Added: 4 years ago
From: Verdiez
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  • The original and first version of the song made famous by Jimi....noticed the tempo is much faster and it lacks the famous bass line as a result.

  • this sucks compared to arthur lee's

  • hell yeah!!

  • It's ironic that Hendrix actually slowed this song way down, but still managed to make it sound considerably "harder" than what we see here.

  • I'm remembering hearing this song done live in 66' at Western High in Anaheim Ca. Does anyone know if the Leaves could have been the band?

  • @otterman445 ---I think that every garage band in Orange County probably played this song around that time; I know bands in the Huntington Beach/Westminster area were. It might have been The Leaves though, I guess they were from Southern California & anything's possible.

  • The best version for me.

  • I think Hendrix got sick of it after a while- there's the video of him calling it "garbage" as they segue into Sunshine of Your Love.

  • "Hey punk where you goin with that flower in your hand?

    I'm goin up to Frisco to join a psychedelic band.

    Hey punk, where you going with that button on your shirt.

    I'm goin to the love-in to sit and play my bongos in the dirt"

    (The Zappa album's called 'We're only in it for the money' btw)

  • this IS the best version, hands down!

    i was the singer in a band in 66 when i was 13 years old and we did this song......we thought we sounded just like these guys:)

  • sorry, the original is from Billy Roberts, 1962

  • Sounds a lot like LOVES version. Which came 1st?

  • @harwicke according to wikipedia, The Leaves recorded their first version of Hey Joe in 1965, Love in 1966. The Leaves however went on to release 2 further versions of the song of which the last one - recorded in May/June 1966 - was most successful. Love's version was recorded in April 1966, so if this is the The Leave's most successful version Love's version was recorded earlier.

  • @Therombo4 go ahead, get mad. I was born in a time where I can prove stupid kids wrong on this shit. I know more about music from earlier times than you do. So get mad, its funny. :)

  • One rocking song.....

  • Always liked this version best!

  • @VerdIez I hate to call you out on this but you actually are incorrect, there was one other that performed Hey Joe before The Leaves and that was Billy Roberts. you should read what I have said because it is the truth and I do agree that Jimi Hendrix did a cover of the song but The Leaves technically did as well. I think if you simply search the internet for a little while you might find I am right, fore I would not lie about something I have experienced.

  • @themigtyboosh youre name should be mighty douche cos you are a cock head

  • Billy Roberts wrote Hey Joe in 1962, way before The Leaves and Hendrix were VERY famous. The Leaves version of the song wasnt even seen until they published an album called "The Leaves" four years later in 1966. Then shortly Hendrix did his version in 1967. So I just had to clarify, The Leaves did not write this song entirely, Hendrix DID cover it, but The Leaves did as well and were not the original.

  • Actually, it's quite a fact that someone called billy roberts wrote it... But yes, i think this has been the principal inspiration for jimi (if not the only one)... I also think jimi's version is a lot better...

  • To all the people who keep talking about Jimi Hendrix's version. You do realize that Leaves wrote the song, Hendrix just covered it right?

  • @blahman3213 This is hard to believe and I know many of you zealous people that believe The Leaves were the very first to write this song are actually wrong, they simple performed the song BEFORE Hendrix did and Hendrix did a version that was more liked then there's (I was alive at the time). the song began with a man named Billy Roberts and many parts were added onto it until The Leaves made this song which made it seem like the original

  • @blahman3213 Correction..Billy Roberts wrote it in 1962.The leaves did the first cover of it and made it a hit.lawsuits flew for years on rights.royalties.

  • This is seriously hard rock for the time.

  • awesome fuzz

  • wow, everybody is so quick to suck hendrix dick.. people are so impressionable.

  • GARAGE kings !

  • This is the first version of this song that I heard on the radio in 65? It's such a good song that nearly all of the covers sound good.

  • i hate to be a hater, but hendrix's version is much better. you can't blame the leaves though, its pretty damn tough to beat hendrix.

  • the screaming at the beginning sounds as if 10years olds were sitting in the audience

  • i love jimi hendrix, but the leaves is the best version!

  • There seems to be a difference of opinion as to the lyrics. Example: The Standells, The Leaves & Jimi Hendrix sing "Hey Joe, where are you going with that GUN in your hand?". At the same time, Love & The Byrds sing "Hey Joe, where are you going with that MONEY in your hand?". Censorship possibly?

