See, some violent video games (Mafia 2) do have good things in them! I tune the radio in the cars to 'Empire Central' all the time just to here this song, and 'You Can Have Her,' also by Roy Hamilton.
Here's the inside story: Top dog at Columbia Records, Mitch Miller, hated RocknRoll and refused to sign any Rock acts on the Columbia and Epic labels back in the 1950s. However, they did take already established Pop Artists like Roy Hamilton and Guy Mitchell ("Singin' the Blues"), and experimented with the new genre. In both cases, they were successful, but Columbia still didn't sign any rock groups in America until after the Beatles became popular.
@jcghooker jcghooker, and it wasn't just rock acts that didn't get signed to Columbia. Per Joel Whitburn's book "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles, 1942-2004", Columbia Records did not have one R&B chart hit from July, 1949 to April, 1960. And when the Ray Bryant Combo did chart with "The Madison Time - Part 1" on 11 April 1960, that might have been closer to jazz than R&B???...
@weenielongus Righto. Columbia did sign The Ravens around 1950, and the lead singer was Jimmy Ricks. Ricks recorded a hit record, Oh, Babe!/ Walking with the Blues with the B.G. Sextet around that time. Both are interesting tunes with a hybrid sound, Swing, mixed with 12-bar blues. Can be considered as early R&B. I recently found out that Columbia did sign some obscure rockabilly artists around 1958, but their records didn't sell...
Who that has ears could not hear this jumpy make you feel good song. I remember this song when I was a kid and it came to me to see if I could find it and it still sounds like something I would want to hear today. Awesome tune
when i 1st listen to this song in MAFIA II i thot it was elvis presely , i liked this song from the 1st time i heard it , every time i hear it in mafia ii i just raise the volume and sing along lol
Have a listen to "I'd Think It Over" by Sam Fletcher. Sam Fletcher, Roy Hamilton, Jackie Wilson, Brook Benton, Elvis Presley...and there's probably others...all have a similar sound, and each is differently great.
Man, this guy really has got a golden voice.. one of the purest voices of all time- I'd put him in the same league with Freddie Mercury! Let his music & songs never stop.. ;)
Love this song. I also first heard it in Mafia II, and originally thought it was Elvis! Was pleasantly surprised to quickly discover another legendary artist from that era. Roy greatly influenced Elvis, and was one of his favourite artists, thus its no surprise that Elvis patterned his singing voice after his idol. Interestingly enough, Roy's song "Angelica" was actually given to him by Elvis - a song that he had planned to record himself!
i was 18 yrs old and never had a girl friend. awhile back i must say.this song came out when i met my first lady friend. wow, and double wow, what a memory this brings me. 1958 i think. thanks roy. now if i could see this lady again would complete the memory.
I remember "cultivating corn" late one summer night listening to this on one of them new-fangled transistor radios...if you are a farm kid from the '60s, you won't know what I'm talking about
I had never heard of Roy Hamiliton until I looked up Isaac Hayes' version and someone mentioned Roy Hamilton. I was 6 when he died. It shameful this guy's name is not as well known as others who died before he did. I don't think one version is better than the other. I think both are great.
This WAS the original ELVIS! Can't you hear Elvis's vocal inflections in his singing? Well Roy was there first. don't get me wrong I love both singer's talent. Too bad that black performers weren't as readily accepted in the main media back in the days. Can't say that I ever saw Roy's stage performance but Elvis's speaks for itself, at least before he self-destructed. God Bless 'em both
Is it only me that thinks this is Elvis like and where he got his sound from? My folks had this copied from their 78" and i just assumed it was elvis singing!
I remember this song from an episode of My Name is Earl, where they were trying to win a car for Earl's ex-wife by seeing how long they could keep their hands on it.
Elvis met Roy at American Studios in 1969 while recording his From Elvis In Memphis album......after telling him how much he admired his singing Elvis offered Roy a song that was meant for him to record...tha song was "Angelica"
First time I heard this I thought I was Elvis..I bet millions of others think its Elvis too...until you research it to find the song..like I did...and wow! its Roy Hamilton not Elvis..shock of shocks.
