Spencer Davis Group - I'm a Man

[jacqueclouseau]

.

Great 60's! ;o)

[dantean]

Much as I love Stevie Winwood (in this, his blue-eyed soul period, pre-solo career) he appears NEVER to have had the pipes to give a full accounting of soul music singing. I love his tone and choice of notes, but MAN, does his voice pull up short every time. Hear him sing the word "man" here and in your head you can hear EVERY genuine soul singer who ever lived extend the note through at least two measures. Meanwhile, poor Stevie's unable to get through one. He's a hero of mine nonetheless.

[dac10012]

@dantean In defense of Winwood, he was obviously hoarse during this set. In the accompanying band interview video he is chain smoking. Please check out his rendition of "Georgia on My Mind" on my channel. I think he more adequately displays his soul bona fides with that tune. Never say NEVER :) Thanks.

[difolk]

@dantean I too prefer Winwood in his pre-solo career (I actually really don't like his solo songs but otherwise am a HUGE fan). But unlike U, his voice performances never disappointed me. Of course he is not a Sam Cooke, but in his style, he has a perfect mastery of his "instrument". He arrives to output great emotions w/out having to hold crazy notes like some "too involved" actual "singers". His timbre is so warm and rich that he doesn't need to make too much frills for it's f***ing beautiful.

[dantean]

How does he not know how to pronounce the damn tune's name!? It's "I'M A Man," not "I Am A Man." Duh!

[MrXxxzzzqqq]

TOO HOT TO TOUCH!!!!

[waybear7]

I agree with PaleBlue498

[Djibaz]

It reminds me of Flash Man from Mega Man 2.

[girlfemalewoman]

The subtitle is in Finnish! : )

[muddyboyc]

Looks like 45 people don't like Steve being a man.

[PumaTwoU]

Every day I thank God for the invention of the Hammond B3 organ.

[motorcop01]

@PumaTwoU I don't believe I ever saw a B3 without reversed black / white presets or flip down presets like the one in this video....

[TheoGallagher]

@motorcop01 is this an m3?

[motorcop01]

@TheoGallagher I don't recall any of the Hammonds having that type of flip down presets - the L series had beveled keys and the M series didn't have anything across the top of the case like that.....almost anything sounded good thru the old Leslie cabinets.....

[motorcop01]

@TheoGallagher on further down a fellow called b3nut sez it's an M-103 spinet - sounds good to me.....

I'm just glad we don't have to lug those things around anymore!

[PumaTwoU]

@motorcop01 Yes, those are not the B3 sliders - I will have to see what organ he has there.

[zipazoid]

That's why Steve Winwood is the best - and btw, he e 15 years old in that vid.

[AURORA4105]

bellissimo !!!

Bravo Steve

[RetardedWa1rus]

how have I not heard this band before? That was awesome.

[ATMABRAHM]

one of the rock eras best songs,very well crafted ,driving sound cooking with gas.

[baird55aus]

@RTSRAZORBACK I don't believe you were by yourself in that thought by any means.

[paleblue498]

Ah, the days when real musicians made amazing music. And today? Ex-drug dealers, pimps, gang members spouting grade 3 rhymes...I pity today's teens- nothing but shit and more shit to listen to...Too bad kids, you missed the greatest era for real music and real musicians.

[cooldt]

I never knew this was Steve Winwood! I actually thought this was a black R&B band! -.-

[draguljche83]

@cooldt

+1 :)

[alexlancer11]

Wow you can really tell how exciting things are at this time with all the great times and music. This is fantastic I always thought this song was the start of Traffic in many ways.

[kookybaby19]

i hate men.

[nikstefonov]

@kookybaby19 me too... they're bloody bastards

[DKAGAN49]

Actually, Winwood was 15 when they recorded this and released it. He's 16 or 17 in this video

[ausfuhrpramienjagar]

You can see Steve had an incredible amount of talent at an early age!......"Jagar"

[ausfuhrpramienjagar]

Pretty ironic that Steve would sing about being a man since he was only 19 yrs old in this video! And, he plays a mean Hammond B-3 organ as well......"Jagar"

[Nitecrawlor1]

another white band/group or artist who sings black people music. this is pure GOSPEL, soul, funk, and RnB music and it ROCKS!!!

