Top Of The Pops - 1968 - Everlasting Love - The Love Affair

[atlatahuac]

deepest gratitude & respect for this! gadd. 100% agree w/ louisesk9999. This masterpiece would have enhanced the career / catalog of any of the greats, Sinatra, Vic Damone, Johnny Mathis ... arrangement, lyrics, musicianship, songwriting talent ... oh my ...

[manthakev]

Dany8782 yes he's still singing and still great saw him in september

[RowleyBirkinn]

The band might not have been considered good enough to play on their A sides but that voice! It would win any X factor contest hands down. Wasn't he 17 or 18 when he recorded this? Such emotion for one so young at the time.

[lewisner]

Jimmy Saville RIP.

[Iampa1963]

what a great recording, thank you

[1950sTeddyboy]

Remember the Stink it Caused :: Because they never Played on Record

I don't think the Monkees ever did either, plus many more

But what about the Otherway Round ???? Lonnie Donegan Played Demo

for Rock Island Line & Company Released it as thought it was Good

Worldwide Smash Hit for Lonnie : What did he Get "Nothing" £2-10s !!!

His Fee for Session Player : But he hads them over in the End !!!

Cheers :: The Forever (UK) TeddyBoy

[Dany8782]

The memories are amazing - Steve Ellis was a great singer who never received the acclaim he deserved. I used to see him and the band perform nearly every week at the Marquee club in London before they had a record contract. He was always an amazing talent and sang covers of american soul records of the time and made you forget the originals, that was 1967/8. I saw him perform again about 1993 and he recognised me in the audience - special times. Does anyone know if he is still singing?

[youutubestinks]

before play backs and high technology to "fix" voices and cheat to win money the only fair thing to succeed was... to have talent , in this days anyone is able to "sing" like a real singer

[Poopingbotham]

Well done, you've made a very good job of matching pictures to go with the recording.

[richsaljohnson74]

WICKED SONG OH MEMORIES GALORE I WAS IN LOVE WITH THE LEAD SINGER CANT REMEMBER HIS NAME THOUGH

[ouratney1]

@richsaljohnson74 His name was Steve Ellis.

[playgirlc]

not bad considering it's only 10 days younger than me - it's fared better than i have!

[TheMiserablegit]

Excellent. Well done for having the common sense to record this and (unlike the idiots at the BBC) actually keep the recordings. Somewhere buried in a box in my loft I still have a recording from our TV of the Cream farewell concert from the Albert Hall, which was broadcast by the BBC together with interviews of the three band members, but I dont have a proper working player to play the tape on, so heaven knows what condition it is in.

[thecitizens]

they dont make em like this anymore

[EricandDish]

Very sad the #1 song of 1968 had to go to The Beatles with "Hey Jude" (one of the two worst songs I've ever heard). That about sums up in a nutshell of why '68 was such an outrageous year (one of the book titles about that year is called "The Year The American Dream Died").

[68blues]

@EricandDish ....Late60's..... The Graduate, A man called horse, last of the dollar films, Butch Cassidy, Easy Rider, True fuckin' grit. Midnight Cowboy.......That was the American dream

Manson fucked up the american dream......along with the Stones at Altamont

Doyou agree?

[mink61]

@68blues The greatest rocknroll in the rocknroll band then and now tried to put on a free show for a bunch of doped up thugs....yeah they were pretty stupid.

[VulpeLunatica]

@68blues Manson f***** up american music in general...OH WAIT! my bad that was Marylin Manson... ^..^

[MrSKINFLICK]

@VulpeLunatica

"Ignorance breeds monsters to fill up the vacancies of the soul that are unoccupied by the verities of knowledge."....blah blah....

That was one of YOUR troll comments and IN FACT that´s YOU.

Shut da FUCK up !

U got no soul, if there IS one !

[airriders]

@EricandDish the beatles were way better than these guys, no offense to them, but this song doesn't even compare to Hey Jude, just because you don't understand good music doesn't mean its bad. 68 was a bad year for America because Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King died and people started rioting.

[plopplop1983]

@airriders

you are a cock,yeah?

