Contours. First I look at the purse. Nicholas brothers.

[micktheMaag]

someone had the nicholas brothers on another song already.... awesome to see tho...

[52cbd]

What a great song - The Contours were the business!

[ltinsley2]

pure art! Nicholas Brothers and the Funk Brothers, gets no better! thanks for sharing, God bless!

[Pipsocle]

I only just realized that this song is about judging women by their money, not judging them by the fashion of their purses. I'm a bit slow...

[TheJonvonn]

man those boys could dance

[AlanMichaels2000]

@TheJonvonn Boys???

[etbella3]

I'm gonna marry for money by Trace Adkins.

[yukseleyy]

Screw dancing with the stars these lads got it all awesome

Thank you so much for posting this

[NickOLarse999]

Brilliant song. Great lyrics...Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers I think.

[LOCKED121]

These guys must have had an operation or something to do that routine on the stairwell. It hurts me just watching it. I agree with some of the comments.  Real good mixing of two terrific performances.

[Muffinsntea]

These advertisements make me sick. I miss the old YouTube!

[jpatterson740il]

Simply genius merger of two spectacular artist groups decades aparts.

The fabulous routine of the Nicholas Brothers backed up by the forgotten classic of First I Look At The Purse of the forgotten Contours. Love It

jpatterson

[winsome1235]

In order to get into show business you had to be super talented in those days. Love the music, love the dance. Fred Astaire tagged this dance routine as the best ever done. He should know he was a master in his own right. Thanks for posting.

[hairyhundul]

awesome,theres not many vids that can have such a good tune and brilliant and i mean brilliant dancing in them that makes me just want to jump right out of my seat and dance,but that is one of them grrreat stuff

[snakeskin2u2]

Terrific combination, doc. One of the best Motown tracks for sure, coupled with dance legends. I'd much rather listen to "Purse" than any jumpin jive anyday !

[dggd]

I love the Contours, and I like this song too, but not as a mix for the Nicholas Brothers. The Jim Jam Jumpin Jive with Cab's band was tailor-mad for this routine! A true marriage of song and dance…nothing else works as well. The taps can't be heard here, but they have a powerful groove with the breaks in the song from the movie!

[74souledout]

Brilliant! xx

[ducdejoyeuse]

What a tune to dance to, i remember it well, thanks...gr8 Nicholas Bros...

[bonny2go]

we could have done with the Nicholas Bros at the Torch.. Frank Booper and Matchy could have joined in!!!!

[tigerpaint1964]

"awesome"!!still as good today to when i first heard it!!

[radiator0]

wow imagine these guys at wigan. lol..awsome

[deborahsuewho]

Fantastic. Thanks.

[docludi]

My favourite song of all time. I qualify this, with all the great songs I've loved, by remembering how I felt at first hearing. Filthy sax, gutsy beat and bad boy lyrics (she can be covered with a rash.. long as she's got some cash). Nothing changes in life does it?.... pass the sugar free Tiramisu.

[majjicgnome]

I can't believe how awesome these old songs are.

[jimsmithctc]

absolutely amazing. fabulous post....

[aerosmythe]

Nice!!

[pantata1213]

what type of dance is this called?

[35mm35]

@pantata1213, tap. You should be able to find this video on YouTube. You'll hear the original music.

[michelesaintthomas]

This is the best there is, first class and first-rate... These Brothers Rock!!!

[robbabub]

the real talent here is how you mixed the video to the music. unbelievable good job. the nicholas brothers. no one will ever beat them. this is really nice. thank you.

[jor99912]

Great Mix!, One of the best Blends!

And the Contours were known to JAM too.

[TCall2004]

One of the Nicholas Brothers was married to Dorothy Dandridge.

[topsmaniac]

Absolutely Fantastic... Great Post !

[soulmanjan]

Total Class - great idea to put NS tracks behind the dancers (shows how timeless real quality in the arts is), and as for all those that don't know or appreciate - too bad, its their loss not ours - keep on keeping on, there's enough of us left!

[ScriptWorker]

Is that Cab Calloway at the beginning conducting?

[YazmineLili]

@ScriptWorker yes. This is extracted from "Stormy Weather" (1943)

[shaquay121]

this is and amazing video im doin a black history bout them. they could dance their butts off

[mikey226]

How many acts in all genres of art can produce as much excitement as the Nicholas brothers and do it was such grace and class? I first saw them as a 5 year old and have never got over them.

[christheone8773]

GREAT TUNE by the Contours - it peaked at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August of 1965-

[HippieJimi]

Smooth as Silk......

[rockgor]

Fayard and Harold were terrific! I think Fayard

was about 6- 7 years older.

