The singer was only 16 and he already had such a world-weary voice!

One of the best songs of the sixties and it checks in less than 2 minutes long. Alex Chilton on vocals had a great voice, and he came out of Memphis.

@easyrolling

Жыл бұрын

This was the second best selling single of 1967 on the Billboard charts only topped by Lulu's To Sir With Love.

@MonicaFlorida

Жыл бұрын

And Alex Chilton was only 16 when he sang that song.

@mikeguerrero72

Жыл бұрын

Records back then were short. Less song, more ads. The first 'long' song that I remember is In a God a da Vida. I doubt the spelling is right. Anyway. I think the song was 11 minutes long but you never knew if they'd play the short one or the long one.

@easyrolling

Жыл бұрын

@@mikeguerrero72 The best thing about this time was FM radio, (AOR) which was playing all the long versions of singles . Or just playing long album cuts. The single version of In -A -Gadda -Da -Vida was less than 3 minutes. The album version over 17 minutes.

@bonkyb8587

Жыл бұрын

Big Star

Let me be the next in a line of many to inform you that this song was covered by Joe Cocker, and it's one of the best covers of all time. The horns, the piano, his VOICE... it's like an embarrassment of riches for Amber! As for the Box Tops, check out "Cry Like a Baby", "Soul Deep", and "Neon Rainbow". The Box Tops' lead singer is Alex Chilton, born in Memphis, died in N'awlins at the young age of 59 (in 2010).

@thomasdesmond2233

Жыл бұрын

Joe Cocker ruined it.

@easyrolling

Жыл бұрын

Definitely agree. Cocker's covers are always great.

@chriswhinery925

Жыл бұрын

Whoa. I've heard this song a million times but didn't know anything about the band, I wasn't aware the lead singer was the same Alex Chilton from Big Star! That's so cool!

@crystalvision1111

Жыл бұрын

You took the words right out of my mouth, they need to hear the Joe Cocker version!!

@eviekelpie1

Жыл бұрын

Oh didn't know he died so young😢

The lead singer is Alex Chilton and believe it or not, he was only 16 when they recorded this song! "Cry Like A Baby" and "Soul Deep" are two other great hits from them. Alex also had another band after The Box Tops called Big Star. Here's a few great ones you need to check out from them: "Thirteen", "O My Soul" (the full 5 min 38 sec version), and "Feel"

@jamesd5118

Жыл бұрын

Oh gosh! Don't forget "September Gurls", "Back Of A Car", and "When My Baby's Beside Me". Or "Holocaust".

@VidiotSavante

Жыл бұрын

@@jamesd5118 Thanks for the reminder! I love "September Gurls"!

Alex Chilton lead vocals was still a teenager when they recorded this one - Box Tops had 5-6 decent singles in the sixties- great review

@ryedawgproductions

Жыл бұрын

If I'm not mistaken, I believe Alex was only 16 yrs. old when he recorded this.

@karenstanley6991

Жыл бұрын

He was 16

@BGNOLA

Жыл бұрын

Was later in Big Star; their song "In the Street" was used for the theme to That 70s Show

@rickeyjay7164

Жыл бұрын

@@karenstanley6991 Yep. 😮

When he sang this song, Alex Chilton was all of 16 years old. Such a voice brings to mind Eric Burton of The Animals. There was a time when he was considered to join Blood, Sweat and Tears.

@RobertSmith-iw2kb

Жыл бұрын

Joe cocker did a great remake as usual for him.

Jay & Amber, you'll love their "Cry Like a Baby"!! Joe Cocker does a great version of "The Letter", as only Joe can do!!!

@marymays8846

Жыл бұрын

Yes to Joe Cocker's version. 🔥🔥🔥

@BigDaddy-dr8gf

Жыл бұрын

Chilton has a very soulful voice, but I like the instrumentation on the Cocker cover better and Joe took the vocals to another level.

@corawheeler9355

Жыл бұрын

You've GOT to do the Joe Cocker version .... hardly sounds like the same song.

@Rebel9668

Жыл бұрын

Their "Soul Deep" is a great song too.