  • There seems to be a difference of opinion as to the lyrics. Example: The Standells, The Leaves & Jimi Hendrix sing "Hey Joe, where are you going with that GUN in your hand?". At the same time, Love & The Byrds sing "Hey Joe, where are you going with that MONEY in your hand?". Censorship possibly?

  • Yes! Yes! I´m really a fan of the garagestyle from mid 60s. The Leaves are a totally new acquaintanse for me. No doubt about it - they are very good - really good.

    I got the same feeling from a band called THE ZETTLERS. Intense, honest, straight with an incredible drive. Check out "Skinnie Minnie" and "Beautiful Delilah".

    What musical treasure that´s hidden in the 60s.

  • The Leaves and Love's version of Hey Joe at Bido Lidos off the strip in the 60's

    rocked!! Hendrix version - boring!!

  • jimi made it a god song

  • THE NORA SHOW is across from the NEW BURGER KING AT NOWOSIELCE ALLEY.in GLEN BURNIE , MD., USA

  • 1:35 She looks scared...

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  • This might be the first recording, but they didn't write it. The leaves themselves claimed William Bobby Roberts wrote it.

    I like the version by Fever Tree :D

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  • Lest we forget Folksinger Billy Roberts wrote this great song.

  • Classic is overused but this is just that....one of the best songs from the greatest era ever....!!!! love the guitar interlude from 1:23 to 1:54....

  • Arthur Lee rip off!!! still good tho

  • this song is great, love the hendrix cover but damn the original is CLASSIC x)

  • if you are into 60's garage give a try to The Golden Cups "Hey Joe" version

  • The Leaves were the hottest thing in LA in 1965-1966, even bigger than the Byrds. The Rolling Stones opened for The Leaves! The Leaves version is my second favorite behind the Standells version, another great LA band.

  • Is that Jim Pons on Bass and vocals?

  • DAT BASS!!!!

  • sounds quite like the style of the White Stripes

  • Jimi's has more soul and depth to it but I like this one too.

  • Loved this the first time but it received very little airplay here in OK. 

  • Wikipedia says that these guys were discovered (in an LA club) and promoted by none other than Pat Boone. Stranger than fiction?

  • The first original version is usually the best - Elvis or Stevie Ray Vaughan covering songs being the exceptions

  • This was the first version of Hey Joe that I heard. It and Hendricks version are my favorite 2 of who knows how many covers have been done. Comparing this version to Jimi's is like comparing an apple to an orange. They're both different interpretations and outstanding in their own right. Thanks for posting this video, Verdiez!

  • BTW I almost forgot the Byrds version, which was also very different and one of the reasons I still have some of my old vinyls down in the basement.

  • @alskii7 It's spelt Hendrix! not "Hendricks"

  • Looks like there's some acrimony around this title, so I'll just weigh in and say its my fave, FWIW, along with that other fast punk-like version with "boo-bip-bip" in the middle. Most of us kids had never heard a version of this song or anything like it when The Leaves came out, and you just can't imagine the impact when it was new. Still holds up after nearly half a century..

  • I'm just glad I came across this .......

  • Back in 1966? this version by the Leaves got good airplay, at least on South Florida AM stations(WQAM, WFUN).

  • Outside of this forum, who has actually have heard of The Leaves and their version of this song and how many have heard of Jimi Hendrix and his work? Hmmm, let's see. Hendrix' rendition of this song is as taut as a drum, whereas this is just an undisciplined mess.

  • @eggmangoogoogoojoob Bullshit, I was around when this song by the Leaves came out and it was a hit then. You obviously don't know shit about music of the times or most likely anything else ...do you? I wonder what makes you a music critic? you're probably work at the post office or read meters so how would you know anyway?

  • @eggmangoogoogoojoob Who the hell would make the argument that the quality of a song's arrangement is based upon the fame of the performer? Of course more people have heard of Hendrix than have heard of The Leaves, but Hendrix was part of a giant commercial machine, so that's not too terribly surprising. The Leaves, like Love, were pure garage band. Two different animals.

  • THIS is the version is was looking for. I new someone had done a faster version of this song than Hendrix or Deep Purple.

  • Someone should've told the control booth camera director that two of them share the vocal! Funny! Still, classic clip.

  • Hendrix may've been the greatest guitar player ever BUT the Leaves original version of HEY JOE rocks while the Hendrix version puts me to sleep.

