect song; got to sing the chorus every time I hear it. And the strings! ❤
It was such a different time. Love is love. Two years after this song came out, there was the first interracial couple on network TV on the show The Jeffersons.
In the 60's and 70's, we were 100% about Peace, Love and Rock & Roll. We loved all people, all colors, all religions.....we loved all....and meant it with conviction. Peace😊
Sorry but many would disagree. Everything wasn't sweetness and light with race relations in the U.S. then...actually wasn't anywhere close to it. It was just kept a lot quieter and under wraps during the 70's than it is now...for the 60's all you have to do is look at places like Alabama in the 60's archives!
1973 was my senior year in high school. "Brother Louie" was the top sock hop hit of the season. Blue-eyed soul brother from the South Side of Chicago. When Old School was just school.
One of my earliest musical memories was hearing this song on the radio when I was just a kid. It was controversial even then, but I was way too young to know that. Such a great jam!
As a teenager of the 70’s, I had always thought this song was from Rod Stewart. I thought it was funny when Amber said it had a Rod Stewart vibe. She is always so spot on.
I was 12 when this came out in 1973 and my sisters best friend had mixed parents, so the song didn’t strike me as being anything out of the ordinary. Just catchy.
The best version is by Hot Chocolate, a Great British band from the 1970s & 80s with many international hits. Written and sung by Errol Brown, lead singer of Hot Chocolate - no one could better his singing on this song. Have often requested you check out some of their classics, hope you’ll do it now 🙏
I was born in the early sixties and grew up in a very conservative rural community. My first encounter with racism was when I was about 10 years old. I was at a friend's house and her parent's started discussing a mixed race couple who lived in the area. I was shocked by their attitudes and I was hurt and confused by their negative comments. I told my friend that I wanted to go home immediately. She asked why I was so upset and I told her that the couple that her parent's were degrading were my godparents. I loved these people and I knew that my parent's loved them also. At that moment I realized how much I appreciated that in my home, prejudice was not there, I also realized that I was very naïve about the negative views of others. I have never and will never understand prejudice. It doesn't make sense to me, at all.
I was a kid when this song came out. I have always listened to the lyrics of songs. this one stuck with me my whole life. Love is Love, you cannot control who you Love. So, just Love.
Basically, a one-hit wonder in 1973. Ian Lloyd was the soulful singer. I liked how the guitar and violin played off each other. Another interracial romance song is Janis Ian's "Society Child" from the 60's. React to that sometime. Thanks. 😎
One of 1973's biggest songs. It was a cover song from the group Hot Chocolate a British soul group who did it originally as a funky/reggae soulful track. Check out the original.
The first concert I ever went to was Stories and Fanny. "Brother Louie" hit #1 a week or two later and Fanny's song "Charity Ball" was in the Top 40, too. (Now that I think about it, that would be a good choice for Female Friday!)
Did you know there are a bunch of old broadcasts from KHJ on you tube? I never lived in L.A. but have really enjoyed listening to The Real Don Steele and the others.
This was huge on campus. I was a senior in college. You couldn’t go anywhere in the dorm area with this music playing. It was so memorable for a whole lot of reasons.😊
@@marioserrano6333 Well considering it was written by Errol Brown of Hot Chocolate I can't see how that's the case, perhaps you should check out things before commenting.
@@johnbutcher2587 Your reply " no it isn't" should have been commented to @Adam_Le-Roi_Davis they are wrong. You replied to @marioserrano6333 instead, in which they gave the correct fact. You put your comment under the wrong name a simple mistake. It's how I saw it. We can both agree it's written and first performed by Hot Chocolate. Have a good day now.
This was a very controversial song to some older folks. I'm 68. I was about 18 then. No problem in my hometown in Wisconsin, with my generation then. Just a kick ass song.