@dogstar7

Жыл бұрын

@@Rebel9668 Oh man! Thanks for reminding me. Way down inside me it's soul deep.

Alex Chilton. Later went on to found the band Big Star. The Replacements honored him with their song “Alex Chilton”.

Alex Chilton was the lead singer. This is one of my favorite songs of all time. Takes me back to the days of listening to my transistor radio while riding my bike.

@Wordsmyth8

Жыл бұрын

You too? I love it!

@franscott3122

Жыл бұрын

Me too! Got my transistor radio when in the 2nd grade Christmas of '71 it went everywhere with me.

@thomasgill2358

Жыл бұрын

@@franscott3122 I got mine with my First Communion money when I was 8 years old in 1963.

@ronaldstokes4841

Жыл бұрын

...only one earphone.

@thomasgill2358

Жыл бұрын

@@ronaldstokes4841 Yep! Mine was red with a black leather holster you could attach to your belt. Stylin'!

Alex Chilton is simply adorable! He's got the voice of an old soul. The Box Tops' other great song is 'Cry Like A Baby'.

@LuValentinoShow

Жыл бұрын

Oh hellz yeah it is🙌🏾

Hard to believe he was only 16 years old when they did this song! Amazing voice for such a young man

Alex Chilton is the lead singer. He was in a sadly under-appreciated band called Big Star and wrote one of the best power-pop songs ever called “September Gurls,” which I recommend checking out.

@albrand3201

Жыл бұрын

Totally ... or "Thirteen", "In the street", "The Ballad of El Goodo" or ... well I could go on to namecheck most of what they released but the material on the first 2 albums ('#1 Record' and 'Radio City') might be a better place to start that the third ('Third aka Sister Lovers). Good shout & I now know what my bedtime listening is about to be! Cheers 👍

@willfromyadkinville

Жыл бұрын

i loved big star!

@mattjohn4731

Жыл бұрын

Yeah. In The Street became That 70's Song, on That 70's Show.

@jonathanmurphy3141

Жыл бұрын

@@willfromyadkinville" I don't travel far, without some Big Star! " (paraphrase The Replacements)

@albrand3201

Жыл бұрын

@@mattjohn4731 Obv know the song & have seen the programme but hadn't realised they'd played about with the title. Every days a school day. Cheers 👍

I've always found this video hilarious. Like so many videos back then, the band is pretending to play and sing, but these guys are having fun with it - especially the keyboard player with his "Look! I'm playing the keyboards without touching them!" moment.

@oldiesgeek454

Жыл бұрын

And what timing, the plane flew right over the stage roof just as the song fades out. 😉

Cry Like A Baby and Soul Deep. Two more great tunes by this awesome band!

I didn't think 'The Letter" would ever make it to the channel. Thanks Rob Squad family, you made my day!

A MUST HEAR Classic,, Paul Revere & The Raiders "Kicks"...Nuff Said.

Cry like a baby by the Box Tops is a must listen!

You got to put this song in perspective as far as the visuals! Back when this was recorded most men, 99.9999% of them had extremely short hair, like a burr haircut, flattop, military type haircut. Society really didn't like or accept long haired musicians/men at all. This was really a rebellious look for the day! Today, young folks wouldn't know this about society in all reality but that was a very big part of the 60s revolution!

@donnagonatas3155

Жыл бұрын

I remember my Dad and older brother fighting over his long hair in the 60's!

@guyray1504

Жыл бұрын

Had to go with my dad about nce a month for a flat top till the day I joined the USAF. I had longer hair in the Air Force than living at home.

@artmanjohn2

Жыл бұрын

@@guyray1504 I graduated from High School and I was gone, out the door! Getting a job with long hair was almost impossible but I was a musician and played the clubs!

When this single was released in August of 1967 lead singer Alex Chilton was still a few months shy of his 17th birthday. This is one of the shortest #1 songs ever (at a minute and fifty-eight seconds).

Can you believe that he was only 16 years old when he recorded this song? Me either! 🎶❤

Joe Cocker kills on this! Box top lead is fabulous, too. Just a teen!

