Hal Blaine ("Hit it, Hal') on drums, Joe Osborne ("Joseph") on bass and Leon Russell ("Third Handle"), all members of the Wrecking Crew community, all Rest In Peace. I miss them.
Heard this on my classic rock station this morning. I'd forgotten this one. I just love that radio station. I get to hear almost forgotten tunes from my younger days. ♪♫♫♫♪
I swear I thought that this was a country western, Bayou song. Man, I am still learning new things every day. I had no idea it was by John Phillips what a talented musician.
Next time you're trying to find a song, try typing in a few key lyrics for your search. It should either bring it up or at least give you a handful of possibilities that should contain the song. Beats looking for over 45 years.
I remember this one well. I was 12 years old and listening to this on my transistor radio in 1970. This never got any airplay after its initial relase.
For those wondering, the musicians are lead vocalist-guitarist-harmonica player John Phillips; backing vocalists Darlene Love, Fanita James, and Jean King; lead guitarist-dobro player James Burton; steel guitarists Buddy Emmons and Red Rhodes; guitarist-harmonica player David Cohen; guitarist Eric Hord; bassist Joe Osborn; drummer Hal Blaine; keyboardist Larry Knechtel; and fiddler Gordon Terry.
I spent years trying to remember who this song was by so I could get a copy because I loved it as a teenager. Finally got it and it a song I will never forget. RIP John.
This classic bings back great memories of 1970 - less complicated times. And, we were all much younger then. I got this LP. Released on May 2, 1970 reaching #32 on July 18.
You got it released? Which company were you working for? I worked for Capitol and MCA. My work usually involved grunt stuff, BUT I did end up partying with many of them. Papa John was one of them ...
It says, "I got this LP." "Released on May 2, 1970..." How you got the idea that he somehow had anything to do with the release of the record is beyond me.....
At 0:30 - "Do it to me, James" refers to famed studio guitarist James Burton (Elvis, Ricky Nelson). At 1:00, "Third Hand" is the nickname for famed Wrecking Crew keyboardist Larry Knechtel. At 1:51 a very quick "Joe" refers to another key Wrecking Crew player, Joe Osborn. It's right before his solo on bass.
I've loved this unique, catchy song since I first heard it in 1970 on the school bus radio, on my way to classes at Kent Junior High (25 miles south of Seattle). Thank you, Michael Glickman, for listing the musicians; it confirms what I and my brothers have suspected for decades...that just before the guitar solo, when Phillips says, "Do it to me, James," he's talking to the great lead guitarist James Burton (Elvis Presley's solo guitarist in his peerless rhythm section, from the late '60's until Elvis' death). And as Everett Garrett commented, musicians from "The Wrecking Crew" (very busy and very talented studio session musicians in the L.A. area) are on this recording...no wonder it sounds so tight! By the way, this sounds like it might be an "alternate take;" I notice some subtle differences. And if you listen somewhat closely, at the very beginning of this recording you can hear the recording engineer say, "Hit it, Hal," to drummer Hal Blaine.
Kent Vandals. Were you in the old High School building or did they have the new buildings ready then? I'm also wondering why they had to change the name of it
@@dwlopez57 When I started at Kent Junior High ("The Vandals," which, my Mom told me, was the moniker used when it was Kent High School) in the fall of '69, some of the old buildings (the former Kent High School) were still there, along with "new" buildings. I had some of my classes in the old main building, where my Mom had her high school classes (she's a 1944 Kent High School grad), and where her older brothers also went; the oldest brother graduated in 1928, which I think is when the old buildings were erected because I remember seeing "1928" on the inside of the auditorium. In addition to the main classroom building and the auditorium, the original gymnasium was still in use when I started 7th grade in 1969. By the time I finished my stint at KJH in June of 1972, I believe all of the old buildings were gone. Kent Junior High eventually fell on hard times, and I think it was in the '90's that academic performance at KJH was so poor that it was closed down. It reopened, with a little superficial remodeling, several years later as "Kent Middle School," with the new nickname "The Bulldogs." By the way, I went to school with Phillip Lopez; are you related to him?
@@chrisbauer7855 yeah I remember when they demolished the old school. It was October or November of 1971. As far as I can tell your uncle would have attended the earlier Kent Hogh School. Then I believe that one opened in 1929. Also not related to or knew Phillip Lopez. Thanks for your reply have a good day.
@@dwlopez57 So maybe they built most of Kent High School in 1928, and then it opened in 1929. My Mom told me that there was a school kind of at the bottom of Scenic Hill that at some point was the junior high; maybe that was the high school before 1929. By the way, did you attend KJH? Before or after me?
@@chrisbauer7855 No, I went to 7th and 8th grade in the Highline district, then we moved and I was at Meeker for 9th grade then on to KR, sounds like we both graduated in 1975. When I saw you mention Kent JH I remembered that old building and I for whatever reason really liked it even though I never was inside
Great Song dude - I'm second battalion 3rd marines from the jimmy carter administration after Nam. Peacetime hasn't been for a long long time alright. Take it easy baby bulldog!
