I used to see them live from time to time, and they wee the real thing, a great, innovative wonderful-sounding band. They deserved to go much farther than they did. "Sunday" was a great record.
I still listen to their music and just ordered the Spanky & Our Gang Anthology on CD last week. The albums contained in this two CD set are: Spanky And Our Gang - Featuring: Sunday Will Never Be The Same - 1967 Anything You Choose B/W Without Rhyme Or Reason Like To Get To Know You Spanky & Our Gang Live I got word from Amazon that this set will be delivered today so am looking forward to it. I really dig Spanky & Our Gang yet there are no documentaries on them that I know of. I often wonder why they never played Woodstock or any other popular festivals. Either/or I thank you What Happened to Them? for this presentation. Peace & power. ☮
My name is John Madden I was born in 1966 I enjoy listening to groups or rock groups or folk music like Spanky and Our Gang yeah I grew up listening to that type of music when I was going to Shay back in the early eighties of course there are other groups like Madonna Michael Jackson and many others but I grew up listening to Jim Morrison The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix I appreciate what they have is that they were great artists and Spanky and Our Gang is no different I love Spanky and Our Gang my favorite song I like to get to know you that is the most go to song I love with Spanky and Our Gang I love the video they're way ahead of their time
You are about 10 years younger than me so i would like to think that worked out for me since I grew up with this band, The Loving Spoonful, The Rascals, The Turtles et al . But I agree with you that " I like to get to know you " is their best song. Everyone in Canada and the USA tuned in on Sunday night to Ed Sullivan and I always remembered the way they opened the song on the show and when I watched the clip today of it - it was exactly as I remembered
There's something I want to add I love Spanky and Our Gang I love their video even though it was 1968 and I was 2 years old but looking back on it the way ahead of their time
My mom had a couple of their 45s in her collection and that's how I discovered them. Then recently I came across their old Ed Sullivan performances on here. Great job on the video!
In interviews long after her time with the revived Mamas and Papas, McFarland put down that groups far less complex harmonies (vs. those in Spanky and Our Gang). She continues to perform, and her unique voice is still recognizable.
The Mamas and the Papas’ harmonies may not have been as complex, but they were as recognizable as the Our Gang’s. I love tight harmonies beginning back with The Beach Boys. When I think of harmony, I think of the Association. But, with a more sophisticated ear, I really love Spanky & Our Gang. Their songs have a lot going on musically.
Less complex? Really? I think the opposite. And the Mamas harmonies were better blended. Of course no one came close to those Beach guys when it came to harmonies.
I'm not schizoid...lol. responding to my own post about Spanky harmonies complexities compared to the Momas and Papas. After listening to more of their catalog, Spankys harmonies on certain songs are equal to and in some cases more complex than the Momas. In fact some were incredibly up there and beyond the Beach Boys! Hows that for a take back. Hale's passing ruined what should have been 10 + great albums. Now I wish that Spanky and Seiter play together one more concert series for closure.
I grew up with Spanky's and The Association's Greatest Hits albums in my parents' record collection. I have both of them in my CD collection. This music stands the test of time, and is better than most of what's been released especially in the 21st Century.
Mm, this is odd. Their biggest hit "Like To Get To Know You" is not mentioned at all al though it was on their second album with more ambitious direction.
I once asked Oz if he sang on Like to Get to Know You. His only comment was "I worked on it." It is possible they used several of the guys' voices alternating since they had such an amazing blend, they could all sound nearly alike. Another reason for this would be continuity. Oz had been the soloist on the B side of Sunday Will Never Be the Same. Stu would never talk about it, but when I asked him if he had done any of the vocal arranging, he said, "I hear tape hiss." That would explain the pristine quality of the later two albums. Add to that Dorough's superb jazz vocal stylings . . .
You mentioned that Terry Cashman wrote their hit. He was part of Cashman and West in the early 70s. He and Tommy West had several hit records as well as producers of the big albums of Jim Croce.
I was friends with Gene and Tommy (RIP both of these talented singer-songwriters). I love Cashman, Pistilli and West's version of "Sunday will Never Be the Same" which is very different than Spanky and our Gang's, which I also love.
Years ago in the late 1970's I was in Houston at the Texas Opry House Bar. Spanky and our Gang had become a country band. I listened to the sets and was not impressed. At the end of the night they said they would like to play some old songs of theirs. Sunday Morning, Like to get to know you and Give a Damn. They were wonderful.
I presume they did an autopsy. If they said carbon monoxide, that's pretty much unmistakeable (globus pallidus turns cherry red). The pneumonia claim? Could be aspiration - something that can accompany CO poisoning especially if it is chronic.
Excellent overview, only a few errors (and no mention of Lefty and Kenny's passings). I am so glad you mentioned that there are two possible causes of Malcolm's death - most people only mention the circumstantial theory and not the official cause nowadays.
Stu Scharf told me they were all taking decongestants so they could keep performing while plagued with respiratory or throat problems. Malcolm was on a National Guard weekend and died of pneumonia which went undiagnosed because of the medication. Stu remarked that the group he'd been signed to produce "no longer existed" because Oz had left the group. This meant hiring someone to replace him. Kenny and Lefty had worked together and were both hired. After Malcolm died, the group disbanded. Malcolm had been a long time friend of Spanky's dating back to the New Wine Singers.
WHEN I SEE THEM DO I LIKE GET TO KNOW YOU. ON ED SULLIVAN SHOW. ITS SO CLASSY I MISS ALL THAT TALENT AND YOUTH. ITS REALLY SAD THINK WHY COULD IT JUST STAY
It was in 1967 or 1968 that I heard the first swear word in a song. It was that song, "Give A Damn". My 14 yo mind said, "That's cool". I was for almost anything that would shake up the established order. I don't recall any uproar about it, but I'm sure there was some.
Kingston Trio..."Well, I don't give a damn about a GREEN BACK DOLLAR, spend it fast as i can...cause a wailin' song and a good guitar, the only thing that I understand.."
I recently listened to all four spanky lps and then Mama's and papas four. Spanky singles equal to mama and papas singles, but their lps full of cringeworthy faux psychedelia
I recently listened to all four spanky lps and then Mama's and papas four. Spanky singles equal to mama and papas singles, but their lps full of cringeworthy faux psychedelia
I recently listened to all four spanky lps and then Mama's and papas four. Spanky singles equal to mama and papas singles, but their lps full of cringeworthy faux psychedelia
