the association-Never My Love(LIVE) july 1st 2006

[ROCKSTARCRANE]

Jesus.....Russ sounds bad. He's singing it so stiff, like a choirmaster. And pitchy....

don't get me wrong....I've always idolized these guys, but they need to reassign the vocal parts. Larry would've been better on lead. Nice to see Del finally got to play with the band.

[sessionman54]

UGH

[firstcat]

That non-original lead singer is pretty lousy. The rest of the band sounds good.

[mysterytrax]

jad50 thanks for the info..............I stand corrected.

These guys could bring down the house back in their day..............

plus, they performed at the Monterey Pop Festival.

I saw them in southern California 3 times in one week; back in 1968 and their harmony blew me away. Musicianship was tight too.

They opened the show with "One Too Many Mornings" on those 3 occasions and another time with "Come On In". 2nd song was always "Along Comes Mary".

[helloadrianachristi]

come to guam, you will have crowds comming. hellobueno.

[sixitiesking]

The Association (Russ, Larry & Jim) will make their first New York City appearance in over 10 years on Friday July 23, 2010. The concert will be held at BB Kings in Times Square NY NY. I have my tickets. Can't wait.

[B52sguy]

Just my opinion, but I saw The Association in 1969 at the Latin Casino, in South Jersey, Cherry Hill maybe, and this is nothing at all like that.

Miss you Jim and Terry.

JF

[sixitiesking]

@B52sguy Jim Yester has re-joined The Association.

[mudslinger54]

I saw them in 2007 and they were great, so great that im gointo see them in mocksville nc saturday night. They really sound alot better in person. They play songs that probably were never played on the radio and could have become hits .

[justgotLaki]

dang! the're still good. Thnks for posting.

[pyannaguy]

Has this guy ever heard the record?

Is this like the Belgian or Basque version of the Association?

[joeysevz]

funny...

[andrewefitzpatrick]

crap. didnt know they were still around. they have to be old!

[hondolespaul]

They sounded a lot better when I last saw them in 1999. I also had the pleasure of meeting The Association.

[rus2579]

You'll never see the Beatles playing festivals. Once upon a time they put out timeless music when everybody else was too. It was a big playing field, but one would hope eventually The Association will earn their place. This video won't help

[atp1962]

Needs more background, this lead is to loud and honestly he is not the man to sing this song, he really does suck at this beautiful song. His voice is to strong and loud, and he sounds out of breath, where is Jim Yester

[ROCKSTARCRANE]

Giguere murdered the lead vocal on this...

[vwtch]

I don't think it's Russ. I think it's Dave Somerville of The Diamonds. He's the MC for a Rock n Roll Revival show and often steps in to sing for missing members of various groups. Yes, he does ruin this song. I personally can't stand listening to him.

[deanasimms]

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!

[travroy]

ghastly singing. sounds like a cover band.

[MOSKII58]

this guy absolutely sux, he can't hold his pitch, what the hell is a classic band like the association doing w/ this turkey??

[posthumanhero]

pitch sounds good to my perfect pitch ears......perhaps u just don't like his voice.

[porky8910]

Does anyone know where's the flute guy?

[julianblonde]

Where was this performance?

[troddsy]

i know we can't see thier faces but the crowd seems confused.

[GEORGETOWN93]

It's a shame how age can ruin a voice. The lead singer sounds like a lounge act in a Hampton Inn in Peoria!

[deanasimms]

How many times have you heard a vocalist on record, and then heard them live, and was disappointed. Tony Bennett still sounds awesome

in his eighties. Now smoking and drugs can ruin any performing artist. Maybe he was having a bad day.

[asuckertash62]

That's what happens when you get cum swabbed down your throat for forty plus years!

[mysterytrax]

On the original record, Russ sang unison; ALONG WITH Terry, during the first 2 verses of the song. BUT this song was written by and sang lead on....... by the great Terry Kirkman.

Saw it performed that way too, in the 60's; when they were a 7 Man Band.