They must have rehearsed at least 6 days a

week to get that incredible precision.

Tx 4 the great post.

[laidyeh]

These were dancing fools. It just came so natural. I agree, they were the best tap team ever!!! Hands down, all day every day.

[willy2454]

Just great. wonderful arrangement to the over the top Nicholas Brothers masterful performance.

They don't make'em like that anymore.

[2009framat]

The original music the nicolas brothers dance to was by Cab Calloway and to understand how good they are (or were) you have to see them dancing to original music.

The original movie is not too good (or actually lame and not funny) but if you have the chance just watch the last 12 minutes which features Cab & Nicholas Brothers

[kennyrocksable]

This is soooooo freakin' fantastic!! Those bro's could really dance, and i'm sure they did dance 2 a litlle motown at 1 point or another. NEVER take this 1 down! U got a fan of this in me! And if you're the 1 that did the good rockin' 2nite clip, please bring it back! I'm beggin' u!

[biglinguist]

I always thought the line was "(her) kisses can be sweet as honey"

[jazmaan]

You can tell a lot about a woman by looking at her purse. But "if it's fat" that does NOT mean she has money. More likely it's full of baby paraphranalia. Instead, look for a small shiny new purse with style. Not too big or lumpy. See if it matches her outfit. Then compliment her on her purse. First she'll think you're gay but she'll talk to you anyway. Then make your move!

[FATWONTON]

I think they were referring to a 'fat' purse in a figurative sense, as in a man has a fat wallet - not meaning he has a filing cabinet in his wallet a la george costanza, but that he has lots of dolla bills

[HemiPowered]

Good audio quality, kudos.

about the lyrics tho, in the last section you have, "Justice can be sweet as hell" I think that's supposed to be sweet as honey lol

[crazydaysful]

The Nicholas Brothers are the best team tap dancers in the world! Awesome!

[isiphus]

brilliant docludi

[LOWDY2008]

Always loved this good beat ,comical lyrics, think the Nicholas Bros can,t be out danced. Any dancers today do the stairs routine? doubtful.

[dandylionbreath]

Currently dancing to this much to the surprise of my cat who is looking at me in disgust!..............TOP TUNE!

[tcampbellla]

If you like this(I don't see how anyone wouldn't) become a fan of the Nicholas Brothers on Facebook. There are less than 144 of us and that's gross(little joke there).

[bigfellasoul]

top tune top dancers !! loved it !!!!!

[CHEWDwivTHEinCrowd]

Well i'm a girlie and when i was on scene few of us could keep pace with boys .. i spent many a fun hr trying to keep pace with frank b HAHA

[tasceaie1493]

Best dancers in the world, ever!

[sherhasharim]

Believe it or not my favorite Smokey Robinson song....

[Elric33239]

Oddly the first time I heard this song was on an oldies station! I knew when I heard it that Smokey had to have written it! The clever lyrics and the nimble rifts were a dead givaway! Thanks for posting!

[Stravincy]

altho the video is entertaining

[Stravincy]

pretty sad song actually -_-

[shayboo1997]

dag that's all i could say

[G4ZZZ1]

*Quality* ~ Sound ~ Video ~ Verve > > > ^

Gaz *

[tropicalpancake56]

This is one of the most entertaining videos on You Tube!

[legoGummybear]

wtf man lol

[motown250]

one brill track

[micros45]

I Hear Ya!

[Magnum2525]

Check out the J. Geils Band version of this unbelievable classic. They recently did 3 shows in Boston and Detroit and opened the show with First I Look at the Purse! Great jam....wow can they dance!

[paul51]

Two classics . . . what else can you ask for? Thanks for this gem!!

[tinaloveseddie]

Outstanding!!!!!!

[gregrot]

Great all time Northern Favorite, real dancers tune. Thanks for posting this one KTF

[viessmann2009]

So much talent....great to see these clips.

[070469blueboy]

Those guys could really move and do it effortlessly.

[BotMai]

This is really incredible ... the song and the moves just mesh together like perfection.

Two different eras in two different medias meet.

And man oh man oh man ... I don't even care about the purse.

The reward is in the watching ... great video!

[ltinsley2]

I mean....this is a great track period, but the Funk Brothers just bring out the pure essence of not just what Motown was about, but just good music. What Motown had going on back in the 60's with the artists, the musicians (Funk Brothers), writers/producers (Smokey, Holland/Dozier/Holland, Norman Whitfield), arrangers (Paul Riser and others). Even their cheoreography. Berry Gordy and Motown changed the landscape of music in general.