Roy Hamilton great singer, great song, realy great 50s feel...thanks for posting it.
listened 6 in a row and countin jus today do i deserve a cookie¿. stay high off coal hits of hash ember baby i wont stop for a million bucks.R.I.P.Roy Hamilton april 16 1929 to july 20 1969
I've recently thought of something. you know how everyone drives around blasting rap or some shit out of their car. counter that with this. if you can get this song or similair music on your car radio. play it and turn it WAY UP!!!
@ndm707 I met him when I was a little girl and lived in New Jersey. He was appearing at a store and me and my mother went to see him. We were late and he was walking out of the place. I ran up to him and asked for an autograph (breathlessly)! Very nice man.
Thanks for uploading this video. Great, great singer. Nobody can sing like him. Rest in peace Roy Hamilton. Will always remember you through your beautiful songs.
A true original. Roy Hamilton was born in Leesburb, Georgia and was one of the few great soul singers who made the cross over from gospel to mainstream. Like Sam Cook and Jackie Wilson, Roy had the ability to put to dominate a song with pure emotion and sincerity. Sadly we lost him in 1969. Check out his version of "Ebb Tide" and "Unchained Melody".
Same tune w/different words & funkier : "Don't Talk Back" by Big Mama Thornton. BMT's recording -sounds- older, but that doesn't mean much & I can't find a recording or release date for it. Anybody know which one came first?
I heard this song a couple of weeks, and like a lot of you, I thought it was Elvis at first...then I realized it was Roy (my dad had this album when I was kid). I had never noticed the similar delivery between the two before. I was born in the 70s so I knew Isaac Hayes version first, but THIS is FUNKY! I love the pauses...gives this song a quirky charm.
Now this is what I call rock and roll at it's finest in the same mold of that of Elvis Presley. It would climb to the # 13 spot on the billboard charts in 1958. What a range in voice he had; could sing rock, pop, love ballads, you name it. He just made you want to get up and dance and sing-a-long; Woooooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeee. It's a shame we lost him too soon, he could have given Elvis a run for his money if you know what I mean, so talented, Amen!!!
Oh I totally agree, Elvis loved black music and he imitated them to a tee and when he became famous and made his way into the charts he was credited for opening the doors to so many black artists, the record labels finally realized if a white boy can sing like a black man then it's obvious black music was great after all. I heard he and Roy met in 1969 to record some songs & Elvis greatly admired Roy and Jackie Wilson etc etc and so on. Thank you for your feedback and for the truth to be known!
Hard to imagine, but the Raindrops also did a version of this around 1964 with the late great Ellie Greenwich singing lead! Actually it's a pretty good rocker. Later it was covered by Barry White as well,but Roy's version is the best. It has so much sexual tension it practically sweats!
thanks to roy hamilton, jackie wilson,billy ward, jimmy reed,fats domino,ray charles,and all those great singers and writers from the delta that introduced the world to american rhythm and blues, rock and roll. may it live and spread throughout the world.
It was a different time. You just can't look at it like a picture...good or bad. It was what it was. But one thing is for sure, Roy Hamilton laid the groundwork for people like Elvis to become a star. Just like the Beatles laid the groundwork for....well, for ALL other bands. In the Beatles case, they set the bar so high NO ONE will ever surpass it. I really feel sorry for kids these days. They think Miley and Beyonce are so talented. Gee, they'll never know what REAL talent is. Too bad.
I'm 71 and a fan of Roy Hamilton. I have memories of listening to him as far back as 1952. Most of his original recordings were lost and he did a lot of remakes before he died. The original version of Ebb Tidd had sea gulls at the end. Noone can come close to his version of You'll Never Walk Alone, not even Elvis nor the stars of Carousel. He was very popular with his ballads and at least with this white boy he ranked with Nat King Cole and Billy Eckstein as a performer. .
Bawdybill, truley spoken. it was a shame the way the black artist were trearted, their songs were delibertly boycotted but the white audiences wanted the real Mc Coy so they demanded that these artist appear on tour and on radio and they kept the following alive. The Mcquire sisters, Pat Boone, Elvis were doing black music this was common knowledge but the media wanted to appeal to the so called cultured audience. But we kept the faith and rock n roll lives on, these guys were great.
