The Classmates - "Tighten Up"

#324 - HIT Record Company of Nashville, TN. Record from 1968.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Classmates
• tighten-up
• 45rpm

[mrbe5a1r]

Why didn't people back then just simply pay the additional 25 or 30 cents and get the song by the original artist?

With the exception of some of the covers by The Jalopy Five and the late Connie (Sue) Landers, to quote Jimmy Knight of the Internet show "Lost Discs Radio": "These 'hits' really hurt!!!!!"

[VinylNostalgia]

As I've explained before, some families back then (including my own) were very poor. The only way us kids could get money for records was to search the roadside for discarded pop and beer bottles which we cashed in for pennies. 2¢ for pop and 3¢ for beer bottles. With a lot of the neighborhood kids doing the same thing, finding bottles along the road was rare. When I finally saved enough money (39¢ plus tax) I'd go and buy a HIT Record. Paying 65¢ for the real thing was out of the question.

[pgh45rpms]

Remember, too, back in the 60's teens working for minimum wage made less than $2.00 an hour. Costly name-brand 45's retailed for 89 cents (plus tax). And anyone who could afford a record album coughed up $3.99 for mono or $4.99 for stereo.

In retrospect, hearing the Hit Records versions today is like listening to one of today's oldies bands.

[Puddlebacky]

This is the worst record on the (s)Hit label I've ever heard.

[TontonDecibel]

60's on top ! 

[IDLERACER]

This is downright funny. The label clearly states that the name of this group is "The Classmates" and yet the song's spoken intro unambiguously contradicts that fact. It would be even funnier if there were a cover of "Mendocino" on the flipside, complete with the opening: "The Sir Douglas Quintet is back and we'd like to thank all our beautiful friends..."

[mrbe5a1r]

Boy, that brings back some childhood memory. I'd be collecting those pop bottles for the 2 cents, too!

I think one other thing eventually put HIT out of business, besides K-Tel (my opinion). I remember (as I kid) when I first got a cassette recorder for Christmas (1969), I could record all the songs I wanted off the radio, and have them by the original artists. And blank C-60cassettes could be bought for 39 cents, too.

[wildbilltexas]

This is the whitest version I've ever heard of this classic.

[peeterpoon]

You have to love the HIT Records kncokoffs!!!

[redbarchettadrive]

I stand corrected

[redbarchettadrive]

The group is Archie Bell & The Drells