The year was (1973) and the song "Brother Louie" was a number one hit for the group Stories. It was somewhat controversial in the southern states in the US. Because of the interracial content of the song. The song became even more popular because of it. We sure came a long way as a country in dealing with interracial issues and marriage. And that is a good thing. Great reaction and take by Amber.
I was in 7th grade when this played on radio often, I loved it and so did my friends. We all sang along to it. It was a really popular song where I'm from which is the San Francisco Bay Area, a place and time where diversity and change were being embraced and fought for.
I know this song, I know and like this version. After reading the comments I went to the Songfacts site and there they say that there is a difference between some of the lyrics of the original Hot Chocolate and this cover of Stories. Maybe this is the time to bring Hot Chocolate with singer Eroll Brown to this channel. Their first big hit was "Emma" (1974). A sad song but if I'm not mistaken it's based on a true story.
My dad passed away when I was 13, in 1970. I'm a white guy, in 1974 I fell in love with a Mexican girl. I introduced her to my family, all went well. After my mom told me if my dad was alive, he wouldn't have let me date her. But when that song came on, I love it, the lead singers voice just sounded so different to me. If my dad was alive I truly don't know what I would have done. I married that girl in 1978 and we were togeather till she passed in 2010.
what a great story I am a pasty white guy 73 years young and married a dark Filipina and now live in the Philippines for over 33 years and still going strong
@@wildbill7081 I might do the same My wife was part Filipina also. She sure had their temper. She used tampo a few times on me. LOL The 1st day was kind of nice, but after that I hated it.
@@stargells1384 You got me laughing yeah Tampo is a real thing here and the best thing to do is ignore them during that time hahahaha and you should move here one day.
Thanks you guys, I've been waiting a long time for this one... I will always remember watching this on the TV as an early teen. I think I liked the "pushing the boundaries" aspect of it the most. Great pick. I married outside my race, and couldn't have been happier.
LOVE this song!! It was a very popular song back in the day. I grew up in the Denver metro area and in a big military area. Lots of interracial couples mostly Asian "War Brides" Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese and American GIs. There were some Black/White couples, but they were rare as that wasn't widely accepted by the older folks. My jerk stepfather got ticked off at me because I dated two Hispanic girls in High School (I still think about you Cindy and Tina). After I got out of the Marines, I dated a guy for a while, (R.I.P. Bob) and my stepfather said one the most insulting, F-d up things that anyone has EVER said to me by asking if Bob was black. Like "Hey I don't care if you're dating a guy, as long as he isn't black." The world became a much better place when my stepfather finally passed in 2004. Since I moved to Georgia, I've seen EVERY combination of couples you can imagine and dated four black women myself, (I LOVE that Brown Sugar). Love is blind and almost never makes sense, the ONLY things that are important are love, respect, and happiness.
@@eggy1962I agree. I remember thinking as a kid, Rod Stewart sang this. I was about 5 or 6 in first grade. Being the youngest, my older siblings played a lot of music around me and I listened to the radio on my own. Also I can't leave out American Bandstand and Soul Train. Oh yeah, and Midnight Special with Wolfman Jack! It was on one of these shows, I learned that Rod Stewart didn't sing this. I was so blessed to be surrounded by the best music of all genres.
I remember playing this record on my record player when I was a little kid, early 70's, i have been a major music fan my whole life, i'm 58 going on 59, long time
Wow, this brings back memories. I remember my sister is listening to this song. I always thought it was Rod Stewart.When I first heard it Great reaction
I graduated in 76, but I was already in town, women of different cultures and black women long before that so yeah this song really hit the spot and kind of let me know it was OK because I was gonna do it anyway❤❤❤
I grew up in a small military town in the 60s and 70s, so interracial couples were not even an issue. It was commonplace. Schools and churches were integrated so I had no idea what segregation was. I liked this song when it was on the radio in the summer of 1973, so I only had an academic knowledge of what it all meant. BTW, the song was first done by an interracial British band called Hot Chocolate who had a string of hits in the 70s. Their big songs in the states were "You Sexy Thing", "Every #1s a Winner", Emma, and "So You Win Again".