Lead singer Alex Chilton went on to form the band Big Star which J&A would absolutely love. One of the most influential but criminally unknown pop bands ever. Paul Westerberg of The Replacements even wrote a song about him called, obviously, "Alex Chilton", with the lyrics, 'I never travel far, without a little Big Star' and 'children by the millions scream for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round'. If you check them out, I'd start with "September Gurls" or "Thirteen", but "I'm in Love with a Girl" and "In the Street" are two other good intro tracks. There are so many articles and videos praising Alex and that band.

@mattjohn4731

Жыл бұрын

Yeah that song is a great tribute to Chilton and Memphis scene

@vickiroman189

Жыл бұрын

Big Star was awesome! I love the documentary on them: kzread.info/dash/bejne/oKmJlJWsdLecmLw.html Cheers!

@jimmorrish6771

Жыл бұрын

big star are awesome, rarely a day goes by without me listening to them

@bendancar

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, time to dive into Big Star. A great, and tragically underrated band.

@sgholt

Жыл бұрын

We need some Big Star reviews :)

Alex Chilton was the lead singer . He was sixteen. You heard the famous Memphis Horns playing on this. They had several songs Neon Rainbow, Cry Like a Baby, and Soul Deep. Alex went on to sing with the group Big Star and they were a big influence on alternative groups like R E M.

The Box Tops had another big hit called "Cry like A Baby". Their singer Alex Chilton was only 16 when this was released. Chilton went on to front the hugely influential, but not hugely successful Memphis band, Big Star. Their song "In The Street" is the theme song for That 70's Show & That 90's Show. Definitely add Big Star to you reactions list, their songs I'm In Love With A Girl, Thirteen, September Girls & the aforementioned In The Street are incredible.

Most amazing thing about this song is Alex Chilton was ONLY 16 when he cut these vocals... unreal! Also, this song was popular during the height of the Vietnam War. It takes on a new meaning when listened to from the perspective of a GI fighting in South Vietnam and thinking of his GF back home who wrote him a letter.

The sound Amber was hearing is the electric piano. When the group formed they couldn’t figure out a name. The thought that they could do a contest where people wrote suggestions on cereal box tops and send them in. Someone then said “Why don’t we just call the group the box tops!”

This singer is Alex Chilton. He later formed Big Star, which was a hugely influential band. "#1 Record" is a masterpiece of an album - beauty from beginning to end.

@mattjohn4731

Жыл бұрын

I agree. I gave the cd to my local bar for their jukebox and it was a hit. It fit in well with Beatles, Cream, Hendrix, Buffalo Springfield , Tom Petty and especially the Byrds

MUST HEAR Classics BEFORE Van (The Man) Morrison Would Start His Solo Career,, Them "Here Comes The Night",, "Gloria" & "Baby Please Don't Go"..TRUST ME On These!!!

This is one of the perfect pop songs; 1:57 of finely crafted pop perfection. Thanks for another awesome reaction video, Jay & Amber!!

Another great band from the 60's you might like to explore is "Spanky and Our Gang" Their big hits are "Sunday Will Never Be the Same", "Lazy Day" and "I'd Like to Get to Know You".

Alex Chilton and Steve Winwood - two awesome TEENAGE singers in the 60's!

The Box Tops is an American rock band formed in Memphis in 1967. They are best known for the hits "The Letter", "Cry Like a Baby", "Choo Choo Train," and "Soul Deep" and are considered a major blue-eyed soul group of the period. They performed a mixture of current soul music songs by artists such as James & Bobby Purify and Clifford Curry; pop tunes such as "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum; and songs written by their producers, Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, and Chips Moman. Vocalist Alex Chilton went on to front the power pop band Big Star and to launch a career as a solo artist, during which he occasionally performed songs he had sung with the Box Tops.

@jeffrogers2180

Жыл бұрын

I feel like I just read a Wikipedia article.

I saw the box tops perform this live at a car show in Texas in 67. The drummer did a long solo at the end with so much energy I thoght he was surely going to die.