Probably the latter because there were many African Americans prominent in music in those days but it is a mystery (and a shame) why Roy Hamilton wasn't more popular. He deserved much better - he's got a fantastic voice.
Good old American racism! White America could not handle a Black man as debonair and striking as this with talent to boot having white females swarming over him like Elvis.
No one can beat this song. Just listen to this song and tell me it isn't. Play again or just take the cotton out of your ears. Ha! Ha! One of the greatest songs ever made.
I don't care WHO did a version of this song...THIS is what I remember bopping around to in the living room when I was a kid. Wooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeee. Roy had a voice and a half.
Mafia 2's soundtrack! :)
gerlown 1 week ago
One of my favorite tunes ever. Desert island pick.
DeenoMarteeno 1 week ago
It doesn't any cooler. Hound dog barkin' up on the hill..... What a voice, what a tight little band, what a groove!
pyannaguy 2 weeks ago
Ok, turn the volume up...and SIT STILL! Ya can't do it!!!
spahjrp 2 weeks ago
I was playing Mafia 2 and I thought this was Elvis Presley.
1AngelSolo 3 weeks ago
We're all so clever now, we can't see wood for trees. This has always been and will always be brilliant.
Rock on
2561259 1 month ago
See, some violent video games (Mafia 2) do have good things in them! I tune the radio in the cars to 'Empire Central' all the time just to here this song, and 'You Can Have Her,' also by Roy Hamilton.
TwoTwoZulu 1 month ago
This is fabulous, time to get up and dance!!!
Thanks so much.
coffeeicecream1 1 month ago
I'm here because of JGB.
gabepizza 1 month ago 2
Knew this song before Mafia 2 but when I heard it on Mafia 2 it made the game extra better!
MaleBosszz 2 months ago 2
ya kick his non singing BUTT! this song is great. I listened to the 60s in the 80s! when i was a teen... hated Madonna!!! and Banana Rama!
gormbygallo 2 months ago
@gormbygallo
What are you talking about?
LibertatemPopuli 1 month ago
même pour les francais c'est vraiment exceptionnel
bluesberry73 2 months ago
Well there are 3 That won't let go,me I grew up with this music, and I LOVE it.
12Daniel7 3 months ago
I CANT BELIEVE IT, ELVIS PRESLEY COMPLETELY COPIED ROY HAMILTON. I THOUGHT THIS SONG WAS ELVIS.....
MrRickG7 3 months ago
I wish I could go back in 50's just to see how was it like =$ Shitty now-a-days
CodeLeecher 3 months ago
pretty good version by Commander Cody
mcgargle50 3 months ago
hehe im a 21th century man, but i like this song!
SericoCH 3 months ago
oh yeah! Don't let go! My Mom played this when I was a little girl! Thanks for the post!
tnickens75 3 months ago
My great-grandmother use to play this when i was a kid. I loved it then and love it now. S.K.C.J.INC.
TheSKCJ 3 months ago
Here's the inside story: Top dog at Columbia Records, Mitch Miller, hated RocknRoll and refused to sign any Rock acts on the Columbia and Epic labels back in the 1950s. However, they did take already established Pop Artists like Roy Hamilton and Guy Mitchell ("Singin' the Blues"), and experimented with the new genre. In both cases, they were successful, but Columbia still didn't sign any rock groups in America until after the Beatles became popular.
jcghooker 4 months ago 2
@jcghooker jcghooker, and it wasn't just rock acts that didn't get signed to Columbia. Per Joel Whitburn's book "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles, 1942-2004", Columbia Records did not have one R&B chart hit from July, 1949 to April, 1960. And when the Ray Bryant Combo did chart with "The Madison Time - Part 1" on 11 April 1960, that might have been closer to jazz than R&B???...
weenielongus 6 days ago
@weenielongus Righto. Columbia did sign The Ravens around 1950, and the lead singer was Jimmy Ricks. Ricks recorded a hit record, Oh, Babe!/ Walking with the Blues with the B.G. Sextet around that time. Both are interesting tunes with a hybrid sound, Swing, mixed with 12-bar blues. Can be considered as early R&B. I recently found out that Columbia did sign some obscure rockabilly artists around 1958, but their records didn't sell...