This was a hit & an earworm. Every poor guy named Louie had this sung to him for sure. I think it's a one-hit wonder, no more Stories hits to react to. Being from California, there were a few interracial couples around in the mid 70s. I didn't think of the song as scandalous as maybe some would have at that time. Blessings!❤
"Please , Please" and "What comes after" are two great tracks among many from They're 2nd album "About us" It's a gem. They weren't around for long unfortunately but They we're a great band. Ian Lloyd on vocals and the legendary Michael Brown (keyboard player/songwriter) from "The left banke" Definitely a band worth checking out
Canadian group called Martha and the muffins had a song, Black Stations, White stations. Recorded in 1984. The colour thing is still happening. We all bleed the same ...... ❤❤
One thing is for sure, there were certainly no racial barriers with this song. It was played like crazy on many radio stations. It sold over a million copies and went to number one on the billboard chart. Many people loved it!
There were some stations that refused to play it. It was still a massive success.
📻🙂
@@magneto7930 I still love this song today in 2024. Prejudices still exist which makes this song ever more relevant now.
@bedandbreakfastman11 I like elements of both, really. The original was a little more funky. But on this version, the lead vocalist rips on it. Plus, I like the guitar/strings interplay.
I graduated high school in 1974 so the 70’s are in my soul. You both have the “old soul” in you. Just as cool as you can get. Love y’all.
Thank you for your comment. I graduated HS in 1978. My all time favorite rock song is Led Zeppelin's Stairway to heaven
Same here for us born in 56!
I also graduated in 1974. Will be going to my 50 year high school reunion next week. 1956 was a hoof year to be born. Bought this s8ngle when it came out. Wasn't it 1973 when this came out?
I'm class of 74 and born in 56
1955
When this came out, it was unique in addressing interracial relationships. While the older folks back then may have been a little shocked, the younger people were part of the whole "peace, love and understanding" thing, so it was cool. EXTREMELY popular song back in the day.
True. Funny this got reviewed today. This song got stuck in my head just a couple of days ago. Then I thought about some other similar ones from my childhood like "Black and White" by Three Dog Night, "Black Betty" by Ram Jam, and "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. I guess due to similarities of political and social challenges during the Nixon years and now Trump/Biden years are what triggered this. I remember this song from my youth and later from a film soundtrack for "Nixon." Crazy how things work. For me, I've always been able to remember events in my life through music.
What's interesting is this song received widespread acceptance, going all the way to Billboard #1 in that great musical summer of '73 -- whereas the 1967 song "Society's Child" by Janis Ian, which covered the same subject matter, was banned on a number of radio stations, especially in the south. It's amazing how attitudes changed over just six years.
@@jdw5678but did things get better with all this acceptance of putting dick in anyone and everyone..nope.
And amazing still is how things have unfortunately reverted back to some of those same prejudices! banning books in school, anti-diversity and anti love. I remember this played at my 7th grade dance. We loved it! Sang along, and thought it was great that we hung out with many different kinds of people. Today this would probably be banned in school and some idiots would be boycotting radio for playing it. So sad, the 70's were such a diverse, inclusive and beautiful time to grow up in! And the best decade ever for music!
This one pushed the boundaries of that day. Great tune that got a LOT of airplay back in the day.
I saw the one tear in Ambers eye
😢
BLESS you sweetheart and your parents 🙏❣️🙏
Just another great classic from the early 70's. Back in the day this song was all over the radio and why not? It's a great song. Great times!
My dad, a white man , married a black woman in 1972. I was 11. This song really hit a spot at that time in my life. The town we lived in was not very accepting . I wish we had moved to Dallas LOL . Its all good now and I still have a place in my heart for this one. ✌❤
I’m a Texan. I’m also a black man. My uncle was a high school star athlete in my hometown around the time this song was popular in the 70s. He was intimate with several white high school girls which was frowned upon back in those days in a small Texas town. But attraction isn’t limited by color.
