Ian and Sylvia - Greenwood Sidie-O

[Frenchblue8]

This is just incredible. One of my I&S favorites. I'd never heard anything like it, back in the day as a little kid. Blew this little Brownie/Girl Scout out of the water!

[roragain]

@John O'Loughlin

[roragain]

@John O'Loughlin

[busterbobby]

Saw them at a small outdoor concert in Providence RI in the late '60's. Their harmony is just as stunning as I remember it.

[BornGenius101]

Amazing, wish it was 10 mins long. Such power. im 21 and this is Gold. It will remain gold for as long as humans remain, im sure. Need more of this, Raw power, absolutly amazing.

[kilocycles]

I'm pretty sure this is from the old "Hootananny" TV show, on ABC in '63 or '64. My first experience with hearing them; I later saw them at Symphony Hall (now Avery Fischer Hall) at Lincoln Center in '66. I still LOVE their early Vanguard recordings, and Great Speckled Bird.

[TheAnnafisher]

the hotline dot org

[fubar50cat]

I remember them from the old Riverboat Tavern in Yorkville, Toronto, at about that time. Hell, no wonder they married, she was sexy as hell, and Ian was a buck. Now we are all old and damn, this video really does bring me back, although it was probably filmed at Massey Hall, not the Riverboat. I really do miss those days.

[ferociousgumby]

What is the interval of the harmony here? It's so dissonant. Fifths?

[bangwhistle69]

@ferociousgumby Parallel Fifths. They are each singing the same melody in different keys due to the interval.

[SergeantLedge]

@ferociousgumby fourths

[byzantiney]

It is a joy to see/hear this amazing rendition - actually one of my favorite Ian and Sylvia songs. If you listen to an old Vanguard recording of this song, their pitch seems to go lower on the line THE REDDER IT GREW and that always bothered me.Thank you for posting this wonderful clip.

[mysticpluck8]

Oh man! This is where music began for me so many years ago. ... and have you ever seen anything look as good as that Ian in that vest?! ...Yeeeowzaaa!

[ferociousgumby]

My sister used to imitate this song in the '60s. I guess we all did this, but she was so dramatic and seemed to be taking credit for it. None of us were very original then.

[Thonolan]

Very powerful stuff... amazing.

[llieber100]

OMG, I have not heard this song in about 40 years!! I'd forgotten what a powerful balad it was. I remembered every word of it!

[nostalgiahistoria67]

A great old folk song by the dynamic duo!

[Giselle62]

this is great

[zephyrseas]

This is unbelievably brilliant, wouldn't attempt to diminish this exocution of this song by attempting to say why, words could never do it jusrice, the best I've ever heard on you tiube or anywhere not saying that other songs may not grag me more for other emotional philosophical or idealistic reasons

[leahkorbin]

so beautiful and haunting

[fubarcat50]

i think this must be about 1962-64. I used to see them at i think it was the Riverboat in yorkville, and finally saw Ian again a few years ago, still a strong , great singer. Sylvia does odd concerts with her friends, like caitlin hanford and marie lynn-hammond

[renatapest]

eu amo essa música!!! eles fantasticos!!! a música ficou de mais!!!!!

[afyaspa]

I have been searching for the origins of this song since high school (1985). My high school English teacher taught us about sonnets and played the acoustic guitar. He would sing these to us in class. It stuck with me all of these years.

[tomatoflower78]

coolest vid I have seen in a long time

[swansdaughter]

My mom used to have some of their old albums when I was growing up (I'm 37). I used to listen to them secretly. I remember this one, and another favorite of mine was a western ballad called "Spanish Is A Loving Tongue". Her vocals were so beautiful on that one.

[Chastalard]

dear kander63, I agree!!! I have NEVER heard a duo like Ian and Sylvia. I have all the recordings. They are amazing!

[kander63]

Amazing vocals - this sends chills down my spine! They have an amazing blend - I don't think I've ever heard a male/female duet who sounds any better together.

[sweeteedon]

I know what you mean.

I have their cd's and the music art vocals what is put into it is so AWESOME

Their breakup was just as newsworthy as the Beatles in a sense. Only if you deeply think about it.

