We had a TV show in Germany called Beat Club and they were a regular guest in the 60s . Way before my time but I watched reruns and bought DVDs , probably somewhere on You Tube.. they had the songs , looks , attitude , style and politics... Love them...what a great band
Hey Klaatubar! Enjoyed reading your comment!! Yeah, the Beat Club stuff is great. I tried using some of that BC footage in this video, but RU-vid blocked it. That’s why I used photos and obscured and manipulated video footage. I remember seeing Beat Club footage of the Monks on a friend’s third generation VHS tape many years ago. That was incredible!! So many underrated bands! Haha Thanks for watching brother! Always appreciate your comments! Cheers!!!
Great overview. Really liked the 45 picture sleeves. I saw them when I was 16 at the Mecca Dance Hall, Tottenham Court Road, London, sometime in August 1969 when "Viva Bobby Joe" was in the charts. My mother had taken myself and younger sister down to the Big Smoke from Lancashire for a short holiday whilst my father was working overseas for a couple of months. It was my first ever rock concert and I travelled alone on the tube from our hotel in the central part of the city. They opened with "Baby Come Back" and played it again near the end but it was not the last song. I have 3 of their original albums and only last month found a copy of "The Equals Greatest Hits" on the Music For Pleasure budget label - a 1975 - compilation in a Vancouver BC record store one-dollar bin. Great stuff. More videos like this please.
Absolutely amazing story Tim!!! I love comments like yours! Sounds like it was a real adventure! And to see such a cool band for your first concert! Sure beats the usual Def Leppard or REO Speedwagon at the local arena first concert stories!! So cool, you even remember some of the set from back then and the other details!! Thanks for watching and sharing your experience!! Much appreciated! Cheers, Jon
👍When the Equals hit it they killed it. Great band. Sort of sonic mod beat rockn roll soulsters w an edge. Always liked 'She lives for today' ..flip side 45 of 'Hang up my R n Roll shoes' ..Even like Eddie Grant's 'Electric Ave' once in awhile. 'Baby Come Back' still a brilliant pop-rock tune.
Funnily enough first heard this song as an updated version Eddy Grant did in the 80's. Think it was on some dodgy no thrills Reggae compilation that barely had any reggae on it that I had as a young teen. When I eventually found out he was in the Equals & heard the original, my mind was blown. It's a pretty killer tune. Great snippets. Such a catchy sound.
Hey brother! I’m pretty sure I first heard the Equals on a reggae comp too. The Baby Come Back song was big with the 90s ska kids. No surprise you knew them. It’s mostly Americans that never heard the Equals. Kind of like Status Quo, still virtually unknown over here. Thanks for watching! Appreciate the comment too!!! Have a good one!! Jon
Great band and you've got some great singles with those sleeves! Big Equals fans over here. I guess you know Derv Gordon is very active on Facebook and has done some shows in the States. I need that "She Lives For Today" single now, killer track! Jason Duncan is and has been working on a book about the Equals for a while now. Hopefully he finds a publisher. - JT
Fell in love with them when I heard Green Light. It's funny Eddy Grant is famous for one song, but not this group. Police on My Back is another killer song.
Jon= Great videos! Yes, Yes, YES, I never heard of The Equals. Fantastic discovery for me and my earholes. Raw, undiluted good time music. ''Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys'' sounds like the psychedelic soul of late-period tunes by The Temptations. If they came from the USA, they most likely would have been signed by Motown. '' She Lives For Today'' should have been covered by Grand Funk. There are slight Glam elements in their sound too, most likely due to Eddie Grant. Thanks for getting the Party started, Jon!
Hey Michael! Thanks for dropping by for a listen! You have good ears, they definitely have some glam rock in them. Even had some of the look before it became fashionable. I particularly like the Equals because even though they started during that mod/ R&B mid-late sixties period, they never went psychedelic or progressive like just about all of their peers. Just upbeat short catchy songs through the late sixties/early seventies. Quite the exception of their time!! Happy you enjoyed this one! Have a great week!! Cheers!!
Outside of Baby Come Back I've never heard much (outside of stuff posted on RU-vid). Oh, Baby Come Back reached #32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and I know it was a hit in L.A. cuz I heard it a lot. You've got an impressive collection!
Thanks Ed!! Appreciate the info! I thought Baby Come Back made the bubbling under on the charts here, but I wasn’t confident enough to say it when I hit record. Haha. The Equals should have been so much bigger, so many great tracks that were rocking yet accessible. I guess if they had a stronger label they could’ve toured the US and hit a couple of the TV shows. Oh well. Appreciate your knowledge Ed!! Cheers, Jon
Great video Jon and it looks lovely where you are. I used to see The Equals on TV quite a bit as a kid on Top of the Pops etc. I have some of their LP's and singles ( not as many as you ) and as you say they were a great group. I have been re-watching your live sessions over the past week or so and noticed you gave The Equals a lot of love in one of them. All the best, Pete.
