SPANKY & OUR GANG Band History |
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Spanky And Our Gang was one of the best vocal groups of the 1960s. This video explores their history from start to finish and offers samples of many of their best songs.
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No group sounded better coming from a transistor radio on a sweltering summer day in 1967.
@Ed what a wonderful comment. I was 13 then and never went anywhere without my little radio and crystal earphone.
Hit records had to sound good on low-fi sound equipment. Sometimes, I'd like to hear those old records that way, but just for nostalgia sake & not on a regular basis.
Really? Not even the Beatles? That was the Summer of Love, which was dominated by Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.
On my sting ray five speed stock shify
@@imkluu I would say more by Big Brother and the Holding Company, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Grateful Dead, and other San Francisco bands. Sgt. Peppers was the backdrop.
This band has a special place in my heart--always will. On the heels of losing my Mom in 1965, I had an increased desire to connect with popular music of the day, and WABC NYC was my transistor radio's favorite tune spot. I spent many days at the window pane looking at the sky--asking why? In the background, in 1967, I heard this group with Spanky's soaring vocals giving me comfort...at 11 years of age...a kid needs comfort. Thanks SAOG!
We're the same age, and I grew up in Brooklyn N.Y. it 77 WABC or WMCA 660 ". The Good Guys "
When she sings, "I remember children feeding flocks of pigeons. I remember sunshine and you were mine..." always choked me up. She put a lot of emphasis with her vocal.
Are you referring to Sunday Will Never Be the Same? That song and Lazy Day were Incredible!!!!!
@@scottmiller6495 Yes, always thought she was the sister voice of Grace Slick.
@@ConglomerationCat Very interesting comparison!!!!!
@@scottmiller6495 Similar projection and vibrato...
@@ConglomerationCat Absolutely!
I was a sophomore in high school when "I like to get to know you" was released and still today as then, I find this song very magical and by far my favorite of this group. Especially the ending movement which begins with the classical guitar and string ensemble with the haunting sustained electric guitar and heavily echoed vocals! It never fails to take me back to that time in my life that was very meaningfull to me and always will!!
"Magical" is the right word. It pulls me out of present time and transports me to an innocent 15 years old (69 now). Wow.
Lefty Baker is the man!
Those strings, man. The way they descend, like an unraveling braid.
Yes Indeed, so happy you mentioned the different mixes in the Mercury Greatest Hits package- a great set for sure. I was a little disappointed in the sound quality of the Rhino endeavor. Surprised you did not mention LA Freeway and I Wish We'd All Been Ready from the Change lp, both fine tracks IMHO. I love what you bring us Matt. The 60's scene was the best.
*I'd;...
It was sad that the group disintegrated after the death of guitarist Malcolm Hale. He left us way too soon!
They were heartbroken so I get it but you are right.
Malcolm's voice was so important to their 'sound'. Silky, Strong, and Sublime.
My first exposure to them (besides occasionally hearing Sunday Will Never Be The same as a child) was I'd Like to Get to Know You. THe production, songwriting, orchestration, vocals are OUT OF THIS WORLD! It's very haunting as well... Malcolm Hale was a great player.. The break between the 1st half of the song and 2nd half are mind-blowing. It reminds me of Some Velvet Morning in a very haunting way.
One of those groups that when I hear them I'm transported through time.
Cannot imagine recalling the summer of 1967 without Spanky And Our Gang.
I hear them often - I've collected nearly all of their recordings, and play them often. Yum!
I once read where Tim Hauser was so inspired by listening to Spanky & Our Gang’s harmonies, it helped him get the motivation to go out & form The Manhattan Transfer!
😲 Thank you - I love knowing that!
'Yesterday's Rain' was nothing less than genius, it really should have been a smash hit. I always looked at Spanky and our gang as a perfect bookend with the 5th Dimension these two bands, one Black the other white were busting at the seams with unbelievable talent.
These people had real talent check out their live performances. Malcom's death and Elaines having a child ended this group.{ I'd like to get know you } should have been a huge hit . The vocals and time changes are incredible. I am a Musician and you can't duplicate these great songs they had. RIP Malcom, Lefty, Nigel, Kenny and Oz you left your mark on this world.
I always consider these guys the locally popular but internationally underrated cousins of the Mamas and Papas
Yes! Later on, Spanky became a Mama. John P called her 'Mama Spanks'.
Great video. Spanky & Our Gang were a special group. Beautiful and engaging songs. Always wondered why they turned down John Stewart's "Daydream Believer"? The gang has a special place in my heart.