[mrhitmanisback]

@airriders music is personal oppinion personaly i dont l;ike the beatles ,they were just out at the right timre in history as was ,elvis buddy holly the sex pistols ect the music is nothing special in the grand scheme of things better songs have been written and will be written, to say one band is better than another is small minded i mean im sure the stones in thier glorious history would have somthing to say on the matter led zep as well and even the motown greats ,,

[hellomcflyy]

I think the Beach Boys played on this episode too - do you have audio from that?

[shardennefroider]

Great stuff. I'm sure I recall seeing this once (probably on TOTP) where Steve Ellis got a bit out of synch with the track and sang it most of the way through slightly adrift and then said sorry to the audience at the end! Didn't realise he was quite so young at the time - they all seemed very grown up to me as a kid!

[mrbroadsword1]

STREATHAM ICE RINK LOL I USED TO GO THERE IN THE 60S N 70S LIVED IN STREATHAM GREAT TIMES

[Classicrocker6119]

I love these TOTP bits. Keep adding more as I'll continue to view them.

[skunkhead2006]

it dont exist no more fucking hell what a fuck up

[truefactsth]

Love Affair, were made up of various session artists of the time. The lead singer allegedly sung - but he was also excellent at lipsynch!

[2168paul]

Steve Ellis was 16 at this time. It was a grey area whether they would let him appear on TOTP at the time.

[gilllew]

I WAS IN THE 3RD YEAR (AGE 14) OF MY SECONDARY SCHOOL AND WELL REMEMBER LOVE AFFAIR AND AMEN CORNER WERE THE TWO TOP BOY BANDS (THE WESTLIFE AND BOYZONE OF THE 60S) AND STEVE ELLIS AND ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOWE PICTURES GRACED MANY A TENAGE GIRLS BEDROOM WALL (FROM THE FAB 208 AND JACKIE COMICS) THE LATTER I WAS A REGULASR READER OF FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS.I WONDER WHAT BECAME OF THOSE LOV EE AFFAIR AND AMEN CORNER MEMBERS.

[klisher]

why didn't pete murray continue into the 1970s, he just seemed to fade away.

[darganx]

Pete Murray was such a toff..

[jonnyjaywick]

this reminds me of butlins, it reminds the missus of streatham ice rink.

[brennie2scouse]

I have this record!

[meandemjay]

My very first Christmas on this earth....you are AWESOME! Thanks for posting....not like I would remember it tho :(

[ziofagio]

morgan fisher rocks!!

[tshirtheaven]

I think this song was arranged by Keith Mansfield and the girls doing the backing vocals were Leslie Duncam, Madeline Bell and Kay Garner

[MuseOfTheWest]

The question is, was it "The Love Affair" or "Love Affair"? Wikipedia thinks the latter. The first group who I remember dropping the definite article from their name were "Traffic". Older commentators, and even older DJs, didn't immediately pick up on the trend, so that Jimmy's saing "The Love Affair" does not necessarily mean that was their name.

I saw the remnants of this group play together with the remnants of The Union Gap at Butlin's a few years back and they were note perfect.

[Twinkle3067]

Remember it so well ........thank god I still have my marbles to enjoy what I once loved

[Twinkle3067]

Awesome......brings back so many memories.......jeeez ,im so old now :-o

[quizmaster85]

Why the BBC had the nerve to wipe such good programs is beyond me.

[cujo9]

@quizmaster85 do you know why they did wipe it ? can't find any news about it

[quizmaster85]

@cujo9 At the time it was very expensive to produce a show on colour videotape, which resulted in shows from this period either being thrown out or taped over

[cujo9]

@quizmaster85 very sad really , these are really golden archive tapes and very rare . if you do have any of these recordings on tape you do have a piece of gold indeed, thanks for the information.

[sapphiretaurus]

@quizmaster85 I think the BBC was still broadcasting in black and white at the time, and didn't go color until 1969. They were reusing black and white tapes because it was cheaper than buying new ones all the time, and these shows could not be rerun more than twice, because of actors and musicians' union regulations.

[sapphiretaurus]

@quizmaster85 There's stil hope that some of these shows are out there, in the hands of private collectors. Some BBC engineers might have taken tapes home with them.

