The Forum - The River is Wide

[chasjohn57]

Thanks for posting, lots of drama going on here.

[ChaChaDave]

I've been searching for this for years! Thanks.

[rokoping]

still this song takes me back....harmony and a classic....r

[brightchance1]

This is truly the best version of this song. But I love to play them back to back because they are so unique. Thanks for posting.

[maddadram1]

In complete agreement, this version by far,

the best one.

[BaldingMusicFan]

Fantastic song, the best version by far, love those background vocals blending in. A real 60's wall of sound.

[davegiraffe]

Great stuff - thanks for putting it up.

[djdavemick]

VERY similar to the grass Roots in production and sound (which I heard first).

That said, both versions are great.

[gjamieson78]

I'll be darned.....I've had the black label Mira 45 and the stereo LP for years, I didn't know that the blue label Mira 45 had a longer coda...there's 24 seconds of the song I'd never heard before! Excellent!!! ~GroovinGarrett

[KojiRecords]

Regardless of the noise, longer-shorter-better version, label variations, etc., one thing is for sure: The Forum performance cannot be denied and is pure 60s sparkling perfection. May I also recommend the full-length album "The River Is Wide," with a nice photo of the trio group on the back, along with many wonderful tracks that, as a whole, make for an excellent cohesive package and luxurious presentation for The Forum.

[JRNelsonSr]

@KojiRecords - This is true: my only other complaint with the 2004 reissue on RevOla was they didn't include the mono mixes, which are superior to the stereo on much of that album. Worth the search, which is probably why it gets harder as time goes by to track down that LP.

[spacepatrolman]

@KojiRecords did you say pat boone he did a version of little honda on dot that wasnt released.

[miketheshanmanmangan]

Another project of The Drake-Chenault consultated stations of the late 60,s.actually they played this over The Grass Roots version but they also broke Lets Live for today by the Grass Roots over the British Band The Living Daylights.

[brightchance1]

@miketheshanmanmangan I am very impressed with your knowledge Mike. Some of these songs just blow my mind. I have started searching for the 45s. I love the pop and hiss of the old vinyl. Keep posting Mike. TTFN

[TheKbev]

does anyone know where this song can be downloaded?

[oceanbound222]

I much prefer the Grass Roots version. This one is muddy and noisy

[wolfmantip]

Great Song,and THE best version , as far as I'm concerned. I have the Black Label. Thanks for the Post.

[Wolfsky9]

Of all the versions I know of--3--this is far & away, the best, & my favorite, by far. Wolfsky9

[RoyFive]

I prefer this version. The Grass Roots charted at the same time with Let's Live For Today. Turns out the three members of The Forum were in Les Brown's Balladeers which had also included David Crosby and his older brother Ethan at a different time.

[peeterpoon]

The Grass Roots were great and sadly underrated but the Forum add a nice soulful touch to this song.

[artlongjr]

There's another version of this song by Bobby Rydell on the Reprise label.

[frogmonster12]

There is supposed to be 5 different versions of this song but to me 4 of them sound exactly the same, definitely this is the best one

[jhs517]

i would have to agree with everyone. the grass roots are a great group, but this version is better.

[Jibjub80]

Some people have commented that they prefer this version over the rendition by the Grass Roots. It seems that the Grass Roots changed the words a bit.

[queequeg1500]

I guess I must have heard this from Roscoe, as Spacepatrolman says--the airplay was limited, a few weeks at best--but I loved this version of the song--so much more musically interesting than what The Grass Roots did a little later. I haven't heard it in 40 years now, but it sure brings back a lot of old feelings. Thank you for sharing this.

[TMAZANEC1]

Forum is much better.

[rockabillyrevival]

I've haven't heard this song since I was a kid of about seven listening to it on 8 track. Thanks for posting.

[45sGuy]

I have the original label version by this group on the Penthouse label which came out before the one on Mira. Awesome '60's group sound!

[rod280459]

I'm a Grass Roots fan, but I narrowly prefer this version.

[frogmonster12]

Have listened to this version and Grass Roots version many times, cannot say which one I like best they are both excellent.

[boopkid]

The one I remember was the "black label" version and it was extremely popular in New Orleans back in the Fall of 1967. I still have my 45 version, and I have all their versions on a CD compilation that came out a few years ago. Thanks for posting this.

[skilski2003]

I had only heard The Grass Roots version. Thanks for posting...beautiful!!

[iam70schick]

great song....memories. cleveland, oh jr. high school. oh yes. I never thought any one else knew this song existed except me.

Walking home in my neighborhood with the transistor on oh yeah

[nxvictim232]

JR

Many thanks for posting this (have not heard it in 35 yrs !). I was just listening to the version by the Grass Roots on an old Greatest hits LP & wondered whether the Forum's version was on youtube

Thanks Again !

[lala22k2]

Great song! Been looking for this for a long time:thought it was the Soul Survivors.

[spacepatrolman]

I know a man who had a fish store and the singer from the soul survivors used to go there also roberta flack ,listen to the intro of lovers of the world unite by the vogues it sounds similar to this.

[ozzieandboudreau]

I've been looking for this forever; thanks......

[artlongjr]

Interesting information you have on this record...I discovered it in 1984 when I got a copy of the blue label 45, then several years later found a copy of the LP. I never knew that the black label version on Mira was different.

[rechsteiner]

JR,

Thanks for the information. I found it with Amazon, like you said, I bought it and yes it does bring back memories of my childhood days. Love it to death. Aloha from Hawaii.........I hope I can do you a favor in the future. Just let me know........Here's looking at you KID!!!

[rechsteiner]

This brings back so many memories. I was wondering if you know how I can get a copy on CD somewhere out there in never never land. I have search everyway and have come up short. Love this song. It should have made #1 in the 60's...........

[atopic5544]

What a great song; especially for making out at 14. I've been waiting for this to be posted--thanks a million!!!!

[larrysue1]

What a GREAT SONG !!! I forgot how this this was. Love the piano build up in the beginning.

Thanks for the video, it brought back some great memories.

[IDLERACER]

This charted at #45 in the late spring of 1967. Exactly two years later, the Grass Roots' version made it to #31.

[spacepatrolman]

roscoe used to play this on worfm in ny