Gary Lewis & The Playboys - This Diamond Ring (1965)

This is my second Gary Lewis & The Playboys music video, the first one, "Green Grass," I did quite some time ago. This is without question one of my big favorites by the group, and the first one I ever heard them do. It is a beautiful synthesis really, of early 60's with Beatles-era mid-60's. I love the guitar and organ parts, the organ sounding quite similar to The Animals (and actually played by Leon Russell who also arranged the music), while the guitar beckons back to "Apache" by The Shadows. The Beatles may have been the rage, but these guys from America were hit makers that kept producing great songs one after the other for about three years running.
Styles and morals in America had not changed much yet from what they had been in the late 50's and early 60's despite the Beatles' widespread popularity. It was all at once the end of one age and the beginning of another. "This Diamond Ring" is as precious and eternal a song as any real diamond, and despite its happy sound, betrays a rather sad story about a breakup and an engagement ring looking for a new finger. I love this song .. and consider it among other defining influences of the 60's sound. The song was recorded in November 1964 and released as a single in January 1965 ... it reached #1 on Billboard on February 20, 1965, and #1 on Cash Box a week later on February 27, 1965.

[@chuyhighman6927]

🗣️ This song reminds me of my childhood memories,…70yrs old and I glad I got it on my RUclips Playlist !!
乁༼☯‿☯✿༽ㄏ🎶🎶🎶

[@mikemunrowsretro8973]

It was the first Gary Lewis and the Playboys song I ever heard.

[@mistery-ed7900]

Probably my favorite Gary Lewis song. I have an answer song on 45 but I can't recall who did it right now. I know Little Jonna Jaye had an answer song for Count Me In but not remembering this one.

[@lannes2000]

👍

[@mikemunrowsretro8973]

Thanks!