[psychodamned]

Most bands used session muso's when recording, it saved studio time = cheaper production. Only the vocalists sang (after the session recording time) cos the British Musicians union laws dictated that vocals to be recorded at the same time as the music !!! Crazeeeeeeeeeeeee !

[shrivel1]

This is fantastic, thanks.

[louisesk999]

I think this is the most classic pop song ever. If we had to send one song into outer space to represent the 60's this is it

[musicalprofessor]

best tune of all time

[retunerman]

Yes, I think you're right. All session musicians on this one.

[19wt60]

@retunerman

you dont remember BOXER? i think the girl on album sleeve was stephanie marianne, one of the original pg 3 babes. she was originally naked but they had to cover her "lower bits" with. if i remember, a boxing glove!!!! i was only 14 or 15 at the time.

[essmbee]

@retunerman my father was a session musician on this, he played lead guitar (my mother bought him the guitar) and his name was Stuart Boyd, he died in february 2001 and my younger brother got his guitar which my father played on this track but I think my brother sold it and we don't know where it is !

[19wt60]

am i right in saying this was recorded by session musicians and not the band? still super stuff tho! anyone remember a band called BOXER from 1974/75? the guitarist was in Love Affair. if you can. mail me. thanks

[lukeydoeslikey]

love this song i was only 2yrs old then but for some strange reason it reminds me of my dad who i never got to know.sadly he died when i was only 4yrs old.miss him badly....r.i.p dad...

[Paddyslad16]

I remenber it well. Great song. I wanted to be Steve Ellis. First flares seen on telly !

Its a crying shame to think of the classic stuff shown on the Beeb over he years which was wiped without a second thought ! Happy days.

[raggedsoldiers]

@Paddyslad16

Its shocking how much was destroyed or taped over,, worst was the loss of the Scott Walker series but at least the soundtracks of those survive in complete form, although not saved by the BBC

[No1ClashFan]

The first record I ever bought with my own money!!Love it still!!!x

[wickerman78]

Great vid! I remember seeing the Love Affair performing this one on TOTP in Feb. '68 when it was no. 1. Always makes me feel good, that song!!

[genatzvalee]

Wonderful!

[dothedog]

From the day before I was born :)

[gotobedandtickler]

Hey mr retunerman nice post, you are corect in the archives being destroyed by the bbc.

This particular recording was a live broadcast in 1968 from the studio on Dickenson rd; manchester, I was there !

[paulapaula13]

Thank you! What a fabulous bit of history. They were such a brilliant band.

[UKSazzy67]

The lead singer's face looks like a permanent exclamation mark!

[irinilagou]

How cute was Steve Ellis? When I saw this I felt the same excitement that I felt all thise years ago when I saw them on Top of the Pops. Did not have a TV so not sure where I was..His brother went to nearby school and we would see him and giggle. Would love to find a copy of the album, been looking for ages. The songs stand up to time, and I will keep searching for old live tv recordings

[IQ251]

First heard this song on an old Grundig tape recorder that me dad has, he used to record songs from Alan Freeman's Pick of the Pops on the radio.

There were some really great songs in 1968-69 - apart from Wandrin Star and Two Little Boys!

[jason75]

Steve got as great voice.

[zipharpo]

Glad you got this. awesome !

[twochaudio]

,1-50 that can`t be

kevin Bacon....

[hugebigframe]

Great voice Steve Ellis.

I met him in my mates shop in Brighton a few months back(he lives there)and you couldn't meet a more down to earth geezer.

[jimjam69]

This is a fantastic song and i never get tired of ir. This is a great version...ty for posting !

[edwina22]

A day without love is an amazing song,

[soundsarama]

Did Love Affair not forget the words on this one??Why is the orginal lost. I remember an onair ballsup with the words - funny !!?

Oh, can't find 'Bringing on back the good times'utbue, Joels 123. Want to hear it now1What a song. By love Affair/?Canny mind.