jcghooker 6 hours ago
I love music like this
Idontnowbestgame 4 months ago
First rock and roll song ever in the history of the universe, the big bang, and all time before that to be recorded in stereo.
mutleybird 4 months ago
Who that has ears could not hear this jumpy make you feel good song. I remember this song when I was a kid and it came to me to see if I could find it and it still sounds like something I would want to hear today. Awesome tune
missionpsble21 5 months ago
MAFIA 2
lakers1221369 5 months ago 11
when i 1st listen to this song in MAFIA II i thot it was elvis presely , i liked this song from the 1st time i heard it , every time i hear it in mafia ii i just raise the volume and sing along lol
MegaTetou 5 months ago
Have a listen to "I'd Think It Over" by Sam Fletcher. Sam Fletcher, Roy Hamilton, Jackie Wilson, Brook Benton, Elvis Presley...and there's probably others...all have a similar sound, and each is differently great.
AutumnExplore 5 months ago
50s music= EPICNESS
gregoryguzman1398 5 months ago 2
Love this song!!! First time heard it in Mafia ll. Great Soundtrack!!!
chasebookman 5 months ago
First time I heard this I was like...Elvis?
Shotty729 5 months ago
Man, this guy really has got a golden voice.. one of the purest voices of all time- I'd put him in the same league with Freddie Mercury! Let his music & songs never stop.. ;)
C0ldWarrior 6 months ago
Love this song. I also first heard it in Mafia II, and originally thought it was Elvis! Was pleasantly surprised to quickly discover another legendary artist from that era. Roy greatly influenced Elvis, and was one of his favourite artists, thus its no surprise that Elvis patterned his singing voice after his idol. Interestingly enough, Roy's song "Angelica" was actually given to him by Elvis - a song that he had planned to record himself!
roytomb 6 months ago
MAFIA lol
thewindowsxp32 7 months ago
Gotta love music from the 50's.
Res0lut1on 7 months ago 5
@Res0lut1on Great cars too!
jimbobubbadj 6 months ago in playlist More Great Music
@jimbobubbadj Very true.
Res0lut1on 6 months ago
Awesome!!!!!
landmine950 7 months ago
i was 18 yrs old and never had a girl friend. awhile back i must say.this song came out when i met my first lady friend. wow, and double wow, what a memory this brings me. 1958 i think. thanks roy. now if i could see this lady again would complete the memory.
hotdog12ify 7 months ago
great song
streetking1988 7 months ago
I'm happy that kids can discover these tunes through their games and motion pictures. It keeps the era alive.
winsome1235 8 months ago 64
@winsome1235
funny you should say that, I was playing Mafia II and this song has been stuck in my head for hours and I had to youtube it. Great song.
jolu42 5 months ago
I remember "cultivating corn" late one summer night listening to this on one of them new-fangled transistor radios...if you are a farm kid from the '60s, you won't know what I'm talking about
spahjrp 8 months ago
Jerry Garcia band did a decent cover
amalshookup 8 months ago
who cares where or how you discovered the song! it's great regardless!
pcmorris1000 8 months ago 2
I found this version after discovering (in this order) the versions of: Isaac Hayes, Jeff Lynne and Chubby Checker!
aldiakaroofus 8 months ago
If it hadn't been for Mafia II,i wouldnt know that song
SpaceSeeker20 9 months ago
I really need timemachine :|
mskero94 9 months ago
@mskero94 Yeah, I get that...or maybe "Scottie" can beam you side-ways?
spahjrp 8 months ago
I had never heard of Roy Hamiliton until I looked up Isaac Hayes' version and someone mentioned Roy Hamilton. I was 6 when he died. It shameful this guy's name is not as well known as others who died before he did. I don't think one version is better than the other. I think both are great.