@@petedowns thank you Pete! Yeah, people of a certain age from England would no doubt know the Equals. Unfortunately they are unknown over here. Very cool, but no surprise you have records by them!!! I have a nice cd comp of theirs that constantly gets play in the car or in the dining room. Total feel good music. Appreciate you watching brother!! Have a good weekend!!cheers!!
Hey Steve! Yeah Eddy Grant was very prolific. He produced, recorded many artists and wrote many songs. Not a ton of well known stuff, but the guy was full time busy since the mid sixties. Thanks for watching! Always appreciated! See you around, Jon
Great video, Jon. Years ago while living in a developing country, I used to hear Eddy’s hit “Gimme Hope Jo’Anna” in the club which always sent everyone to the dance floor and brought the house down. I don’t know if anyone was paying attention to the powerful political lyrics or not but it was a massive hit. I still love that song. I didn’t know about the Equals until you mentioned them on Patrick’s stream a while back and appreciate you introducing them to me. Cheers!
Hey Russell! I don’t know that Eddy Grant track at all! I need to look it up! Very cool story brother!! Enjoyed reading your comment!! Hope you dig the Equals!! Thanks for watching!! Appreciate it!! Cheers!!!!!
Jon, I just want to compliment you on the joy and enthusiasm you demonstrate in these "unknown band" videos... and, in this case, I'm glad I don't share your appreciation of The Equals, as my wallet still hasn't recovered from your recommendation of The Cramps (though, to be honest, having to have my home's air conditioning repaired twice in July, as well as needing to buy a new refrigerator, put a bigger dent in ye ol' checking account than Lex & Ivy did.😭😭😭)
Hey Karl!! Thanks for watching! I’m just putting music on people’s radars. Everything I show isn’t a recommendation for everyone. We all have different tastes. Obviously. Haha!! Glad you dig the Cramps!! Sorry about your AC! Mine went down in July too. Also I had to get a new AC compressor for the car. Ugh!! I certainly understand expenses too. I learned not to want everything I see and just pick the music I really want. Also there is no shame in me buying cheap CD compilations for artists. A cd of Howling Wolf, T Rex, Johnny Cash or Buzzcocks etc might be all some people need and they could be found for $5-10. Records are fun, but not worth going broke over. Haha!! Appreciate you watching and dropping a comment!!! Cheers, Jon
@@dougsmith7083 yeah! I wish I caught some of those shows! Derv is backed by a pretty good band, So What. I got a single or two by So What, they do it right. Very cool you got to see him perform!!! Thanks for watching Doug! Appreciate the info and comment! Cheers, Jon
Another excellent suggestion Jon. I was not hip to The Equals. Digging the early bombastic guitar sound. I liked Green Light. Very cool looking band. I researched them. Surprised and not so surprised to see that Eddy Grant did most of the songwriting. You were into the Equals before everyone else. More Equals for me later on. Thank you J~ Rob/Boston
Hey Rob!! Thanks for watching! Yeah, Equals are a lot of fun. Probably not something you need to buy, but if you’re ever out and see a cheap compilation, well worth grabbing. I’m not recommending them to everyone, just like talking about the stuff I like and putting them on people’s radar. Hope you had a good summer! Went by way too quick! Have a great week!! Cheers!!!
@@therevrockinrollin thank you Rev!! Definitely appreciate you stopping by for a listen!! Not surprised your church is familiar with the Equals! Haha! They are a sacred band over here in these parts! Hope you’re doing well and had a good summer!!! Cheers, Jon
Hey Joel!! Thanks for watching!! The Equals are definitely overlooked, but at least you Brits heard of them. In America they don’t even exist! Haha! Hope you’re doing well brother!!! Cheers!!
Hey Jon, good to see you! I only know them by Baby come back. But the songs from Black skin blue eyed boys and forward sounds real cool, so I need to check out their 45’s. That harp tune sounds amazing too! Cheers mate and thanks for the video.
Hey Mathias! Thanks for checking this one out! I definitely think you would dig a few of the Equals singles. They’d be pretty cheap in your area and the good ones are sure fire dancers if you’re DJing. Hope you’re doing well!! Cheers!!!!