About the same for me
I was in Philly and at times I got it from both sides, I was 8yrs old at the time.
I was 13 1n 1972. A "mixed" couple began attending my church. There were more than a few raised eyebrows and bigoted voices at the time.
Personally, though a little startled at 1st seeing them, I was immediately struck by their beautiful children. (An angelic toddler and a 4 yo both with huge eyes and huger smiles.)
It was strange to have one of my close buddies suddenly parrot some bigoted invective against this cute young couple and their innocent children.
I'll never understand it.
@@smithbros1000 None of us are born prejudiced. So it has to be taught. Right?
This song had big impact on me when it came out. It cemented my belief (instilled by my Mom) that we are all the same under our skin. "Ain't no difference if you're black or white...".
When this came out mixed marriages were still scandalous in some communities. Shoot, where I lived they considered it a mixed marriage if it was between a Methodist and a Presbyterian.
🤣🤣🤣
Catholic vs Lutheran...scandalous!
Are you from Alabama like me?!😅
So true. Thank God most people have moved on. I love the piano in this song.
✌️😁❤️🎶🎶🎶👍
Exactly!
The song made the R&B charts…we definitely grooved to it. There’s a Midnight Special performance and a disco version.
I'm 55 yrs old I grow up listening to this on the radio even bought the record. I love this song. Thanks for the memories ❤😊
❤ is love. It has no color.
❤
My mom used to have this blasting! 🙂
Amber, I love your story about your parents and grandfather.
I was born in 1968, in the south/Alabama, so interracial couples were definitely frowned upon, but many made it work.
I grew up with my mom, uncle, and older cousins their age (mom was 19 when I was born) with them being somewhat flower children. No hippies as they all had jobs, homes, stayed out of trouble, but were about peace and love. ✌🏽
We'd have people of various races and ethnic backgrounds in our family, biracial/multi-racial children, interracial couples, and music was a _huge_ part of the scene.
This song seemed to be a bit about what I saw with the couples being of different skin colors.
I'm of African American, Native American and European Jewish ancestry, and I remember back then, people would ask my mom, brother, grandmother, me (and others in the family) "Are you mixed", "What are you mixed with?", "Your family must not be full black, right?" 🤔 😀
Whenever my mom would braid flowers together for a halo in my waist length hair at the time, I would always feel like I was connected more to the group of women in the room with their halos as we listened to the music.
Thanks, Mama.❤
FINALLY!! This song was my jam back in my senior year in high school. Still love it 50 years later!! Unfortunately, they never had any more hits that I knew of.
I was a little young when this came out. However, my experience was I met my wife over 31 years ago, we've been married 30 years. I am white she is black. The strange thing is the opposite happened, my mom and dad were more accepting, but my father in law was not onboard at first. He told me "no white man could respect his daughter" But he came around and he called me son and I called him dad. And he was the best grandfather to our two daughters. Both my wife and I love this song and do remember it from our childhood.
This is in my opinion the best one hit wonder of the 70’s.
This song was written by Errol Brown & Tony Wilson from the British soul band, Hot Chocolate, released as a single in 1973, who I don't think you've ever done on your channel.
You really need to check them out, as they had loads of hits during the 70's & early 80's; think Emma charted quite high on the Billboard 100.
Songs to check out are You Sexy Thing (used in the movie 'The Full Monty'); No Doubt about It; Put You Together Again; You Win Again; It Started With A Kiss; Girl Crazy; Everyone's A Winner & Are You Getting Enough Of What Makes You Happy....to name but a few!
Think you'd both really like them as they were funky & soulful & the lead singer, Errol Brown, was very charismatic. His scream on Emma is something to behold.
Can't agree enough with this comment. Not sure why Jay and Amber have a blind spot when it comes to some bands , particularly UK ones. Slade and Hot Chocolate are long overdue for a blitz on this channel.