That's Alex Chilton on vocals. He also sang with Big Star and had solos. Died a couple of years ago. He also co-wrote the theme used on "That 70's Show".

@albrand3201

Жыл бұрын

"In the street" ... good shout!

Alex Chilton is the singer and he was only 16 when they recorded The Letter.

You really need to hear Mississippi Queen by Mountain. It has everything you seem to like in a song. Cow bell, great guitar, raspy voice and that woodstock rock style.

As others have said, you simply MUST do the Joe Cocker cover of this song. I know y’all love Joe, and this song done by him is special.

Alex Chilton and he went on to the group he helped put together called BIG STAR after The Box Tops had their day

The lead singer Alex Chilton went on to play with Big Star, which never had much commercial success but influenced a lot of later rockers.

This song was loved by so many guys fighting in the Vietnam war in the 60s. Getting letters from home and wanting to get back.👍💐

Another MUST HEAR Classic,, Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs "Wooly Bully"

Alex Chilton sang lead on this song at the young age of 16. He sure doesn't sound like a 16 year-old. Four years later he formed a band call Big Star. They only released three albums, but it's some of the best music ever. Soundtrack for that 70s Show.

Hey A & J. I know how much you love the '60s music, and Jay I know how much you love the Bee Gees. They had a lot of hits in late 60s. "To Love Somebody" 1967, " Word" 1968, " I Started a Joke" 1968, "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" 1968.. There are a lot more, and these are just some of their hits from the 60s

He has a voice of all time his voice and writing music and writing for groups

A Springfield, Mo. disc jockey, Wayne Carson, wrote this song. It knocked Bobby Gentry's "Ode to Billy Joe" (which you've already reacted to) out of the #1 spot on the charts in September 1967.

Released In 1971..It Would Reach #4 On The Billboard Hot #100 & Earn A Gold Record.. Jonathan Edwards "Sunshine" (Go Away Today)...A True Classic.

@neptune9

Жыл бұрын

I've tried to get them to give Jonathan Edwards a spin, but so far unsuccessful.

@happymethehappyone8300

Жыл бұрын

@@neptune9 Well,, All We Can Do Is Keep Trying & Hope For Lots Of Likes.

I love watching Amber dance. She is so happy.

Alex Chilton is the lead singer. The band The Replacements has a great song called, "Alex Chilton" that is amazing and an awesome ode to Mr Danger himself.

Back in the day I had this on 45 and played it over and over and over…nearly drove my parents crazy ❤

Since you guys have been in a 60s frame of mind, if you haven’t done so, please consider checking out The Association. They are so representative of the 60s sound, with great hits like Cherish, Windy, Never My Love and Along Comes Mary. Much thanks for diving into my decade more (Class of ‘69).

Alex Chilton the singer was only 16 when he did this song. Often he is the poster boy for “blue eyed soul”. He went on to form a band called Big Star that is one of those bands that other musicians consider very influential for them but isn’t really well known in general.

As others have said, the singer was later in Big Star (70’s). I think you’d really like their song ‘Thirteen’.

My dad used to sing this on his guitar for me a lot when I was little, great song & memories!❤✌

Lead vocalist Alex Chilton went on to form Big Star, a group (along with The Raspberries & Badfinger) is credited with solidifying the Power Pop genre. Check out September Gurls or Thirteen by Big Star, Go All The Way or Overnight Sensation by the Raspberries, No Matter What or Day After Day by Badfinger.

2:15 Amber, you are absolutely killing me with that look from about eight seconds before and then suddenly all that Slinky movement you're doing, and the look of Joy on your face, it just kills me. Yeah man that frontman, this may be their biggest it but they had a lot of good stuff but more importantly, it's spawned a career of this personality, Jonathan Richman. I got to see him in the early 80s or actually really the late eighties at this local venue in my hometown here in Lawrence Kansas, and I played it that place many times so man you can imagine the synchronicity I felt with him. He really did have a wonderful solo career. But when I was in junior high, and I discovered this? I was just in heaven and I would listen to this one off the vinyl that I'd started to buy a lot of it that point, I would listen to it back-to-back with The Hollies, bus stop, which I think you guys are acted too. For me somehow they just fit right together, laugh.

