Added: 4 years ago
From: pmotown
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  • reminds me a lot "black magic woman"- santana!!

  • When i hear this all i can picture is like a like a long old skool lincoln or cadillac cruisin down a city block back in the day. Look all slick lol...

  • good job with the video... don't apologize.

  • i finaly found this awsome song.

  • love this song and my dad still play it til this day

  • Junior Walker and fellow R&B great King Curtis never got their just due from the hardcore jazz guys, but they were great musicians all the same, and fabulous entertainers, too. This is where guys like the late Clarence Clemons came from...

  • I have loved Jr. Walker's music for as long as I can recall, and was privileged to hear him live back in the 1980s before cancer claimed him. What a wonderful and talented performer - pure class and an all-time great to be sure. This song is one of this best, and so atmospheric and moody...

  • cleo mood and cleo back junior and the all stars this is music.

  • Why doesn't this have more views?!!?

  • superb

  • Awesome :)

  • Listening to the stereo edit, you can hear the organ more.

  • <3 this

  • I would have loved to hear Jr. Walker or Booker T back up Otis Redding instead of the Barkays.

  • @Bamaboompa  That's a great thought. I'd never thought of that.

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  • a real good slow dance if you know what I mean, you can really get into to it. I loved it then and love just as much now, Oh it makes me feel so fine.

  • superb

  • So mellow, so much soul. No one will ever compete with his sound! A master of soul!

  • the boat that rocked!

  • Good stuff. Takes me back to the days before I was even born.

  • Jr. Walker's solo on the song 'Urgent' is one of the funkiest soul sax solo-13 seconds ever recorded...............it just sends you from Earth to Mars in about 2 Quasars of a 9th dimension.

  • @beaconmike: "Urgent" was a great hard rock tune, with Junior's sax fill - but it doesn't compare to his classic work. Do yourself a favor and pick up his LP "Shotgun" from his Motown days. You'll be glad you did. It has several other classics besides this one.

  • @GeorgiaBoy1961 I do have all of his classic work..............thanks.

  • The absolute baddest Jr. Walker tune ever. If you were at a really good party with friends and someone played Cleo's Back and Cleo's Mood then your chances increased for a successful conclusion of the evening. I'm sure you know what I mean. In the trying, sometimes dangerous and violent times of the 60's soul was one thing that brought a lot of us together. Jr. Walker was a big part of it.

  • 1st Track on the first album I bought,,, the album was shotgun,,, I think l played it out. I bought it in november 66,,, and l still have that album.... l saw Junior at the City hall in sheffield... England in 67.... one of the Greats...

  • coo jam...

  • Coolest blues ever.

  • I am an old friend of Shellplanter.

    Can you play Cleos back  please

  • The Images don't have to match the sounds – it's pure Junior Walker at his best and that's all that counts.

  • Correct. Organ pedal bass. Ain't nothin' like it! Also, the thing is in Ab minor! OW!

  • 7 people are deaf

  • 7 people do not understand cleo's mood

  • 45's rule.

  • hey shell planter told you so 3 years ago. lol

  • I asked for Cleos mood to be put on by Shellplanter years ago. Eventually he did.

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  • Great song. Smooth and easy and that Sax has a sound all it's own.

  • Those that like Junior Walker thank you

  • Thanks for putting this one up. This guy was my inspiration and led to my semi-professional career in music. Saw him in '68 with pretty much the same band as on the b&w video except no bass player- the organ player was playing the bass on the B3 foot pedals (I think this studio cut of Cleo's Mood was also recorded that way).

  • The FB weren't a backup back fool, the artist were the backup

  • love this song

  • I LIKE JUNIOR  WALKER

  • I got to see and meet him at one of his last shows before he went to the sax motherland in the sjy..................

  • Soul music,at its best,has Mystical powers......

  • @postatility Right on.... always felt that way. 

  • I heard this song in a movie, but never knew who played the music. Love this song! Thanks this on Youtube!

  • battle of the sax....who would win? Junior Walker vs. King Curtis

  • @d820m Who will win? The people listening in, as they would probably hear songs so smooth, so good, that they must be from the realm beyond...

  • @GalaxyGuy12 Thank you for saying it so nicely! G Guy 12 is probably saying the same thing now.The next best question is, Who will receive some great music via email, or just get some more motown and send??? All my family would love it, which is how i'm gonna spread the joy.ENJOY

  • @d820m Maceo Parker.

  • @d820m: Definitely a tie!