Such an amazing song that was my awakening to social injustice. Another great song from the time was Three Dog Night’s Black & White. It’s a must listen.
..."Class of 76"...What a great radio classic!
When this song came out in 1973, I was 14 years old. I loved the groove to the song. The lyrics didn't shock me at all.
And I'm glad you guys are enjoying this music..experiencing the best music ever...IMO
Saw them perform this live in 1975. They opened for Rare Earth. The concert was held at Tri-City Raceways in Richland, WA.
Back when there was no such thing as a big dude wearing a T-shirt that said "Security" and you could lean your elbows on the stage. The most memorable part of the night was when the large percussion section of Rare Earth did the long percussive intro into the tune "Hey Big Brother". It was much longer than the studio intro and it was incredible to behold live. It literally sent chills down my spine. Both bands were awesome.
I first heard Brother Louie by Hot Chocolate in 1973. Errol Brown the lead singer co-wrote it with Tony Wilson, another band member.. Their original song explains what happened much more clearly.
Prefer this version myself !
That Raspy voice is always gonna get your attention and I love it .
Growing up in the 60's and 70's this was one of my favorite songs and The Sweet Little Willy..I grew up in the best era of music soul funk and rock and roll
A pinch of Rod Stewart. A soupçon of Isley Brothers, and a dash of ELO. Love it!
You've won the internet for using the word "soupcon" successfully in a sentence. Well done and cheerio.
A sprinkle of Steve Marriot too.
@derfscreechenhowser7548 I learned a new word today. Never heard of soupcon.I thought it was a misprint.
@@rogerdodger6025 Yeah, definitely a Faces vibe to the whole song.
You two are really the BEST..I've said it before but I really mean it. Makes my day to watch your reactions..keep on keeping on.
Has been one of my favorite songs since I was a young kid; so smooth, such a classy way to handle such a serious subject as well. Perfect song; got to sing the chorus every time I hear it. And the strings! ❤
It was such a different time. Love is love.
Two years after this song came out, there was the first interracial couple on network TV on the show The Jeffersons.
These are a number of interracial marriages in my family and so what? Love is love and love knows no color.
In the 60's and 70's, we were 100% about Peace, Love and Rock & Roll. We loved all people, all colors, all religions.....we loved all....and meant it with conviction. Peace😊
Sorry but many would disagree. Everything wasn't sweetness and light with race relations in the U.S. then...actually wasn't anywhere close to it. It was just kept a lot quieter and under wraps during the 70's than it is now...for the 60's all you have to do is look at places like Alabama in the 60's archives!
I grew up getting down to this in the car with Paw Paw...one of our favorites! I vibe to this every time I hear it!
I have friend who is white but his wife is black. They have 3 kids and let me say they are both loved by everyone who knows them.
1973 was my senior year in high school. "Brother Louie" was the top sock hop hit of the season. Blue-eyed soul brother from the South Side of Chicago. When Old School was just school.
Same ❤❤❤
One of my earliest musical memories was hearing this song on the radio when I was just a kid. It was controversial even then, but I was way too young to know that. Such a great jam!
Oh wow haven’t heard this in forever, thanks for the memories 😊
As a teenager of the 70’s, I had always thought this song was from Rod Stewart. I thought it was funny when Amber said it had a Rod Stewart vibe. She is always so spot on.
Amber always gets it !!!! Jay, not so much.
I was 12 when this came out in 1973 and my sisters best friend had mixed parents, so the song didn’t strike me as being anything out of the ordinary. Just catchy.
Ian Lloyd! I know Ian. He's still doing his thing. Nice guy!
The best version is by Hot Chocolate, a Great British band from the 1970s & 80s with many international hits. Written and sung by Errol Brown, lead singer of Hot Chocolate - no one could better his singing on this song. Have often requested you check out some of their classics, hope you’ll do it now 🙏
Every time I watch you two...I fall more in love with your channel....even after years of being subscribed.
