I will surely buy the book as I loved the We Five; they held a mystical place in my heart. I was saddened to learn that Mr. Burgan passed away a couple of months ago.
EXCELLENT BOOK. Behind-the-scenes views are always fascinating and this one is no exception. It may be, especially, appealing to we Baby Boomers who lived through the period, but has much to offer ANYONE of ANY GENERATION. Music provides human beings with emotional energy, character and fulfillment; it has an amazing capability to unify people of all ages and identities. Reading about the industry and the people who make these recordings is very interesting. Peace to ALL.
The whole “We Five” story becomes ever more fully and increasingly fascinating! I had a sense that Mike Stewart was the lynchpin of the re-write of “You Were On My Mind,” converting it from Ian and Sylvia’s atypically tepid folk ballad, to the dazzling tour de force that it became under his enthusiastic and intuitive watch! When it comes to “creating a monster,” Victor Frankenstein had nothing on Mike Stewart, and ultimately they both seemed to have (unfortunately!) obtained approximately the same results… That Bev Bivens’ sister was originally asked to be the singer is new info to me, and that the whole We Five musical alchemy was very much of a “family affair” begins to explain a lot, as does the fraternal connection to the Kingston Trio, and especially to their shared producer, Frank Werber, whose at one time “couldn’t miss” production skills were apparently the “kiss of death” for WF’s hopes for a follow up hit! I feel like I’m discovering veins of serendipity and synchronicity in an irony mine! I’ve gotta get that book… Mega Namaste, “Bay Area People,” it’s “nice work if you can get it” (and you can get if you try!)… - Best always, Glenn Jones
Beverly Bivens (it's said) got the lead singer gig when her older sister, a girlfriend of one of the Kingston Trio members was recommended, but didn't want it and suggested her sister Bev. The re-write and re-arrangement of their hit tune 'You were on my mind' was just right for her. But the group did a lot of commercial work too as they got started, it's great listening, no autotune here and her voice is fantastic. th-cam.com/video/IFP-HLYvQV4/w-d-xo.html&pp=ygUgdGhlIHdlIGZpdmUgY29tbWVyY2lhbCBvdXQgdGFrZXM%3D
Not a word about Bev & he never did explain the reason that they left the drummer off all the photoshoots & for not calling the band We 6 after he joined them... that's really terrible... I'd love to know the reasons Bev quit the Band after only 4 years & then never performed publicly for the next 40... I wonder if that whole situ had anything to do with it?!!?
Well The Rolling Stones have a black drummer and bass player. But you’ll never see them in any promo shots. And they appropriated blues. And this is 2024!!
I will surely buy the book as I loved the We Five; they held a mystical place in my heart. I was saddened to learn that Mr. Burgan passed away a couple of months ago.
Their contribution to the sound of the times was and will be everlasting!
BRILLIANT SONG ,BRILLIANTLY SUNG AND RECORDED
EXCELLENT BOOK. Behind-the-scenes views are always fascinating and this one is no exception. It may be, especially, appealing to we Baby Boomers who lived through the period, but has much to offer ANYONE of ANY GENERATION. Music provides human beings with emotional energy, character and fulfillment; it has an amazing capability to unify people of all ages and identities. Reading about the industry and the people who make these recordings is very interesting. Peace to ALL.
I was in love with Bev Bivens when someone gave me a film of them in 1965.
No mention of Bev Bivens?! She pretty much did the heavy lifting and carried the vocals of We Five.
The whole “We Five” story becomes ever more fully and increasingly fascinating!
I had a sense that Mike Stewart was the lynchpin of the re-write of “You Were On My Mind,” converting it from Ian and Sylvia’s atypically tepid folk ballad, to the dazzling tour de force that it became under his enthusiastic and intuitive watch! When it comes to “creating a monster,” Victor Frankenstein had nothing on Mike Stewart, and ultimately they both seemed to have (unfortunately!) obtained approximately the same results…
That Bev Bivens’ sister was originally asked to be the singer is new info to me, and that the whole We Five musical alchemy was very much of a “family affair” begins to explain a lot, as does the fraternal connection to the Kingston Trio, and especially to their shared producer, Frank Werber, whose at one time “couldn’t miss” production skills were apparently the “kiss of death” for WF’s hopes for a follow up hit!
I feel like I’m discovering veins of serendipity and synchronicity in an irony mine! I’ve gotta get that book…
Mega Namaste, “Bay Area People,” it’s “nice work if you can get it” (and you can get if you try!)…
- Best always,
Glenn Jones
Thanks for this. PS, I think what actually happened was that Terry Kirkman recommended his girlfriend's kid sister--who was Bev.
It’s my understanding that Mike Stewart arranged it.
Mike arranged the song. Terry Kirkman arranged the group's meeting with young Beverly Bivens.
Why wasn't Chambers the drummer on the television showcase show? Who actually was that drummer?
He was. They just filmed him in silhouette, for controversial reasons.
That's amazing as the drummer I saw in profile looked white.
Beverly Bivens (it's said) got the lead singer gig when her older sister, a girlfriend of one of the Kingston Trio members was recommended, but didn't want it and suggested her sister Bev. The re-write and re-arrangement of their hit tune 'You were on my mind' was just right for her. But the group did a lot of commercial work too as they got started, it's great listening, no autotune here and her voice is fantastic. th-cam.com/video/IFP-HLYvQV4/w-d-xo.html&pp=ygUgdGhlIHdlIGZpdmUgY29tbWVyY2lhbCBvdXQgdGFrZXM%3D
I wished they would of talked about Bev Bevins leaving the band, the circumstances, any reconnecting, what she was like.
Agree that would have been interesting, but to repeat Jerry Burgan, it's all in the book.
Not a word about Bev & he never did explain the reason that they left the drummer off all the photoshoots & for not calling the band We 6 after he joined them... that's really terrible... I'd love to know the reasons Bev quit the Band after only 4 years & then never performed publicly for the next 40... I wonder if that whole situ had anything to do with it?!!?
Well The Rolling Stones have a black drummer and bass player. But you’ll never see them in any promo shots. And they appropriated blues. And this is 2024!!