Daydream Believer would have been perfect for them! Thanks for the comment!
Wow!
Daydream Believer would have been beautiful by them.
Sunday Will Never Be the Same is my favorite song of 1967 and easily a desert island pick for me. Distance, the flip side, was a great song, too. Thanks for giving your time to a very talented but nearly forgotten band.
So cool that you mentioned the free design. They're one of the most amazing bands out there. I think they're equal with the Beach Boys as far as complex music with harmonies.
Their version of Everybody's Talking is one of my favorites. It Ain't Necessarily Byrd Avenue has great lyrics and a wonderful story packed in 2 minutes. This group is one of the best from the 60s.
Thanks, Matt! Another excellent job that again took a lot of heartfelt work. Your fans appreciate it. Spanky and Our Gang was not one of my favorite 60s groups but the fresh, clean sound was easy listening while I waited for a more favored song on the radio. When you talk about harmonies, I do think the Beach Boys deserve some credit. It amuses and surprises me that the Beach boys provide some of my favorite running and workout music in 2021. The Beach Boys were explicitly influenced by the Four Freshmen who in turn had been influenced by one of my favorite, yet unheralded harmonic groups - the Hi-Lo‘s! Could be a bit corny, as were the Kingston Trio, but you have to give them credit for filling a great need of their time. Matt I suppose you also enjoy classical chorale. PS if you listen to some old recordings of Beach Boy rehearsals, easily available on TH-cam, the harmonics they strive for can be incredible. And even their fans often don’t realize how hard the BB worked to refine their craft. Again Matt thanks for unlocking your music vault and flooding us with beautiful musical memories. The 60s was a most special decade for those lucky enough to actually live it. For young musicians and historians, dig into the 1960s and be transported. It’s amazing!
Thank you, John! I am planning a multi-video series on the Beach Boys which will explore their harmonies at a deeper level. Thanks for watching!
They are indeed one of the best vocal bands of the 1960s!!! Thanks for presenting.
When it came to vocal harmonies the closest thing to a British invasion harmony group were The Seekers but they were technically Australian. The Bee Gees cannot be considered because they were technically from 1966 to 1970 a band, and not three vocalists.
Great job Matt, I remember many of these songs so well. You do such a good job of getting people in touch with some music that shouldn't be forgotten.
Thank you James!
Some of the very best, most intelligently presented and objective sounding narrative presentation I’ve ever heard in any doc or docu-series. Cheers and well done, sir.
Thank you, Timothy!
I can't believe Sunday Morning only reached #30!! That's my favorite Spanky song! This band is amazing.
For the lesser known groups, that was often due to their records being released across the country at different times. So they never got to the tops of the charts.
Mine, too! It's an awesome song! I heard a recording by the woman who wrote the song, Margo Guryan. Also great, but not as good as Spanky's recording.
Better than the so-called music of today. I was 12 years old.
I haven't heard anything in decades that compares to them, and the other greats from the '60s
They sounded fantastic on an A M transistor radio! That was a MAGICAL TIME for music. Spanky at the beach, the Doors on the car radio on the way home...
everything sounded good on an AM transistor radio... even a ballgame.
Spanky had a beautiful voice and sounded a lot like Judith Durham of The Seekers❤
Their cover of brother can you spare a dime has to be my favorite
Thanks for featuring the band. I have all of their albums. Never huge over here in the UK but just so great to listen to.
They are my favorite along with The We Five.Thank you
The We Five are another underrated group! Thank you for commenting, Ann.
@@popgoesthe60s52 We Five recorded the first version I'm aware of, of "Let's Get Together" (later, "Get Together" by the Youngbloods). I've always preferred their version.
I always confuse this group with The Seekers who was a contemporary band with Spanky and had the hits Georgy Girl and I'd Like to Get to Know You. Very similar groups even down to the female lead singers. They are also another good group to do a show on.
Oz Bach lived near me in Brevard, NC. Incredible musician! Nice guy. I wish he had stayed with the group but I don’t think he had any regrets. RIP Oz.
He and daughter, Belinda, are buried in Blue Ridge Gardens.
I'm happy to see this your post today. Spanky & Our Gang is a favorite group of mine. Regretfully, the band's career didn't last longer.
Love this group!!! Can't wait to watch this, what a treat!! 😄✌
“Anything You Choose B/W Without Rhyme or Reason” is an incredible piece of sonic art.