I was born in the early sixties and grew up in a very conservative rural community. My first encounter with racism was when I was about 10 years old. I was at a friend's house and her parent's started discussing a mixed race couple who lived in the area. I was shocked by their attitudes and I was hurt and confused by their negative comments. I told my friend that I wanted to go home immediately. She asked why I was so upset and I told her that the couple that her parent's were degrading were my godparents. I loved these people and I knew that my parent's loved them also. At that moment I realized how much I appreciated that in my home, prejudice was not there, I also realized that I was very naïve about the negative views of others. I have never and will never understand prejudice. It doesn't make sense to me, at all.
I was a kid when this song came out. I have always listened to the lyrics of songs. this one stuck with me my whole life. Love is Love, you cannot control who you Love. So, just Love.
I swear Amber is the best chair dancer I have ever seen..lol😊
you should see her in your lap.
😊
Basically, a one-hit wonder in 1973. Ian Lloyd was the soulful singer. I liked how the guitar and violin played off each other. Another interracial romance song is Janis Ian's "Society Child" from the 60's. React to that sometime. Thanks. 😎
One of 1973's biggest songs. It was a cover song from the group Hot Chocolate a British soul group who did it originally as a funky/reggae soulful track. Check out the original.
*"Brother Louie" is a song by British soul band Hot Chocolate.* I had no idea Stories did this as a cover. Now I need to hear the original.
Louie, Louie, LOU-IE!!! SO GOOD!!! LOVED this song from the moment I heard it!! :) ENJOY, YA'LL!!!
What a blast from the past! Been ages since I've heard this.
Thanks for this one. It has everything a good song needs: impactful lyrics, great instruments, and memorable voices.
The first concert I ever went to was Stories and Fanny. "Brother Louie" hit #1 a week or two later and Fanny's song "Charity Ball" was in the Top 40, too. (Now that I think about it, that would be a good choice for Female Friday!)
In the summer of 1973, this dominated LA radio through the pop station KHJ. As a 10-year-old, I couldn’t get enough of this. It’s actually a cover.
👍KHJ 93. Charlie Tuna. Machine Gun Kelley. The Real Don Steele. Memories. TY.
@@deb4578Charlie Tuna was great.
Did you know there are a bunch of old broadcasts from KHJ on you tube? I never lived in L.A. but have really enjoyed listening to The Real Don Steele and the others.
@@rogervondrasek5677I didn’t know that. I’m going to have to search.
@@BretSnyder
He sure was.
This was huge on campus. I was a senior in college. You couldn’t go anywhere in the dorm area with this music playing. It was so memorable for a whole lot of reasons.😊
Love this song growing up being part of a mixed family living in a somewhat small conservative town.. brings back wonderful memories.
This is a good cover of this song originally by 'Hot Chocolate' a British R&B band.
@@marioserrano6333 Well considering it was written by Errol Brown of Hot Chocolate I can't see how that's the case, perhaps you should check out things before commenting.
@@marioserrano6333 no it isn’t
@@johnbutcher2587 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Louie_(Hot_Chocolate_song)
If you look I am disagreeing with someone saying it’s a stories original
@@johnbutcher2587 Your reply " no it isn't" should have been commented to @Adam_Le-Roi_Davis they are wrong. You replied to @marioserrano6333 instead, in which they gave the correct fact. You put your comment under the wrong name a simple mistake. It's how I saw it. We can both agree it's written and first performed by Hot Chocolate. Have a good day now.
This is a #1 song from 1973. Sadly for Stories, this was their only major hit. They are considered a one hit wonder, but what a hit it was.
This was such a great song back in the 70's...still gets me jiving!