  • i want to have sex with this tune

  • where is shell planter now?

    we go back a few years

  • this is on my alarm clock for 3 years now, and I like it even more than I did back when I first heard it, you can't get tired of this, pure classic

  • just raw funk, that is all i have to say

  • Awesome !! I think Marvin Gaye tipped his hat to Junior in naming one his tracks on his 1970's album Trouble Man after this.

  • Hey Jr God has blessed you with a brand new granddaughter. Her name is Emma.

  • Peculiar how death usually proves to be the prerequisite for fame.

    In his earlier career at Motown and on into his latter career, Jr. Walker was regarded by Motown executives and the charm school crowd to be almost incidental, even 2nd tier in terms of his popularity and profit potential.

    But genuine musicians 'knew' his musical ability, and respected it; -- alas, pop audiences always favor vocalists over musical instruments. He simply was 'not' a singer -- his one critical downside.

  • @groupshot well put it this way..he becam a credible "vocalist" but he really "SANG" on the tenor sax

  • nice video work.........

  • thats the jam it does not get more OG then that

  • I love both of the Cleo's jams. "Mood & Back" Jr. Walker is a one of a kind.

  • Does anyone know what ever happened to Jr? I bet if he is still playing some place he still has an audience!

  • @loralie5974 Jr. passed away from cancer in 1995, but you may be right : If there is any kind of an afterlife, he's probably still wowing the crowds...

  • @loralie5974: Sad to tell you, he passed away about twenty years ago of cancer. I was fortunate-enough to attend one of his live performances before he died, and it was a very memorable experience, one of the best live R&B shows I've ever seen.

  • Sorry but who dislikes this? Wanna get their ears tested.......... fucking idiots!

  • Slow dance. Deep groove. Grind. Sax stroking the night time air like lovers in passionate heat. Soul music when it totally earned the title Soul music, 'cause that is what that style of music reflected. Pure beauty on a 45 RPM disc(or 33 1/3rd). A song from Motown that didn't have the usual "Motown sound"-- it was all Jr.Walker and his boys, doing only what they could do best, laying it down for all to absorb, like hot fluid emollient soothing away the pains of our busy day, promising relief.

  • @MrJamesrnolan technically this was NOT a Motown song...Motown bought the rights to it later but it was originally recorded on Harvey Records

  • @sonwamac Yes I knew that already, though it is a useful fact to bring up for those unaware of it. When you really listen to Jr.'s work however, one realizes that a lot of it is much more bluesy or rough-edged compared to the slicker Motown-related releases of that era (The Contours were considered too "raw and blunt" for a Motown act as well). Later efforts like "What Does It Take" or "Walk In the Night", though somewhat softer in tone, contained a grit that differed from Motown's usual stuff.

  • @MrJamesrnolan it was said of Jr. Walker that Mr. Gordy said to "let Junior cut the way he is" it wasn't until What Does It Take or maybe some of the earlier cuts that his sessions were run in the usual "assembly line" production

  • @MrJamesrnolan A lot of Junior's songs didn't get the Motown "assembly-line" treatment.....the edict from Berry Gordy was to "let Junior cut the way he is" with his All-Stars, it wasn't until later songs like "What Does It Take(To Win Your Love)

  • @d820m i now realize i posted something similar to this to you a while back....sorry

  • PURE FUNK !!!!!!!!!  " MUSIC "

  • Yea, total sex. If you like this listen to the X rated Sax of Monk Higgins's "Gotta be funky" it will turn your toes. Go on don't be a pussy try it !!

  • absutely superb

    

  • SEX!!!

  • ♫♫♫ What a great groove. ♫♫♫

  • great groove !!!

  • This song is baaad. Jr. Walker doesn't get near enough credit.

  • terbaek.....

  • Swing'n'roll!

    Just listen to the drums and it can't be unheard! It's undoubtedly swing'n'roll :D

  • what a jazz tune :) fab init :)

  • I always thought the title was "Cleo's MOVED".

  • An angelic pearl white '64 Chevy Impala SS lowered to the earth with deep Astro supremes, ultra tinted widows and a Pioneer 8 track tape deck ... SoCal city lites and ... "Cleo's Mood" ;-)

  • Back in 1966 this song was terriffic to listen to and it still is. It will really crank up a stereo in the car or at home. You will have to get up and dance.

    Jr. Walker Forever

  • @GS455Stage1 and drive real slow cause thats what I do when I'm crusing to it

  • @GS455Stage1 this song was originally released in 1962 on the Harvey label, and when Tri-Phi merged with Motown, it was rereleased in 1966

  • @MotownMaster: Motown Master, any chance you know the band behind Junior on the original recording? I've been a Motown fan for years, but haven't been able to track that down...