FilmNoirFan1 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Thumbs up if you even know what a 45RPM is...
brian70Cuda 10 months ago
I thought Isaac Hayes version was great. This one's the bomb. Oh hay-yo yeah!!
wilkrazor 10 months ago
Roy Hamilton died of a stroke in 1969.
isuckaman 10 months ago
One of the few who knew this before Mafia II.
MisterMisterMiser 11 months ago
Thumbs up if you never knew this song until you played mafia II
juicediss3 11 months ago
I used to play this song over and over again on the juke box in the culmore shopping center duckpin alley in VA when i was a kid. What memories!
pleximarz 11 months ago 3
mafia 2 XD
FireladRJ 11 months ago
We lost Roy on the day man first landed on the moon July, 20, 1969. He was only 40.
isuckaman 11 months ago
@isuckaman aww :( do u know how he died?
tacoguy210 10 months ago
maffia 2 the best
ggdad13 1 year ago
Roy has this one !!!!!!! NICE !!!
DET832 1 year ago
I love Jackie Wilson, but Roy was better in every way, and Jackie, who idolized
Roy, would have been the first to admit it.
tonywsmith2 1 year ago
Nice ! Smooth & Smokin at the same time
TheBassplayah 1 year ago
Just robbed a gun store... runnin' from the cops... made sure to set the radio to Empire Central
blablaidontcarewhour 1 year ago
Used sound recognition app on iphone to get the name of the songs on mafia 2.
tickoman 1 year ago
Mafia II baby!! & lmao @DVSSkates 45!!
xyankeesgurl08x 1 year ago
Mafia II.
choc0chips91 1 year ago
1 person did let go
MisterHannahMinx 1 year ago
a guy needs to be whacked
mihai88m 1 year ago
When I was a child I thought this was Elvis lol
9SLTT4 1 year ago
I think he's singing about a handjob. Great song.
DVSskates45 1 year ago
We should all hunt down that one person who disliked this song, who's with me?
stevetheazian95 1 year ago 41
@stevetheazian95 I agree. LOL
dkp1948 1 year ago
@stevetheazian95 me. i'll go
myheartmj 5 months ago
mafia ll
igrec54x 1 year ago 2
thank god for mafia2 and REAL MUSIC
UberWolfKing 1 year ago 5
great 50s song ,by a great rocker
mr62val 1 year ago
This WAS the original ELVIS! Can't you hear Elvis's vocal inflections in his singing? Well Roy was there first. don't get me wrong I love both singer's talent. Too bad that black performers weren't as readily accepted in the main media back in the days. Can't say that I ever saw Roy's stage performance but Elvis's speaks for itself, at least before he self-destructed. God Bless 'em both
FiremanOly 1 year ago
Hey Roy...I heard you Rock & Iam still Rollin.!!! Thanks..
marcloganmusic 1 year ago
don,t stop now don,t stop now play side-b play side -b
larrrypa 1 year ago
great song
MrVercettti 1 year ago
were else woukld you here it now adays
MrVercettti 1 year ago
Is it only me that thinks this is Elvis like and where he got his sound from? My folks had this copied from their 78" and i just assumed it was elvis singing!
gbadek 1 year ago
@gbadek First I thought it was Elvis,but after a search on the web I discovered that it was wrong. YOU'RE NOT ALONE
ilovekorg 1 year ago
check out issac hayes version of this great song.!
TheMaestroB 1 year ago
I remember this song from an episode of My Name is Earl, where they were trying to win a car for Earl's ex-wife by seeing how long they could keep their hands on it.
HipHopOtaku 1 year ago
WOW! Playing Mafia II makes me wanna listen to this music.
OmacOmac1 1 year ago
This tune is fantastic. What's mafia 2.?
takemeback2 1 year ago
@takemeback2
O.O you dont know mafia two
do u live under a rock if u have a xbox 360 ps3 or ps get off your ass and buy the damn game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
acebit23 1 year ago
Comment removed
takemeback2 1 year ago
@acebit23 LOL! I'll crawl back under my rock now.....I have 8 tracks under there ya know.
takemeback2 1 year ago
@takemeback2
8 tracks?
acebit23 1 year ago
@acebit23 This song is even older than 8 tracks, you must be a youngin.
takemeback2 1 year ago
@takemeback2 i am indeed a youngin
acebit23 1 year ago
Not only roy lots of great singers were not acclaimed because of greed in the industry
guiana1000 1 year ago
Ya Mafia II
TheNix101 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
lol mafia II
TheNix101 1 year ago
lol mafia II
TheNix101 1 year ago
lol mafia II
TheNix101 1 year ago
WHY WOULD SOMEONE THUMB THIS DOWN?!?!?!?!
tnargmonk 1 year ago
wowowow this voice the best .!!!