One of those beautiful story telling songs
Love it and thank you 🎉
Hot Chocolate tell it better
That brown sugar had louie crying 🎶🔥✌️❤️
Man! You two are awesome. Your taste in music is so cool. Keep it coming Jay and Amber. 😀
Another, forgotten song with a similar theme was "Does Your Mama Know About Me" by Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers, a Motown group in 1968.
Tommy Chong on guitar.
This song has been on my playlist for 32 years as life sometimes imitates art.
this song was EVERYWHERE when it came out.
Big hit when I was 14. What a great song.
three dog night- black and white is a fantastic song from back then also. great review ! thumbs up
This was a very controversial song to some older folks. I'm 68. I was about 18 then. No problem in my hometown in Wisconsin, with my generation then. Just a kick ass song.
This song, was all over the radio back then !
For another good soft rock song from the 60's, you'd like "Fresh Air" by the band Quicksilver Messenger Service.
Requested it so many time ! Quicksilver guys
Have another hit…..of Fresh Air! Yes they need to hear it!!
Excellent choice!
Ten years old when this came out, great memories 😊
Omg! I haven’t heard this song in a million years! Didn’t even recognize the titile. Thanks you guys
Same ❤❤❤❤
The year was (1973) and the song "Brother Louie" was a number one hit for the group Stories. It was somewhat controversial in the southern states in the US. Because of the interracial content of the song. The song became even more popular because of it. We sure came a long way as a country in dealing with interracial issues and marriage. And that is a good thing. Great reaction and take by Amber.
I was in 7th grade when this played on radio often, I loved it and so did my friends. We all sang along to it. It was a really popular song where I'm from which is the San Francisco Bay Area, a place and time where diversity and change were being embraced and fought for.
I know this song, I know and like this version. After reading the comments I went to the Songfacts site and there they say that there is a difference between some of the lyrics of the original Hot Chocolate and this cover of Stories. Maybe this is the time to bring Hot Chocolate with singer Eroll Brown to this channel. Their first big hit was "Emma" (1974). A sad song but if I'm not mistaken it's based on a true story.
My dad passed away when I was 13, in 1970. I'm a white guy, in 1974 I fell in love with a Mexican girl. I introduced her to my family, all went well. After my mom told me if my dad was alive, he wouldn't have let me date her. But when that song came on, I love it, the lead singers voice just sounded so different to me. If my dad was alive I truly don't know what I would have done. I married that girl in 1978 and we were togeather till she passed in 2010.
what a great story I am a pasty white guy 73 years young and married a dark Filipina and now live in the Philippines for over 33 years and still going strong
@@wildbill7081 I might do the same My wife was part Filipina also. She sure had their temper. She used tampo a few times on me. LOL The 1st day was kind of nice, but after that I hated it.
@@stargells1384 You got me laughing yeah Tampo is a real thing here and the best thing to do is ignore them during that time hahahaha and you should move here one day.
Lou-E, Lou-E., Lou-I. I loved this song for years, but had forgotten who did it. Thanks much.
There’s a great live version of this song that they performed on the Midnight Special. Gotta check it out.
Oh My Gosh! I do remember hearing this as a kid, but I don't remember ever hearing it in Stereo! What a GREAT Song! New appreciation here!!
I've loved this song for so long. Such an amazing early 70's rock sound. Speaking of Rod Stewart, how about giving, "I Was Only Joking" a listen?
This song was all over the radio back in the day. They were playing it every *hour*, it seemed.
Amber hit it. When I first heard this I thought it was Rod Stewart. But soon realized it wasn't.
I graduated in ‘78, and had always thought it was Rod Stewart. I don’t know if I ever found out it wasn’t, or if it was today that I did?
Growing up my neighbours were a mixed couple and no one batted an eye. Love is love.
Love this song. It's on my motorcycle ride play list.
For Female Friday, another song in this vein is Janis Ian's song, "Society's Child," which she actually wrote when she was 13 or 14.
The stories gives you ELO vibe. Loved the group. I was in high school when this record came out. Fire!!!
