I liked that video when I first saw it 52 years ago! It was great to see it again after all these decades. Even as a kid I could tell that was much better than the usual lip-syncing "performance" done by so many bands. I never thought it was a video and figured they acted this out on American Bandstand.
I also remembered that lovely lass dancing around. She definitely cinches that video.
And (like everyone else posting here) I'd like to know who she is and what else she may have done.
@chg657 That is John Felten who Joined The Diamonds back in late 1958 - and he was with the group for 10 years. I have a recording of John and The Diamonds doing Old Man River, where John takes the lead. Wonderful performance. To hear more of The Diamonds, visit the authorised website of the original Diamonds "the diamonds music dot com" (all one word) Tragically, John and his wife Linda lost their lives in a light aircraft crash in the early eighties.
The Diamonds loved and respected the black R&B groups. They jammed and performed alongside them. In many instances they were unfairly criticised for their covers of the black groups, Their earliest musical mentors were the guys in a black group called the Revelaires. The Revelairs wrote "Land of Beauty" which The Diamonds recorded and put on the B side of their million seller - The Stroll.
These guys were just plain great. All my life, since I'd never seen them live or even in a picture, I thought they were black. Yup. Imagine my surprise when, one day on TV when they were advertising one of those oldie sets, I saw a few second clip of them singing "Little Darlin" - and THEY WERE WHITE! Holy crap! Over 50 years of knowing nothing about the Diamonds. I'm SO ashamed! Ha.
Actually, what I meant to say was that I find what she does with her hands and tilting her head (after she shrugs her shoulders just a little bit) kind of amusing. So yes, I guess I do write first and think later sometimes...
I do remeber this song and the band, but never heard them much as in flashbacks. It seems to me it was the bigger names I heard most often excluding Elvis who seemed to be overplayed by the dj's. Hey!, now I call the plays and I don't have to listen to Elvis, right.
Who is the girl in this video clip? I just love the part of her dance when she first comes out and starts dancing and shrugs her shoulders. She does a great job and should be recognized for it.
The only thing I don't like about the lyrics is when the singer says she is "...the captain of my soul." The Captain of my soul is the Lord Jesus Christ, and He should be everyone's Captain. Don't mean to get religious on you, but that's just the way it is. Otherwise, I LOVE the song and the video.
Hey Ric, I know Dave personally, Bruce Belland (of the 4 preps ) is my step dad. =). I've not been keeping abreast of what Dave's been up to lately, I think he's back with the Diamonds performing whenever they can. Same with Bruce with the OG 4 preps. Both still sound great. Bruce and David were together for a number of years in the 90s along with Jim Yester of the Association.
I had no idea this existed, and appreciate seeing it, I'm sure Dave would love and appreciate seeing this too.
Thanks for the posting. I have spoken to Dave a few times over the phone - real nice guy. I have also spoken to Bruce B over the email. To see a really early picture of the preps, see my website dedicated to The Diamonds - Bruce is there.
The girl was a dancer who was brought in to "spice up" the video. She would be 70+ years of age now. The only member of the video clip who is definitely no longer with us is bass singer John Felten, who lost his life in an air crash in 1982. The rest of The Diamonds in that clip are alive and well.
Interesting story about this song-according to David Somerville (the lead singer) with an interview with the oldies DJ Norm N. Nite in the early to mid 90's, the song was originally recorded without the high part. After leaving the studio, Dave felt something was still missing from the song, & then later that night, went back down to the studio & added the high falsetto part to the mix of the tape.
Yep, that's right. In a recent conversation that I had with Dave, he told me this too. Also interesting that during The Diamonds' Australian tour, he sang the falsetto part at the Sydney stadium - without a microphone!
This is the best dubstep I've ever heard.
MisterClockTower 3 weeks ago
I liked that video when I first saw it 52 years ago! It was great to see it again after all these decades. Even as a kid I could tell that was much better than the usual lip-syncing "performance" done by so many bands. I never thought it was a video and figured they acted this out on American Bandstand.
I also remembered that lovely lass dancing around. She definitely cinches that video.
And (like everyone else posting here) I'd like to know who she is and what else she may have done.
wolf1728 2 months ago 4
Wow...LOVE the Bass singer...I'm a baritone/bass, but nothing like this...
chg657 3 months ago in playlist Favorite videos
@chg657 That is John Felten who Joined The Diamonds back in late 1958 - and he was with the group for 10 years. I have a recording of John and The Diamonds doing Old Man River, where John takes the lead. Wonderful performance. To hear more of The Diamonds, visit the authorised website of the original Diamonds "the diamonds music dot com" (all one word) Tragically, John and his wife Linda lost their lives in a light aircraft crash in the early eighties.
