The Rubber Band-Let Love Come Between Us 1967

[smartnotful]

Eddie Hinton & I were co-producing at Boutwell Recording Studios, & Wyker, Townsend, et al dropped by one afternoon to record a demo; at the time, Eddie & I thought it was corny, not R&B enough for us, etc. Now I realize we were just jealous jerks.

[BHH10]

Concerning Gary Busey's "Rubber Band" I believe it was a different group. He (Busey) discussed his Texas roots and the band's beginnings on the Johnny Carson Show in 1985.

[oversplayer]

I believe that the James and Bobby Purify version was a cover of this one. Now my question: Gary Busey was the drummer in a group called "The Rubber Band." I don't think it was this band, but does anyone know for sure?

[tellittothedevil]

@oversplayer Actually , James and Bobby Purify covered this song!

[ptbox5]

Is this a cover of the James and Bobby Purify version? Sorry if I offend anyone by asking this its just I haven't been able to find out.

[RobbiesVideoArchives]

Amazing! I'd completely forgotten about this great record which I still have on a 45 in a moving box somewhere in this house. One of these days I gotta finish unpacking!

[BHH10]

Have an MP3 file that doesn't have the drag you referred to.

Not that computer savy to know how to post it to You Tube( help anyone?) Delbert Mcclinton also has a version out.

[mickatmidnight]

Just a bit of background...The lead singer is Johnny Townsend that would score the hit Smoke From A Distant Fire with the Sanford-Townsend Band in the early 70's too. They were all classmates at the University of Alabama where Townsend was a Premedical student and Wyker didn't have a major but was a member of the Kappa Alpha frat when they started touring the frat and beach circuit.

[garageband66]

Thanks for the background. SFADF was one of the great 70's tunes that stands the test of time today. Not surprising that Townsend finally found great chart success.

[mickatmidnight]

Sure thing, and I can't believe I forgot to mention that the writer/trumpet player on this Johnny Wyker also had a hit with Sailcat called Motorcycle Mama then dropped out of the performing end of it and went into just writing. Wrote Baby Ruth with Sailcat and was recorded by John Prince and Delbert McClinton, plus a ton of others for a ton of others, lol.

[mickatmidnight]

"...john prine..." that is lol...

[garageband66]

It happens; no sweat.

[bitterchew]

great song, but video is corny

[garageband66]

Hey...at my age, I'm aloud to be corny once in a while. Besides, my wife says I can and that's all the permission I need.

[mugwump790]

This version has been available on internet since 2001. It was a bad cassette copy from the original Columbia single, which slows down during the sax at 1:49, then speeds up! I still have the cassette, but no other copy of the long-gone single has ever surfaced. James and Bobby Purify, from the great Papa Don out of Birmingham, didn't come close this version, which was released in October, 1966...at least to those of us who heard the original first!

[garageband66]

Tell me how you really feel.

Thanks for the view!

[mugwump790]

Laughing! Was trying to fit two thoughts into 500 characters... I meant that I was wondering if this audio had actually found its way to an import CD. I also wonder if James and Bobby heard this version on WSGN, the station generally credited with "breaking" the original. At any rate, thanks for the great job on the video! May the Hits Just Keep On Comin'!!!

[garageband66]

Amen!

[BigBird1017]

garageband66 - Thanks SO MUCH for going to the "ends of the Earth" to find these rare classics which bring back great memories for those of us who can remember them.

[garageband66]

Thanks for the comment but I have not actually been to the "end of the Earth" literally. I wish though I could be paid to do this, it is a lot of fun sometimes when you actually find what you are looking for.

[mickatmidnight]

There's another version that doesn't drag in the middle available now on a compilation called The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music. It's a HUGE book and comes with two cd's full of southern beach music from the 60's. Wyker that wrote the song along with Sobotka really likes the video too!! :)

[oversplayer]

The Rubber Band had the original hit. James and Bobby Purify's version came later and, IMHO, is far inferior to the Rubber Band's.

I have been trying to locate this song [the Rubber Band version] on a music CD forever without success. Might anyone have any idea where I might be able to find it?

(The other late 60's hit that I've been unable to find is "I can't stop loving you" by The Last Word.

[garageband66]

All I have is a converted mp3 and to be honest that particular one was in a collection of an imported CD from Japan, I think.

I do know of The Rubber Band version of Let Love..comes from a CD Collection of the Hey Baby Days of Beach Music, if that helps.

Remind me of who The Last Word was, Canadian? I am drawing a blank here.

[oversplayer]

To the best of my recollection, The Last Word were also one-hit wonders, but their hit was also superb - "I Can't Stop Loving You" (no resemblance to the Ray Charles song of the same name).

If you want to hear that song, plug the title and the group's name into Google, and you will be directed to a You Tube page that will play it just like this one does.

[garageband66]

I'll give that a listen as soon as possible. Thanks for the info and I'll check my sources to see what I can come up with in the meantime. The early returns from my usual sources haven't been panning out; it really must be rare.

[tcidolfan]

You know I have J/B Purify's version on Bubblegum Classic Soulful Pop CD!!!

[oversplayer]

I appreciate your letting me know.  But I never much liked the James & Bobby Purify version.

[rslitman]

I know this song as done by James and Bobby Purify. In fact, it's my favorite song by them.

[garageband66]

I've always been partial to I'm Your Puppet and Backfield in Motion. This was a beach music favorite in SC in my Myrtle Beach days as a teenager.

[rslitman]

I am familiar with a song called "Backfield in Motion" by Mel & Tim, another soulful duo. Did James and Bobby Purify do this one, too? The first time I heard the Purifys on the radio, which was "I'm Your Puppet", the disc jockey said they were the same guys as Don & Juan, who did "What's Your Name?" some years earlier. This was 1966, and it wasn't until > 30 years later that I learned for once and for all that this was not true.

[garageband66]

They may have but you're right it was Mel and Tim, they also did "Starting All Over Again" that was covered recently by someone, can't remember who.