[rufuskran]

...all that groovy stuff.. I am so glad I was born in the early 50's. What a time for music!!!mmmm

[psycheric50]

@rufuskran agree, at that time we had so many good bands and songs (too many) !!!

[BobkerYa]

:megusta:

[stevesjp001]

Pure, Raw, Plug and play REAL MUSIC!! Nothing like today! Damn I  love youtube!

[RTSRAZORBACK]

not gonna lie, I thought the vocalist was black... and I don't mean this to be racist for anyone who may assume it is.

[schmui]

@RTSRAZORBACK no, totally understand you. i was shocked when i saw that tiny, pale wimp.

[sebastiansap2003]

@schmui That wimp is the musical prodigy Steve Winwood Singer, songwriter, and a man who can play just about every musical instrument in existence

[schmui]

@sebastiansap2003 no news to me, but thanks.

[JustunLivae]

@RTSRAZORBACK i did too. :P



[CastinCouchnCatwalk]

@RTSRAZORBACK Well I'm black and I thought he was black too!

[lesterclaypool1]

@RTSRAZORBACK most do until they find out ,,,

[doofus67]

@RTSRAZORBACK the mans got soul.

[cheezer57]

@RTSRAZORBACK Doesn't surprise me..I believe it was Pete Townsend who told Eric Clapton that there is this 17 year old kid singing in one of the local clubs, who was doing Ray Charles songs, almost to a tee..Clapton thought he was full of shit, until he heard him.

[autobot69000]

@RTSRAZORBACK hey i did too!

[joerancho67]

love the Organ....yea baby

[Rotis59]

@joerancho67 : that is what most listeners thought back in 1967 when this song was a hit here in the U.S.

[zagork]

the very talented "pete york" on drums

[rvisual]

great live performance - love the tech discussion on the organ.

[sweetmay73]

white boys don't sing like this anymore ...*sigh*

[TheB3Nut]

The Hammond is an M-102 spinet model. I see Leslie switches but if a Leslie is connected it's either stopped or the organ is running through a straight amp, there's no rotary sound and the only animation is the organ's scanner vibrato (the tab he keeps switching is the Vibrato Cancel tab.) He's got the Vibrato Celeste II tab down, too.

[fleighton]

this is "Comin Home Baby" by Bob Dorough

[MrStevecro]

fantastic post, thanks.

Always thought two of the great voices of the sixties were the two young Stevie's ...

Stevie Winwood and Steve Marriott of Small Faces (see Small Faces "tin soldier")

[bethany3844]

Steve Winwood was all of 19, and already a five-year veteran of the Spencer Davis Group. Amazing.

[xYOCOM5x]

I was 5 yrs old when this came out, 7 when Layla came out . Loved it then, love it now.

[paynecharles500]

Still sounds good. Matter of fact, sounds better now. Maybe I just appreciate the music we had. Deep basses, good rythem and smooth flowing voices. Oh yeah!

[ModernSaxDotCom]

What model of organ is Winwood playing on

[DrTimMaack]

@ModernSaxDotCom Most likely it is a Hammond B-3 organ with Leslie sound cabinet.

[ModernSaxDotCom]

@DrTimMaack Thanks Dr.!

[hipmusic222js]

love these guys best times ever

[fabulousvintage]

Sounds like Stevie Ray & the guy from the THUNDERBIRDS! LUV these guys!

[vidform]

I was brought here by the 1978 disco version of this song by a band called Macho. I can say that I like both the original here and the disco version.

[cubachang]

I was born in 67.. I can feel this for sure!

[MusikerosOficial]

1:28 Paul McCartney and Freddy Mercury??

[skaworld509]

Makes me feel alive

[FrapsYou]

VW polo ad brought me here.

[DaphneRhiannon]

steve winwood...........

[jazzjanne1]

Awesome



[Hollyavh]

I was 13 and while everyone was going gaga over Beetles, I was in another world of AM radio, going nuts over Spencer Davis, Frank Zappa, Stones, Velvet Underground. Saved by Rock and Roll. Literally. (st9ll cant' spell)

[nutleyguitar1968]

Written by Steve Winwood and record producer Jimmy Miller. Chicago later recorded this.

[jaysirrock]

Call me Fitz!!!!

[kenmtb]

Isn't LIVE music great :)

[TheLocalAuthority]

He looks so happy singing. So amazing.