Terry, Russ, Jules, Jim, Ted, Brian, Larry.

And here's one for ya. Guess who their openning act was for those shows?

The great jazz legend, Wes Montgomery.

GO FIGURE on that one. What a great

time to be young and ALIVE. 1965 - 1970.

[jad50]

@mysterytrax Terry did not write this song and it was originally song lead with Terry and Larry, not Russ. Put that in the bank.

[kingofallwhites]

@mysterytrax I think you did too many drugs in the 60's bro. ;) The lead for this was Terry and Larry. And the band did not write it. Terry is great and he wrote Cherish but not this. Donald and Richard Addrisi wrote it and are not actually in the band.

[zekethefreak61]

Horrible version. Doesn't even sound like the original singer.

[troddsy]

Strange they are approaching it this way but still enjoy hearing them even if they sing it differently.

whats the scoop guys?

[oj36]

I was away from them and their music much longer than I realized. I have made ignorant statements because of that and I am deeply humbled. I didn't even realize Russ was the original lead for Never My Love. Shame on me. He is the lead singer of my favorite song of all time (Looking Glass)and I have always LOVED his voice in everything else he ever did. I come back to this video often and feel terrible for what I said before. I love you,Russ. Hope I finally meet you someday.

[joss885]

its ok Oj we forgive you, dont feel so bad eh :)

[jojoblow01]

yeah i second that emotion ! its ok , im sure he wont mind , maybe write him a letter explaining your mistake . im sure its all gonna be just fine . there , there .

[marduk54481]

i hope i can be doing something I love with friends in 40 years!

[9675775]

Bring back the 2007 version of this song by them!

[owlman33]

What's the real deal on why the newer live version was taken off youtube ?

It was sooooo gooooood !!!

[chappietimestwo]

Is this the original singer, Terry Kirkman? It doesn't sound like him to me.

[tgruff71]

It's Larry Ramos !! The guy in the white hat !!

[oj36]

NO ONE can replace Terry Kirkman. His voice is in a class by itself. I'm sorry, but this clip does not do the group justice.

[owlman33]

His Voice ...was.., .is..,. alway's will be great! Sometimes you have to just do the best you can with what you got to work with.....

Russ has alway's gave his best !

[freedomxfighter]

Got any other videos from this day? >P still cracking up that this is my dad in the blue shirt in the chair in front of yoru camera and he's got that bald spot >3

[CaptainPrivate]

Ouch!.....Please put the microphone down before someone gets hurt!

[kachina25]

A fabulous song, but this sounds like an act from a Holiday Inn lounge. Maybe not that good.

[kachina25]

A fabulous song, but this sounds like an act from a Holiday Inn lounge. Maybe not that good.

[titusho2]

I love the Association but its time for singing groupe coach, serious..he singing too much from his chest, its not soft like the old days..Soften it up boys "Yous know," how to do it, there's no need to push, I won't watch this video again, can do much better..Boys its time for a different manager. It was careless for them to sound so rough really!

[ROCKSTARCRANE]

Russ sounds a bit too German on this. Nice to see Del finally got promoted from soundboard to stage.

[colininla]

Ouch.. this is pretty unfortunate.

[SeanButt]

ugh. who's the asshole lead singer who's way too loud??

[tandolin2]

Butt is right, butthead! This was not at ALL fair to post! These guys are living legends! Anyone who hears them live knows that. Please remove this terrible listing. Bad mics and mixing make ANYYONE sound bad. John A. P.S. This IS the original singer!

[NCmimi]

Take a deep breath & count to 10. You have to realize that some people just have no respect.

I made a crack that I endured G. Puckett to see THEM perform - after the show and still regret that I said it. I think I was forgiven :^) And Gary was just fine.

[twiggystick]

Whoa, you obviously don't know the Association and their music at all! It is not fair to judge them on an outdoor venue on an amateur video (with respect, TomorrowNeverKnows91). Catch them on the 2008performance of this number and you'll see that they still have what it takes to make great music. That's if you recognise it, of course.

