SOUND GREAT! I know it does not matter at all but I'm an African American sister (black woman) and I love that 70s music and I was driving to work and landed on an oldies station and this song played. Had forgot this one -- always had that FUNKY BEAT!! LOVE IT!! GREAT JOB -- sound GREAT!!
ANGEESOUTHERNBELE I'm with you, I'm a northern "belle" (Detroit). Our city is in mourning over the passing of our queen Aretha Franklin..but this 70's music is the sound I will always enjoy listening to!
I can't believe that this band wasn't more successful, the lead singer has a fantastic soulful voice, when I first heard this song I thought they were a black group, wonderful Talent.
John Townsend still sounds amazing. As noted by others this performance suffered from what I think might have been a lack of preparation or technical glitches. Compared to how tight this song was originally. IMHO it's among the of the best of all '70's songs. We've got the "Midnight Special" version which is perfect.
Wow! That was one of my favorite songs when it hit the airwaves and here it is, (how many years later?!) and they played it and sang it just as it was recorded! Even in the same scale! As a drummer myself, I was always amazed at the ability of the drummer in this song. At the time, this drummer was doing something ahead of many. I practiced it as often as I could but there's a place in the song where the drummer does this shuffle and I just could not get it right! In fact, I never did get it right and years later, one of the bands I played in during an "Open-Mic" night at a club, played this song. So, when I got to the part of the song for that shuffle-riff, I did a a similar shuffle that I had worked on but not the exact same one. When the song was over, the lead singer praised all the musicians in that gig and then said something like "...and Rich, you must've played that song 100 times because you nailed it lick for lick..." LOL, I thanked him even though I was pretty sure that there must've been at least one other drummer in the club that knew I didn't quite "nail it"... FWIW, Rich
High School(9th grade)1977..... Loved this song since its debut 1\1\77! 🤗 🎶 I'd just like to know do you love him or just making time By filling his glass with your fast flowing bitter-sweet wine. 🎶
Intersting that the Midnight Special version the cameras never figured out who Ed Townsend was (right in the center) but zeroed right in on John Sanford. Here they have no idea where John is. Still love the song.
Unbelievable John Townsend hit every note!! His band is slack,,,but his voice is still there!! God bless him.. in 1976 I knew I was listening to one of the most powerful voices in the business,,,this dude can sing,,,always wondered why he never hit it really big
Gregg Bissonette on drums and Mike Anthony on Bass...now that's a rhythm section. I could have done without the harmonies though, John delivered all by himself!
Dammit!!! Whoever the horrible sounding person who is trying to harmonize with the singer RUINED IT!!! The singer could have carried it by himself!!! Love this song!!!
It's the "back up" singers that detracted from that performance. They should have backed up from their microphones. Absolutely agree, origsinger nailed it alone!
John Townsend still sounds good - not as good as when he was at his peak of course - but the band's performance here is light years away from that of the original crew's. Compare this to the live Midnight Special performance of this song in 1977, showing on RUclips.. There's a huge difference in quality between that performance and this one here.
I disagree entirely with your assessment of John. He did the tune in it's original key and pretty much nailed it. The highest notes had the tiniest bit of scratch but he sailed through 99% of it. The only thing that failed here was the background vocals but John has NO apologies to make.
The music, the lyrics, the meaning of the song are all still there etc, but l agree with those that made comments about the sound and video people get rid of them, the video and sound was horrible
I have to apologize to Sanford and Townsend for what I'm about to say, but I am a long time musician who covered this song when it was released. The original band was tight as hell, incredible, actually. This performance sucked and the entire band was hideous. Just being honest.
I completely agree with the backing vocals and especially the lead guitar. He didn't even try to emulate the studio or Midnight Special session. It was like he had never played the song before and was making it up as he went along. He needs to be in the studio learning how to play.
![Gary Moore - Whiskey in the Jar (Tribute to Phil Lynott) [HQ] [9/10]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-jEUq3hEjus/mqdefault.jpg)
![Gary Moore - Whiskey in the Jar (Tribute to Phil Lynott) [HQ] [9/10]](/img/tr.png)
Michael Anthony living his best life makes my day
I thought that was him. Michael Anthony is a treasure, we should all be as happy as him.
That was a pleasant surprise to see the Van Halen bassist on stage getting it done ❤
S-T Band still sound great! And I noticed Michael Anthony, formerly of Van Halen and Chickenfoot holdin' down the bass!
Wild!
And Gregg Bissonnette on drums!
I thought that was him!!
It is Mikey! Looks like he was having a blast
Michael Anthony is such an underrated musician. He has played with some of the best musicians of our time.
Seeing this made me smile......great songs truly live on forever.......Bravo Sanford Townsend Band!
Lifespan of a current pop song: 3 to 5 weeks. Lifespan of a classic rock song: 3 to 5 DECADES
SOUND GREAT! I know it does not matter at all but I'm an African American sister (black woman) and I love that 70s music and I was driving to work and landed on an oldies station and this song played. Had forgot this one -- always had that FUNKY BEAT!! LOVE IT!! GREAT JOB -- sound GREAT!!
