New Colony Six - "Things I'd Like To Say" (1969)

Movie scenes are from "West Side Story"

West Side Story is a 1961 musical film directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. The film is an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was adapted from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It stars Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris and David Winters, and it was photographed by Daniel L. Fapp, A.S.C., in Super Panavision 70.

The film's opening sequence was shot on the streets of New York City, mainly in the area where the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts campus of Fordham University now stands. Veteran director Robert Wise was chosen as the director and producer because of his familiarity with urban New York dramas, such as Odds Against Tomorrow. Wise had never directed a musical before and when it was suggested that Jerome Robbins, who had directed the stage version, be brought in to handle all the music and dance sequences in the film, Wise agreed. However, the gentlemanly Wise and the abrasive Robbins repeatedly clashed and by the first day of shooting, they weren't speaking. After the New York location scenes were shot, the Mirisch Company became concerned that the production was over-budget and Robbins was fired. His final contribution before leaving the film was to write the staging for the rumble. The remaining dance numbers were handled by Robbins' assistants. However, because of his creative input in the planning stages, Wise insisted Robbins be given co-directing credit, even though Wise directed the majority of the film himself.

The film was released on October 18, 1961, through United Artists. It received praise from critics and the public, and became the second highest grossing film of the year in the United States. The film won ten Academy Awards in its eleven nominated categories, including Best Picture, as well as a special award for Robbins. West Side Story holds the distinction of having won more Academy Award than any other musical film. The soundtrack album made more money than any other album before it.

The film opens in the streets of Manhattan in the late summer of 1957. There is a mounting tension set to music ("Prologue") between a white American gang, the Jets, led by Riff Lorton (Russ Tamblyn), and a rival gang of Puerto Rican immigrants, the Sharks, led by Bernardo Nunez (George Chakiris). The Jets harass the Sharks and vice versa, culminating in a free-for-all on the playground. They dance and eventually the Sharks grab one of the Jets, the youngest, named Baby John (Eliot Feld), and begin to "bloody" him. Soon, Lieutenant Schrank (Simon Oakland) and Officer Krupke (William Bramley arrive and break up the melee. Schrank orders the Sharks off the playground and the Jets "to make nice with them Puerto Ricans" or there'll be a price to pay. Once Schrank and Krupke are gone, the Jets discuss challenging the Sharks to an all out rumble that will decide who gets control of the streets. They decide to deliver the challenge to the Sharks at a dance later that night, because it is neutral territory.

The New Colony Six was an American rock band of the 1960s and early 1970s. From Chicago, they placed ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1966 and 1971. Original members were Ray Graffia (vocals), Chick James (drums), Pat McBride (harmonica), Craig Kemp (organ), Wally Kemp (bass), and Gerry Van Kollenburg (guitar). Ronnie Rice (vocals, keyboards, guitar) joined in 1966, replacing Craig Kemp. There were numerous changes in the lineup over the years. Nationally, the band's two biggest hits were "I Will Always Think About You" (#22 Billboard Hot 100, 1968) and "Things I'd Like to Say" (#16, 1969).

Formed in 1964, New Colony Six scored their first major local hit in Chicago in 1966 with "I Confess," featured on their debut album, Breakthrough. Their sound was characterized by Richie Unterberger as "a poppier American Them with their prominent organ, wobbly Lesley-fied guitar amplifications and rave-up tempos", later devolving into "a cabaret-ish band with minor national hits to their credit by the end of the 1960s." Like Paul Revere & the Raiders, they wore colonial outfits on stage.

Ellery Temple briefly joined in 1967, replacing Wally Kemp, and was replaced by Les Kummel. Billy Herman (vocals, drums) replaced James in 1969. Graffia left in 1969 and Bruce Gordon (guitar) and Chuck Jobes (keyboards) joined the band. Bruce Mattey (vocals, guitar) joined in the 1970s.

In 1988, the band played a reunion show at Chicago's Park West. As of 2009, the band continued to perform with founding member Graffia and Mattey in the lineup. New Colony Six was inducted into the Iowa Rockn'Roll Music Association Hall of Fame in 2002.

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Music

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[dmarlo995]

Ive always loved this song...but I was wondering" what is Jerry Seinfeld doing at :47 to :53?" Does look like him

[TheBacmaster]

@dmarlo995 That is not Jerry Seinfeld. It's one of the gang members from the, "Sharks". Did you ever see the movie, "Westside Story"? It was released in 1961 and still remains a musical classic.

Regards from Joe

[oceantracks]

Got hired to write music for a real estate video down here in FL many years ago. I mentioned I had been in the record business, and the guy who hired me said, "Yeah me too." It was Patrick McBride, of New Colony Six! I still had this album, got him to sign it. Real nice guy. Said that one of the group was killed in a motorcycle accident years before. One of my favorite ballads ever.

[alfredosgal]

I adore this song. Weeping. I love that West Side Story is the story you picked.

[hrhqueene]

And now I'm an 18-year-old again, wondering if anyone will ever love and be loved by me.

The answer was YES.

[mrloney1000]

To "MY DIANE"  come back to me I still love you

C

[abranchie]

One of my favorite movies with one of my favorite songs!! Such wonderful and beautiful memories they bring! Thank you!!

[NaughtGinger]

@dmarlo995 LOL-it does look like Jerry doesn't it? Good eye......

[MrZol]

cant stop listening to this ! awesome!!

[soapbxprod]

@bossfan49 LOL! Or her "uncle" Edmund Gwynne!

[PeterPan1944]

This song by the New Colony Six reminds me of the Colonial House restaurant in Oxnard, in 1966-67. Have the New Colony Six ever dined there in Oxnard?,Have they got their name from that Oxnard restaurant?

[Corrigan61]

~~~AWESOME~~~

[9615Chiefs]

What a beautiful song. And what great memories hearing this again evokes.