Thanks again for bring back memories of songs many of us grew up on.
Thanks you guys, I've been waiting a long time for this one... I will always remember watching this on the TV as an early teen. I think I liked the "pushing the boundaries" aspect of it the most. Great pick. I married outside my race, and couldn't have been happier.
LOVE this song!! It was a very popular song back in the day. I grew up in the Denver metro area and in a big military area. Lots of interracial couples mostly Asian "War Brides" Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese and American GIs. There were some Black/White couples, but they were rare as that wasn't widely accepted by the older folks. My jerk stepfather got ticked off at me because I dated two Hispanic girls in High School (I still think about you Cindy and Tina). After I got out of the Marines, I dated a guy for a while, (R.I.P. Bob) and my stepfather said one the most insulting, F-d up things that anyone has EVER said to me by asking if Bob was black. Like "Hey I don't care if you're dating a guy, as long as he isn't black." The world became a much better place when my stepfather finally passed in 2004. Since I moved to Georgia, I've seen EVERY combination of couples you can imagine and dated four black women myself, (I LOVE that Brown Sugar). Love is blind and almost never makes sense, the ONLY things that are important are love, respect, and happiness.
The original version by Hot Chocolate is worth a listen
Its the original and best version…..
Stories recorded it in 1973
Hot chocolate 1974
@@marioserrano6333 hot chocolate wrote it did it first stories is the cover
Most ANYTHING by Hot Chocolate is good!
@@eggy1962I agree. I remember thinking as a kid, Rod Stewart sang this. I was about 5 or 6 in first grade. Being the youngest, my older siblings played a lot of music around me and I listened to the radio on my own. Also I can't leave out American Bandstand and Soul Train. Oh yeah, and Midnight Special with Wolfman Jack! It was on one of these shows, I learned that Rod Stewart didn't sing this. I was so blessed to be surrounded by the best music of all genres.
I remember playing this record on my record player when I was a little kid, early 70's, i have been a major music fan my whole life, i'm 58 going on 59, long time
I loved this back in the day ❤
Thanks for sharing that story Amber. That was nice.
Such a great song, with a great message. Excellent reaction.
Wow, this brings back memories. I remember my sister is listening to this song. I always thought it was Rod Stewart.When I first heard it Great reaction
I graduated in 76, but I was already in town, women of different cultures and black women long before that so yeah this song really hit the spot and kind of let me know it was OK because I was gonna do it anyway❤❤❤
I used to sing this to a guy I sat by in geometry named Louie.
Totally gutted here that you didnt do the original, best version of this by Hot Chocolate and the legendary vocals of Errol Brown (RIP) 😢
Thank you
I grew up in a small military town in the 60s and 70s, so interracial couples were not even an issue. It was commonplace. Schools and churches were integrated so I had no idea what segregation was. I liked this song when it was on the radio in the summer of 1973, so I only had an academic knowledge of what it all meant. BTW, the song was first done by an interracial British band called Hot Chocolate who had a string of hits in the 70s. Their big songs in the states were "You Sexy Thing", "Every #1s a Winner", Emma, and "So You Win Again".
So glad you finally checked out this great tune! Been mentioning for quite some time.
This was a hit & an earworm. Every poor guy named Louie had this sung to him for sure.
I think it's a one-hit wonder, no more Stories hits to react to.
Being from California, there were a few interracial couples around in the mid 70s. I didn't think of the song as scandalous as maybe some would have at that time.
Blessings!❤
"Please , Please" and "What comes after" are two great tracks among many from They're 2nd album "About us" It's a gem. They weren't around for long unfortunately but They we're a great band. Ian Lloyd on vocals and the legendary Michael Brown (keyboard player/songwriter) from "The left banke" Definitely a band worth checking out
Canadian group called Martha and the muffins had a song, Black Stations, White stations. Recorded in 1984. The colour thing is still happening. We all bleed the same ...... ❤❤