Added: 5 years ago
From: smile67
Views: 93,585
Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:

All Comments (130)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • mary dodd

  • What was the ridiculous reason why this song was not included on the CD re-issues?

  • @Ghoopty It is included!

  • @EarpJohn I'm sorry.....you may be right. I have the first cd release and it's not on there, presumably because Keith West wouldn't allow it.

  • Hallo Herr Wirtz. Ihre liebe Mutter habe ich Ende der 70 er Jahre oft mit dem Taxi von der Praxis nach Köln zum Einkaufen gefahren. Ein mal lief Teenage Opera im Autoradio. Sie sagte das Sie das Lied geschrieben ( oder die Musik ) hätten.Sie gab mir immer 10,- DM damit ich beim Brauhaus Früh, während der Wartezeit, was essen konnte. 10,- DM war viel. Dafür mußte ich 2 Std. arbeiten. Frechen habe ich aus den Augen verloren. Wohne seit 1981 am Bodensee.

    Liebe Grüße Detlev.K

  • @veit56211de Ich hab von 1974 bis 1981 in Frechen Taxi gefahren. Von der Praxis Dr. Wirtz habe ich viele gute Fahrten bekommen. Alle paar Wochen habe ich Fr. Dr. Wirtz nach Köln zum Einkaufen gefahren. Sie hat mir dann immer 10,- DM gegeben damit ihr während ich auf sie gewartet habe beim Brauhaus Früh was essen konnte. Das waren liebe Menschen.

  • great to see this wonderful colour video, I have always loved this song! thanks so much for posting, let it remind us of our childhood innocence.

  • this song is sad as fuck

  • YEAH, WASN'T IT PEACEFUL BACK THEN - VIETNAM + BRAVE SOLDIERS BURNING CHILDREN TO DEATH, A WHITE COWARD SHOOTING MARTIN LK, CHURCHES BOMBED IN THE DEEP SOUTH, SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY, ETC ETC

    IT'S ALSO A SHAME THAT YOU'RE A RACIST PRICK REALLY, ISN'T IT? WHY SPOIL A GREAT SONG SPOUTING THE SORT OF SHIT WE WISH HAD DIED OUT LONG AGO - CRAWL BACK UNDER YOUR ROCK, YOU FUCKWIT!

    Steve - a white man who lived in England 1955 - now.

  • @rainhills

    calm down old man. All the things you said happened in America except for bloody sunday which happened in Ireland. Anything to do with England? A lot of people have given me thumbs up for my comment, they know the score so just take a chill pill and relax.

  • @Loge91 Just a couple of points young man: SBSunday did NOT take place in Ireland. It took place in a country called Northern Ireland - part of the UNITED KINGDOM. B-R-I-T-I-S-H soldiers murdered 13 unarmed civilians, including 7 teenagers - so...errrm...yes, ENGLAND was slightly involved! As for your 6 Neanderthal (ask your carer about that one) relatives who know the score (ha!ha!), I'm afraid that SIX is NOT a lot of people - you deluded fool. Glad to keep you informed young man - an old man

  • @rainhills God what a sad deluded fool you sound. Obviously a republican, grow up & join the real world you sad ira sympathiser bastard. Bet you're a virgin. No-one in their right mind (or sober) would screw you, Wanker.

  • @arsenalml You obviously have some sort of sexual hang-up - what's sex got to do with it? All the things I listed happened in the "real world" and I only sympathise with the innocent people who were killed - whatever race, creed or religion - and by whichever "side" they were murdered. No, I'm not a republican nor an IRA sympathiser - I'm a people sympathiser.

  • @rainhills There are four ancient provinces of Ireland, Munster, Leinster, Conaught and Ulster all which are part of Ireland. I am English but married to a Tipperary girl aka a Munster girl. Bloody Sunday was dreadful but no more so than the attacks on teenagers in Birmingham. What the hell was that all about? Catholics versus Protestants? And vica versa. Ulstermen and women of all demoninations would be horrified if you called them anything other than Irish.

  • Yes I am the "cute little girl". Six years old at the time...Now 48 yrs old (gulp!) but I remember this shoot very vividly.

