R.B. Greaves -Take A Letter Maria

[oshiolene]

TAKE A LETTER TO KOBE BRYANT'S WIFE

[rhodie007]

Love the reel to reel recorder and the double breasted jacket!

[SuddenSparkles]

Love the way he brandishes those sideburns. Mista Brrrnzee.

[94958501]

Eu não sei que ano é esta música, mas eu a conheci no início de 1984 quando eu ouvia rádio diário do grande ABC-SP que na época tocava cada música incluindo esta. Linda

[SuddenSparkles]

I love the decor, my kinda color scheme.

[absolutelyfree1963]

Cool ending.... "This message will self-destruct in 10 seconds..." Mission impossible sight gag.

Great clip and song.

[LuluRosenkrantz]

I always thought this was a one hit wonder white honky song .

[Tumbipungi]

R.B. is Sam Cooke's cousin----one doesn't have to listen to RB's voice for too long before the resemblance is heard.

[Tumbipungi]

@Tumbipungi Sorry-----he is Sam Cooke's NEPHEW----not cousin

[SuddenSparkles]

This song always reminds me of my friend Maria Perez.

[paulviti12]

@SuddenSparkles good input bro.

[FAUSTORICCARDO]

UN TEMPO PER..... R.B. Greaves.

Video nuovo, per me, ma la canzone mi è sempre piaciuta.

Grazie

[psadpoiafsdf]

an episode of ER season 1 or 2

[warftrat87]

i could say that its a song about what you want... and what you need...

[rosebuddy47]

love this song--play it over and over!!

True that you have to mix fun with work or else there may be an affair!!

Hot looking black american!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Multi80sfan]

@rosebuddy47 yeah i love this song too if i was married and ever caught my husband flirting with the secratary i'd shoot him in the balls so he can never procreate

[tiredlawdog]

In Texas this would have been a very short song.

[mellowyellow478]

@bradcake lol

[TheBradcake]

My secretaries name is Maria. I play this every few weeks as a joke and she always hates it but Ik she truly likes it. But then she quit ... cuz apparently I smell and am annoying...

[FaerieCrone]

@TheBradcake LOL

[addycaroline23]

This song always cheers me up when I've had a shitty day! Like now!! I LOVE IT!

[rhoni63]

he is the nephew of Sam Cooke not a mistake he got a hit I love it

[andrewfrancis74]

@rhoni63 If that's true then WOW! Cuz he's a bad Mother in his own right.

[Teela1101]

I remember this when it was originally broadcast. This is a recording taken from the muppet show. And all you haters can eat a bowl of d*cks. Let's see you write and or record a better song.

[InternationalArtiOrg]

This music is the best of the best!

bobbyb

[Rokuwhitefox]

R.B Greave's wife disliked this 7 times

[husker666]

seriously this so song is so bad...musically,lyrically and the way it was delivered...take a letter was the right title coz i think he just typed his performance in :)

[WytZox1]

@husker666 -- Gee, as top 4- from the 1970s goes, this was 1 of the better tunes of that era. I liked it. It also got lots of play at discos back then.

[gorgonique]

I've always thought this was the first truly ADULT rock song of the 60s, not about teenage heartache or trendy collegiate protest.

A 30-something office man is in emotional turmoil, after discovering his wife is worthless, and unloads to his secretary. He suggests that the two of them might be compatible, but who really knows? A little too quick on the rebound, I'm thinking, but at the same time very realistic, giving his emotional state.

[WytZox1]

@gorgonique -- Actually this tune hit the charts in the 70s.

[peroco1965]

Awesome song. This was my favorite song when I was 5 back in 1970.

[jhzab666]

If this song was done today, he would have shot the ho, and the mofo she was wit ! then he would be telling Shakrifa to back dat ass up ! Of course it would be a rap song.

[dooalittledippsy]

Makes me get up and boogie

[lobo81865]

I always thought R.B. Greaves was a Hispanic singer for some reason. Guess it was because he was singing to a lady named Maria. Great song.

[kurtmanerz1]

Listen to the bass player work out...I wish they still did that in pop music...

[born2dance971]

MY NAME IS MARIA!!!!!!!!!!

[akaroyalljelly]

He kinda fanours sam cooke a little

[Balzinurgob01]

The Mission Impossible self-destructing tape was a nice touch--that must have been on the Smothers Brothers show. "Mooney" blew up his bass drum when The Who appeared on that show.

[blademaster7771]

i have honestly looked for this for the past 4 years, i heard it a few times and i just had to find..... i am so freaking happy

[HigherWaysWoman]

@blademaster7771 haha that is great!!! your post is endearing...love the last line, "I am so freaking happy"...brought a big smile & an uplifted feeling to me...thanks so much for sharing!!