Matt, this was very informative. One band I've started become more familiar with is The Left Banke. I'd love to find out more about them. Their first album is one of my current favorites. Spanky And Our Gang is another one I've recently begun listening to.
The Left Banke is a group I will be featuring, so stay tuned!
Disappointed that you didn't mention the death of Lefty Baker. He left us too soon. Loved him as lead singer of "I'd Like to get to know you."
i know this series doesn’t get as many views as the beatles content but this kinda stuff is my favorite stuff on the channel, fantastic way to find new bands and a great overview and preview of them in a way, never heard of this group ever until now
Thank you, there are plenty more bands to come!
Great choice! I really enjoyed learning about this group who I only knew in passing prior. One tiny nit: I wouldn't have included them in the same like sub genre as Peter Paul and Mary. Mamas/Papas yes. Byrds, Association, Turtles yes. But those groups were all distinctly late-60s-mod, visually colorful and highly produced and electric and "what's happenin' now" kinda vibe (even if some had previous association with the true folk scene). Peter, Paul and Mary were exactly early 60s folk. They were simple and natural and stood there stoically in a skirt and tweed sports jackets (with elbow patches lol) with their 2 acoustic guitars and sang mostly just plain folk songs. Sure they harmonized but so did the Lennon sisters. In fact PP&M distinctly set themselves apart from the likes of Mamas/Papas with whimsical barbs in their song I Dig Rock & Roll Music. PP&M were more tied to the early 60s true folk scene, even if Spanky & co hung out with Leonard Cohen.
I always found the middle period of Peter, Paul & Mary (1966-1967) quite vocally daring as they entered their "more-produced" phase, where they often had a full band back up. I'm a sucker for great harmony. Thanks for commenting.
I agree 100%. I had the exact same reaction. Like “what the hell is he talking about?”
Well put. I thought their vocals were the best of all those groups, a combination of arrangements, blend and beauty, with Spanky's powerhouse vocals in the fore. In one of my two faves, the 'bones horn break near the end of "Get to Know You" just knocked me out. Wonderful, imaginative arrangement of a great song. I loved "Give a Damn" and performed it at every opportunity. Thank you for this most excellent video.
I didn’t know anything about this band. The name is kind of funny sounding. I’m familiar with some of the songs you played and I’m a fan. I just never they were from a band called Spanky and the Gang. Watching this video makes me want to check out more of their music.
Thanks, Matt. And She's Mine was an especially good pop song that deserved a better fate on the charts. It did make the original 12-song greatest hits album though.
LOVE Spanky & Our Gang. I still have a second (unopened) copy of the 3rd album- so totally under appreciated! "Yesterday's Rain" is classic.. but so are so many other tunes. The Live Album (recorded in Coconut Grove, FL) brings me back to the swinging '60s. Great musicianship throughout- topped by that 5+ part harmony and of course, the amazing lead vocal of Elaine (Spanky) McFarlane. Classic!
I'll see your second copy, and raise you a white-label promo! 😛
My name is John Madden from Pawtucket Rhode Island I was born in 1966 I love Spanky and Our Gang and I I love their music and there's like three or four songs I like but my go-to song is I like to get to know you back in 1968 that's my favorite song I was growing up listening to it in the 70s and early 80s I love it
SPANKY AND OUR GANG ,did a LARRY NORMAN COVER, I WISH WE'D ALL BEEN READY,a great cover, it's off their CHANGE album on EPIC RECORDS 1975
Matt....thanks for this great history of a great band. One correction though: Nigel's last name was Pickering, not Pinkering. As a matter of fact his name was not actually Nigel either...he was Fred or sometimes Freddy before adopting the name Nigel for career and possibly other reasons. I was friends with his son Wayne in the 60s (Wayne did not know his father or have any idea his father was in a Rock band). I have a clear memory of GIVE A DAMN being played on some brave radio station and Wayne questioning the appropriateness of that 'bad word'! I used to tell him that I had seen some guy who looked just like him on a TV variety show.....little did we know!
Thank you for that correction, Mike - and for the background!
Nigel had a lot of kids out there. It was a very good tour.
Nice mention of "Jane"...part of a musical triptych 13587..., Jane, and Since You've Gone. Thanks for putting together this piece.
I have always loved this band,I'd Like To Get To Know You,Lazy Day,And Sunday Will Never Be The Same,are my favorites.Great Job.
Also...by the way, your show is definitely the best of it's kind!!! Love it..