  • @GS455Stage1 I agree with you and also dont forget that cold beer or that cigarette too after a long day... just makes you wanna hold tight your lady and dance slow....

  • @TheTalentedMrRipley1 Thanks for the positive response to my comment of Jr. Walker's "Cleo's Mood". I have always enjoyed the many songs by this great artist. Also, one of my favorites is "Cleo's Back".

    Too bad this type of good music doesn't exits today. We're very thankful that there's a place to listen / enjoy / remember this good music.

    Jr. Walker Forever

  • @TheTalentedMrRipley1 Yes, you're so correct. This song along with all of Jr. Walker's hits really made you want to get up and dance. There are a lot of really good things about growing up during this wonderful musical time in the U.S. Most of all being present and witnessing this lovely form of True "Soul Music" at its best. What's truly sad though, I believe we all thought as time went by, the music would get even better, however as we witness today, that's truly not the case.

  • So beautiful !!!!!!!

    ♥♥♥

  • what a tune

  • love it love it love it! thanks a bundle!!!

  • I love the beggining ! Such good stuff !

  • one word "Smooth"

  • @Ballerfella2007 now this is the TRUTH

  • this is the best cruzin song.

  • man this has a killer groove to it ...what an over looked song ..best on motown i'd say

  • Does anyone know where one can find the Guitar Tabs for this song?

    It's such a great song, I would love to learn how to play at least the guitar part

    -thanks for posting =)

  • @natepinto444: I don't have the tab handy, but you don't need them on this tune, whose guitar part is simple but effective. It's done mostly in single notes on the lower strings, using simple pentatonic patterns. The bass and guitar track together in part of the song, so if you lose your way, come back to the bass. It also always helps to figure out the basic chord structure and form of the tune. Good luck, and don't forget to mute with your picking hand as you pick.

  • I was just listening to the soundtrack for 'Pirate Radio' and after hearing Jr. Walker there came and found this. Nice footage! Thanks!

  • 1965-The greatest Sax player. His music will always be remembered as smooth Soul music.

    Sport67

  • muy avanzados para su epoca.Seguro que en su epoca no se comian un rosco.increible.

  • Cool stuff

  • Im just tripin with it. It is sooooo good.

  • When music was music!.

  • yea just watched it again it's the old film

    ok  watch it from a distance Al

  • Played this in the group to give the singer a break. Never failed to get the girl's dancing. Love the Hammond B-3 sound as backup and the reverb on the horn. Single note sax back up also distinguished a real horn player who could stand alone.

  • @trydreamin I totally agree, He's my favorite saxiphonist of all times.

  • Great tune! Everytime I hear this I think of the young Jackson 5 performing in those night clubs when they were very young. This is the song they played on "American Dream" for a stripper as those young boys snuck backstage to watch. :)

  • to dedwards921: the song you are looking for might be "Satan's Blues"

  • this videos the "what does it take" video. haha

  • yeah and the second half's from a David Letterman appearance that is so old Paul Shaeffer had hair

  • thank you for your reply, shell planter was here a long time ago, he was ok

  • By the way Jan9902 you are dead on about the two tracks "Cleo's Mood" and "Cleo's Back"...Cleo's Back" is wonderful but "Cleo's Mood" thrills me to no end...Never get tired of hearing it...can't get enough of it

  • u ok? aspergers?

  • don't get that...aspergers?...ya got me on that one...

  • paste and post?

  • sorry don't know why I said that

  • does not get much better

  • One of my all time favorite songs. period.

  • Where is music like this today!

  • Great tune! I had thought this was on Jr. Walker's all-instrumental album "Soul Session" but it turns out it was on the instrumental side of the LP "Shotgun." Both of those were fine albums.

  • So rough! So tough!

  • luv the way he played the Sax.

  • love this song...but does anyone remember another record, can't remember the name of it, but just instrumental like Cleo's Mood, a great two-step record by Jr. Walker.I've tried all of the songs on you tube list,not there???

  • Try "Cleo's Back" from the same year , which was a similar instrumental, though not quite as good, in my opinion, dedwards921.

  • shellplanter first played cleos back on here, I told him there was Cleos mood, eventually he found it. cleos back is good but not as good as cleo.s mood

  • Great track...Jr Walker and the All Stars Cleo's Mood, sounds Even Better on a brand new CD. Has to be one of the best soul instrumentals on Motown. It'll give other Soul label, instrumentals a run for their money too!!