Preditio 1 year ago
replace "dont let go" with "smoke that dope" and it sounds 128190x better
edanmaciver1 1 year ago
first time i heard this,i though it was The king singing...but now i see its not him...but it look A LOT...but both of them are awesome
deloreandmc88 1 year ago
love this song on mafia 2
ccsuk 1 year ago 4
Roy Hamilton is one of Jerry Lawson's greatest inspirations ( Jerry original lead singer of The Persuasions) Jerry recorded this A Cappella
jerrylawsondotbiz - he also recorded an amazing version of You Can Have Her
julie713 1 year ago
Roy Hamilton is one of Jerry Lawson's greatest inspirations ( Jerry original lead singer of The Persuasions) Jerry recorded this A Cappella
jerrylawsondotbiz
julie713 1 year ago
Elvis met Roy at American Studios in 1969 while recording his From Elvis In Memphis album......after telling him how much he admired his singing Elvis offered Roy a song that was meant for him to record...tha song was "Angelica"
d820m 1 year ago
First time I heard this I thought I was Elvis..I bet millions of others think its Elvis too...until you research it to find the song..like I did...and wow! its Roy Hamilton not Elvis..shock of shocks.
Roy Hamilton great singer, great song, realy great 50s feel...thanks for posting it.
depoty 1 year ago
I love those old songs ... especially because of games like Mafia 1&2, Fallout 3, Bioshock 1&2!
MartinGro131 1 year ago
listened 6 in a row and countin jus today do i deserve a cookie¿. stay high off coal hits of hash ember baby i wont stop for a million bucks.R.I.P.Roy Hamilton april 16 1929 to july 20 1969
irie6969 1 year ago
Respond to this video... Thumbs up if mafia 2 brought u here
13urning101 1 year ago 3
MAFIA II
MrAteciak 1 year ago 108
I was actually searching for The Manhattan Transfer's fine version, but this is great. Thanks.
Mogggggpiano 1 year ago
sounds like elvis..
PietroPietroPietroPi 1 year ago
I was curious where this song came from after listening to the Jeff Lynne version... This song is great!
kevin4peace 1 year ago
zajebiste whatever that means :P
grandeuser 1 year ago
I've recently thought of something. you know how everyone drives around blasting rap or some shit out of their car. counter that with this. if you can get this song or similair music on your car radio. play it and turn it WAY UP!!!
CALLAHAN315 1 year ago
Thumbs up if you came here because of the game Mafia 2.
PoeticRocker 1 year ago 254
@PoeticRocker lol me too i love the game
PhiladelphiaVICE 1 year ago
@PoeticRocker yeah i did :D
AeroFix94 1 year ago
@PoeticRocker
nomorewar121 1 year ago
@PoeticRocker mafia 11 rocks, great music in that game
nomorewar121 1 year ago
@PoeticRocker Hell ya Mafia II FTW!
TVdinnerFTW 1 year ago
@PoeticRocker I hope royalties are flowing the estate of Mr. Hamilton.
cochranexyz 11 months ago
@PoeticRocker hahaha i was trying to remember what it was called from Mafia 2 then pandora radio played it!!!:)
Spoofmaker2000 8 months ago
hehe mafia 2
zcheeseolly 1 year ago
The greatest singer of his time, even the present time. Just love listening to his songs repeatedly & never got tired of them Thanks for uploading.
ndm707 1 year ago
@ndm707 I met him when I was a little girl and lived in New Jersey. He was appearing at a store and me and my mother went to see him. We were late and he was walking out of the place. I ran up to him and asked for an autograph (breathlessly)! Very nice man.
blkchk 1 year ago
Thanks for uploading this video. Great, great singer. Nobody can sing like him. Rest in peace Roy Hamilton. Will always remember you through your beautiful songs.
ndm707 1 year ago
.........aww shucks...