Why "Sunday Will Never Be The Same" and "Like To Get To Know You" never charted at #1 mystifies me. "Give A Damn" also...BTW, I'm still hunting for a SAOG T-shirt, if any exist...
Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane (born June 19, 1942) is still alive & singing at age 81 - as of 28 October 2023... when I left this comment!
"Lazy Day" is forever in our history...
"Like to Get to Know You" was easily their best work. "Give a Damn": It's hard to believe the word "damn" was a problem. Think of what is going on today in 2023. One of the problems with the band's recordings was the albums were very uneven. It would have been better if they had recorded more work like "Sunday Morning." "Like to Get to Know You" was so haunting.
Eustace “Lefty” Baker died on August 11, 1971 for those who are wondering. He died at the age of 32 from Cirrhosis of the liver.
There songs were played alot on Am radio in NYC...I was in high school and loved her singing. Yes summer of 67....
My favorite is their third album. I have to admit, during my large purge I sold all of their records. I’m wishing I had not now. Yesterdays Rain is easily my favorite track. You called it, great harmonies.
never get the urge to purge...
This is an excellent example of how well they could do harmonies as well as featuring McFarland's excellent contra alto.
When I first heard of them, I thought they were The Little Rascals becoming a rock band
What a great video, what about The Cyrkle?
The Cyrkle is on my very long list, so stay tuned.
I'd Like To Get To Know You is a song I would stack up against Jimmy Webb's best masterpieces. The surviving videos of its performance have a hypnotic spell on me. I won't put lin ks because YT deletes comments with them but search for this one that I find eerily addictive, titled
Like To Get To Know You - Spanky & Our Gang 1968 {Stereo}
and the Ed Sullivan "cocktail party" version is worth seeing too.
Yes, that is a song that has alway got my attention. In the early 70s I remember hearing it and loving all the different movements. You're right about it being up there with any Webb song. Thanks for the comment, Bill!
Thank you I asked for this I’m glad you did this Spanky Mcfarlane has one my fave voices of the era
Thanks for the request!
they have some singles that i like but them doing "and your bird can sing" has no appeal whatsoever. i enjoy the history lesson though.
I love Spanky/Our Gang, but ever since I first heard them back in the late 1960s, the once song of theirs that has always blown me away (and still does) is "I'd Like to Get To Know You." It would be great if you could expand on that song just a tiny bit for the benefit of the younger fans who've never heard of them. To me, it's as great in many ways and in much the same unique genre as the Beatles' "A Day in the Life."
I'm so glad you did this video. It's funny cuz I was just playing the song give a damn before I found this. One thing I was hoping you would do was compare the single version of the song Sunday morning compared to the album version. The single version has a part where it stops comes back in and fades really fast compared to the album version where the band gets to have a good time toward the end of the song and then the producer comes in and they're talking and it's just really really cool.
you can hear on the American recordings from 65 on a much greater sonic density till the Brits catch up,
I was honored to see the New Mama's and the Papa's in 1982, featuring Elaine, Scott Macenzie, John Phillips, and Macenzie Phillips. They put on a great show and Elaine and Scott sang some of their old songs as well.
I saw them too that year at the Chicago's Biograph. Damn good show considering the patch work lineup.
I saw them, too. It was a great show. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons were the other band that night.
Ditto on Cape Cod
I saw them in Dallas 85-86ish great show.
I noticed that you have an album by The Collectors behind you. The Collectors were from my home town (Vancouver), and they were a first-rate band. Lead singer Howie Vickers had a great voice, and the group’s harmonies were as good as any band of that era. In 1970, the band changed its name to Chilliwack, a town about an hour’s drive from Vancouver. The group’s best-known tracks are “Looking at a Baby” (released as a single) and “Lydia Purple”, which is included on their self-titled album. The Collectors started their career as The Classics, which was the house band on the CBC TV show “Let’s Go”. After a couple of personnel changes, the band solidified its line-up with Howie Vickers on lead vocals, Bill Henderson on lead guitar, Claire Lawrence on keyboards, flute and saxophone, Glenn Miller on bass, and Ross Turney on drums. The band’s second album, “Grass and Wild Strawberries”, was actually the soundtrack to a live theatre production written by playwright George Ryga. What a great band they were!
Hello Greg and thank you for the comments. I didn't know that Grass and Wild Strawberries was a soundtrack! I do have that album and I hope to feature them at some point.