[spareaxe]

I honestly didn't know a black dude sang this tune.

[DanielJoseDiego]

@spareaxe Yeah me either, I thought it would be some white guy singing to his Latina secretary. :P

[goarmym240]

this song came on the radio when my uncles were drunk and we were by the bayou and they all started blasting this in there trucks and do you know other people stopped to come drink a beer with us ahhhh memories

[v8foad]

Mr. Phelps, this tape will selfdestruct in 5 seconds.

[Burnwash]

'R.B.' stands for Running Back.

Yessir - that's Running Back Greaves, singing that song right there.

[CharlineChaos]

I'm thinkin Maria was a hot piece of ass and he'd already been thinkin about bangin her for quite awhile!

[MissExtacy101]

@CharlineChaos

I think he was banging Maria and his wife was just having revenge sex.

[E57andrelb1]

Dandy Livingstone is very very better.

[rioblancoman]

"You're a good secretary to me".

Sweet. I like my secretary.

[Dannyvirk]

I wish i had half the coolness of this man.

[onemisguidedrose]

real good song the guy sounds like Johnny Rivers.

[Dadgrug]

My sister had this record and we listened to it constantly. This is NOT from the recording. This is a great song and a great performance. What's so funny is that I'd never seeen a picture of him but he looks EXACTLY as I'd imagined him.

[LifeSoulAz]

FINALLY a song that tells a story about a no good woman cheating on his man!bout time!

[gottabeshari1961]

such good memories of playing this song over and over with my brothers. thanks for posting

[needtolooselots]

To sing like that live is awesome:)

[woods024]

6 people dont Know Crap from peanut butter!

[dagnanci]

Thanks to you who sent this video, it is a classic.

[SFspaceboy]

Catches his wife cheating on him he runs to his secretary. While telling her to basically break-up and divorce his wife for him he flirts with her then hit's on her. Classy.

[kdthom90]

@SFspaceboy poo poo

[MoBCommunity]

@SFspaceboy

um... whut?

[Multi80sfan]

@SFspaceboy yeah then unintentionally blows up the Tape Recorder

[27kumkum]

can you play Don't play that song from RB Greaves?thx I'll appreciate very much.....

[Meekseek]

Good song then and now, I have to be honest & say I didn't know who did this lovely tune till now, :P to me. Thanks for sharing.

[ChuckieInMT]

You know how there's a song in your head when you wake up? Well this's mine! Great song & great version - Thanks -

[raydarammer]

REAL MUSIC!!!!!

[riffraff9000]

How very "Mission Impossible!" And it's the right era for the original IM, too. *Thumbs up*

[sierria64]

WAS;NT HE RELATED TO THE GREAT SAM COOK

[fbenenati]

@sierria64 Very good!  Yes, Sam Cooke was his uncle, if I am not mistaken. Great song.

[averypack13]

@sierria64 Yes, he was David Cook's, Sam brother's son. :-)

[avesrule]

The sideburns, the suit and that Caribbean accent......straight up regulatin'.

[kcalbraeb]

What a great song! A whole story....not abstract, straight forward and meaninful unlike todays crap!!

[charlyW34]

There is a rare Seattle cover of this by New Age urban Squirrels. Pretty good!

[GreatPastime]

I did my last comment before I listened, now I have played this, and seeing this video, I only have one word to say....charisma.. men just dont have it anymore, well if they do, it's been years since I've witnessed any

TUNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[GreatPastime]

What a cool guy, top tune too, cheers!

[charlyW34]

What a nice treat! thanks for this....

[garymaher]

That reminds me, I gotta go trim my sideburns...

[cwazymbfan]

Maria don't let him screw his secretary!!!

[jrmetmoi]

Don't do it Maria! Noooo! Don't do it!

He's just tryin to rebound with you before he goes crawlin' back to HER! He's usin' you lady! Just take that letter and just keep it professional! ha ha haaaaaa xD

[betikone]

download mp3?

[ChuckieInMT]

Last night, as I got home...

Well, crap, what ever happened to R.B.???

It's great how somethings stick with us, huh?

...I've never really noticed, how sweet you are to me. It just so happens I'm free tonight, would you like to have dinner with me? So take a letter Maria....

XOXO

[RainShowers2505]

Until I heard the song on YouTube, I though he was saying, "send a copy to my lover", not lawyer.

[Vstar4me]

Oh yeah Leisure suits! R.B. sure does that suit justice! greta Song as well, unforgetable!!

[BRAVOADD]

His wife has 4 friends

[raydio60]

I played this song to death when I was kid and it still holds up today. A true classic!