Nice to read your comment. If you love 70s funk, check out Brothers Johnson, Ohio Players, and of course the phenomenal O'Jays.
ANGEESOUTHERNBELE I'm with you, I'm a northern "belle" (Detroit). Our city is in mourning over the passing of our queen Aretha Franklin..but this 70's music is the sound I will always enjoy listening to!
Amen sister. Good music is just good!
The Beautiful thing about music is, we are without color in enjoyment of the true thing...
Amen, Sister Angee! Music has brought us together more than any other thing behind G-d.
Holy smoke. John Townsend can still kill it live!
Sanford not so much
How can he possibly sound this good 40 years after this phenomenal song came out?!
The guy can STILL belt that out! very impressive vocals!!
How this guy wasn't more successful I will never know
I can't believe that this band wasn't more successful, the lead singer has a fantastic soulful voice, when I first heard this song I thought they were a black group, wonderful Talent.
John Townsend still sounds amazing. As noted by others this performance suffered from what I think might have been a lack of preparation or technical glitches. Compared to how tight this song was originally. IMHO it's among the of the best of all '70's songs. We've got the "Midnight Special" version which is perfect.
That is what is great about a live version ~ it is not perfect.
@@sartainja Agree.
Yes I agree vocal arrangements weren't good
Real music from a simpler time.... and it’s as good as it’s even been.
Wow! That was one of my favorite songs when it hit the airwaves and here it is, (how many years later?!) and they played it and sang it just as it was recorded! Even in the same scale! As a drummer myself, I was always amazed at the ability of the drummer in this song. At the time, this drummer was doing something ahead of many.
I practiced it as often as I could but there's a place in the song where the drummer does this shuffle and I just could not get it right! In fact, I never did get it right and years later, one of the bands I played in during an "Open-Mic" night at a club, played this song. So, when I got to the part of the song for that shuffle-riff, I did a a similar shuffle that I had worked on but not the exact same one.
When the song was over, the lead singer praised all the musicians in that gig and then said something like "...and Rich, you must've played that song 100 times because you nailed it lick for lick..." LOL, I thanked him even though I was pretty sure that there must've been at least one other drummer in the club that knew I didn't quite "nail it"...
FWIW,
Rich
From the great city of Tuscaloosa in my home state of Alabama. What a great song and ROLL TIDE!
They still sound just as amazing. 💕 So proud to be a Townsend. Love you Unka Johnny
one of the greatest 1 hit wonders
Takes me back to 1976 in a flash!
High School(9th grade)1977.....
Loved this song since its debut 1\1\77! 🤗
🎶 I'd just like to know do you love him or just making time
By filling his glass with your fast flowing bitter-sweet wine. 🎶
What a great song. Sorry I missed this one in the seventies. Thanks for posting it.
Great music from a couple of Alabama’s sons. I have always loved this song. My 12 year old just learned to play it.
How cool to have one of the best bass players in the world, just decide to sit in with this band!!! Classic!!🙂
Blue eyed soul !! One of the greatest songs from maybe the greatest music decade.
Love this song. Nice surprise to see Michael Anthony on the bass!
Michael Anthony on Bass!
White Ninja playing like a knucklehead?
All of the except the drummer are playing it like they listened to it an hour before the performance.
White ninja. He has good taste in music that is why. Even though this sounds nothing like the original it still is a great song.
I THOUGHT HE LOOKED FAMILIAR!!!
I had no idea he was so short...and could actually play a moving bass line!
No Van Halen, No Chicken Foot, got to make those house & car payments some how.
...just gotta tap your feet or pat your knee!! love this tune!
Thats Michael Anthony on bass!
That guys voice hasn't changed. Awesome.
LONG LIVE THE 70S!!!
BEST DECADE EVER!!!!!
Intersting that the Midnight Special version the cameras never figured out who Ed Townsend was (right in the center) but zeroed right in on John Sanford. Here they have no idea where John is. Still love the song.
Unbelievable John Townsend hit every note!! His band is slack,,,but his voice is still there!! God bless him.. in 1976 I knew I was listening to one of the most powerful voices in the business,,,this dude can sing,,,always wondered why he never hit it really big
Great song and band
Gregg Bissonette on drums and Mike Anthony on Bass...now that's a rhythm section. I could have done without the harmonies though, John delivered all by himself!
oh ya ....that was worthy ! thank ya'll !! you guys kicked butt back in the day as well.....
always thought he sounded like Darryl Hall
He would say, other way around :-)
never thought about it...but yes he does
His vocals at peak blew Daryl Hall out of the water!
Gregg Bissonette on drums...he is so rock solid!
I went to a Marshall Tucker concert in Indianapolis just because they were the lead in. I have loved this song since it was first released.
One Of My Favorite Songs
Dammit!!! Whoever the horrible sounding person who is trying to harmonize with the singer RUINED IT!!! The singer could have carried it by himself!!! Love this song!!!
That was tortuous
Pretty sure it was the guy on the end or #2. Both? End guy looked like he'd never heard the song before.