  • @tofinogal1 Wow, I've always loved this tune, I'm 47. Are you stiil cute? I've changed a bit.

  • reminds me of victoria wood

  • is this supposed to really creepy

  • that cute little girl with the dark hair and blue dress i think shes a U tube user now im shure i seen a comment posted by her ages ago saying thats me

  • amazing song, I was a yng teen at High Sschool in Dundee then, tragic air yes....and so evovative of that `land of lost content`....great song

  • why is this song in my head when Ive not been listening to it?

  • Sad and poignant. The late sixties had a rather tragic air.

  • I remember this from when I was fourteen years old, unfortunately at that time, my English was not as good as it is now, (I only had it as a second foreign language) , so thanks a lot for posting it , and I can understand it all now. You sometimes forget these old goodies and then they come back somehow......

  • i think it was made on eel pie island where the stones used to have mad parties,60's acid house etc etc etc,lv cx

  • what happened to the cat,did it go on have more offspring and where are they now,reminds me of bowie there is a happy land nice tune,god bless the simple days,lv cx

  • Just (19) 82 brings many fears..

  • My old man told me it would have been shown on top of the pops if it had made No1 in the charts, apparently only No1s got their vid shown at that time, I think this song made No2,

  • Anybody know where this video was shot?

  • I was told it was Henly upon thames

  • Its a shame we dont have such piece, like we had back then and the lovely white children singing innocently. now its all hate, knives,hoodrats,nignogs killing each other trying to make a name for um selves,also goin out with white girls giving them 5 halfchats that look like fuckin mongrols. our society will never be the same as it was back then.

    GREAT SONG.

  • I bet you felt so proud writing that comment!

    It probably took all the brainpower you could muster too!

  • Its true though, just allow it.

  • @Loge91 yeah wasn't it great in those peaceful times back then? - AMERICANS BURNING CHILDREN TO DEATH IN VIETNAM, ASSASSINATION OF A PEACE LOVING BLACK LEADER BY A WHITE COWARD, AND RACIST PRICKS LIKE YOU WERE STILL SPOUTING YOUR SHIT EVEN IN THOSE DAYS!!

    - from a peace loving white man who has lived in England since 1955

  • @Loge91 HA! HA! Being "old" is unavoidable (but hopefully YOU will avoid it) - being a racist prick? Now, you could have avoided that, if you'd really tried. Sounds like I've hit a raw nerve.

  • I often wondered if the opera was finished, apparently not, shame, It would be playing in the West End now and charging ludicrous prices to see it and all the oldies would go to remember their youth.

  • I wonder where the kids are or what theyre doing now, well; I know what one is doing and where he is, lol

    Thanks for upping this vid; its the first time Ive seen it, sad really, seeing as I was in it all those years ago

  • which kid in the video was you????

  • the little blond twat (0;12) with the stick, lol

  • @Firefused you never got a copy?  I am very sorry. Are you non-union?

  • What a brill song thank you for this love it

  • same as there was a shop called grocer jacks in the roman rd london e2,i think its a cash converters now,life was in black and white in those days and we knew where we were,boycott all supermarkets and use your legs and kip fit@

  • Thats the sort of thing i would say, quality. lmfao.

  • totaly agree ChessChat, how times have changed, not a gun,knife, or agression in sight, yes things are different today, sadely for the worse.these were loverly days of innocence, which every child deserves.

  • totaly agree with you chesschat' not a knife,gun,or anger, in sight oh ow times have changed. for the worse.

  • How come the world has become so full of hate since then?

  • I think this is an incredibly poignant piece of music, the innocent voices of the children not understanding the stark truth of man's mortality.

  • i like this song

    from the time that everybody seems to be more happy then nowadays..

  • I love the record brings me back to my childhood .

    where ever they may be

  • Apparently the opera has now been finished. Beautiful song. Great memories....

  • The B&W version on YT got pulled. Shame

  • cant listen to this without getting choked up. memories memories. better days folks

  • very very tuue all good ones too

  • Me too,this was the 1st song of my childhood.

  • Wonderful memory, he also had another great track - "Sam" which didn't get the airplay it deserved. A beautiful tune likes this reminds us to never lose our childhood essence of playfulness and joy. Sadly too often we become "serious adults" .