  • Rocks like a mutha 45 years later. All the indie contrived look at me I'm cool crap with no substance and sanitized pro-tools recordings need to check in with this one along with anybody who loves rock'n roll!

  • it loses its great melody and power by being played this fast, it feels rushed, kinda like the song Sad But True by Metallica...they originally recorded it faster, but it "sounded kinda happy" as James Hetfield put it, so they slowed it down and it sounded way better.

    and before anybody says anything, yes i wasn't around back then, but I like A LOT of music from the 60's/70's, even earlier forms like swing and big band...

  • "Yeppers" The ORIGINAL in most songs often is the "BEST" version because the Singer is a direct product of it's originality and probably wrote it more than not.

  • Awesome, if you like this, download a torrent called "Absolute Mega Oldies" you wont be disappointed.

  • They didn't write it, but were one of the original bands to popularize it. It was written by a little-known folk artist named Billy Roberts. Hendrix made it immortal.

  • im a little heart broken , i just found out that jimi did not origionally do this :[

  • @twiztedrasberry oh you didn't?

  • @PinkFloydForever100 nope , i didnt know .

  • RAW, love it!

  • I am only expressing what I know. The " Leaves " whoever they were , recorded it first. Hendix did it his rendition, and it blew me away.  I love both versions .

  • hellllllllll nooooooooo theeeeyyyyyyyy messsedddd ittt upppp

  • Best version ;-))

  • @libraryquiet

    Yes, I did grow up during the 60's. However I would think, even if they are pantomiming(and I'm sure they are), one would be led to believe it would at least resemble the original recording. I didn't mean to be super-technical, just thinking out loud.

  • The Leaves version is probably the most shreddin' but Niela Miller should be given the most credit for the arrangement/composition, as an acetate dated from 1955 was found with her singing it and her 'BOYFRIEND,' BIlly Roberts, 'took' the song with him and is generally credited with the composition. A youtube video of her version exists called "Baby, Don't Go Downtown." Judge for yourselves. The Grammy nominated label, "The Numero Group" is responsible for tracking down those origins.

  • @reincreel Thank You for all of this incredible invaluable info...You realizelike I do how many different people hav tried to credit themselves as writing Hey Joe...a guy just posted a clip of Band of Joy (pre-Zep) doin the song from 1968 and he said it was THE ORIGINAL...haha.

  • How come we can hear the tamberine man sing but not hear his tanberine?

  • @zappafrank You obviously didn't grow up during the sixties did you. They're pantomiming. Notice there's no amps.

  • Unbelievable....this has 2 B the BESTEST song of all time!!!!

  • I have the 45 of this and it says it was written by Chet Powers, which was a pen name of Dino Valenti (Quicksilver Messenger Service).

  • Tim version is far better to me than Hendrix... much more passionate and real soulfull stuff!

  • If you are a Turtles fan you may recognize the bass player with the Hoffner bass, that's Jim Pons he went on to join the Turtles shortley after this.

  • @radioman66 what do mean that Jim Pons joined The Turtles shortly after this.

  • @marjimjohn Jim ended up playing bass for The Turtles by late 66 early 67. He is on "Happy Together" and all the other Turtles hits. He stayed with them until 1970 then he, Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman joined up with Frank Zappa around 70, 71 time period. Jim is out of the music business professionally, he was real big in creating "NFL Films" the doccumentation of filming football games and reviewing them on sports shows and for the team and coaches to study. He's retired now.

  • @radioman66 Then how come I saw clips of Jim Pons playing songs with Howard and Mark at their concerts in this decade

  • @marjimjohn Wow, I would like to see that. I was unaware that Jim was recently giging with his old mates. I will look for that on here. Also would enjoy if They included Their second drummer Johnny Barbatta and original guitarist Al Nichols, now that would be one hellava Turtles reunion!

  • @radioman66 Totally they really should have a Turtles reunion concert with the original musicians

  • @marjimjohn Thanks for the heads up on the Jim Pons video with Howard & Mark from last year. That was very cool to see that. Some of the close ups you can tell it's him just older, but then aren"t we all, lol.

  • @radioman66 I'm facebook friends with Howard, John, and Chip . My bass player Dan Hatstat actually looks like a younger Jim Pons and thats why picked Dan to be in my band.

  • I saw the Leaves perform this I think around 1966 on the Sunset Strip. They played it over and over again.