It's the "back up" singers that detracted from that performance. They should have backed up from their microphones. Absolutely agree, origsinger nailed it alone!
Ugly!
Don't blame Anthony lol yeah that dude couldn't sing
Probably the best "One Hit Wonder" song of all time.
I agree 100%.
Vocals still sound great!!
Lara42011 donALDFAGANIGY
Its like the camera man doesnt realize who is singing. Come on. Amazing performance.
FREAKIN AWESOME
Was the microphone working for the sax player? It sounded so muted. Singer/piano John Townsend still has it.
Great sound!! Awesome song!! ROFL at the horrific camera coverage and directing. "Um. Which guy is singing?"
No kidding; took me like the first 30 seconds of the song to find him.
That’s is a really good tune and it still goes over great today!
The singer still has it!
Johnny sounds great! The sound guy and video guy need to be fired.
Who shot this video ? A five year old on his iPhone 4?
Highly Agree!!
LOL I was thinking that same exact thing 😂
I agree! The sound guys goes first.
Voice....still kicks!!! Awesome song!
That's got to be my favorite song. Like ... I'm belting it out in the shower where acoustics are raw! 😄
STILL sound great.
Love this song!
Did you hear it, a song you could hear and understand all the lyrics. Who knew?
40 camera angles and can’t find the singer with one of them?
I didn't know Michael Anthony was in Sanford-Townsend Band??
I love the black page @3:25. Reminds me of Zappa. This is really good stuff.
Love,love this song
Michael Anthony? Van Halen? Nice! One of the best harmony singers ever!
I would tend to agree with you on that.
Not quite the same without the horns but it's one of the all time great songs in my book.
One great song!!!
Is that the bassist for Van Halen good music
Sure looks like Michael Anthony.
Has anyone ever covered this song? Not that they’re not great. One of the best one hits ever!
Conway Twitty, I believe actually.
all those smiles
♥️
Michael Anthony and John awesome!
❣️🎶
Is that Michael Anthony from Van Halen playing bass?
dam,right.this song is to my ex wife, julia,and sister bredea thank god pain is over. 😎
I noticed he dropped an octave from his high notes
One of theee best bands of the 70s
Who did the introduction?
Talk much???
Is that the bass player from Van Halen?
To my Divine Twin !
Is that mark anthony from van halen playing the bass?
70s girlfriend angst
Is that Gina Grad from the Adam Corolla Show doing the introduction?
looks like her and she has the same huge bosoms
I believe it is. Check out their YT page, "The Sound" She does many other interview vids.
is that Michael Anthony on bass???
Looks like Gregg Bissonette on drums too...
Lyle Workman on the gold Strat...!
I feel for the sax player….what’s the sound man doing?
John Townsend still sounds good - not as good as when he was at his peak of course - but the band's performance here is light years away from that of the original crew's. Compare this to the live Midnight Special performance of this song in 1977, showing on RUclips.. There's a huge difference in quality between that performance and this one here.
I disagree entirely with your assessment of John. He did the tune in it's original key and pretty much nailed it. The highest notes had the tiniest bit of scratch but he sailed through 99% of it. The only thing that failed here was the background vocals but John has NO apologies to make.
Yes, great breakdown! John's voice is very similar, but a little more raspy and worn! Still, to be 70 he is still incredible!
Still got a great voice...too bad he is almost hidden on stage !!
The music, the lyrics, the meaning of the song are all still there etc, but l agree with those that made comments about the sound and video people get rid of them, the video and sound was horrible
Roger Johnson?
Mike Anthony on Bass
Who is “Mark in the Morning”? Radio show? If so where?
michael anthony proved he can play with anybody , van halen needs to stop talkin shit about him
Is Michael Anthony on bass?
All I had to do was read the comments duh
Sure looks like him
whoa, somebody is flat on the backing vocals, ouch
And Marc Bonilla on guitar?
I wished they would have focused more on the Singer! He is the band! Not the 3 tweekers in the middle.
The singers are perplexed, tempo is too fast, and the guitarist is overplaying. That said the singer is killing it.
Stephen King on Sax
Darly Hall
I can’t hear the sax! :(
Mm
Poor sound mix.
Should have been arrested for loitering on stage.
I have to apologize to Sanford and Townsend for what I'm about to say, but I am a long time musician who covered this song when it was released. The original band was tight as hell, incredible, actually. This performance sucked and the entire band was hideous. Just being honest.
backing vocals are flat, lead guitar crap, sounds disjointed.....
that was the guy videoing that was singing along.. he ruined it lol
I completely agree with the backing vocals and especially the lead guitar. He didn't even try to emulate the studio or Midnight Special session. It was like he had never played the song before and was making it up as he went along. He needs to be in the studio learning how to play.
Sorry,but Van Halens bass layer should of stayed home,one thig is,hes too loud.......Great bass player but the sound man made him sound like shit
Terrible mix. Very pitchy vocals...
Elder performers in a "live" performance. Embrace it for what it is, hon. There is NO perfection outside some studio edit.