Reinpret 1 year ago
Golden music for a golden age.
trrrewr 1 year ago
love this song thanks for posting it
4vmax 1 year ago
Zow!! how long since this song slammed me. plus If You Get The Wrong Woman..is that all there are?
lanecampbell99 1 year ago
the best
joelperronful 1 year ago
A true original. Roy Hamilton was born in Leesburb, Georgia and was one of the few great soul singers who made the cross over from gospel to mainstream. Like Sam Cook and Jackie Wilson, Roy had the ability to put to dominate a song with pure emotion and sincerity. Sadly we lost him in 1969. Check out his version of "Ebb Tide" and "Unchained Melody".
Houdini774 1 year ago 2
Jeff Lynne, frontman of ELO, on his album Armchair Theater. Released in 1990.
LongJohnRP 1 year ago
Same tune w/different words & funkier : "Don't Talk Back" by Big Mama Thornton. BMT's recording -sounds- older, but that doesn't mean much & I can't find a recording or release date for it. Anybody know which one came first?
lazur1 1 year ago
Score! I heard this in 1958 and somehow it stuck to me like coins to a parking meter.
(No, don't figure out my age, LOLOLOL).
Juliaflo 1 year ago
This is great thank you for posting..
itchycoopark2 1 year ago
Roy Hamilton is timeless! Thanks for sharing.
lukcgepwr70 1 year ago
didn't another band record this song in the eighties? I remember hearing the "I wouldn't stop for a million bucks" in another song.
crashbug 1 year ago
I heard this song a couple of weeks, and like a lot of you, I thought it was Elvis at first...then I realized it was Roy (my dad had this album when I was kid). I had never noticed the similar delivery between the two before. I was born in the 70s so I knew Isaac Hayes version first, but THIS is FUNKY! I love the pauses...gives this song a quirky charm.
Odawg96 2 years ago
Now this is what I call rock and roll at it's finest in the same mold of that of Elvis Presley. It would climb to the # 13 spot on the billboard charts in 1958. What a range in voice he had; could sing rock, pop, love ballads, you name it. He just made you want to get up and dance and sing-a-long; Woooooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeee. It's a shame we lost him too soon, he could have given Elvis a run for his money if you know what I mean, so talented, Amen!!!
theloveman11378 2 years ago
@theloveman11378 Truthfully, I think Elvis learned his craft, if not directly from Roy Hamilton,then from artists similar to him.
BrickPa 1 year ago
Oh I totally agree, Elvis loved black music and he imitated them to a tee and when he became famous and made his way into the charts he was credited for opening the doors to so many black artists, the record labels finally realized if a white boy can sing like a black man then it's obvious black music was great after all. I heard he and Roy met in 1969 to record some songs & Elvis greatly admired Roy and Jackie Wilson etc etc and so on. Thank you for your feedback and for the truth to be known!
theloveman11378 1 year ago 2
Comment removed
theloveman11378 2 years ago
So effortless, and perfect
kevsuch 2 years ago 3
LOVE THIS SONG
obg1959 2 years ago 2
GREAT song - makes your feet jump around in your shoes - LOLOL!!! " I'll be cryin and soakin wet." YUP!
HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA.
Anntelope 2 years ago
Absolutely Awsomes
viva0las0vegas 2 years ago
this should have been a #1 hit
woodread 2 years ago 2
My bad... it wasn't Barry White, instead it was Isaac Hayes who covered it, around '79.
dpohunter 2 years ago
Hard to imagine, but the Raindrops also did a version of this around 1964 with the late great Ellie Greenwich singing lead! Actually it's a pretty good rocker. Later it was covered by Barry White as well,but Roy's version is the best. It has so much sexual tension it practically sweats!
dpohunter 2 years ago
I have heard this on the radio, thought it was Elvis.
nichibek 2 years ago 3
Hearing this, one can see where Elvis adapted his style from, and Charley Rich sounds just like Roy Hamilton.
mrke8ting 2 years ago 2
thanks to roy hamilton, jackie wilson,billy ward, jimmy reed,fats domino,ray charles,and all those great singers and writers from the delta that introduced the world to american rhythm and blues, rock and roll. may it live and spread throughout the world.
lindon39 2 years ago
This was one of THE COOLEST songs ever and one of the most underrated vocal performances of all-time.