Excellent song and great to Sing to… no wasted words.

I was 11 years old when this song came out. Finding this 45 record was nearly impossible !!! Once I got it, it played non stop on my record player ! It's still a great song ~

@christarpley6861

Жыл бұрын

My dad has had it on a record as well

The lead sing was Alex Chilton and their other hit song was "Cry like a baby" When this song was released in 1966 he was just 16 years old! (So in this video he was 17) He was also in a band called "Big Star"

@gregsager2062

Жыл бұрын

"Soul Deep" was also a significant hit for the Box Tops.

Alex Chilton was 16 when he wrote this! please dive into Alex Chilton! he was all over American music! he was huge! R.I.P. my brother!

The singer was Alex Chilton. When I was in high school, my friend and I went to a burger joint accross the street from the school during lunch and every day I would pump quarters into the juke box and play this song over and over and over and over and it drove people crazy! This song is just catchy af. So glad you already did this. I was going to ask for it.

This was the first and biggest charting song by The BoxTops. It took 30 takes to get this winner tune. It's about a man who gets a letter from his girlfriend telling him she wants to get back together. So he is desperate to get back to her. It was called blue eyed soul at the time. Joe Cocker recorded this song and it was his first top 10 record. Great song with great vocals and amazing backage especially the horns. Great reaction. Buckets of Maple Syrup love from Canada ❤️ ❤️ 🇨🇦🇨🇦

Alex Chilton, the father of Alternative Rock!

Alex Chilton Lead vocalist for The Box Tops, was 16 years old when he recorded this song. [I bet you couldn't have found a single person who would've guessed that he was under 45 after hearing this song!] Chilton joined/helped to establish another band (that, really, became legendary in the '90s -because so many of the musicians who became successful then claimed fealty to this band.): Big Star; but, undeservedly: Big Star never developed the kind of success which their music cried out for/demanded. They became "underground legends," lauded for tehir influence in later decades.... Alex Chilton was a respected song-writer and he had a solo career, as well ...but never, remotely, as successful as The Box Tops' "The Letter" (and unfairly so!).

Alex Chilton lead singer was SO young during this video - RIP Alex

Another band from that time is the Buckingham's , kind of a Drag, great 60's song

@thomasgill2358

Жыл бұрын

Great suggestion!

Can u believe he was only 16 that's the amazing part

@martinscott-reed5379

Жыл бұрын

Another stunning voice that belonged to a 16-year-old is that belonging to Andrew Strong of The Commitments fame. A must reaction movie for you guys.

@gregsager2062

Жыл бұрын

That, and the fact that Chilton didn't really use his normal singing voice on "The Letter". Producer Dan Penn coached him to sing it the way Penn sings, with that gravelly, cigarette-stained baritone. Chilton's normal singing voice was the reedy tenor he used in Big Star and later in his solo career.

@RLucas3000

4 ай бұрын

Oh my God, he looks like a 28 year old sexual god in that video! 16 just seems impossible! He seems world weary yet holds the camera completely captive!

you guys do such a wonderful job of making every song enjoyable. I know you do several songs a day, and some must be real challenges to put a positive spin on them. I enjoy your reviews and reactions, and young lady, your smile and dance moves makes me think you really enjoy what you are doing.

Amber/Jay it's amazing to think Alex Chilton the singer was only 16 years old when this was recorded!!

Another great 60’s hit was Red Rubber Ball by the Cyrkle. Written by Paul Simon!

@jodyjackson5475

Жыл бұрын

I haven’t thought of that song for ages!!! ❤❤❤

@jamesmaas4833

Жыл бұрын

Love that tune! Thought about suggesting it myself.

Soul Deep was another big hit for the Box Tops, and my favorite.

@oldiesgeek454

Жыл бұрын

Yes, 👍

@christarpley6861

Жыл бұрын

Yes it's a good song as well as Cry like a Baby

Alex Chilton, the singer, was 16 when this song was recorded.