[FellowTraveler06]

Isn't that Russ?

[SeanButt]

Aui contraire mon fucker, I've been an Association fan since I was 16, but the Gods I worship aren't human, ya dig me? I didn't like this performance, deal with it.

[NotQuarex]

The thing is, he was not the original singer. That, I believe, was Jim Yancey, who just re-joined the group last year after a like 15 year hiatus. I saw this performed live on February 15, 2008, and it sounded about 10 times better than this. If you get the chance to see them live, do it--they are pretty close to their original sound (though not as close as the Moody Blues, who have somehow improved on their original sound in many ways).

[NCmimi]

Keep in mind that this video is of an outdoor concert. You were in Ferguson Center, an indoor concert, so the acoustics were much better. I agree the lead singer was not the best but no matter who you are it is difficult to replace an original singer. Yester, not Yancey.

[dac1705]

Hi There. It's Jim Yester.

[dac1705]

Sorry. What I meant to say was that the original

lead singer of this was Jim Yester. Yes, it is

Russ singing. Though he's an original member,

his voice is not suited to this song.

[pama4242]

Singer used to have one of the best voices of the 60's, it's gone for sure

[BigBird1017]

Rich Adressi (one of the writers) is rolling over in his grave!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Helivz]

Is Rich one of the Addressi brothers who sang highly delectable hits like "Got To Get It On Again," ?

[BigBird1017]

Great Question...Don and Dick (Rich) Addrisi

did write and record "Got To Get It On Again", as well as writing "Never My Love" and producing several hits by The Association. This was my mistake, however. Dick (Rich) is still alive, it was Don (the older brother) who died in 1984. I'm sure they would both be disappointed to hear this rendition of their hit (a hit for both The Association and The Fifth Dimension.)

[richshangreaux]

Would have been much better if the band would have played LOUDER! :O(

[rootworker13]

Considering that this band has had at least 2 deaths (if my old memory serves), I think this is really damn good for some old musicians who basically had to rebuild the band. If you didn't live through the 60s and70s then you don't understand the pressure cooker these kids, and they were kids back then, were under. No, it's not really the same band but I've heard worse and they aren't as embarassing as Mick and the boys.

[Lowkama]

I do know that Brian Leslie Cole (Brank for short) overdosed and died from China white on August 2, 1972. I was around during the decade of the sixties and seventies; I just made the BIG 47 last week.

[Lowkama]

The difference between "The Rolling Stones" and "The Association " is this: The Association has enough goodlooks, talent and charisma going for them that they didn't need to sell their souls to the devil. LOL!

[Lowkama]

In reading your comments, it's a constant reminder that our society places performance and excellence over a persons worth. I saw "The Association" in concert in October of 1980 at West High Auditorium. But given the open , platform stage that they are playing on, and the fact that they are much older, lets have a little compassion for them. How many of us will be able to do the same thing(s), as good as we did in our twenties and thirties when we reach our mid-sixties?

[MeAndMyRC]

Hey, I agree, you never too old to play music, doesn't bother me the Stones are reaching 70 yrs old (though I think one is,hmm) I just wasn't impressed with the key the guy was singing in, just seemed off. Anyway, I give them much credit for still going out and entertaining

[bdweightexer]

I agree about the key. It should be a step or half step down from where they performed it.

[Leyenda1]

Gay!

[StanKnights]

I wish I had never seen this.

[nilent]

Ouch! DisAssociation...discorporatio­n...dis is depressing!

The audience and the venue and the whole thing is a reminder of the reality that we all get old, decrepid and die. LOL

On the other hand; there's The Rolling Stones!

[gene347]

I agree with everyone. Very bad. I would have gone to the bar had a quick drink and left! Go home watch Larry King interview Hilary Clinton.

[sepulmattica]

That lead singer is a total puke!This all in all is really gay!

[MeAndMyRC]

Not the same lead singer obviously..P-LEEEASSSE!!!

