5 Man Electrical Band - Signs | REACTION

My Merch jamel-aka-jama...

[@jamelakajamal]

‘JUST BE A GOOD HUMAN, Shirts and More, Enter Promo Code ‘Jamel’ jamel-aka-jamal-youtube-store.creator-spring.com

[@cjm-jr9xk]

Please react to the album, Brian Wilson presents SMiLE. It is an Album that should’ve been released in 1967 following Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts club band, which would’ve dethroned it as the greatest album ever. Unfortunately, it was scrapped because Brian Wilson’s mental abuse kicked in as well as the cancer known as Mike Love. It was finally released in 2004 when a band (I forgot the name) who loved Wilson’s music contacted him about finishing SMiLE and performing it. The studio version of Brian Wilson presents SMiLE is what I request for you to listen to, for it is the definitive version of the album. (Not to be confused with the SMiLE Sessions or Smiley Smile). Anyways, I really hope you see this Jamal, because I know how much you loved Pet Sounds, and this album, is not only better than Pet Sounds, but better than any album of music ever. And if it was released in 1967, and Brian Wilson stayed healthy, music today would be so much different. Peace Brother 🙏 -Christopher

[@fernandobolanos1649]

Please react to Grateful Dead - Help on the Way/Slipknot/Franklins Tower (8/13/75 or 5/9/77)!!!

[@user-justbeingme]

Please do this song... I'm A Stranger Here -- Five Man Electrical Band... kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZa5mZt-h6mWh7c

[@sisgaia]

Your comment about billboards brings to mind the line from 3 Dog Night's "Family of Man": "Billboard horizon, as black as it seem..." If you liked this, another hit by Five Man Electrical Band was "Money Back Guarantee." Check it out.

[@TheClaptonisgod1]

If you check out my requests, I'll promise to buy a shirt. ❤🤘😊

[@colinvandenberg3446]

I always absolutely loved this song. The 70's had a lot of socially conscious songs but none as brave or brutally honest as this one. It's a banger, too.

[@Bamaboompa]

Saw a sign on Facebook: “Help Needed” “Long Haired Freaky People welcome to apply”. 😂

[@ronb5949]

The song came out as a protest to the exclusion of everyone who wasn't rich, privileged and somewhat powerful (the business owner for example). It points out the inequity of the changing times. Everything was still what I would call pinstripped.

[@luckymustard]

Pinstriped?

[@ronb5949]

@@luckymustard like a suit.

[@luckymustard]

@@ronb5949 But not pinstriPPed like a suit, right? ;)

[@treeismee6062]

Exactly, when conformity and remembering one's place were still social requirements.

[@swami1]

Most business owners are not "rich" and "privileged. "

[@Rob-eo5ql]

“I’m alive and doin fine!” Heck yeah!

[@bobthebear1246]

*HELL.* Say *HELL.*

[@CrispyBreadcrust]

favourite part !

[@grievouserror]

Keith Emerson was the British keyboardist for Emerson Lake & Palmer. Les Emmerson was the vocalist and guitarist for the Canadian 5 Man Electrical Band (formerly known as The Staccatos).

[@djhrecordhound4391]

The stereo mix of "Half Past Midnight" would be great if it didn't sound like it's coming from tin culverts.

[@jethro1963]

@@djhrecordhound4391 Half Past Midnight is a great song, along with the rocker Money Back Guarantee. The Staccatos did one side of an album "A Wild Pair" with The Guess Who doing the other side. You could get it if you sent in so many Coca-Cola bottle caps and some cash.

[@djhrecordhound4391]

@@jethro1963 I'm still looking for a copy of A Wild Pair. Surprised that Nimbus 9 didn't sign both Guess Who and Staccatos/5MEB, but I can guess that LP was Jack Richardson's public test of both bands.

[@coravonhampeln4156]

RIP Les Emerson (17 September 1944 - 10 December 2021)

[@paulmorris8762]

and then became Tesla - who did this song also lol

[@willmacintyre649]

Another great Canadian band! Canada Rocks!

[@swami1]

Hosers unite!

[@leandabee]

I still sing this song when I see signs everywhere telling us where to go, what to do, when why how 😅🤦🏼‍♀️. Great message then and now. The world has changed, but then on the other hand, it hasn't . Thanks Wes and Jamel 👏👏🤘

[@wesfizer8991]

Thank you

[@thomaskelley5180]

What’s the old saying: the more things change, the more they stay the same.

[@mapleva]

The anti mask people should adopt this song, then put on their masks.

[@Stoney_Snark]

Great song, you should try Tommy James and The Shondells “Draggin’ The Line” or “Crystal Blue Persuasion”. Both classics!

