The Crystals. Ten I think. It was a high school in Brooklyn, NY; My older cousins took me; It was a special night time show in the auditorium.
They all went to high school together; The Crystals hit very young themselves.I was still ten; maybe 11; (the Invasion would hit at age 12 for me)
Around the same age, Ben E. kING had left the Gospel circuit and had a Bigass commercial hit with Stand By Me.
I guess this would be my first real rock show; It was before the Invasion; I wasn't yet 12; maybe a tiny bit younger: I can't recall...
The "real" one, the first one I decided independent of parents I was going hell or high water,
was Soupy Sales Rock and Roll Show; April '65 I was thirteen to be fourteen in the summer.
I was ready for this one. I had heard a LOT of stuff from '60 on...especially the Invasion from late '63 then POW...everybody everything.
Well that's my intro to the INVASION in the flesh right there;
two actual UK bands with that hair thing going on.
The Hollies. Started with Rockin' Robin.
[
www.youtube.com]
Intense loud crisp on the money hot rockin, rolling and reeling; much hotter than this cut off their debut.
They really had it; almost out of control...beautiful job; a wonderful introduction to British rock artists.
They did great; were great' they had great singers and material;
more importantly they came out no holds barred rocking for real; they really did.
Pretty tough stuff, some would be a little surprised maybe. cause they were also so smooth with those harmonies on the big hits...
i did not expect them to blow me back in the chair like that; and they did. I had a very very good impression of them.
Little Richard comes on; he's about 30. It's about ten years since he hit hard...went gospel; quit showbiz; started coming back here and there...
King Curtis Orchestra the backline for every act; Richard however, brings the Jimmy James cat to accompany him on his set.
I didn't have a clue. He wasn't Hendrix yet; well he was...!!
Anyway i just found an article on the show
[
bestclassicbands.com]
It was April 65. 14 months since Beatles on Sullivan. A big year for The Stones; I was ready this time.
The Exiciters of Tell Him fame. I still think, and have always thought of Brenda Reid as one of the very best of the female r&b rocking singers and still do;
I mean compared to any and everybody else...
I was thrilled. Dee Dee warwick i can't remeber too well; but she was sweet and good. Dionne's sister.
Richard was off the wall great. He's around 30 years old here. He took it over without a doubt. You see Jimi in the pic,. I'm thrilled to see it; I remember that afternoon.
The Hullaballos were revelatory, Triple-fast-speed Buddy Holly songs almost exclusively.
All four had the requisite long hair look, but all of them dyed a shitty platnium blonde.
These guys could PLAY tho. the drummer was off the hook....and Curtis knew it. and was smiling;
The Hullaballoos do Buddy Holly:
[
www.youtube.com]
Brenda Reid (The Exciters) WOW. Some live show around the same general time.
[
www.youtube.com]
King Curtis set was fantastic; those guys were all top ace...
Here's one of the tracks Richard cut with Jimi
[
www.youtube.com]
Hound Dog
This takes you right to the instrumental section:
[
youtu.be]
I see Jimi with a jazzmaster there.
That was the first stuff I saw; somewhere in there I got to see The Righteous Brothers too; and they were outrageously great.
Just occuring to me now; Phil Spector's production of both The Crystals and The Righteous Brothers.
Edited 7 time(s). Last edit at 2017-08-13 14:14 by hopkins.