@@bipbopboom checking out a new video from BipBopBoom is a no brainer, it’s bound to be of great content! 😊👍🏽 All is well here Jon, hope you are too! Cheers
Really interesting video, Jon. Most important the Equals music sounds great. But I love the political or cultural aspect of the group. Their willingness to break the norms of the day. I admire young people willing to challenge the boundaries of a society. Particularly when those boundaries desperately need to be changed. Cool collection of single. Will definitely be on the lookout for the Equals. Cheers! Shawn
@@the-vinyl-dreamscape5084 thanks Shawn!! Glad you dug it! I really think the Equals were criminally ignored. Like you said this band was hitting it right on a few different levels. Maybe a different record label and an American tour could have changed the history books. Oh well. Thanks for watching brother!! Always appreciated!! Cheers, Jon
Hey brother! Thanks for watching! Glad you dug the Equals! Sometimes a cheap CD compilation does the trick. I’m still a big fan of CDs, I can’t afford everything on vinyl. This band works great on CD. Hope you’re doing well!! Cheers!!!
Holy crap, I enjoyed those clips Jon! Funny that as much as I love The Clash, I didn't know who originally did Police On My Back. I'll keep an eye out when I'm digging for 45s. I hope all is well! Cheers, Tom
Hey Tom!! Thanks for watching! I don’t recommend everything I show to everyone. Just putting it out there for people to hear. Saying that, I do think you would really dig their stuff. I would highly recommend an inexpensive CD or LP comp. The bands who were predominantly singles oriented work best on compilations to my ears. Hope you had a decent summer!! Thanks again! Cheers, Jon
This was awesome Jon. I was unaware of the Equals, but now I'm going to be hunting down their stuff. They sound great. Unfortunately bands that just concentrated on singles and not so much on LP's tend to be the forgotten ones. I had never heard the original of Police on My Back. So good! You constantly amaze me at the amount of amazing unloved stuff that you feature. Probably only Garner rivals you. Cheers...Ben
@@benrankins4446 thanks Ben! Appreciate you watching and dropping a comment! There are way too many bands and songs for any one person to ever get a handle on! Haha! Kinda glad I could turn you onto something you’ve not heard before . That’s not an easy thing to do with your knowledge and collection!!! Haha!! You’ll definitely dig the Equals. They’re worth a greatest hits comp for sure. Hope all is well down under!! Cheers!! B
Great vid, Jon. Nice choice of a band to talk about. They were fantastic. Love em. I’ve got a few of their 45’s. They were really kinda their own thing. Influenced a lot of bands.
Baby Come Back is one of those records that reminds me of listening to the radio as a young kid. I never knew much about them apart from that. Eddy Grant was Top 10 here in the UK in 1982, definitely not as good (IMHO) though! Hope you're well, Sir.
@@TommysVinylnaut thanks Tommy! Always appreciate you stopping by! Hope you dug the tunes! Have a great weekend! Seems like you guys are enjoying a busy summer!!! Very cool stuff Tommy!! Cheers, Jon!
@@bipbopboom Yeah, very good ones. Summer is short here - need to enjoy 100%... Two hours from now is half marathon and later afternoon friends wedding. Busy day...
@@joaquimgomes4507 hey Joaquim! I know you would know the Equals! Haha! It seems like the classic rock and sixties fans are the ones missing out. Thanks for watching! Always appreciated!! Cheers!!!
What a perfect name for a biracial band. This stuff is awesome Jon. I knew Eddie Grant wrote Police on my Back, but I never knew he was in this band. Thanks for sharing! Maracas, before Davie Jones, hah!
I can remember hearing Baby Come Back being played on the radio constantly here in the UK ..I was probably just a child ..A band that broke the mould ..
Hey John! Thanks for watching!! Yeah, no surprise you guys heard some of these songs. In America, the Equals were pretty much unknown except to the kids into ska and a few other rock fans. They should’ve been bigger. Oh well. I appreciate you watching and thanks for the comment!! Cheers!!!
@@L.E.55472 thanks Lis! Always appreciate you stopping by! Hope you dig the tunes! The Equals are total feel good music!! Have a nice weekend!! Cheers!!
Yeah I've a couple of their 45s. Baby come back and the rest I can't remember. LOL... No albums though.... Geez I didn't know Eddy Grant was in the band. Your never too old to learn....
@@BobbyGass5 no suprise you have a few of their singles! Haha! They probably sold better in Canada anyway. Besides the one hit, the Equals are virtually unknown here. Thanks for watching Bobby!! Cheers!
@@Dan-Gaucher Dan, I got blocked for using the real footage. I had to re-edit. I deleted some videos and replaced them with still photos and the videos I did sneak in had to be obscured. Cheers!