Matt, May I ask an irrelevant question please? What are the albums on the shelf? My eyes are less than perfect, and all I recognize is the 13th Floor Elevators (YES!). And one more irrlelvant comment: am I the only who saw Lennon on the piano for 'Hey Bulldog' and flashed on Ray Manzarek? (Similar hairstyle & sideburns with glasses.)
From left to right, 13th, Temptations [Gettin' Ready], Supremes [Where Did Our Love Go], Richard & Mimi Farina, Tom Jones, The First Edition '69, Firth Dimension [Up Up & Away].
Thank you Mr Williamson I just came across this wonderful music bio of this musical group. Well done!
Thank you!
Great content! "Like to Get to Know You" is one of my all time favorite songs (especially the almost haunting coda.)
That coda is the icing on the cake! Thanks for the comment.
So good that track, I always thought some jazz artist could have covered it.
Yes, they were one of the harmony vocal groups. Tragedy of the death of the group member by lack of oxygen in a Hotel room from a faulty heater. Have their albums that I bought in second hand record store...
"Like To Get To Know You" will always be their definitive song for me. I love the change in tempo and dreamy psychedelia at the close. Very fond memories circa 1968, just before entering the ARMY.
You should do one on The Peppermint Rainbow.
Thanks Pop Goes the 60's. I always enjoyed their songs without being aware of that last studio album. The bits you played from that were fantastic and I look forward to hearing the whole record. It was also a kick to see the Nazz listed on one of their concert posters. Another great presentation.
Thanks Martin! I couldn't resist giving the Nazz a little attention. I appreciate the comment.
I actually had an experience one time when listening to "I'd Like To Get To Know You", where it was as if I went back to '68. I'm sure it was probably some brain chemical thing that the music triggered, but for a few seconds, just a few seconds the world was magical again.
In the early 80's I attended the FIRST gig of the NEW Mamas and Papas at the Sands Hotel in Vegas. John , Denny, Spanky and McKenzie Phillips (bonus Scott McKenzie in the band and sang San Francisco). Opening act Gary Puckett. Michelle Phillips was at the table next to me. I met McKenzie Phillips and Gary Puckett. WHAT A NIGHT....Both acts were WONDERFUL !!!! Thanks for the video.
Wow, you were very fortunate to see Michelle that night too!
I saw them then, up in Minneapolis. MUCH later, Scott and I became friends. I still miss him. EVERY day. I met MacKenzie at Scott's memorial, at the Whisky. Michelle was there, but kept to herself in the back of the balcony.
Michelle was there to cheer them on.....80's Vegas with ticket prices around $15-$20. I remember tipping $20 to get front row stage next to Michelle. @@popgoesthe60s52
Hi Matt, please keep going full steam ahead. You are beautifully and thoroughly covering so many excellent bands and music I grew up listening to. It's so awesome to discover AND rediscover some of these tunes. So appreciate your work!
Thank you, Michael! I have a very long list that I do plan to get through so stay tuned!
One of my favorite groups from the 60's! Thank you very much for presenting them as a topic on your already awesome channel. Just sad that the band had already lost two members by the early 1970s.
I just discovered this band and there awesome
I can see where Eclection, in the UK, got it from.
Their stuff reminds me a lot of the Cowsills at that time.
Wonderful songs and brilliant harmonies. So understated.
You know Matt, when I listen to "Spanky And Our Gang" I feel an immediate sense of nostalgia for the 60s!
I don't hear their music on the radio anymore!
K-EARTH/KRTH FM RADIO 101.1, in Los Angeles, California, doesn't play 60s music anymore!
just found this channel and have been biging on all the great content ,,,,please find a way to do an expose on Eternitys children ,,,i would be forever gratefull ,,and they have a good story and web...thanks for all your hard work
Thank you for subscribing, Andy. I have a very long list of bands to do but Eternitys Children is on the list. I think I have about all their catalog, so stay tuned!
This group has always been underrated, possibly for not having a huge, Top 5 single. For the same reason they are more forgotten than, say, the Mamas & the Papas. They have never been very well served on CD with the catalog albums in and out of print and "Without Rhyme or Reason" going for $300 and the "Complete Mercury Recordings" unavailable except as an mp3 for $40. "Like to Get to Know You" was a masterful album. Thanks for telling their story.
Thanks for the comments, John!
Fascinating! TH-cam analytics popped up a live performance of this band on the Mike Douglas Show. What a magical voice.And she is still alive and kicking today, despite being super overweight. Which goes to show, hamburgers rule! 🐄🎸🍺
The soundtrack of my life in summer 2019
And Summer of 2021 as Well!!!!!