[allwayssoul]

great Mr Ms classic, and a good old friend of mine Karen from lancasters favorite she never missed this on the dancefloor, wonder how shes doing? havent seen her for 25yrs!!

[mikenicolaassen]

Great!

[tropicalpancake56]

FIRST CLASS!

[lorolady]

This is also my absolute favorite song of all time too. And the Nicholas brothers are beyond incredible! I never saw Fred Astair or any other dancer do anything close. Thank you!!!!

[wassworth]

anyone by chance know the chords to the basic riff?

[Trojanbobs]

I defy you not to dance to this. Fantastic!

[sharonkayb]

I remember this from 11th grade.  Haven't heard it in way to many decades!

[RandomNickname1]

Got to hand it to them, this beat is good!

[marboysoul04]

wotta a classic

great vid too

megga post ta

[smeggars]

friggin awesome man

[DOUBLEOSOUL]

superb video to go along with one of my favourite ever tracks. The song is sublime from start to finish.

[mrssnake]

I cant stop wathcing this video. This is one of the best rock and roll songs of all time. The dancing is awesome. I thing God gave us eyes and ears to experience beautiful things like this!

[tarcal87]

wow, i'm surprised by this, im too young for this i suppose

[leskenne]

try it. go on, we all want to, don't we lads.

wolves soulboy

[Myhkael02]

I am 60's baby and love Ol Skool music and dance. That's when it was real. This is one of "THE BEST" combinations that I have "EVER" seen. My eight old son has vewed it with me several times and know's the lyrics already. Good Music Never Grows Old......Classic as defined is; of the highest quality. Need I say more!!

[Kopsinger]

Right at the very begining, if I'm not mistaken the band Leader was the legendary Cab Calloway, probably best known nowadays as tjhe singer of Minnie the Moocher on the Blues Brothers

[evets530]

Right, it's Cab Calloway. Of course this is a fun video to look at, but it has nothing to do with the song. I've seen this clip with the original audio and of course they are dancing to something the band is playing.

[wigancasinolass]

superb track, love the vid x Di

[winsome1235]

Brilliant!

[blinko656]

They taught the temptations...

[soulfan3]

class track & vidio makes my legs ach lol

[klingonbarbie]

thanks for reminding about this song, I had almost forgotten this one-great video clip

[leslielounge]

those guys could really dance... wow...

[fannycraddock99]

It's like it was meant to be. Great.

[floppybollox3]

Arguably one of the best videos on Youtube.

[BotMai]

Let's not argue.

This is way too amazing ... wow!

[christianwebmaster]

Damn cool!

[floppybollox3]

Superb,docludi, you are a genius!

[ozgirl29]

awesome...........thankyou

Tina

[BotMai]

What a great song to accompany this inspired dance routine.

It's so fun to watch ... we are seeing some big talent here and it's so well done ... Motown rules.

[renukala]

that a one classic dance that every 1 cnt dance really cool!

man if a guy dances like thats whish girl will not fall in love with him?

[Jcksht]

i have to agree with you.

" favorite song of all time "

[CHEWDwivTHEinCrowd]

Now this combination of vid and track is priceless soul! Thanks

[oldskoolchica]

Love the song and I enjoyed the video. All I can say is.......WOW!!

[wedge4hire]

This is just another example of the incredible success that was Motown. The number of gems produced by Barry Gordy's Company was staggering. Compilations produced down thru the years have not been an accurate representation of the number of great recordings it created. The Contours, one of the early groups of Motown had two real hits; this one and the monster, "Do you Love Me"? but "the purse", has ALWAYS been my favorite. Simply a great posting!!

[Elric33239]

Another classic Smokey Robinson composition sung by the underexposed but immensely talented Contours! I first saw The Nicolas Brothers on Ed Sullivan when I was a child and I believe they appeared on one of the "That's Entertainment" films. I'll have to hunt them down to find out which one. Thanks for this excellent posting of two legendary groups!

[PlayaJ360]

I love this song, the thing I'm fascinated about is the lyrics.

[JudieD]

Smokey Robinson wrote the lyrics.

[BotMai]

What a great f***ing song!!!

That's all I can say.

[1annie16]

I now know where Chris Brown got some of his ideas for his spot at MTV awards - jumping on all the circles.... brilliant mate.- great tune.. ktf

[madog20]

not got.....STOLE!

[Petermyles]

My Dad thought that your reply to my comment was funny but you have added his favourite Contours track (A little missunderstanding)which I think will be watched as much as this song!!!

[Petermyles]

This is my dad's favourite video of all time he watchs it every night and my mum goes mad at him for doing it. I also think this video is brilliant and the way they dance is fantastic!!!