  • Subject: violence mars demonstration

    Anagram: Cad Novel Inn - smart - tires OO me

  • awesome! 5 stars!!!

  • This song always reminds me of the long hot summer of '67 living in London.That year was by far and away the best year EVER for music.Great stuff from both sides of the Atlantic and far too many excellent groups and singers to recall!

  • This always brings being 10 right back.

  • Ende der 7o ziger Jahre hab ich mal eine Frau im Taxi gehabt als das Lied im Autoradio lief. Sie sagte das Lied hat ihr Sohn geschrieben. Sie hieß glaube ich Fr. Dr Wirtz, Frechen. Ist auch schon 3o Jahre her. Mein Gott wo ist die Zeit. Schönes Lied. Hör ich immer wiede gerne.

  • Although I used to see Keith West with Tomorrow, somehow it didn't seem strange that he made this record. Every time I hear this record I can see and feel central London in 1968.

  • I wonder if any of those kids in the film owned the "Tomorrow" album filled with songs about white bicycles and seeing dwarfs while tripping on acid! LOL.

  • Great memories, pity the sound synch is miles out from the lips!

  • AWESOME 10********** POST

  • The Chelsea Shed used to sing a version...

    Dave Sexton, Dave Sexton,

    Is it true what people say?

    We're gonna win the Football Lea-eague

    You have to laugh!

  • Just marvellous - never dates. Only sorry that it didn't enlarge into the full opera.

  • my dad bought me this when i was 2 yrs old and i still love it

  • excellent song gorgeous singer

  • love this song, good to hear keith is well and producing songs..

  • I was 17 then and it still makes me smile.. memories..5stars !

  • this is the first time i see this video

  • Right,let me get a handle on this...in this song, basically,Keith and the kids are mourning the passing of a popular guy who ran the local corner shop...is that it?

  • Mistofoles: I think that you are a little too young to appreciate the significance of this song [as well as the rest in the Teenage Opera]. But that's ok: when you are older and reminiscing about the Spice Girls [for example], you too will be subject to some raised eyebrows.

  • Please don't even associate me with them!They are sh*t!! Matter of fact, I much prefer this sort of music compared to the crap they call music nowdays(and probably know much more about music from this era than you would imagine!)

  • Hey - glad to hear that :) Music has a very powerful effect on the memory.

    Stuart.

  • Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't there a brief vogue of this kind of thing around this time? I recall Donovan doing a song or movie around '67-'68 about the Pied Piper or something that also included children traipsing around behind him.

  • I think the song is Awesome and I really had loved to live in the 60s or 70s but im born in 93 :(

  • What a lovely song, it always reminds me of my 60s childhood its a sad song that still makes me feel sad, after all these years thanks for the posting hope Keith is well these days? BEAUTIFUL SONG.

  • I'm very happy to rediscover this lovely song of my early childhood here. So Thx for the clip!

  • Wonderfull. Felt like being 13 again.

  • The follow up "Sam" was even more beautifull.

  • I`ve just put uploaded "Sam" ( from `A Teenage Opera` ) by Keith West which was his only other chart hit

  • Thanks!!!Just had a look at "Sam". Yes, it is just as beautiful.

  • I was 11 and just gone to high school,.Once a month we used to have a disco (pop night) and this is one of the songs that was always being asked for to be played by the dj. Great song Keith.

  • I actually know Keith - he's one of my uncle's best mates. They've known each other for decades. He's a good guy, really lovely. Terrific family as well.

  • Great to hear it ! The song is terrific. Mark Wirtz composed much of it. Did they get on ?

  • Keith West was supercool.

  • superb song

  • Wow. It's suddenly September 1967 and I'm 7 again! I loved this then, and it means even more now because of the memories it stirs up.

  • A wonderful song, ahead of it's time and wrongly criticised. Keith never got the credit he deserved and i hope he is proud of his song. Would love him to perform it on TV now for it's 40th anniversary. Well done keith

  • what television show was this from?  it had to have been made to be shown on a specific show.

