Down in the Valley (Birmingham Jail) by the Smothers Bros

A live performance of the Smothers Bros adaptation of this classic old Folk song, sung at the Purple Onion, San Francisco in 1961. Please excuse all the crackles, like me the record begins to show it's age!! Hope you can still enjoy the subtle harmonies involved.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Smothers
• Purple
• onion
• san
• francisco
• birmingham
• jail

[wakeupbarb]

I had this album as a kid and have wished I could find it. Is this the only song from it on Youtube? Thanks so much for sharing!!

[lettermen1]

@wakeupbarb Well, it's the only one I've posted, but there is so much of their material on YT now that I couldn't be certain about that.. thanks for watching!

[melonkali]

I hadn't heard this beautiful version of Down in the Valley in many years, but I've never forgotten it. Thanks for uploading it.

[lettermen1]

@melonkali You're welcome. I love the way they harmonize, some people are unable to appreciate them without the comedy.

[justmusicandme]

I get the feeling that this record has been played a lot! Like some of mine. Love the Smothers Brothers! Great posting, 5 *****!

[lettermen1]

It certainly has, Loretta! Thank you, and that IS a compliment!! ; ))

[Dolphindream15]

@scrappyj711 not everyone likes the comedy..

[scrappyj711]

@MrSloanerboner I grew up with them. My brother mike an I would try to sing their songs and do their comedy. Mike brought back a nice reel to reel tape recorder from Japan after Viet Nam. Playing around with it i recorded Down in the valley, singing Toms part and then played it back and sang Dicks part. It had me singing both parts together. Lots of laughs and good memories.

[scrappyj711]

@Dolphindream15 I see you don't get it. They are a comedy team that just happens to be able to sing very good. This is who they are. Their total act reflects their genius, but they did have an album that was singing on one side and comedy on the other. I'm am a long and old admirer of theirs. I had this album and wore it out playing it.

[brendalg4]

@lettermen1 There is nothing else like family harmony in music. I made a recording of their straight songs for my car!

[MrSloanerboner]

@wakeupbarb I didn't have it, my brother did, great stuff!

[projectloki]

please post wish i was in Peoria and mariah

[wakeupbarb]

I have actually found this entire album on iTunes, and it was a free download. Strange thing is, though ... it won't let me load it onto my iPod! But, I can listen to it on my computer.