[redd28taylor]

@raydio60 my grandfather loved this song cause my grandmothers' name was MARIA, and I'm named after my grandmother. SO I REALLY LOVE THIS SONG. Yes I know what it is about LOL before you ask.

[andrewfrancis74]

@coccioloneus You make my head swell....but that's just with late 60's - early 70's stuff.

[socialleash]

So that fire was/wasn't supposed to happen?

[4threconmarine]

@skifan07 My childhood Maria was my babysitter.Still have a photo from my fourth birthday party in 68 in my parents photo album and Maria is in the background.Long black hair,blue eyes(I think),nice big smile...guess she was about nine or ten.Haven't met a girl as pretty as her since.Guess that's why this song stuck in my head so early on.

[DarsowGolf]

@4threconmarine

Ok first of all, no 9 or 10 year old should have the responsibility to be left alone to babysit a 4 year old.

And secondly, you have serious pedophillic issues if you still have a crush on a 9-10 year old from a photo!!

[4threconmarine]

@DarsowGolf I don't even know why I'm responding to your stupid message.Maybe because I like confrontation.First of all COCKSUCKER ,it was the 60's and it was on an Air Force base so it wasn't unusual for a ten year old to mind a younger kid for a few hours.How does my statement make you think Im a pedo you little CUNT? Just talking about a song and a memory.26, still living at home eh ? I read your comment page seems like a lot of other people seem to think you're a CUNT.Don't fuck with me.

[jazzman3071]

@4threconmarine You would think your YT username would indicate a certain background. Therefore details would suggest don't fuck with most Marines let alone Recon guys.

[4threconmarine]

@jazzman3071 Thanks.You know I'm sorry about the harsh terms used in public, although I'm sure they apply to him.look at his comments page,but that chump just pissed me off.I mean where does he get the idea I'm some sort of pedophille just because this song brings back a wonderful childhood memory.

[ilovemundays]

@DarsowGolf I was between 10 and 11 when I got my sitters certification...so. Such a paranoid society you young folk live in. Damn. lol

[andrewfrancis74]

@DarsowGolf  No, looks like you have the issues.

[Multi80sfan]

@DarsowGolf Yeah that is disturbing.

[andrewfrancis74]

@coccioloneus Could it be Caroll Burnett ?....there's a visual joke at the end, suggesting a show like hers.

[Multi80sfan]

@andrewfrancis74

be funny if it was on caroll burnette

"We love you miss hannigan"

miss hannigan (caroll burnette: Oh shut up!

[mattanddi62]

This was before my time....but oldies stations turned me on to it.  Great song.

[Multi80sfan]

@mattanddi62 same here i only know this song because my dad loves classic rock

[Gladaitor2000]

OMG, I used have one of those reel to reel recorders. It was it inspired buy the hit TV series Mission Impossible

[stella44424]

you've been many things but most of all a cool secratary to me .... right on!

[Multi80sfan]

@stella44424 so take a letter maria

[urgdaddy]

Great song...all of us over 50 know the words and sing along.

Would you like to have dinner with me....great line.

[TheMidnightBell07]

Hey, I thought the guy that sang this was Mexican lol. Well is voice anyway

[regusted]

@TheMidnightBell07 RB Greaves had or has a slight Caribbean accent but, but the song definitely has a Latin feel to it, with the brass and the secretary named Maria. And I used to hear it on the Spanish oldies station ALL the time. So it is easy to see why you thought so.

[mrfunnyman99]

Love the horns

[EdiblePlanets]

i need a secretary like Maria.

[Multi80sfan]

@EdiblePlanets yeah she sounds like she'd be hot with the way he flirts with her

[phildirt3]

a friend of mine played trombone on this for free pizza

[andrewfrancis74]

@phildirt3 If that's true ,you can say you've had a cool life.You knew someone who played on an All-Time Classic?

[cypresso56]

Thanks. :)

[wallofvideo]

i always liked the horn section on this. today's music could use more horns.

[svi9]

remember this from back in the day when it aired on tv. What memories...I use to love this song. Thanks for posting

[kittiecattales]

This is one of so many classic hits that was recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

[WhiteBoy41]

Nice Office / Set.

[brianclough]

If only I could sing like him....

[haydeeze]

Wow! I was beginning to think I made up this song since I never hear it played anywhere. I love youtube!!

[Blkojo]

Great bass lines.

[xteraflop]

1969. I rest my case.

[vikkihottie55]

Good ole song from back in the day!!..

[deathgod138]

great song!

[ashleeEcheney]

i <3 dis song!!