This is DEFINITELY a song that can make you feel, happy when you're sad, up when you're down, calm when you're upset! Like what STEVE MARTIN said about banjo music on his 1st or 2nd album: "I'M PISSED!" and he starts playing the banjo and 3 seconds later says "I'm sorry...." You can't stay mad when you hear a banjo being played. That's the effect that this song has... At least, on me!!!
I'd forgotten this song until I did a little research on the Mamas & Papas. I still have the 45 in my collection. I liked the song when it was out, but it was never a very popular song. I do remember hearing it on AM radio.
Haven’t heard this song in years and then it came up on WTWW 5085 shortwave. I never knew the name of it or who did it WSRF-FM played it and the station was automated. So cool to know what it is and hear it again after all these years!
Gulley Jimson.........Heard this on the radio a few times, back in the day--and had to run out and buy the album, just to get hold of this gem !! 4-25-18
Mama Cass eventually lost her way, too. Her solo career was done for concurrent with Phillips's Mississippi, and exactly four years hence, her tragic farewell.
I'm quite certain that I haven’t heard this song since, AT LEAST, 1975! I had either the 45 or the LP. And every now and then since ’75 it has played in my head, mostly the chorus part. BUT this was a cool song when I was just a kid. I saw an interview with John on a documentary about The Mamas and The Papas (my mom liked THEM because their songs were 'decent'; unlike "The Beatles whose songs were all about drugs.") AND, John Phillips told about all of the drugs The Ms & Ps did when they were at the height of their popularity, and he said that since he 'GOT CLEAN' he hasn't had ANY hit songs. Then, he jokingly said "Maybe I should get hooked on the drugs AGAIN, so that I can make some MONEY AGAIN!" So, I was happy to tell my Mom about that!!!
In my original comment on this song I mentioned that I noticed subtle differences from the recording I know; it turns out, that's because this is the album version, which I had never heard before. I had only ever known the single, from the school bus radio and then the 45 record. But I've recently noticed, here on RU-vid, that a couple of people have put up the single version that I remember so well. The single is mono instead of stereo, and it's shorter than the album cut; but to be honest, though I do like this album version, I actually like the single better; it's cleaner, tighter and more polished. Check it out and see what you think.
@@burlingtonbill1 Which version do you like better? As I've said, I personally prefer the mono, single version, the version that got all the airplay on AM radio when it came out.
It was the summer of 1970 two years after the group's final release. Cass had started her solo career the summer prior in 69 with ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-g6GhLkDqG00.html&ab_channel=markmarciajenkins. Kelley, when the Ms and the Ps came on the 60s scene winter of 66 with California Dreamin' they were considered the #1 hippy group yet, they sang as if recording in a Cathedral in London like St. Paul's. There's been no group like them ever since. The 60s were all about true great vocals while as important was four part harmony and, the melodies always moved the human spirit. I am a former Deejay and still trained singer that can belt it out so I know what I am talking about. There are still great singers like in the TV show the voice however, the song writers lack what was present back in the 80s, 70s, and 60s. I'll leave you with just one song written by John who gave it up to another group thinking it wouldn't become a hit??? Yet another choral CHORUS that is rousing from the spring of 1967 as this group's first release OH, does any music today sound like this ? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mfA8uoW8rRU.html&ab_channel=InCelebration%3AThe5thDimension
John Edmund Andrew Phillips (August 30, 1935 - March 18, 2001) was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and promoter, most notably of the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, a landmark event of the counterculture era and the Summer of Love. Known as Papa John, Phillips was a member and leader of the vocal group The Mamas & the Papas.
I can't find in any of the online lyrics what John says just before the piano solo. Sound like "Burt handle." Anyone know? I loved this song..brings back good memories of a time when I went through many tough changes.
John Phillips (John, the Wolf King of L.A.) the first solo recording by the Mamas & the Papas leader John Phillips, was released on January 25, 1970. - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Phillips_(John,_the_Wolf_King_of_L.A.)
Younger generation listener here who is an avid fan of music from this era and The Mamas & Papas. AND I’m from the south so this style is nothing new to me. Unlike most of the comments here… to me this track screams watered-down creativity on John Phillip’s part. Lackluster lyricism & recycled harmonic structure paired with a new style of music. John tried to take a little bit of the enigma that was the mamas & papas and just tried to sh*t it out again for a new crowd & for another buck, it seems. I’m not trying to hate on the guy (although he arguably deserves a little), I just hate to see people peddling music instead of CREATING it. I guess Cass Elliot might’ve been the musical mastermind behind the mamas & papas after all.
My opinion of Phillips is that he could of left a more respected legacy had he not allowed drugs to pull him so far down into that hole . I read he attended Linton Hall Militarily School in Bristow, Virginia and my older brother and me also were enrolled there back in 1962 and he was absolutely right when he wrote in his autobiography that the nuns watched the boys take showers then caught you when leaving the shower area and spank your bare ass for whatever things you may have done wrong that day. I always had my ass whipped at the age of 6. I never failed to wet my bed !
With all John Phillips's talent, and following from the M&P, why was it a Mission Impossible for him to press on any further past this snarlin' good hit single? After Mississippi was released, though, it turned out, quote, John Phillips's Life Will Self-Destruct In Five Seconds, end of quote. And sadly, it had.