RicTester 3 months ago
The Diamonds loved and respected the black R&B groups. They jammed and performed alongside them. In many instances they were unfairly criticised for their covers of the black groups, Their earliest musical mentors were the guys in a black group called the Revelaires. The Revelairs wrote "Land of Beauty" which The Diamonds recorded and put on the B side of their million seller - The Stroll.
RicTester 9 months ago
These guys were just plain great. All my life, since I'd never seen them live or even in a picture, I thought they were black. Yup. Imagine my surprise when, one day on TV when they were advertising one of those oldie sets, I saw a few second clip of them singing "Little Darlin" - and THEY WERE WHITE! Holy crap! Over 50 years of knowing nothing about the Diamonds. I'm SO ashamed! Ha.
MrTommy001 9 months ago
Actually, what I meant to say was that I find what she does with her hands and tilting her head (after she shrugs her shoulders just a little bit) kind of amusing. So yes, I guess I do write first and think later sometimes...
SouthJerseykeith 11 months ago
I do remeber this song and the band, but never heard them much as in flashbacks. It seems to me it was the bigger names I heard most often excluding Elvis who seemed to be overplayed by the dj's. Hey!, now I call the plays and I don't have to listen to Elvis, right.
Ezdduf4kuZ 11 months ago
Who is the girl in this video clip? I just love the part of her dance when she first comes out and starts dancing and shrugs her shoulders. She does a great job and should be recognized for it.
The only thing I don't like about the lyrics is when the singer says she is "...the captain of my soul." The Captain of my soul is the Lord Jesus Christ, and He should be everyone's Captain. Don't mean to get religious on you, but that's just the way it is. Otherwise, I LOVE the song and the video.
SouthJerseykeith 11 months ago
@SouthJerseykeith......Do you write...........And then think?
474TFW 11 months ago
My parents had this record when I was a toddler, and I loved it! Could it be that Bollywood takes some of its cues from this video?
musicaldolphin1 1 year ago
Hey Ric, I know Dave personally, Bruce Belland (of the 4 preps ) is my step dad. =). I've not been keeping abreast of what Dave's been up to lately, I think he's back with the Diamonds performing whenever they can. Same with Bruce with the OG 4 preps. Both still sound great. Bruce and David were together for a number of years in the 90s along with Jim Yester of the Association.
I had no idea this existed, and appreciate seeing it, I'm sure Dave would love and appreciate seeing this too.
twasbrillig33 1 year ago 4
@twasbrillig33
Thanks for the posting. I have spoken to Dave a few times over the phone - real nice guy. I have also spoken to Bruce B over the email. To see a really early picture of the preps, see my website dedicated to The Diamonds - Bruce is there.
the site is thediamondsmusic (dot com)
Thanks for dropping by!
Cheers
Ric
RicTester 1 year ago
Oh, wow! Thanks for uploading! This is probably my all time favorite song.
bowiefan87 1 year ago
like to know if the girl is still alive...my favorite song when i was 9 years old...
440rko 1 year ago
@440rko
The girl was a dancer who was brought in to "spice up" the video. She would be 70+ years of age now. The only member of the video clip who is definitely no longer with us is bass singer John Felten, who lost his life in an air crash in 1982. The rest of The Diamonds in that clip are alive and well.
RicTester 1 year ago
@RicTester I'd like to know who she is as well. I try to follow the movements, but she still has be baffled.
7264981100 1 year ago
@440rko
Ditto.
7264981100 1 year ago
Interesting story about this song-according to David Somerville (the lead singer) with an interview with the oldies DJ Norm N. Nite in the early to mid 90's, the song was originally recorded without the high part. After leaving the studio, Dave felt something was still missing from the song, & then later that night, went back down to the studio & added the high falsetto part to the mix of the tape.
Donkey9900 2 years ago 5
Yep, that's right. In a recent conversation that I had with Dave, he told me this too. Also interesting that during The Diamonds' Australian tour, he sang the falsetto part at the Sydney stadium - without a microphone!
RicTester 2 years ago
Check my tribute to The Diamonds on MySpace thediamondsdoowop
thatsrighttheband 2 years ago
Sensational, when is the anthology being released?
thescabs1977 2 years ago
It's 'about time', huh?
diuga1 2 years ago
Great...!!!
rollerbop 2 years ago