Alex Chilton was 16 when they recorded this song. He died in New Orleans in 2010

Can't leave "Sweet Cream Ladies Forward March" off the list

This is another one of those songs I can't remember ever not knowing because I've heard it my whole life, and yes love his voice! 😊

The lead singer, Alex Chilton, was just 16 when this was recorded.

The video is fun to watch as he is like 16 or 17 with their first hit and stuck a camera in his face and said go. You can see how scared he was at the beginning and loosen up as he goes.

lead singer was ALEX CHILTON

They are still performing on the oldies circuit, unfortunately the lead singer passed a few years back. Still waiting for you guys to do a song from The Associaion, I would recommend either Cherish or Windy.

THE HIPPIE MOVEMENT STARTED IN THE 60s!!! AROUND 65 & 66!!

I can't let go of the 60's music and you make me fall in Love again with all the memories from my youth. Thank you 😊

Almost forgot I Met Her in Church another great song by the Boxtops

@gregsager2062

Жыл бұрын

"I didn't find it on a Saturday night, Found it in the Sunday morning light. I found love in a front-row seat In a little church just down the street."

Alex Chilton was a musical force of nature.

American Idol took off as a TV competition show in the early 2000s. For whatever reason, this song ("The Letter") was performed constantly, year after year.

This song was a big hit when I was a kid and dealing with some difficult times. As soon as I hear it, I go back to that time.

Alex Chilton was great with the Box Tops and even more so with Big Star. Both bands have pretty deep catalogs, even though neither lasted terribly long. Amber, you're right: There was a huge creative explosion in the Sixties, especially from about 1966 on.

And speaking of Alex Chilton(Lead Singer), you need to react to the song "Alex Chilton" by the Replacements.

This was "my wife to be" and my, song....back in the day. She was in T- town and I was in the Army in Alabama. Another favorite of this group was Sweet Cream Ladies....a bit different sounds from the Box Tops.

In the book about Alex, he says he had a bad chest cold but they had to use the studio time they had....thus the wonderful growl.

Alex Chilton was later the lead singer of Big Star. Check them out.

What a fantastic classic. If you ever need some retro nostalgia, this is a good choice.

YES! Superb 60's tune. My 45, bought on release still plays well.

I had this on a 45. Had it fixed so this record would play over and over. Hearing it again has really taking me back. Can't believe I still remember every word. I'm 68 now, thank you so much for taking me back in time. Love your channel. Keep them coming......

You've gotta hear his work in Big Star's September Gurls. Pure magic

Oh Yeah! This features Alex Chilton on lead vocals. After leaving The Box Tops he co-founded Big Star. Check out "In The Street" which you may know as the theme from That 70's Show. Also, The Doors were formed in 1965, and their first album came out in January of 1967, eight months before this song came out. On an unrelated note, you should also check out Ian Hunter's "Cleveland Rocks."

A super song I loved back in the day........................I'm 72 now and still play this one. It's timeless.

Dave Loggins "Please Come To Boston"...A Beautiful Classic.

The lead singer, Alex Chilton was only about 16 here in the video and when The Letter was released in the summer of 1967. They had a couple of really good songs, Cry Like a Baby has been mentioned but Soul Deep, Neon Rainbow, and Turn on a Dream are also good choices.

Great reaction. This song is just the tip of the iceberg of Alex Chilton's talents. As mentioned in other comments, his best music was when he was in Big Star. By far the most underrated band of all time. All 3 of their studio albums are listed in Rolling Stone magazines top 500 albums of all time. I suggest 'Thirteen' or 'When My Baby's Beside Me' from #1 Record. #1 Record also features the equally talented Chris Bell. And btw, Alex changed his voice for 'The Letter' to sound older than his 16 years. .

@joelhahn2501

Жыл бұрын

Big Star is also known for their song "In the Street", which became the theme song of That 70's Show, though as a cover--first by Todd Griffin, then in later seasons by Cheap Trick.

Alex Chilton was only 16 when this song was recorded

The keyboard was likely a Vox Continental model, known for that carnival-like sound.