So after all these years, the great Big John Wallace can still carry the load. The man started singing with Harry in CYO when they were 10, and now 66 years later, he is joined with Harry's younger brother Steve, still able to carry out the vocals like no one else ever could. Peace be with you Big John!
Proud to have worked with the band as their lighting company through most of the 70's. Big John and I became good friends. What a wonderful rendition of Harry's song, brought tears to my eyes. Thanks.
I saw Big John Wallace in Calgary, in the 70's. Some times talent and love of music transcends us all. Thank you for the sound tract of my life.Eternal blessings to all.
Big John sounds like he did 40 years ago. I remember Harry saying many times that Steve made him sound better than he had any right to. Steve continues to earn that compliment from his big brother. So much love that makes these guys still perform this great music. Beautiful job by the cello player who seems reverent in her performance of this classic.
Just plain awesome. Nice treatment of one of my Chapin favorites. Great cello work. Big John and Steve took me back 40+ years ago with style and grace. Saw well over a dozen Harry shows and they were all memorable. Two stand out. Two successive nights at Carnegie Hall with completely different set lists, published in advance. Harry was suffering from a hoarse throat but muscled his way through the entire set list the first night aided by sips of hot tea and lemon. Bottom Line Shows (NYC) celebrating his 2000th performance. I sat front table right below Steve's piano and really enjoyed his work on Let Time Go Lightly.
From someone such as I , that clung to a notion that one day I might become a successful songwriter but with no reason other than the pleasure of writing and singing my own songs , I continue with my trade as a carpenter and still out of necessity to try and explain the world to myself , continue to do so …
Thank you for sharing this with everyone. Such a joy for all the little people--the vast majority of people who would love a little recognition and respect.
I agree it should have way more views. And I wish mine had been here sooner. I had no clue this was on here and I've been a fan since albums & Harry concerts!! And these guys were with him at all but 1 show I saw. Incredible talent then and now! Can't wait to watch all the videos
Mr. tanner was a cleaner from a town in the Midwest And of all the cleaning shops around he'd made his the best But he also was a baritone who sang while hanging clothes He practiced scales while pressing tails and sang at local shows His friends and neighbors praised the voice That poured out from his throat They said that he should use his gift instead of cleaning coats But music was his life, it was not his livelihood And it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul He did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole His friends kept working on him to try music out full time A big debut and rave reviews, a great career to climb Finally they got to him, he would take the fling A concert agent in New York agreed to have him sing And there were plane tickets, phone calls, money spent to rent the hall It took most of his savings but he gladly used them all But music was his life, it was not his livelihood And it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul He did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole The evening came, he took the stage, his face set in a smile And in the half filled hall the critics sat watching on the aisle But the concert was a blur to him, spatters of applause He did not know how well he sang, he only heard the flaws But the critics were concise, it only took four lines But no one could accuse them of being over kind Mr. Martin Tanner, baritone of Dayton, Ohio Made his town hall debut last night Be came well prepared, but unfortunately his presentation Was not up to contemporary professional standards His voice lacks the range of tonal color Necessary to make it consistently interesting Full time consideration of another endeavor might be in order He came home to Dayton and was questioned by his friends Then he smiled and just said nothing and he never sang again Excepting very late at night when the shop was dark and closed He sang softly to himself as he sorted through the clothes Music was his life, it was not his livelihood And it made him feel so happy, it made him feel so good And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul And he did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole
Full-time consideration of another endeavour.... might be an hors d'oeuvrrrrrrrrrrrrres... to me it always sounds like Harry sings that instead. Give it up for Big John Wallace, everybody!
No one wrote songs and performed like Harry. So glad to see his beautiful music is kept alive with this video. Big John hasn’t lost anything.
So after all these years, the great Big John Wallace can still carry the load. The man started singing with Harry in CYO when they were 10, and now 66 years later, he is joined with Harry's younger brother Steve, still able to carry out the vocals like no one else ever could. Peace be with you Big John!
Big John Wallace is incredible. Such emotion.
Proud to have worked with the band as their lighting company through most of the 70's. Big John and I became good friends. What a wonderful rendition of Harry's song, brought tears to my eyes. Thanks.
Funny…John hasn’t a clue as to who you are…
It is great that you guys are carrying Harry into this new age
A wonderful tribute to one of the greats. Everything good, takes me back 40 years and the tears are there again.
