Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs "Big City Lights"

[redleg56]

This group's best stuff is little heard any more. They did some great material.

[piosta18]

Great song by a great band!

[micmoable]

my fav of theirs

[charliedontsurf70]

i still have the 45 from 65 i always played this just as much as ju ju hand.

[sarpiolgre]

I tried to find Big City Lights on iTunes, so that I can download to my iPod - but can't find the "real" one - any ideas?

[spacepatrolman]

@sarpiolgre Roy orbison had a song called city lights similar both on MGM the sultan said he wanted to have sex with a 12 year old girl his advisor said she doesnt have any hair below yet the sultan rubbed his beard and said tonight she will

[freqazoidiak]

Great song, and not covered in that formula they used for most of their other songs, including the flip side. Nice sound here. :D thanks for sharing..found a MInt Canadian press on 45 today

[biggchillthedj]

Saw them live back in the day and they did this one. Loved their show. At that time there were 3 girl back up singers. Awesome group!

[piosta18]

Good! So far no deaf people attempted to rate this excellent song!

[MisterZumbi]

This is such a special song. Awesome!

[FieldCichon672]

Grab the audio from this song at tubepull doht cohm.

[piosta18]

Their BEST song!

[visvaldisX]

Thanks for putting this on.

I haven't heard it for over 40 years.

[ulrichbenzing]

OMFG ... i am so glad i found that song again.. thx!!!

[MrMarz05]

One of my favorite songs ever. My mom has and old jukebox and I use to play this song everyday.

[alain59200]

great song

[sfratpack]

@alain59200 It's one of the greatest killer bees of the 60's. I'm glad you like it, too. Thanks for your comment!

[MrTiptoes1]

Stan Kessler was this bands producer. He turned the knobs in the studio. If you ever have listened to Wooly Bully in TRUE STEREO you know how awesome a producer he was. The drum echo in Wooly Bully is WILD. Big City Lights is one of the best songs the group ever did.

[sfratpack]

@MrTiptoes1 I totally agree and thank you for the back story, my friend!

[iamnaughty123]

WOW What a sound. I'm weird too. Love the B sides THanks

[sfratpack]

Quite often, B stands for "better." Thanks for your comment!

[countjockula]

I always ended up liking the b sides of my Sam the Sham 45's better! Also check out "Ain't Gonna Move" the b of Wooly Bully

[sfratpack]

You got that right! The "killer bee" phenomenon your describe happened over and over again during the rock 'n roll era.

[cbimbi]

Stan Kessler and Stacy Davidson are probably members of The Pharaos, I presume...

[cbimbi]

I bought this record by something like 1967, I think and it was b-side for Ju Ju Hand. but ig City Lights is far better.

Any band that does a cover of this song will have a immediate success. If I had the time I would do this with my own band The Troublles...

[sfratpack]

I agree. While "Ju Ju Hand" was a derivative knock off of "Wooly Bully" the fab flip "Big City Lights" is the far superior song and could have been a hit if it had been released as the A side. Thanks for your comment!

[69feast]

great vocals

[sfratpack]

I agree.  This song is Red Hot. Thanks for your comment!

[lightning3636]

Wow -- I can not believe I found this video! This was one of my favorite songs from many moons ago -- a true lost classic. Thanks for sharing!

[sfratpack]

It's my fave by Sam the Sham and was a huge hit on the jukebox at my teen hangout! Thanks for your comment!

[piosta18]

Super!

[LuvDaPre]

Very rare! Thx for adding. Sooo smooth this great song. Luv that sax in die middle.

[cbimbi]

yeah a very clean recording!

 this band should reunite again they would do much money..

[cbimbi]

WOW!! the last time I had heard this song was 30 yrs ago or more, when my 33 vinyl became scratched and ruined...I have been searched for this song but with no success because the CDs compilations of The Pharoes lack this song that is - my opinion - their best song ever!

thanx a lot for this great job, Im gonna hear it again!!

césar ( brazil )

[sfratpack]

This song is available on the 2001 CD The Best of Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs [Karussell]. As you can hear, it's a nice clean remastered mix.

[piosta18]

Agree!

[piosta18]

Their best song!

[sfratpack]

Thank you very much for your comments and compliments!

[piosta18]

Superb!

[piosta18]

Just noticed. Sorry for the typing error. I meant of course Dear Sfratpack!

Have no fear:) Sfratpack and upload other good songs from the era of good old rock and roll.

Thanks in advance!

[piosta18]

Fear Sfratpack,

a very big thank you!!!

I've been looking for this song for ages. and thaks to your time and effort, and most of all, your love of music, I favorited it instantly.

Best,

P.

[kwhudson2]

By the way, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs lived and recorded in Memphis, TN about 100 miles up the road. Also, check out one of my favorites, "I Don't Believe" by Memphis Guilloteens. It's on YouTube, but the v45 playback is better than the British TV performance. - KWH

[sfratpack]

It's fascinating to learn that this song was popular in another part of the country. Thanks for sharing! Why don't you start insisting that you're TWENTY-nine? If you're gonna lie - lie BIG! (LOL)

[kwhudson2]

Thanks for posting - I used to listen to this popular song in the student center (The GRILL) at Ole Miss about 1965 or 66 -- Wait a minute ! I won't be able to use "I'm 39 years old" story anymore ______ KWH

[LuvDaPre]

Very rare stuff! Smooth. Catchy song. Thx.