[Bonosbrwnidgrl]

yuck..

[wildbunch]

This is embarrasing and very sad. They should be ashamed. How can they butcher such a beautiful song for a few bucks? This was a rather easy vocal arrangement compared to other songs they did. Imagine these people doing "Along comes Mary" or "Windy". Scary !!!

[grandescale]

an awesome song, but my god this sucks. sounds like a singer from the lawrence welk show or something. this is one of my all time favorite songs , what a butcher job.

[rfavunc]

I cannot agree more with you... I'm cutting my wrist as I type this.

[rlars78]

Wow imagine if this being Elvis singing this song.

[danishiii]

This would lead me to drink if I had not before,and If I was a drinker this would make me quit!Damn!This sucks, yuck!

[tiptoe221]

To you young Turks. You'll have your day too. You can't imagine it now. But you'll be there reminiscing about your "good old days". Yungens will be laughing at you too.

That's how it goes.

[midlocal]

yes this is sad, I did audio for a couple of festivals they played at in the 80's and they were good dont know all members but this is flat, off key and lame, can you imagine the Stones at this level. Hang it up guys.

[ROCKSTARCRANE]

Man, that's bad. As a long-time fan, this is sad to hear. That is Russ Giguere on lead vocals. Russ wasn't a bad singer in his day, but this is tragic.

[TomorrowNeverKnows91]

For the record, it sounded better live than on my digital camera.

[JingleCollector]

Brutal vocals... Just brutal. Off to the glue factory for these ol' guys.

[freedomxfighter]

I'm cracking up because my dad's in the way of your camera... I KNOW this for a fact lol, the guy in the blue shirt with the bald spot.. THATS MY DADDY :D

[uncleelmer]

Terry Kirkman's beautiful vocal is being danced upon by this mishmash sloppy off key and delightfully bad version of The Associations wonderful work. This is truly awful.

[MrKite053]

Is that the original lead singer? Man is he flat!Brutal!

[anthonylabka84]

Yes, larry ramos jr. sang lead on this in the 60's.

But he was teamed with terry kirkman on co-vocals

who is no longer touring with the group. terry had

a softer tenor like voice which is why it sounds

differently here. Maybe the group should try adding

someone to the group with a pitch like terry's to

help larry sing this in concert.

[MajorBlyss]

Everyone, please do what you can to help bring back 'flower power' for the 40 year anniversary of the 'summer of love' this summer.

[lancestarr]

This is sad. My band was the opening act for them twice, but it's been a few years. They sounded great when we played with them but they seem to have lost their spark. Oh well, be careful what you wish for, they still gotta pay the bills.

[merhartic]

just plain sad...god,it's so depressing that such a great band hits rock bottom.

[blackkeno]

I saw them live a couple times in Las Vegas about 10-12 years. They sounded great at that time.

[blackkeno]

A great video for this (either a promo or made for TV)used to be on youtube. It was one of my favorates, but seems to be gone. If anyone knows how we can find it I for one would be very pleased.

[TomorrowNeverKnows91]

oh! I know what you're talking about!

It's gone?

dangit.

[joemysteryguitar]

This is horrendous. Its never the same when all the original guys are not present. The keyboard player does an admirable job but the guitar player and singing are not very deserving. Just brutal.

[dunskie]

Needs Terry Kirkman

[Rick421]

Cool Video ... : )

[gerryryan]

all they do now is play the same old safe crowd pleasing crap(badly).i'd have much more respect for them if they tried requiem for the masses or barefoot gentlemen.no wonder all the originals jumped ship

[thunderstruck665]

I think this is why The Beatles never reunited after they broke up. All of the bands of their era are mere shells of their former selves that refuse to die with dignity and they didn't want their legacy dimininshed.

[nubka]

Wow, Russ sounds kind of rough. Maybe time is catching up with him...

[TropWaters]

That's not Russ singing lead...it's Larry Ramos, and yes, he sure DOES sound rough !