  • It`s just such a lovely tune and takes you back to a less troubled time.

  • spot on. Listned to it today on 'pick of the pops'. Some amazing songs in the top 20 sept 1967.

  • WELTKLASSE

  • Absolutely love this!!! A reminder of our childhood innocence that we should never lose.

  • She said it was filmed somewhere in the countryside not too far out of London. Thats all she could remember though, and she doesnt know anything about the cat.

    Does anyone know how we could get hold of a copy of the Top of the Pops appearance they did? It's not in the BBC archives, but they definitely performed live back in '67. If so please contact me!!

  • I love this song! My Mum is the little girl in the blue dress!

  • This kinda sucks because this stuff is what caused Tomorrow to split up. Too bad because Tomorrow would have been like Pink Floyd, but good for Yes. Thanks for posting anyway, it's interesting.

  • But c'mon now. We already had a Pink Floyd, and they did a fine job of being them. There was NOTHING else like this sweet, moving vignette in pop music then, was there?

  • also had a hit "sam" number 38 in 67

  • lovely song, days of lost innocence, you wont come back oh no no-o

  • oh, quite brilliant! I love this song.

  • I saw the B&W version before this and posted a comment there. For me the melody and orchestration is so memorable that it is the very stuff of nostalgia. The ideas are dated now (and therefore all the more magical for that) and I have always wondered why no one hasn't taken up the theme and completed the 'teenage opera' - even from a 1960s teenage perspective.

  • I believe Mark Wirtz completed it quite recently and released it as 'A Teenage Opera'.

  • Sometimes all you need is one momentof genius - the Psitols had Anarchy in the UK. Mark Wirtz/Keith West had Excerpt from a Teenage Opera - a song of unparalleled beauty and one they can rightly retire upon. Just beautiful.

  • Mark has completed it - but is has never been released!

  • It really has: I've got it!

    Search on Amazon for 'teenage opera'...

  • grocer jack is alive and well, to say the least

  • Mark Wirtz said in a recent interview he never completed it . He says the record label who hold the rights stuck all the recorded material together to make an album but Wirtz

    said he wasnt involved in this nor was it complete as intended.

  • @45rpmsingle

    Ich habe das Lied immer sehr gerne gehört. Ende 1970 habe ich eine Frau Dr. Wirtz im Taxi gefahren.

    Das Lied lief im Autoradio. Sie sagte das Ihr Sohn das Lied oder die Musik geschrieben hat. So genau weiß ich das nicht mehr.

  • The Beat Club performance by Keith West was withdrawn. Hoe the FUCK do we obtain dvd copies!

  • Thanks smile67. Could not find this because i searched for 'grocer jack' (with a space). I googled 'grocer jack' and found the real title/artist to finally get here. Would be nice if it came up under 'grocer jack'?

  • 1968, freezing weather, halftime at Volendam (Holland) Stadium. This song on the speakers. 8000 people. me, 7 years old. Why I remember, I don't know, but I'm glad I do.

  • has anyone ever seen Tomorrow on a tv show presumably miming to The incredible journey of Timothy Chase???

    THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE!

  • i remember seeing this or the other version on a b/w tv when i was a kid...

  • part of me thought that was the best thing since sl iced bread, the other part thought it was a bit creepy. a musician in 1968 should be snorting coke off a dolly bird's chest, not hanging around with little people. brill nethertheless...

  • was the cameraman gary glitter?

  • very good

  • No, not very good. Can you not watch a vid with kids in it without a cheap shot about paedophilia? A crappy, sad, sick joke which just tarnishes a beautiful song.

  • It's not about paedophilia at all... Doesn't even look likAAAU0lWTmxXMWhVYjBzCwAAAGJp­Z19uOU5NODFr

  • one of the best esoteric songs ever to come out of the era...

  • Thank you, have tears in my eyes, some lovely memories came back.

  • Finally!Thanks,after 40 years i have it,sight and sound!

Loading...
Alert icon
0 / 00Unsaved Playlist Return to active list
    1. Your queue is empty. Add videos to your queue using this button:
      or sign in to load a different list.
    Loading...Loading...Saving...
    • Clear all videos from this list
    • Learn more