[@colinvandenberg3446]

He did "Chrstal Blue Persuasion."

[@cryinginred]

Good stuff!

[@chipdamutt108]

Sweet Cherry Wine

[@bretthardin9239]

One toke over the Line

[@carriekloosterman5469]

Oh, yeah!! Great choices!!!

[@CharCanuck14]

The band is 5 guys from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Les Emmerson isn't the ELP one.....that's Keith Emerson. Thanks for reacting to a band that was quite big here in the '70's. This brought back fun memories for me Jamel!

[@miltonslocum8957]

Ottawa is a beautiful city! I was there in the 90's for a conference. I was amazed at the network of canals that I was told become frozen in the winter for ice skating. I felt so comfortable walking around the city. I've always wanted to return.

[@xXPyrophorusXx]

In the 90's 3 of this band, played the Prescott, it was a pretty good, for a place known as a dive bar.

[@miltonslocum8957]

@@xXPyrophorusXx I stayed at The Chateau Laurier which gave me a great view of the city. The Parliament Building was close by and the Rideau Canal was right next to the hotel. The club I went to had a jazz band that night. Can't remember the name of the club. It was about a 20 minute walk from the hotel. What a wonderful city. I've recommended it to many people since then.

[@SergioSBloch]

Greetings from Ottawa!

[@miltonslocum8957]

@@SergioSBloch Thank you! Hope to get back to your beautiful city one day.

[@notajp]

They did another song called Absolutely Right that was also a real banger and was pretty popular back then.

[@frankpentangeli7945]

I'm a Stranger Here was on the charts for a while too, at least in Canada. Cool song!

[@swami1]

Better song, in my opinion.

[@go234ko96ts5]

Absolutely Right was a great 👍 song and it was also pretty short.

[@jemogan]

Believe it or not, to this day when I'm at a party and I'm asked to pick up a guitar, that's the tune I always play. Message seems to transcend the era it came from. Still a totally 70's sounding song, however. JUST as good as Signs.

[@swami1]

@@jemogan I wish they’d made it longer.

[@matts6272]

"The sign said you got to have a membership card to get inside." What a great line. Always loved the vibe of this song, and you definitely don't hear it very often anymore.

[@djhrecordhound4391]

Guess you're not in Canada. I still hear it on music stations because of "Canadian Content" regulations.

[@colinvandenberg3446]

Classic Rock stations still play this every now and then. It's not as common but there's lots of songs that get plaayed less.

[@chriso6719]

I never hear this version, and I live near the Canadian border and get Canadian radio. I do hear the Tesla version once in a while.

[@Legends_Of_Rock]

They play this song a lot on Canadian radio, specifically Lite 92.1 and all the other Lite stations.

[@Crash765]

Love this. One of the all-time great hippie anthems.

[@TheArchangel911]

I was introduced to this song by a band named Tesla. They made an album named Five Man Acoustical Jam. Never knew that was paying homage to this band

[@grendeltech]

I heard it from Tesla, too. I think I checked this version out once way back when Napster was a thing 😅

[@jennybird6268]

Yes Tesla is one of my favorites

[@kakiegrace]

Love Tesla version too!

[@RobRager]

I be old. I remember this version, from before there was a Tesla

[@joleemeyer]

love Tesla

[@randytorres8211]

One of the 70s best one hit wonders. The song was originally released in 1970 as a B side. The A side flopped. The Canadian band re-released the song as a A side in 1971. The song made it to #3

[@notajp]

Not really a “one hit” band. They also did a song called Absolutely Right that was pretty popular.

[@randytorres8211]

@@notajp my bad. You are right. I forgot about Absolutely Right. What is funny to me is I have both songs in my 45 rpm collection

[@AlexGVid]

In Canada, "Signs" reached #4, "Absolutely Right" reached #3, and "I'm A Stranger Here" reached #2. "I'm a Stranger Here" is a cool song about aliens looking down onto this mess of a planet we call Earth ... check it out.

[@djhrecordhound4391]

@@AlexGVid Great one to follow "I'm A Stranger Here" is "Orbit" by Thundermug from London, Ontario. Ortbit is an alien sent away from his home planet, and searching for good people.

[@jethro1963]

They also had fame previously as the Staccatos, even sharing an album with The Guess Who. Along with the other tunes mentioned they had hits with Half Past Midnight and Money Back Guarantee, hardly one hit wonders.

[@ronniemiller1495]

One of my favorite songs back in the day. Thank you Wes, for recommending this song!

[@wesfizer8991]

Thank you

[@1972mrgray]

Haven’t heard this n ages, but always loved this song!