  • Good, but not like the real master did it.

  • wow when was this recorded? it's a great version. nothing like st. Jimi of course, but it's really good.

  • I always thought Hey Joe was a Hendrix original. Shows how much I know.

  • Ok We All Agree 1,000's Of People Recorded HEY JOE.........But To Me THE LEAVES Had The VERSION That Stood Out Most---In My Mind.........Amen............P­unk 4-Ever

  • Ok We All Agree 1,000's Of People Recorded HEY JOE.........But To Me THE LEAVES Had The VERSION That Stood Out Most---In My Mind.........Amen............

  • Billy Roberts is the writer of Hey Joe! He composed this song in 1962 after he left the South and went to Greenwich Village where he played on the streets and in the coffee houses. After The Leaves stole his song there was a lawsuit against them. Billy Roberts later joined a band called the Grits. The original song is much much slower . Jimi Hendrix and Billy Roberts met and he is credited as the composer of this song.

  • @IamRosko did billy roberts copyright this song? if so he should be a very rich man, if hes still with us!

  • I can understand now why Jimi Hendrix version is considered the only version worth recognising. This version sounds too upbeat.

  • "Copicats" (sic) of the Beatles?? Practically everyone was influenced by the Beatles, but I wouldn't call the Leaves copycats. This song was written by an unknown L.A. folksinger named Billy Roberts. The Leaves were one of many local bands to cover it (the Byrds and Love were two others). Hendrix' version came later and was closer to a version done by singer Tim Rose. For my money, the Leaves version is the best of all.

  • @greenpete58 you got that right the Leaves version blow Hendrix away

  • Thumbs up if Buzzfeed brought you here :]

  • these guys are the copicats of the beatles. It's crazy hendrix liked these guys...

  • saw these guys at Disneyland when I was 12. practically creamed my pants. I was just getting into R&R. then I was lucky enough to Hendrix 3 times within the next 3 years.

  • What is he playing at 0:12? The lead guitarist. If you listen to the record it sounds like he's playing it in double speed, though it isn't the chords, it's just the chords on the neck.

    Thanks

  • I HAD THIS RECORD HAD TO TAKE TO EVERY PARTY

  • fuk u

  • Wore out the vinyl 45 of this...a totally KILLER and aggressive rave-up with a bass player that is off the hook. '7 and 7 Is' by LOVE appears to have been inspired by this.

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  • Surprisingly cool. Jimi's version better, but still cool.

  • @1Doz Bullshit! Leaves version is the classic!

  • @jeffsor47

    This is THE version....no discussion needed....

  • @centralparocker The Leaves- roger that!

  • Greatest Garage Band Song EVER!!!!!!!!!

  • some of the people in the audence looked so confused...it was awesome.

  • I have the mp3 of Love performing Hey Joe. Sorry, no video. The Leaves used to be our fraternity band back when I went to San Fernando Valley State College. What a draw they were at parties.

  • This song was also covered by THe ByRDs at the

    Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, with David Crosby on lead vocal.

    After The Leaves folded by the end of 1966, bassist Jim Pons joined

    The Turtles in mid-1967(following the departure of Chip Douglas),

    and later joined Mark "Flo" Volman and Howard "Eddie" Kaylan

    in Frank Zappa's band, The Mothers Of Invention after The Turtles

    disbanded in 1970.

  • PepijnM...It's on a Nuggets compilation CD. It's subtitled" artyfacts from the first psychedelic era" The CD has alot of Garage Band songs we listened to on the way to the Sunset Strip. On the way home we went with the FM tunes like the Doors, Airplane, etc.

  • Have this on a 45, from the sixties.

  • does anybody know where i can get their music, cant find them anywhere on the net

  • I don't remember Love doing this. I saw them a lot and I would have remembered it. I could be wrong though. It was 44 years ago. Unbelievable!

  • PUNK.

  • Having played in a rock band from 1963 to 1969 this song was always a favorite anywhere we played. This song is dedicated to my band The Silencers Five. Jay Conley on lead and vocals, Pat Sadler bass and fiddle, Don Price on rythem, BillyBollinger on drums and myself Bob Sims on keyboards and lead vocals.Baird Texas was never the same when we left. ROCK AND ROLL FOREVER. PS Ms. Fox even though you are not with us any more thanks for all your support, you were a real cool english teacher.

