The Turtles - Let Me Be (Shindig - Nov 13, 1965)

[harrietcow]

The vocals seem to be live here, I'm impressed! I thought most shows had the acts lip-synch back in the day. They aren't really playing their instruments, but the voices are live.

[russallert]

@harrietcow At that time, the musicians' union imposed a rather stupid ban on lip-synching on TV, despite the fact that live sound on TV back then was pretty primitive. The bands on shows like Shindig got around it by singing live to the instrumental track of their record, or sometimes re-recording a new instrumental track so that it didn't sound like the record and then singing live on top of it.

[John1948ThirteenA]

@russallert This is the first I've heard of that. What is your source?

[russallert]

@John1948ThirteenA I've come across comments about this in various books, articles, interviews, etc., so I don't have one particular "source". I remember the first time I watched the Who doing My Generation on the Smothers Brothers Show, I noticed that Roger Daltrey was singing live, but the band was faking, and the backing track was definitely not the same as the original record. Ray Davies mentions pre-recording backing tracks for the Kinks' appearance on Shindig.

[John1948ThirteenA]

@russallert I know there has always been a lot of lip-syncing. What I have trouble believing is that the musicians union outlawed it.

[russallert]

@John1948ThirteenA From what I understand, the AFM got very uptight about lip-synching because they saw it as putting musicians out of work. I suspect that they were especially up in arms about shows like Shindig, because competing shows like Hullabaloo had a resident big band that would back up performers (sometimes with dodgy results). There was also an aspect of "respectable professional musicians" versus "dirty filthy rock & rollers" that was part of the cultural wars of the era.

[mickeymousebiker1]

The voice of a generation (the 1960s). This still applies even more to the 21st century. Where is the TRUE individualism that made America great? Are we truly free? We need not ask "who's 'trending' now." Work on being individual --original. THAT"S freedom!

[blueticecho]

I just love that janglin Ric  !

[jaytf1231]

Johhny Barbata also played for the Jefferson Airplane/Starship.

[pkappel006]

@jaytf1231 what year, what was his instrument

[SEVFEST]

Love the Mikes : )

[leapinturtle]

The drummer here is not John Barbata, who came later, but Don Murray. R.I.P. Don.

[earthstudent2012]

drummer Johnny Barbata went on to drum for CSNY a few years later

[makingsense53]

If a band like Matchbox Twenty came out with a song like this today it would be a huge hit. Peace.

[solidarity4]

A great Turtles tune that is not over-played. The music of the 1960's will never be repeated.

[gayboylaca]

great song

[LizBoyle]

Wow, my daughter has Asperger's, so it's cool that I stumbled upon your post while seeking out songs from one of my fave groups! You're right, great song for Aspies. Actually, my Aspie girl has seen Flo and Eddie in concert, twice. She is a very talented singer/songwriter and she needs to cover this!!!!

[HippieJimi]

I'm not a piece of clay....

To mold to your mood each day...

[HippieJimi]

I said that's all I ever can be..............

[HippieJimi]

It may sound good to you.....Not to me...

[BeatleBangs1964]

This is the autism/Asperger's anthem. Flo & Eddie, on behalf of everybody on the spectrum, a heartfelt THANK YOU!

Your spectrum friends live by the message in this song.

[Nefarioso]

Too bad they left out a verse, though.

[Nefarioso]

This was their best song, so overlooked for the likes of bubblegum stuff like Eleanor and Happy Together.