[pisimgirl]

Wow! They sang so well together! I grew up listening to them.

[wildcats2012]

Fantastic! Is this a traditional song?

[davidlenander]

Yes. It's also known as "The Cruel Mother," and I think there are many variants. The Child Ballad number is 20 (apparently, I looked it up online).

[Chastalard]

Amazing...I've loved Ian and Sylvia forever but have never heard this...the vocals are perfection.

[OrganicBanana94011]

One word: TALENT.

[jeannie1renee2]

Does anyone have the lyrics for this particular version. The words are different from all the other versions I've found.

[davevanfunk]

Wow, they are SO Canadian! That's a good thing. I'm married to one. This is so stark and amazingly beautiful. Nice shift in key when Sylvia responds to mither's question. I remember this piece on one of the Vanguard albums. They also did a sharp a capella rendition of Texas Rangers on Northern Journey.

[rvcrvc2]

Ian Tyson, in my estimation, was vastly underrated as a vocalist & as a song writer. I guess we have to be greatful that any of the early material is available. I wish more of their melodic & harmonic material survived.

[cowboybum]

Very cool!

[8GOTU]

It took me only a year to stumble on this one (and the others nearby), but pleased to see someone still cares enough to put these folks out there. These performances of their early repertoire are incredibly evocative for fans from the era. Seeing this after 45 years really yanks me back, and I can tell I'm not alone. Saw them live at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in '65 but never on TV. Thanks for the treat.

[mjmcivor]

Amazing to see them so young....wish they were still together

[skilski2003]

Wow, can't believe this is on here! Thank you! One of the best OLD folk songs ever!!!

[svaphrodite]

Wonderful to find clips from this program I enjoyed so much during my high school years! I had the pleasure of seeing Ian & Sylvia once in person, at the Ash Grove in LA (if memory serves), but it might have been The Troubador. Both were centers for folk musicians in the '60s.

Thanks for posting this great video!

Carl Bostek

[waciyiskwew]

Awesome. I have never heard this before.

[showmerightnow]

Great talented couple and great choice of material. I'd never actually seen film of them, so thank you so much!

[tob5tag]

The cruel mither

[dancegypsy]

It's just so wonderful to get to see them. I played the albums until they were practically worn through, but waited almost four decades to get to see them... on here. Wonderful.

[boedda2007]

i do not understand why they are so unknown in Europe,

The Seekers and the Springfields were well known in the world in the sixties but i never saw Ian and Sylvia on dutch tv.

[Efrasnel]

Kaleidoscope (early band with David Lindley) have an awesome version of this tune as well. Keep this stuff coming!

[IreneDelacorte]

Amazing vocals.. Ian and Sylvia... are the best..

[Chastalard]

I LOVE Ian & Sylvia! Their vocals are amazings!!!

[apcwzrd]

What a rare treat! Brings back fond memories from the short Folk era. Superb harmonies! Thanks

[Ahatmose]

Hi David ... I thought I had already done this but it may have gone to cyber space. Yes I have it taped but is on BETA and I desperately am searching for a BETA player so I can transfer it to DVD. meanwhile can you believe how young they look and how powerful their voices are. One great performance and one I will treasure. Best Don Barone: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

[bcthomas2h90]

Excellent. Thank you.

[davidlenander]

Gee, one of my least-favorite tracks from the early albums. I think this harmony is called parallel fifths. But Sylvia listed it as her favorite folk song in some book I read years ago. I do like watchng them. Anybody tape the reunion show from the 80s that was never broadcast here in the US?

[Ahatmose]

Hi David ... I have it but it is on BETA and I am searching desperately for a Beta player so I can transfer it to DVD. I remeber it oh so well and I watche dit over and over and over ... As far as this one is concerned I think it is absolutely awesome. Both their voices are so pure it is a joy to watch it Best Don Barone, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

[Ahatmose]

Hi David ... I thought I had already done this but it may have gone to cyber space. Yes I have it taped but is on BETA and I desperately am searching for a BETA player so I can transfer it to DVD. meanwhile can you beleive how young and how powerful their voices are. One great performance and one I will treasure. Best don Barone: hamilton, Ontario, Canada