  • I'm not sure but I think LOVE did the first 'frantic' version of this song. LOVE fan that I am, though, I like the LEAVES version better.

  • I'm not sure but I think LOVE did the first 'frantic' version of this song. LOVE fan that I am, though, I like the LEAVES version better. And yeah, SPIRIT OF '76, by SPIRIT is a fantastic album; there's nothing else like it. Sad about Randy California.

  • The lead singer is Jim Pons...by the next year, he was with the Turtles.

  • i cant really compare the two, theyre both just so different

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  • Billy Roberts is the original composer of that song.., In 1965 Roberts was alerted by a friend to a recording of "Hey Joe" by the Southern California rock band, The Leaves. Roberts knew nothing of the recording and the friend (Hillel Resner, later his producer) offered to ask his father, an attorney in San Francisco, to look into the matter

  • Jim Pons is a god.

  • I like Hendrixs version better.

  • cool footage

  • This was one year before The Byrds version, which is almost the same, even this one is better.

    I always disliked The Byrds for some reason. :-(

  • I'm a bit disappointed that no-one seems to have mentioned Spirit's blissfully spaced out version of this. Check it out on their classic 'Spirit Of 76' album.

  • hey joe.. is by far..NOT the most recorded song in history.

    if ..'louie louie' by the kingsmen isn't...then i'm not that smart.

    but i do know..'.yesterday' or 'hear comes the sun' is the most re-recorded.

    this version....of hey joe..is the greatest and most powerful of all.

    (the bass pattern is the fastest and best in rock history)

    the jimi hendrix version...is so differnet,,it's a whole nother song.

    i was lucky to have seen both of them...in the 60's.

  • YOu know what? For the longest I thought jimi hendrix was the sole composer and performer of Hey Joe, but cruising the internet and researching the song, I've found that it was actually composed by a couple of english folk singers in 1956 well before hendrix's meteoric rise. I've also found earlier covers of it by other artist that are pretty good. But none of them can stand up to the emotion conveyed in hendrix's rendition.

  • @CavenEdwards ... It's actually based-upon a "Traditional" English FolkSong going-back to the 1800s

  • it is true hendrix just did a cover

  • @Nathews yes

  • think jim pons ended up in country/bluegrass

  • PUNK!!!!

  • this version sounds WAY mor elike it's about a guy on the run after murdering his wife

  • HENDRIX

  • Hey punk, where ya goin' with that flower in your hand?

  • the Music Machine's version is better

  • my fave version.

  • Hendrix's version is definitely the best...

  • I had the original 45 demo. I got it from a girl I met at the Pike in

    Long Beach California.

    Wish I still had it.

    Our band and every other Garage band did this song.

    Those where the days

  • O.O wow, Hendrix's cover is WAY better, so is Body Count's. :/

  • From the spring of 1966! It's Boss!

  • It was 1965, I was 14 and my best friend, Mary, and I were staying out past curfew, this song is one of the reasons why! The party pad we were at..., well they kept playing it over and over and over ... how could I go home? I think of that every time I hear this (I loved Henrix's version, but this is my favorite)

  • first time i've heard this AWESOME

  • singer looks like tom cruise

  • I heard this song on public radio! Sooo goood!

  • A new version on the AMI internet jukebox by the Jake Blake Project or hear it free on the myspace music page/ it's a bit different than other versions, for a laugh check out "redneck mini bar" on you tube >> the preceeding has been shameless self promotion>Salute!

  • LOVE did a version of Hey Joe that sounds a bit like this.

  • HEY PUNK! Where you goin' with that button on your shirt? :-P

  • beetles wanna bees

  • jim pons doing vocals and bass right? went on to play bass for the turtles. did he ever lead vocal for them? great vocals here

  • Barry Obama in the audience @ 1:36

  • @tommylord Right on! Thats freakin' hilarious!!!

  • Always been a fan of this song ~ Nice rendition ~ so glad capture now is better but this is okay considering the techhnology

  • This isnt the original, this band was formed 1963, and the original by billy roberts was written 1962

  • @bergAgreb But this was the first recorded one

  • this is great

  • Still The Original & The Best HEY JOE--By The LEAVES--The Poster Boyz For the 1966 Los Angeles GARAGE Beat.............

  • theres a reason people only know the hendrix cover of this song: its about a million times better haha

  • Although it's an obvious choice (given that it was a hit single), for my money, this is the definitive version of this often covered classic.