Wow, thank you, that was really nice. Sixties was a crazy great time.
Love your videos. Any interest in It’s a Beautiful Day?
Yeah, that's a band that I like and I may included them with a couple of San Fran bands of that era that don't have a lot of out put. Thanks for the recommendation, Steven.
One of my favorites and brings back such a nicer time for us
This band to me IS THE MOST UNDERRATED BAND of the 60s!! Love all the lps..even the epic lp.. this my favorite band with the turtles and the mama's and the papa's
I think some people considered them to be "bubble gum pop" at the time, but there were so wrong. They were very sophisticated musicians, and Spanky had such an amazing voice.
I have had mixed feelings about Spanky and our gang, liking some of their songs, but finding others unappealing. Like with the Association, I like their faster songs, but don't like their slower music. Some of the clips you showed are for songs I haven't heard yet and some of them sounded quite good. And I tend to like their earlier music, with the less refined vocals.
Well done, as usual. Oz had a couple of short-lived but interesting post-our gang bands, Tarantula, and (the original) Wings.
I was upset with myself for not getting Wings in there. I have a download of that whole album but the take where I mentioned it wound up on the cutting room floor. Thanks for including Oz's other work!
The Greatest Sunshine 🌞 Pop Rock Band of All Time PERIOD!!!!!
Excellent video. Very pleasantly surprised by how thorough and informative this was as this is not a band that is particularly well known ... beyond Spanky. Would love to see a history of Gary Lewis and the Playboys.
Hello, Chris - thank you. I do have Gary Lewis on my very long list, so stay tuned!
In 1991 I toured the UK with The Mamas and the Papas and Spanky played the Cass Elliott part. She was great and fun. I sat sitting next to her on a plane going from London to Vienna.
Very cool, what a great experience! I saw both of them on their 1983 tour - my very first concert!
@@popgoesthe60s52 I've got a million stories.
Great commentary and dissection... truly and absolutely wonderful, thank you!
If I may offer my opinions - I was a huge Spanky/Our Gang fan. First LP I listened to thousands of times. Spanky's rendition of 'Brother Can You Spare a Dime' is absolutely mind blowing, and still sends chills up my spine. Second LP was every bit as good, and more polished. But the Anything You Choose/Rhyme or Reason LP is a true gem from every angle. The vocals, the arrangements, the segues set a precedent. I still listen to it at least once a month, sometimes more, and is best when listening from start to finish. To me, it was ground breaking. I cherish the CD (vinyl long since worn out) as one of my very favorites. There, I said my piece, and I thank you for allowing me to. And thank you for the background info, some of which I was not aware of.
This band really deserved some love because people just think of them as a one hit or two hit wonder. They were so much more.
getting started in the music business in Vancouver BC in 1972 I worked with Nigel Pickering (Pinkering) in his band Ones Mans Family. He was an amazing vocalist and vocal arranger. Played a few Spanky and Our Gang songs and he had all those harmony parts in his head and believe me, it was quite a very steep learning curve. He left Vancouver and went back to LA. Really appreciate this feature on one of the very finest US vocal bands.
Thanks for the comments, cjm!
Enjoyable and very well-researched. Thanks.
I love the video, but it is Nigel Pickering, not Pinkering.
Thank you for that correction, Noah. I missed that.
Thanks for doing an episode on one of my favorite groups. I have loved S&OG since I was a kid in the 1960s, "I'd Like To Get To Know You" was magical to me. I only knew their music through 45 singles and radio, I never heard an album by them until the early 90s when everyone was dumping their LPs for CDs. I was blown away at how beautiful the second & third albums are! The production, vocals, and the way the songs blend and fade together are incredible. I had been missing so much all those years.
"Echoes (everybody's talking)" was on the second album before the movie Midnight Cowboy made it famous, and S&OG do an awesome version.
According to some of my family members in Virginia, Lefty Baker's birth name was Eustice Butterfield Baker and was son of Hoytt Baker and Alice Melissa Blackard of Virginia. He is said to have died of diabetes in LA in 1971. I have no way of verifying this but I have seen no other credible story of his origins.
Their third album Anything You Choose is a gem. Great folk pop rock; shades of Fairport Convention at times.
Their 1975 release Change intrigues me a lot. Never released on CD. You can hear them performing some of the new songs live on Don Kirchner's Rock Concert. September 26, 1975. It's really good and seems to get almost no attention.