[Markgcr]

The BBC in their wisdom wiped out and destroyed many of their archive recordings. That is why many classic programs such as Dr Who and Dad's Army have missing episodes. Some have been found overseas and in attics. One famous Dad's Army series was rescued from a dumpster/skip and was stored in a shed for many years. It was "The Battle for Godfrey's Cottage". Others are lost for ever. The Germans kept their recording which is why many of the 60's recordings are from the German program Beat Club.

[hagcom]

yes very very true!!!

[massivepinkdildo]

I believe a lot of stuff back then was broadcast from pro grade video tapes, which would then be wiped and reused next week. 16mm prints of some programs were struck for overseas sales etc, which is why we have a lot of the material we do have. In addition home video recorders were about in the 60s, just pretty rare.

Basically the bbc thought popular entertainment was not worth preserving for future generations. Pity that :(

[11xzxzxz]

All of Phi Spector's work will now be in prison.

[jig678]

guess who went out with steve me

[astbrid]

omg i just,love the song and steve,since i was 15,about steve's age.still brill

[istimewa1x]

Besides, not ALL Phil Spectors work was done in the US but I could be mistaken.

[joeles123]

Iwas so in love with the lead singer and I was7. Bring on back the good times!

[istimewa1x]

I was 9 years old back then and I always loved the song.

Can anyone tell me if Phil Spector had anything to do with the procuction of this song and Rainbow valley(their other hitsingle)? It sure sounds like it.

[Gruntelfluk]

Phil Spector? You must be joking.. this song was recorded in England.. Spector's work was almost all done in the US.

[istimewa1x]

It didn't make sense to me neither when I heard that rumour but if you carefully listen to the way Love Affair's songs have been produced(the bass and all that) you can't deny there's a similarity. It was also the same period.

[astbrid]

no he didnt

[1979glorious]

I guess you've already seen it, but if not: have a look at Steve Ellis' website, there are some fantastic picture from the 60s, he was really cute! :-)

[wiredtojupiter]

quality voice, think that what makes the song, when i heard it 4 first time, it was his voice i was amazed by...(i was only 12!)

[AlexTrebucq]

Love Affair was one of the first boy bands

[asceses]

Yeah and what a contrast to todays boy bands, these fellas had some talent, amazing live vocal

[RetroGirl4ever]

is the same song that sandra cretu sings?

[thestevo46]

stevie ellis,vocals,who later formed the group called 'ellis'

[liamg353]

I got married the year this was no. 1 brings me back.

[daisyria]

I loved these guys and this song--saw them perform this live in Manchester England. Watched Top of the Pops all the time--I lived there 1967-69.

[specialse]

this was number one when i was born !!

it hasnt aged at all , unlike myself :-/

Thanks so much for posting it.

[abkitchman]

Yes, I would love to see any White Plains from 1970 or 1971 TOTPs if you have something.

Thanks

[weirdnetwork]

why do they wipe such valued recordings?

[coolitababy]

I don't think they realised they would end up being of interest many years on.

[wellohmeeeeeee]

Apparently... the video tape was expensive and they just were told to re-use it. By re-recording over it, But actually a lot of it was done internally by BBC workers recording steam train footage for their own interest in the early to mid 70s.

[chatham43]

.....have the BBC ever officially apologised for this or even owned up to it...?

[m0hdx]

brilliant

[frankleroux]

Great song!

[ziofagio]

Morgan Fisher ROCKS!

[mazzalfc]

Thanks for this then. Great song, I'm sure them times were great, especially for the people who were young back then! :)

I cannot believe the BBC got rid of it!

[Jan9902]

at 58 you seem silly but being 16 with radio luxemburg in your bedroom superb song

wow

should have grown up now?

nah

[DrummerFreak04]

Brilliant.

And nice to hear an early live version of this classic that isn't mimed.

Steve Ellis's voice sounds quite different here - somewhat deeper. Could it be the recording quality?

[topcommentator]

i was 16, remember it ,loved it, never will forget these great years of pop.thank you for keeping me young.

[54spiritedwill54]

Fantastic. Excellent posting. so rare!.

[chrisconil]

great flashback, used to sing this song waiting to be discovered never mind! thanks

do you have any footage of TOTP, I think 1999 DJ Quicksilver 'Bellissimo', I played[mimed] fiddle, have lost this footage, fun days.