FiremanOly 2 years ago
It was a different time. You just can't look at it like a picture...good or bad. It was what it was. But one thing is for sure, Roy Hamilton laid the groundwork for people like Elvis to become a star. Just like the Beatles laid the groundwork for....well, for ALL other bands. In the Beatles case, they set the bar so high NO ONE will ever surpass it. I really feel sorry for kids these days. They think Miley and Beyonce are so talented. Gee, they'll never know what REAL talent is. Too bad.
davo6 2 years ago
Damn, Elvis stole Roy's whole style!
dsasyt 2 years ago 4
Comment removed
jimwalsh2001 2 years ago
I'm 71 and a fan of Roy Hamilton. I have memories of listening to him as far back as 1952. Most of his original recordings were lost and he did a lot of remakes before he died. The original version of Ebb Tidd had sea gulls at the end. Noone can come close to his version of You'll Never Walk Alone, not even Elvis nor the stars of Carousel. He was very popular with his ballads and at least with this white boy he ranked with Nat King Cole and Billy Eckstein as a performer. .
bawdybill 2 years ago 2
Bawdybill, truley spoken. it was a shame the way the black artist were trearted, their songs were delibertly boycotted but the white audiences wanted the real Mc Coy so they demanded that these artist appear on tour and on radio and they kept the following alive. The Mcquire sisters, Pat Boone, Elvis were doing black music this was common knowledge but the media wanted to appeal to the so called cultured audience. But we kept the faith and rock n roll lives on, these guys were great.
smokeyvelvet42 2 years ago
wow wow wow . i have to go pick up all of his music. what a voice !!!!
poet3131 2 years ago
Don't let go, I'm so happy I got you here, keeps me grinning from ear to ear...cute!
chezfun 2 years ago
What kind of mindset prevented the proper promotion of Roy Hamilton's music ? Was it Supid Racism or Insane
Supidity ?
kwilly54 2 years ago 3
Probably the latter because there were many African Americans prominent in music in those days but it is a mystery (and a shame) why Roy Hamilton wasn't more popular. He deserved much better - he's got a fantastic voice.
vegaslover777 2 years ago 3
Good old American racism! White America could not handle a Black man as debonair and striking as this with talent to boot having white females swarming over him like Elvis.
leesterg 2 years ago
It's kinda rockabilly. Great song you can hear over and over again without getting tired of it.
vegaslover777 2 years ago 2
Every time I hear this I only wish that Elvis would have recorded a cover version with the exact arrangement...
miketheshanmanmangan 2 years ago
Superb =) fine post
ELRANDY11 2 years ago 2
I never get tired of this song....
Gopherreznick 2 years ago 2
Great song!!!
00JTM 2 years ago
No one can beat this song. Just listen to this song and tell me it isn't. Play again or just take the cotton out of your ears. Ha! Ha! One of the greatest songs ever made.
ILoveLugoff 2 years ago
I love Isaac's version of this, but Roy Hamilton just nails it.
cochranexyz 2 years ago 4
There's a LIVE version that rocks!
ColonelFain 3 years ago
This thing kicks.Who did the 70's rock version.What's the bands name?
74sodapop 3 years ago
I can see the similarities with Elvis' phrasing-I wish Roy had been as successful!
I'm sure many of you also like "You Can Have Her", Roy's other real big hit.
owenatkins 3 years ago
add Dorsey Burnette to the list of who recorded this song - i remember this version the best -- its fantastic
pasco3 3 years ago
I don't care WHO did a version of this song...THIS is what I remember bopping around to in the living room when I was a kid. Wooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeee. Roy had a voice and a half.
Torihope 3 years ago 10
So did Isaac Hayes
torinep