This is not a tribute its the real deal, just with out the late n great Harry. A tribute to mr tanner. I agree.
Big John Wallace..........the greatest!!!
it brought me to tears, I still remember the original from years ago
I saw Big John Wallace in Calgary, in the 70's.
Some times talent and love of music transcends us all. Thank you for the sound tract of my life.Eternal blessings to all.
What a song. What a performance. Steve’s voice, Big John (Mr. Tanner) and Arlen on the cello bring an old song back beautifully.
You can alllways count on the cheap seats. This brought a tear of joy to my eye.
Really do love it
Big John sounds like he did 40 years ago. I remember Harry saying many times that Steve made him sound better than he had any right to. Steve continues to earn that compliment from his big brother. So much love that makes these guys still perform this great music. Beautiful job by the cello player who seems reverent in her performance of this classic.
Beautiful performance! Beautiful cinematography! Beautiful sound! Bravo to all!
Just plain awesome. Nice treatment of one of my Chapin favorites. Great cello work. Big John and Steve took me back 40+ years ago with style and grace. Saw well over a dozen Harry shows and they were all memorable. Two stand out. Two successive nights at Carnegie Hall with completely different set lists, published in advance. Harry was suffering from a hoarse throat but muscled his way through the entire set list the first night aided by sips of hot tea and lemon. Bottom Line Shows (NYC) celebrating his 2000th performance. I sat front table right below Steve's piano and really enjoyed his work on Let Time Go Lightly.
From someone such as I , that clung to a notion that one day I might become a successful songwriter but with no reason other than the pleasure of writing and singing my own songs , I continue with my trade as a carpenter and still out of necessity to try and explain the world to myself , continue to do so …
Steve did well with Harry's part, and Big John was still the greatest Mr. Tanner, just as he has been for the past 50 years.
That was awesome!!! Done so well. Such a great song !!!
Great memories created by some fantastic musicians
Gorgeous.
Thank you for sharing this with everyone. Such a joy for all the little people--the vast majority of people who would love a little recognition and respect.
Amazing musicians
So sad this video only has 2,800 views. I’ve loved Harry Chapin and his band for nearly 40 years.
I agree it should have way more views. And I wish mine had been here sooner. I had no clue this was on here and I've been a fan since albums & Harry concerts!! And these guys were with him at all but 1 show I saw. Incredible talent then and now! Can't wait to watch all the videos
Incredible, wow! X
So so. Miss Harry and all
I miss Harry
Mr. tanner was a cleaner from a town in the Midwest
And of all the cleaning shops around he'd made his the best
But he also was a baritone who sang while hanging clothes
He practiced scales while pressing tails and sang at local shows
His friends and neighbors praised the voice
That poured out from his throat
They said that he should use his gift instead of cleaning coats
But music was his life, it was not his livelihood
And it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good
And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul
He did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole
His friends kept working on him to try music out full time
A big debut and rave reviews, a great career to climb
Finally they got to him, he would take the fling
A concert agent in New York agreed to have him sing
And there were plane tickets, phone calls, money spent to rent the hall
It took most of his savings but he gladly used them all
But music was his life, it was not his livelihood
And it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good
And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul
He did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole
The evening came, he took the stage, his face set in a smile
And in the half filled hall the critics sat watching on the aisle
But the concert was a blur to him, spatters of applause
He did not know how well he sang, he only heard the flaws
But the critics were concise, it only took four lines
But no one could accuse them of being over kind
Mr. Martin Tanner, baritone of Dayton, Ohio
Made his town hall debut last night
Be came well prepared, but unfortunately his presentation
Was not up to contemporary professional standards
His voice lacks the range of tonal color
Necessary to make it consistently interesting
Full time consideration of another endeavor might be in order
He came home to Dayton and was questioned by his friends
Then he smiled and just said nothing and he never sang again
Excepting very late at night when the shop was dark and closed
He sang softly to himself as he sorted through the clothes
Music was his life, it was not his livelihood
And it made him feel so happy, it made him feel so good
And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul
And he did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole
Superb!
Awesome
damn....
Full-time consideration of another endeavour.... might be an hors d'oeuvrrrrrrrrrrrrres... to me it always sounds like Harry sings that instead. Give it up for Big John Wallace, everybody!
Stick to the original Steve, you don't have the chops to improve on this song, you've only made it cheesier. Other two were spot on.
That was uncalled for.