[thestevo36]

fantabulous! this is great....stevo the mod.

[GatoAmarillo76]

Very nice videos ... So good to hear the original audio from Top of the pops. Thanks a lot!

[nometetdotcodotuk]

I drove the Vinten Heron crane with camera 2 operated by Alan Kerridge on the front on this sequence. It was in TC4 at BBC Television Centre, and I seem to remember a round set which we had to track round the outside during the opening instrumental section.

[retunerman]

Excellent. Thanks for the insight. I would love to have seen the original footage. It's a shame that they wiped the final recording, but I suppose you must have got used to that happening over the years :-(

[Lamkool]

I'm at uni with the bass player on this track. In his 50s now and telling us of the good old days.

[gentil79]

@nometetdotcodotuk since it was Xmas day, was the recording made in colour?

[chapmasi]

I used to work for Mick Jackson's "e-GoodManners" company 4 years ago. Nice Chap

[weegiewarbler]

I was 9..... aaaahhhhh

[acceitunas]

Iam 14 again.

[totallooser1]

So am I !!!

[LiveMusic1st]

Oh, I was so in love with Steve Ellis, I saw them live many times, once at The Marquee in Wardour Street with Emperor Roscoe, I absolutely loved his voice and still have the album "Everlasting Love Affair". I thought they did fantastic versions of "Hush" and "Tobacco Road" can't tell you how many times I have listened to that album. Great to know that Steve is still going strong, will check out his new album.

[zaftra]

cool bit of history trapped. Nice one

[Elysiumfire]

Brilliant! I was 8 years old, and remember this track like it was yesterday. One of the most iconic-sounds of the sixties, 'Everlasting Love', feel good factor in the stratosphere with this track. The other iconic-sound was 'Sun ain't Gonna Shine No More'.

[jmdm1957]

great track and a great singer

[moodyb2]

hearing this, i'm twelve again, at home with my parents and brothers.........the vietnam war is rumbling away on the other side of the world, russia is a great black hole out of which no sight or sound is ever seen or heard, we'd never heard of the ira or islam.....the england football team are champions of the world....

[annie482000]

Some memories flooding back there..........I was 15 when this was in the charts. I loved the song back then and I love it just as much today. IRA & Islam? I'd never heard of those either at that time............

[Safetyleader]

A microphone next to the TV speaker? wow! excellent sound .... in fact better than some of the rubbish around today!!!!

[yayayayayayayayayahu]

nice vocals!!! but not enough hate in the song for my liking!!!

[diamondwhite1969]

well done gluey, you took the words right out of my mouth!

[kub73158]

Nice copy of the original version.

[gluey59]

to 577666.got to take issue with you sunshine,it's being nasty gets you through the day obviously, what do you KNOW about SIR james Savile and Peter Murray, nowt i'm pretty sure,same with the BBC, if you had to sit through endless repeats of US soaps, reality shows and commercials every 5 seconds here in Canada, you would not be mouthing off about Auntie BBC.For what they are paid i reckon they do a good job,but of course its easier in some vocabs to use "tossers and crap"!feel better now? grrr

[nzoz1980]

Is it true that twelve years later, drummer Malcom Green would make another appearance on TOP OF THE POPS with New Zealand New Wave band Split Enz...

I'm aware Malcom Green was in the Love Affair, but I don't know if it was at this stage.

[wildenfree]

Love this song, are all these guys still with us

[jefffreeman1]

steve ellis has just brought out an album called best of days with paul weller guesting on a couple of tracks steve ellis covers pauls song brand new start and paul does a version of everlasting love

[wildenfree]

Thanks for the info, will check it out.

[Tonicbubbler]

This is from 1968? I almost can't believe it. This is such a 70s-type song. They were way ahead of their time. How come nobody's ever given them credit for being the originators of the Disco sound. I remember first hearing this song in my early teens in the 1970s (in Boston, USA) and I thought it was a new song.

[Robpoorsoul]

Too bad this version never made it to the U.S., It beats Robert Townshed's and Carl Carlton's versions put together.