[HaywoodZarathustra]

Sam Cooke's nephew.

[sierria64]

@HaywoodZarathustra oh reallay

[HaywoodZarathustra]

@sierria64 Yeah, really, do a web search.

[83zman]

one word-awesome

[edwardooftheopensea]

.

was he the father on "Good Times"?

:)

i kid because i love...

.

[alexalot23]

A CLASSIC!

[Yeffaman]

Tres bon!!!!!

[meljes2]

classic artist and man never got his real due should be in the hall of fame classy

[HunterMann]

Great song!!!

[regusted]

If a pirate loves a lassie, it be hard to understand

That she find more treasure in the 'Arrrrr's of another man!

[alexalot23]

always loved this song. always liked the line " kept my cool , i aint no fool". keep your cool fellas.

[timonkin]

love this song!

[greenpantaloons]

take a letter banana adress it to my life

[greenpantaloons]

take a letter maria addrss it my wacky waving inflatable arm flailng tube man

[regusted]

i am dying over here.

[tiatrips]

@greenpantaloons That just doesn't roll of the tongue quite the same...

[StudioSkary]

HAHAHA. You and me both, but I'm really not convinced that's gonna fix his problem with his cheating wife....

[annachestnut]

"send a copy to my lawyer...." even then, they were around doing what they do...

[66feebee]

go my brother!!!

[shhshh76]

Just listen to the words - and you know

wh you love early rock n roll from the

60's!

[raywode]

A cool song and video. R.B.'s voice, mannerisms and looks were certainly reminiscent of his uncle. I'm surprised this was his only hit.

[betsydog]

Uncle?

[huesero51]

I also want a GOOD SECRETARY like María, just in case my girlfriend fools me.

[TheLegendfamily]

I always liked how the narrator in the song goes to work on his secretary right after he finds out that his wife was messing about behind his back. :D

[meljes2]

@TheLegendfamily now that is funny and catchy

[meljes2]

@TheLegendfamily now that is funny and catchy

[TheLegendfamily]

@meljes2: Were you commenting on the lyrics or my material, mate?

[meljes2]

@TheLegendfamily ur material mate

[TheLegendfamily]

@meljes2: Thanks, your positive feedback is much appreciated.

[mekugi]

@TheLegendfamily Word.....he's a dog...

[ChuckieInMT]

@TheLegendfamily Ya, cuz Maria musta been hot -n- R.B. was really wantin' to get even...

[TheLegendfamily]

@ChuckieInMT Maria must've been really "hot 2 trot" by '60s standards, eh? (Sorry for the lingo: I lived through the era & I've been watching loads of "Mad Men" lately.)

[ChuckieInMT]

@TheLegendfamily N.P., cuz like thge kid said in the movie 'Second Hand Lions', "Yes, you lived, you really lived!" I'm only 47, but I still remember Bobbie Gentry's boots and yes, they WERE made fer walkin'...

[TheLegendfamily]

@ChuckieInMT It's funny that you mention "2nd Hand-" because my grand-dad on my mother's side was the English/SA version of the Caine & Duvall characters in that movie. I can tell you more via PM if that's all right w/you.

[yourdickis2limp]

@ChuckieInMT Maria was a born again bisexual weasel squeezing transvesdite that was getting freaky with RB Greaves back in the late sixties.(She was the ne Teddy Pendergrass was with when he had his accident in 1978 as well)>

[sneezyize]

@TheLegendfamily It's the 1960's. 1969 to be exact. Sounds not to unlike an episode of Mad Men".

[WytZox1]

@TheLegendfamily -- Men generally get over a breakup and move on to someone new quicker than a woman in the same situation. You'll NEVER hear a man say to a woman "I just broke up with someone and I can't deal with a relationship right now." It's a guy thing ...☺

[andrewfrancis74]

@WytZox1 I must be a girl, then.

[njaneardude]

Timeless classic and good advice.

[brianclough]

Timeless indeed.

[LMD9251]

Great oldie, and so is that Mission Impossible tape recorder.  Most kids today probably wouldn't even kow what a tape recorder is!

[oldmanRick1]

Still love this song - Fantastic

[refer420kodiak]

motown classic. I love it!!!!!!!!!!!

[4threconmarine]

Cool "Mission Impossible" twist at the end.Wasn't expecting that.This was one of the first songs to stick in my brain as a young child.

[lilane4ever]

Soo love this song....a classic alright!

[Wwerner25]

wikipedia says he is the nephew of sam cook and when you think about it must be true. sam cooke was about 20 years before at the same age!!

[shhshh76]

I never get tired of this classic!

[recordman64]

I heard he was Sam's NEPHEW.