[std0555]

keep the faith bros , enjoy , tap dance yeh , then more x

[bloodywomble]

Scratches head thinks.... I'm 42 years old? and actively looking for what i consider to be excellent music, granted my definition

of excellent music is pretty blinkered, as is

most peeps but..... Thanks to the poster for

pointing this gem my way.

Just when I'd ran out of good music to find.

Damn those two can dance!!

Poor sax player on the right (34 sec) looks mighty skittish tho, perhaps they'd kicked the poor guy in the head once or twice in rehearsal hehehe.

[cookieboy56]

now was that ever a great post & shows you have inteligence beyond constraints

love it to bits

keep em coming

[PostingID]

Thanks for the info. Nice choice to use this Contours song as it enhances the viewing experience, and the sound quality is great....

[PostingID]

What a creative way to showcase this stunning performance of the Nicholas Brothers, two of the finest dancers the world has ever known! I hope it remains on this web site to let people see and know what "true talent" really is....Superb!!....

Question to docludi: Do you know the original tune they were dancing to?

[revjlw]

@PostingID Jumpin' Jive from Stormy Weather! Unbelievable job docludi!!!

[waltertalkofthenorth]

Wonderful, just watched Nicholas Brothers and the Dells run for cover, thank you PoshFrocks an excellent combination, its so smack on the beat, you would think it was written for that dance clip. The splits and slides and step and points are perfect...

[PoshFrocks]

Once again you have excelled yourself,matching this fantastic track with the nicholas brothers dance routine,anyone loving this should watch the Dells run for cover you WON'T be dissapointed.

[waltertalkofthenorth]

I am so thrilled that someone has put a Northern Soul sound to the Nicholas Brothers dancing.

I have shown my friends the Nicholas Brothers as I believe they are the route of Northern Soul dancing. I like Astaire and Kelly particularly in the film SWING TIME when then dance (chasse) over a white picket fence and then walk arm in arm out of the dance studio.

[jordan04n]

pure hoofing...

[forhissake]

This is a great video of a classic song and dance. The Contours got big press with dirty dancing, but this is their best song. These two are better than Astaire and Kelly.

[omemiserum]

My god - what dancers - awesome

[billeybop]

The Nicholas Brothers are the two greatest dancers I have ever seen. What class, energy and style. Thank you for the learning experience! I love this video.

[billeybop]

GREAT JOB blending the two.

[billybandol]

I wanna big fine car !

[hookalakah]

She could be covered with a rash...long as she got some cash.

[iLuvMargarita]

wow the music and the vid fit together perfectly. nice job!!

[PhillySouth]

Well, hep hep my jumpin' jive! Did these guys pop out of wormhole in the universe and time travel from 1941. No matter. Great editing job. And thanks for giving us a great old soul number. Big hit in Philly in days gone by. Christ, was it really 42 years ago?

[std0555]

the best dances ever great track , keep the faith

[stretfordpoet]

These are fantastic docludi, I love the shalimars one. The nicholas brothers are truly mesmerising, their energy, grace and skill are phenomenal and infectious. thanks so much for posting these up.

[owenowen1]

i had a argument back in 73/74 with a girl at wigan baths. she was a dance student whom had come to wigan to check out the dancing. she harped on about how great astair and kelly could dance(everybody new who they where then)i tried to tell her yes they coud dance but FAYARD AND HAROLD NICHOLAS COULD *DANCCCE*iwonder if she ever did get to see the bros dance

[metropolizei]

Great song fantastic dancing...love it!!

[metropolizei]

just incredible!!

[thebiggiz]

Whoa, it is hard to believe that a human body can perform such feats! Great combo of a classic song with outstanding dancing. tropicalpancake56, do you remember watching club 1270 andSwingin Time? Detroit has always had it going on with the dancing.

[brody5440]

I was looking for J.Geils Band version,

but this too is really cool you all.

[tropicalpancake56]

This is how we danced to it all, back home, back in the day, in Detroit! Well...we were almost THIS GREAT.

[tropicalpancake56]

Soodoo.....Is this not the greatest!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chgosatrap]

Nicholas Brothers were Kings of Dance!

[jordan04n]

they will forever be known for their hoofing, to bad in their life time they were not appreciated...they are the best...

[xiuqin24]

hmnn ! Dancing with live bands ! Hmnn , not bad !!!!! Why Singapore Esplanade Theatre commercial dept never think of this theme ???? Hmnnn ................

[tropicalpancake56]

Excellent. Thanks so much.

[styleparade]

Well done under a stormy weather!

Greetings from Paris france!

[xwsftassell]

Nice.