  • As a matter of fact this isn't even really a Motown tune...It was cut a few years before Jr. Walker was signed to Motown (it might have come out on the Anna label the one owned by B. Gordy's sister) but when Jr. Walker signed with Motown they took over ownership of many of his tracks done with his previous label including this one..however Motown 'specially in the early days cut many a funky track including some outright blues for Mary Wells the Temps and Marvin Gaye

  • thank you for the information, you say might have come out of the Anna label..What was his previous label?

  • thanks Jan9902 actually I was mistaken. someone i knew actually had an old 45 of it and its on the "Harvey" label. As in Harvey Fuqua the guy who brought Marvin Gaye to Motown. I had guessed Anna records because Anna was Anna Gordy who was Berry's sister and eventually married Harvey Fuqua. But Fuqua had a stable of artists on his roster and eventually many if not most of them came over to Motown as did many if not most of the artists on the Anna label.

  • @sonwamac Harvey Fuqua married Gwen Gordy, another of Berry's sisters....Anna married Marvin Gaye....

  • @d820m Yes..and before that when Fuqua had "Harvey" records Gwen and Anna had a company together called "Anna" records . and some of those artists they had eventually came over to Motown too...it was all kinda Musically insestous

  • @sonwamac have you seen or purchased any of the recent CD sets on Motown....every last A and B sides, Promo cuts, songs that should have been hits, all the way back to the earliest days.....see Hip-O select .com for more info

  • I just Tweeted to Diddy that this is my theme song. I'm not nearly as cool as this song, but I've always aspired to be. I suppose it's how I see myself on the inside.

  • Jr Walker at his absolute best! Saw him in '67, and he still makes me sweat. Brilliant!!

  • this is so 1960's nitetime coo lol

  • Pure Sax.x.

  • jackson 5 american dream movie - stripper night club scene...great stuff. "mother will kill us...."

  • as I await my first grandchild and no-one appreciated this music back then and now some do I will just have to telll her!! Glad u guys do

  • dedcated to Charlotte 8ibs 2ozs 30/6/2009

    from her nan.

  • what an ace tune ...

    A Bronx Tale - What an ace movie!

  • in the bronx tale, scene where c see's jane on the bus

  • no, where he walks her home, mate!

  • damn! quentin tarantino should have put this track in pulp fiction!!!!!

  • Unfreakin believable Feanic...I always thought EXACTLY the same thing...this track so should have been used in Pulp Fiction...I'll tell ya exactly where...it shoulda been used when Vincent leaves Lance's house on the way to pick up Mia after shooting the heroin...yup...I believe ideas exist in the atmosphere somewhere and our brains tune in to 'em...that's the only explanation for some things...except somehow Quentin Tarantino missed it

  • true

  • told you shell planter!!!!

    some time ago ?

    but thank you for that

    perhaps listners might like cleos back

    same sax

  • Any idea what kind of saxophone he is using in the song?

  • It's an air saxophone.

  • Ah, thanks!

  • I think its an alto sax - but video is not.

  • BTW y'all they're showing a bass player in theband in this footage but this beautiful walking grooving bass on this track is being supplied by the organ player and his foot pedals

  • I had this tune in my head for days and couldn't figure out what it was.. then it came to me.... Junior walker...

    what a great tune... so full of.... what's the word ? someone help me out here...

  • The word is...SOUL

  • Yes of course soul and then some but I was thinking more along the lines of the tune having a haunting quality to it.

    I met JW briefly many years ago back stage at the Astoria in London... He blew the house down that night.... Memories...

  • Haunting...its definitely that...when this came out circa '63 or so the expression "soul music" wasn't quite a common one yet...this defines that expression as well as any song ever recorded...but the melody is haunting...AND mysterious...just who IS Cleo anyway

  • It's even in stereo.... digg that!

  • I heard this yeeeeears ago, loved it to bits..... and never found out who sang it or what it was called... just saw 'cleos mood on here and thought... hmmm that title sounds sorta familiar... i wonder! Yaay! cool I love it! Cheers! :)

  • Shell planter found this for me, he was playing Cleo's back and didn't appear to know about Cleo's mood on the first side of Shotgun. Don't diss him he was great and may have done this before you?

  • ah the memories!!

  • Bad ass song! Love it!

  • Is this the original or what? I've heard this by every blues great I know.

  • it does not get more original than this.

  • A great memory here. Thanks

  • JUNIOR WALKER SHOULD BE IN THE

    ROCKnROLL HALL LOF FAME. "SHAME" ON THEM.

  • I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT

  • Thanks for the post.

  • That