[577666]

Great stuff, brilliant. The things we used to do to get a bit of music! Really enjoyed this posting, great fun and I could feel the atmosphere of watching the telly. Not sure about those two guys though, never dd like them, such tossers. The BBC are still crap. Lousy web site, can't find anything but then hey, neither can they! Thanks again.

[AidanLunn]

Nothing to get in a tizz about. ITV are now a lot, lot worse!!!

[PAULLONDEN]

Good job Retuner./

[jenhow69]

sorry I mean *lyon* :)

[jenhow69]

I know Martin Lyons - nice guy :)

[Videoarchive60s]

Typical BBC idiots destroyed the master tapes.

The Germans kept all theirs music footage in mint condition. (Beat Club and Beat, Beat Beat).

[PAULLONDEN]

Come ON!! Me & everybody knows the BBC sucks BIG TIME these days, but much footage is still around & around ,some things got wiped, it's inevitable ,

even the Germans lost some things.

Doesn't make it right though.

Let's be thankfull,the most important

stuff's still around.

[TroyTempest]

This is incredible. thanx for sharing.

[0to9taurus]

this is amazing

[mJkenny]

I remember how I taped all the old TOTP shows when they they were re-transmited on the first British sattelite channel. I still have 30x3 hour tapes of them all. The were a few easly 70's one but most are from mid 1970 to the 80's. I remember hearing that it was Noel Edmunds who refused permision fot the early ones to be shown again. I must transfer them all to DVD!

[wellohmeeeeeee]

why ? Noel Edmonds

what early 70s ones have you got?

[lkijju]

I remember watching this on TOTP back in '68 The guy in the pink shirt (Mick Jackson) was in my year at school. I always assumed it had been wiped but this is interesting. Thanks for posting.

[DeutschlandElvis]

please post all material that you have available this is like traveling in time or visiting a film museum !!!

 I have heared this song many times ,but I have never seen it until now april 28th,2008 !!!so it has been 39 years after its release and I saw it today for the first time!!! Thanks soooooooooo much !

[joss2oo7]

To the gentleman who recorded this, your lovely. I watched t.o.t.p's in the 60's and 70's along with EVERYONE else in England. Its pure nostalgia and should never have been lost. P.S. I fell in love with the lead singer, who wouldn't! Thanks. Who says you shouldn't look back?

[samothraki1]

You mean those morons at the beeb have lost the footage!!??

[royalnavy200]

Brilliant

[beesknees91]

Priceless recording, many thanks

[coolitababy]

Did you record any more of the show?

[retunerman]

Yes, I've got the whole of part one and most of part two. I also have the performances only from the 69 special without the D.J banter :-(

[coolitababy]

Well, it would be great if you posted more songs from the '68 Xmas Special.

[UKSazzy67]

Can you upload them?

[retunerman]

I'll see what I can do.

[closetsaint]

I talked to Steve last year about this very matter, needless to say, he's as pissed off about it as fans of the band are. I remember watching this as a kid. The only thing that distracted me from my Scalectrix :)

[clivemonk]

Excellent reconstruction. Well done. The Love Affair had a great sound, my favourite song of theirs is "Bringing On Back The Good Times".It's criminal that the BBC wiped nearly all of their 60's and early 70's TOTP material. In a way I wish ITV had shown TOTP I think all the early shows would have stood a better chance of surviving.

[spookyphill]

i bet the beeb will come along cap in hand and say can we have it.BBC stands for Big Bloody Con .....

[bluesbrother37]

BBC= BASTARDS!!!

[HIBBO32]

No argument fro me there. The stuffed shirts who were running the BBC at the time probably said "nobody will watch to this POP Rubbish! again so we'll trash it.

How out of touch they were!

[HIBBO32]

Shame on the BBC for destroying all these classic 60's and 70's editions of TOTP!

[tonymontana1974]

Fantastic bass on this song

[bluesbrother37]

PRICELESS!!! Thanks for posting my friend.

[goahead100]

so much for bbc arkive telling us there got lotes of stuff in sorage

[DavadSteel]

Fantastic. Thank you so much!

[bucksby]

Excellent posting. the bbc would kiss you for this.