[357HFC]

Years ahead of their time. Zombies a similar ilk

[km6xu]

I love those cheap Hammond church organs. They were designed to do vibrato and tremelo, but it was the harmonics and especially the chromatics that give them life.

[km6xu]

I was young when this song appeared on the airwaves, and that Stevie Winwood sang so well, I just assumed that he was a black guy!

[stinamom]

I love Stevie Winwood. Unfortunately I can't share this. So sexie!

[Hvacrmitch]

Hard to believe, but Steve Winwood was only 15 at the time they recorded this song. FIFTEEN!! He is probably older in this vid, but originally 15. No wonder he has lasted so long!

[Akindone53]

@Hvacrmitch 19 years old, if this is from 67



[Hvacrmitch]

@Akindone53 To the best of my recollection, according to rock&roll legend, Steve Winwood was 15 when he first recorded his first hit. I believe, tho I may be wrong, that "I'm a Man" with the Spencer Davis Group was that first hit. If it wasn't this exact version, my apologies. But, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

[Akindone53]

@Hvacrmitch No argument here, yes he was 15 when they recorded I Am A Man , 14 when he joined the group. I was agreeing with your statement about he was older when they made this video, (19 years old) born May 1948. By the way I still have the 45, I bought it Brand New. ( set me back about 74 cents tax included ) Yes it is trashed from playing it to death. LOL Always was a fan since The Spencer Davis Group. Thanks for the reply..

[Hvacrmitch]

@Akindone53 If the '53' is your birth year we are the same age, and share some memories. I googled Steve Winwood's discography, wow. Never realized how prolific he really has been. The years, songs, and groups kind of run together, to see it all in writing is impressive. What a great artist!

[ProcolHarum1967]

@Hvacrmitch More like 17 or 18

[padsta298]

What a twat efebrahim is... Couldn't write a lyric if he tried.. Fool

[hhelpmaboab]

I saw Chicago do this live in Texas when I lived there.

They were supporting The Beach Boys, and Brian Wilson was wheeled on in a sort of trolley rather like Hannibal Lecter in prison.

[drz860]

YOUTUBE . A Place to preserve our musical history and to be praised for it. That performance was wonderful. WE NEED TO SAVE OUR MUSICAL HERITAGE!

[JimmyPage97]

@drz860 YOUTUBE . The home land of the current wave of irritating childhood stardom. 

[Royales00]

@drz860 i hope you mean our heritage from the american south

[efebrahim]

very very childish lyrics

[bmwloco]

You gotta love Steve Winwood. All these decades later, he is still making great music!

[Montery12]

What made Chicago so fantastically good over anybody else in the 1960s; yes, including The Spencer Davis Group, The Beatles, The 4 Tops and son, was their artisanship in playing just about any musical piece known to mankind. For them to play just about any string and wind was a no-brainer. The original group consisted of seven members, featuring traditional rock instruments combined with a versatile list of brass instruments including a saxophone, trombone, and trumpet (Wikipedia, 2011).

[decado67]

@Montery12 music is subjective...



[silat13]

@Montery12 you are entitled to your opinion but it isnt mine....:)

[eluap]

I miss the 20th Century...

[THETRUEROCKERCHICK]

@eluap Me too!!!!!!!

[MisterCaco]

Searchiiiiiiing

Seek and destroy!!

[skeletonkey6]

Man, that Hammond B-3 sounds just like on the record, amazing.

[MajikMijit]

Genius, and for all the temptation I think that's the first time I've used that word in public (some internaut will promptly prove me wrong). I've heard it said so often that I've never thought to question it, but ... 17 years old? It would still be genius if he'd finally achieved it only last week.

[uncdon1114]

Steve wrote it, played and sang it at the age of 17. Amazing young talent that brought so much to the music world over the years.

[kamelot4ever902]

The soulful sounds of little Stevie Winwood....Sharing some of these classics with my son's. 20 and 18 years old

[richyfitz10]

avery young stevie winwood...

[liwmld]

little Stevie Winwood.. the little guy with a great big voice. i always loved him.

[aimeemannfan2010]

Outstanding! Doesn't get any better than this. Great post. Thanks!

[annemarieclaudia]

I feel so lucky to have been born in the fifties....all that good music we had in the sixties and seventies. I think it was the best of all times... I still enjoy listening to it now and it brings back so many good memories. I think we can call those songs classics it will never fade.

