My nanna was listening was listening to this song one day and I loved it instantly, my nana was my best friend!! She died the day after I gave birth to my daughter, I used to dream of my nana and my daughter getting to know each other but that never happened. I was having a bad day one day and I asked my nana for a sign to let me know she close and a second later I bumped into a guy I used to sing this song with. I know she did that x
I have always loved this song from I was a boy. I recall listening to it on the one radio in the house. Interestingly, I too am surprised like the crowd at the Apollo(1968) when they first performed, that this duo was inter-racial! This was unheard of at that time in USA history! Their harmony is perfect! It's sounds just as sweet and satisfying to the ears now(2022), as it did 55 years ago!!
A story (June 27, 2022) on the BBC website stated, "A major hit in the New York area, no one knew the male lead (Billy Vera) on Storybook Children was white." When the couple appeared in a concert at the Apollo Theater in May of 1968, I believe they were welcomed by the audience. Groundbreaking and heartwarming, because NYC was the melting pot where people of all races and nationalities gathered.
Black people do not have a history of not being welcoming to white people. Now, if you had written this about some middle Georgia location welcoming Judy Clay in the 60s it would be different.
This is even a more beautiful version.of what I heard before.. come on friends.. let's bring the changes that's needed..our children need to be fed with this beautiful memories
Loved this jam, back from my day. So hard to find for many years, now it is all over and with different artists. Love the Billy Vera and Judy Clay version. That was the on I always listened to here in NJ>
Classic song in 1967 still timeless classic today.Radio stations all over the east coast played this bad boy.Had us all singing it.They dont make em like this today!!
I bought this single in San Antonio market, in Barcelona, a sunday's second hand market. Well, my father bought it for me (I was 14 in 1967). I loved the song then and I will do it, for the rest of my life.
This is one of my favorite oldies. I liked this version even better then the one by Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra. I just saw that Chip Taylor was one of the writers. He wrote "I never promised you a rose garden" . I sing quite a few of his songs at karaoke.
I can listen to this over n over..n never get enough.. it brings back the years..those beautiful years.. naive years..not very ignorant though n life was very simple..how I miss those moments 😢😞.. tq for uploading 😊
An uplifting and heart-warming song. Very intense. I think you both were very brave to sing it in the '60s! Things got better since then however, I think your song played a great role. Thank you, dear Billy Vera.
DEAR MR. V!! Thank you for sharing again!!!. You were coming on, then and you are still so great and mellow now.... Grateful your music through the years will always be just one click away & hope you know how much you are appreciated for your musicianship and talent, in many songs, not just one!!! :-) Blessings..
Hi Billy Vera: Thank you so much for posting this beautiful little masterpiece which impressed me in an indescribable way the very first time I heard it on a radio station promo disc. The sentiment and your harmonies are so touching; and wasn't Judy so sweet to look at. I've love this song 50+ years now and so I guess I always will. God Bless and Happy Holidays! 11/2018
Thank you, Mr. Vera. My copy on a 45 is in storage. Sitting in my car a few minutes ago, I started singing this and had to find it. This song will live forever. Sorry to hear of Judy Clay's passing. Thanks for the timeless gift.
Reading the BBC article on this song adds so much to it. Back in the bad ol' days where a black woman and a white guy singing about loving each other was considered transgressive.
I think it still is in some places, here in Australia the adverts on tv will have a black man and a white woman quite often, yet, I have not seen an advert the other way around! I don't recall seeing any adverts like that in the UK when I lived there either, which is strange considering in real life you'd see black ladies and white men quite often.
Years ago, when I was a kid, just 13 years old, there was a middle school female classmate that I liked but I just had no rap, was not really handsome and really, just did not know how to go about expressing and furthering my interest in her. I got her number somehow and called her. Talked with her a little and she had no objection or bad response to the call. Did not really ask how I got the number. Also found out, through what we called in those days, an anonymous " slang book" that this song, " Storybook children" was one of her favorites. So a week or so later, I called her, started up some conversation and my lame little "green" rap, and then subtly and smoothly - I thought - played the song in the background. She said, " Oh I like that record" . I said, yeah, " It's one of my favorites too". LOL. So from thereon, I worked the incremental, friendly approach. I had a 2 year plan sketched out. One kiss we had, on the cheek. And then she announced, just after middle school graduation, that she was moving a few hundred miles away to another city. Never heard from her again. And "we" did not live happily ever after. LOL!! I still think this song is very nice though. LOL!
@@kevinwatkins6615 Oh, you've got me sobbing! Ok, not really, but I do hurt for you. I'll bet you did find the love of your life, though. Please tell me there's a happy ending. Peace and blessings to you.
I remember Billy when he used to play the Country House every Friday and Saturday back in the mid 60's in Banksville New York. Great singer with a very gifted voice.
THIS AND LITTLE GREEN APPLES...IS SUCH A CANVAS...IN MY CHILDHOOD...AMONGST MUCH OF THE MILLIONS OF SONGS MY PARENTS WOULD PLAY...THAT WE STILL HAVE THE VINYLS TOO...A SONG WHICH RESONATES SO WELL WITH WHAT MANY PEOPLE WANT..BUT DO NOT REALIZE...THAT IT'S SIMPLE NEVEETHELESS THE VERY TRUE INGREDIENTS OF LIFE GETS THEM THERE...MOST IMPORTANTLY...RESPECT FOR THE FRIENDSHIP AND GENUINE - NOT MATERIALISTIC LOVE ALLEGIANCE...HONESTY...TRUTH AND HONOR...LIKE THE DELLS🎵🎵GIVING YOUR BABY..A STANDING OVATION..CAUSE THEY SURE.. GIVE A HAND TO YOU...TRULY POWERFUL ..BUT PEOPLE DON'T GET THE BLUE PRINT🤔🤓NOT TO MANY GREAT ARCHITECTS IN THE WORLD🤷🏾 THANK YOU FOR THIS SONG..IM A [66] BABY...I REMEMBER THE DAYS..STANDING ON MY DADS WORK BOOTS..WHILE HE AND MOMMY DANCED🌺🌹🥂AND OH BOY COULD THEY BURN THE DANCE FLOOR🥂🌹🌺EVERYONE...ENJOY LIFE🍸🍸💐
Why would someone deliberately teaches someone to hate instead of how to show l ove ?.......what is the reason why they would want to put someone through so much agony and Torture . .
This is so tragically romantic. And it is the story of my parents. And my life. Thank you for sharing this. I am so proud of my parents sticking up and refusing hatred and racism, instead choosing love and humanity. And gave birth to me. I love you
No offense intended, but I never knew how he was white. My Uncle just passed away the other day, and memories of my mother came back. There was a group of friends who would celebrate the New Year. She said this was the group's theme song. I enjoyed it at 10 and still at 66.
The same song was sung by Sandra and Andres from The Netherlands. In Indonesia, only the version of Sandra and Andres has been known and very famous for decades. We know nothing about this version of Billy Vera and Judy Clay.
My mother had this back in 1968 I used to have it I never knew that they were an Interracial couple I just found out, what I don't know is when did Judy Clay pass My mother loved this song so do I❤️🎶🎶🎶🎶
If this came out in 1967 when I was 18 how come I've never heard it? Maybe banned or something on radio stations - I was listening to the Beatles and Motown but I don't remember this at all.
Great record.check out his great book from harlem to hollywood.really good.especially if your from n.y.or ct.remember the country house / deer crest inn.
I remember this time. Billy was friends with my Father Rex Garvin and ''The Mighty Cravers''. The Drummer Pete Holman is the Drummer in The Cravers,and also played Drums on this Track!