[icespeckledhen]

@annemarieclaudia I feel lucky to have been born in the 40's and the 50's had some great music too

[annemarieclaudia]

@icespeckledhen  yes, I agree with you. I love the music of those years too .

[divisorplot]

Platinum past!

[spyderj1999]

This is the BOMB!!!!! Steve was definitely influenced by brother Ray. But then again, who wasn't!!! lol

[LazzariJ]

I'm a man Betty mmmmm...

[apologiamixer]

Pretty funky stuff for some white Brits. Brings back lots of memories.

[OlsenFairReview]

Steve winwood would be like.. 19 years old there? awesome!

[klawrence738]

Stevie Winwood a long time ago! Blind Faith, Traffic and one heck of a solo career. Great and gifted man. 

[archillesheel1]

@klawrence738 too true i agree...!!!

[MisterMushr00m]

Wow.

I was born 27 years after this performance was released...

Gonna kill my mum & dad : "Why the **** didn't ya **** in the 40's ?"

[HoneypieTheLover]

@MisterMushr00m I doubt your parents were alive in the forties, but I share your sentiment.

(My parents weren't even teenagers when this was performed!)

[MisterMushr00m]

@HoneypieTheLover Well you're right, they weren't. They should have said it to their own parents too then =D

[MixingMuesli]

@MisterMushr00m 'cause your parents weren't born at that time

[MisterMushr00m]

@MixingMuesli Well they should've been. =)

[Ashgrove17]

@MisterMushr00m If they had done as you say, you'd be a pensioner now (like me!) Ha ha

[TheSunbau]

Yes, it still rocks!!!! And I was 22 and still dig it. Steve, the voice, Winwood is absolutely outstanding. What a feeling.

Two years earlier, in 1965, I was completely swallowed up by a band called THE ZETTLERS. Check out their version of "Skinnie Minnie" and "Beautiful Delilah". During the mid-60's it was cool, among my friends, to dig a totally unknown band. The Zettlers was my favorite.

[RCWellington]

Good sound even after all these years, thanks you tube

[Flunder]

damn man? that rocks! I was 15.still dig it.

[vector226]

I never knew it until last year but Stevie played lead guitar on "Dear Mr. Fantasy". Found out when I got Eric Claptons Crossroads DVD. This guy is truly a Rock and Roll legend! As far as singers sounding black, you have to put Bob Seger at the top of that list.

[scoonman]

@vector226 Not that "sounding black" should be ones calling card, but since you are going down that road, I think Paul Carrack is the best singer ever in that vein.

[themaninblack1874]

smashing..

[emilita28]

Spencer who?;)

[cocakoehler78]

@PaulXPZ: It´s written by Stevie Winwood and James Miller.

[winggoddess]

this particular song reminds me of procol harum. maybe the zombies too.

[bbrandonnow]

one of the most influential rock songs of that time...sounds strange today, but still is strong and exciting...Steve was and still is one of the greatest British rocker...tnx!

[TrueZeal]

@bbrandonnow - Reminds me of church. LOL! The 60s rocked!

[bbrandonnow]

one of the most influential rock songs of that time...sounds strange today, but still is strong and exciting...S

teve was and still is one of the greatest British rocker...tnx!

[imadbasayev]

Winwood was 19 when he wrote/sang this. Today's capri/murse wearing metro-homo's couldn't even keep a straight face if they sang the chorus.

[PaulXPZ]

@imadbasayev did he write this? I thought this was a Chicago song...

[AlisoViejoMan]

Man that Stevie Winwood is probably one the most underrated figures in rock history

[chester57ify]

@AlisoViejoMan  I agree he 'd have deserved more success abroad but to be honest, I believe he's always been quite popular in Britain. He's one of the greatest artists of the 60s. He was only a young boy when he started and he's managed to renew himself and his music over the decades; people who enjoy good music know he's a great musician. He's kind of a legend to me, because he's always been around since I was a little boy and everything he's done, as far as I'm concerned, he's done it well.

[quicky2103]

When they played this song for the very first time, do you think they all creamed in their pants because of how bad ass it was?

[KayleighKatsy394]

love this song, but the guys going "woooooooo" in the background of the verses is really annoying...

[lulu97764]

there's another version, well, another song by muddy waters. This guy has a great voice...

[TREYOLDHIPPIE]

44 years ago.. chillin guys with a legacy that keeps on grabbin more fans

[csnymoodiesfan]

Wow! Now that's what I call real music!!!

[juancavar]

This is a jewel!!!!!

[marrrrrrks]

that guy has a great voice

[Greektome1]

thank you YOU TUBE, you are our time machine whenever we urge to escape from this decade..........

[cboncklis]

@Greektome1 Amen to this! :o)  I believe there is an incentive now to invent a time travelling machine. Let's get out of here!

[Vachik1396]

Seeeeeeeaarchin, seek and destroy !

[fmaykall]

wow

[phobias1000]

He seemed to have the lyrics and formula at a very early age!!A gr eat organ player too!!

[WooodyWooden]

holy crap thats funny BUT, KILLER X MILLIONS on I'm a Man! PEACEout...

[TheNoisePolluter]

I thought a black guy sang this?

[mediterraneanqueen]

@TheNoisePolluter lol hell no! the one and only steve winwood babeeee! if you haven't already, check out "valerie" by him. click on the video that says "video" after valerie. the first video is like the original or something. but the one that was released in '87, (OMG im getting old! lol) is the awesome one

[thissitesucks74]

@TheNoisePolluter Steve Winwood was only about 16 when he did this.

[chester57ify]

@thissitesucks74 no, i must have been about 19 when he did this. I believe he was born in 1948. He started performing at the age of 16 - 17, tha's why they used to call him Stevie: he was just a teenager.

[winggoddess]

@TheNoisePolluter it does sound like that!

[DCvids]

@TheNoisePolluter I think everybody did, including me.

[DebsNIreland]

@TheNoisePolluter I no what u mean - when I first heard Suzi Quatro sing Can the Can - I thought it was being sung by a 20 st Aretha Franklin lookalike lol

[difolk]

Unbelievable!! this skinny white guy! He's got a powerful black man in the throat!!

[68generation]

One of the most diggin tunes of the Sixties!! Stevie's voice is super, and he was so young LOL...still great even today!!!

[fornatubation]

That is the famous Hammond B-3 organ. If you notice he changes the tone many times throughout the song. John Lord of Deep Purple and many many others used this instrument

[stopitu09]

@fornatubation

B3 had drawbars not switches...I'm thinking this is a Wurlitzer

[mitzworld]

@stopitu09 its a hammond m-102 with no lesley

I have one drawbars are on left side

it sounds nasty

[neodog1776]

this is the shit

[userboy6]

"and my toilet's trimmed with chrome", classic, just fuckin' classic!

[mrjohn1964]

No words to express what is hear Steve Winwood singing.

[Planktontwo]

34 people are not men.  Probably wimps or losers

[Valder95]

Заебись, чётко.

[Boyonspace]

...... Must be one of the most soulful white man I ever heard, awesome:)

[nemrac76]

I can't stop watching this over and over again! Probably the best bass intro ever.

Winwood's voice sounds awesome and what a great rock n roll tune.

Pete York was using twice as many cymbals as most drummers did in those days.

[kowoh]

nah not rascist , white people can be funky lol

[jasonpp1973]

Pete York is one of the most underrated drummers ever!

[HypermysticsonicHMSX]

awesome song!

[imjustpassinthru]

Chicago did this number too and did it well. I'm going to go search for that.

[mtambraj]

Well, I guess my first comment was too much. Let just say gotta love this MAN!!!!! His music is fantastic and older songs are timeless and ageless. Better?

[mtambraj]

Whewwwwwwwwwww..... You certainly are a MAN!!!!!!!!!!!

[AshStrat1]

This band needs nothing other than the people playing here , no one can do it better

these guys wrote the songs everyone wanted to write and played and sung them to perfection , without effects to hide behind .

[Edellakavija]

Finnish subs, hehee. Never known that musicants this caliber, been here, in finland this early. Amazing!

[nasahu01]

1966 Kisstadion! :)

[hombrejota]

Ya despiertate nena ! sube al rayo al fin ! Ya despiertate nena ! sube al rayo al fin y asi veraaaas, lo bello y dulce que es amaaar !!

[ger18kt]

Love this song....

[tinocojohn1]

i love this version just as much as chicagos sooo bitchin!!!!!

[TheIrishlad12]

winwood was about 17 in this