[@marylee7467]

I remember this song from when I was little. We used to sing it really loud. As I grew up, I still love it. But I understand it now. 😊 sending 🫂out to you Wes.

[@chaspullen3544]

Great song shout out to you Wes shout out to you Jamel you are a good human Keep On Keepin On brother🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥✌🐾

[@tonyt8805]

Jeff Keith, the lead singer of Tesla does a incredible cover of this song but...... Nothing is like the original. 🎶 💯 🎶

[@krepki1000]

i love Tesla cover...

[@paulriddle7818]

@@krepki1000 I prefer the cover to this original.

[@wolfpat]

There's a meme going around Facebook. It says that with the current labor shortage, long haired freaky people may now apply.

[@beckydrogowski7479]

Love your reactions Jamal! Great thing you're doing here in "keeping great music alive" and spreading your positive vibe! Love this tune!

[@annettelauretta]

Sending condolences to you Wes. Thank you for the amazing suggestions.

[@lasvegasbill4711]

One of my favorite songs! So good on every level.

[@grievouserror]

WOW! I've never been so happy to be Number Two in my life. Thank you, Jamal, for this '70s gem from a Canadian one-hit wonder. Tesla's cover wasn't bad but I've always preferred the original.

[@Spinspiel]

Two hit wonder for the U.S. but many more hits in their native Canada.

[@grievouserror]

@@Spinspiel It seems they did have another single to crack the top 40 of the US Hot 100 chart with "Absolutely Right", but I have to confess that I never heard it. "Signs" always got regular, if not frequent, play on Detroit AOR stations but their other efforts? Not so much. Still, they can fairly be called a two-hit wonder. Either way, it's more hits than *I'll* ever have.

[@djhrecordhound4391]

@@grievouserror Here's a few of their other Canadian hits if interested... Half Past Midnight (as The Staccatos) Absolutely Right I'm A Stranger Here Werewolf

[@heidiv5488]

@@grievouserror If you've never heard Absolutely Right, you really should give it a listen. It's a great song, much better than Signs.

[@grievouserror]

@@djhrecordhound4391 Thanks for the heads up. I surveyed their 'best of' album and you're right, they have more depth than just "Signs."

[@dh2392]

Was excited to see this as I was 14 years old when this song came out, and I still remember it like yesterday.

[@miltonslocum8957]

I haven't heard this song in forever! When I first heard it, back in the 70's, I thought they were so right about signs being everywhere. Thanks for reacting to it!

[@FarrellMcGovern]

A great band with a number of hits here in Canada, and around the world. And they are from my hometown: Ottawa, Ontario! It's Canada's Captial City, by the way...

[@janetbowles7015]

Thank you .....one of my favorite song EVER .... Always makes my heart feel right again and back on track ....so much truth in the lyrics ...... Blessings♥️

[@skrozar2000]

They also do " ABSOLUTELY RIGHT" another great tune

[@gevlar]

That song was everywhere on the radio in the Spring & Summer of 71. Great memories. Thanks for the reaction!

[@tessesmom]

Yes, long haired freaky people unite!

[@faithnyou1732]

I always loved the lyrics to this song. Thanks Jamel!

[@bonniemoerdyk9809]

Thank you Wes for suggesting a song from when I started high school, at the tail end of the hippie era! A lot of great music from that time. Thanks Jamal for Reacting to it!

[@danhnguyen-fn9eb]

First heard this in school of all places in the mid 70's. The whole class was about this song and it's meaning. Good stuff. Didn't know the band was from Canada.

[@normawinton6832]

This song was played on the airwaves for a long time. Was such a good hit. Thanks for the music Jamel!✌

[@robertnewport8288]

Still gives me the chills after all these years....

[@cindiherriott3259]

Oh man I remember that old song! How funny.

[@dreamweaver8913]

"Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign!?"

[@IllumeEltanin]

Oh, I'm looking forward to seeing your reaction to this.

[@wesfizer8991]

This request is out to my best friend Hoover. RIP 🙏

[@dagmar.6954]

Love this group. They were originally called The Staccatos in the 60's & had a hit called "Half Past Midnight". As the 5 Man Electrical Band they actually had at least 3 hits. "Signs", "Absolutely Right" & "I'm a Stranger Here". Good memories.

[@djhrecordhound4391]

"Werewolf" is a banger (pun intended if you know the song)

[@Dee-JayW]

LOVE the “older” protest songs…memories of my youth!

[@Spinspiel]

Jamel - great pick - some other great 5MEB songs are: Absolutely Right; Money Back Guarantee; I'm A Stranger Here; Werewolf. Thanks.

[@polska1958]

The bass playing in Absolutely Right is insane- best with headphones.

[@JB-kf2hu]

Hey those guys are from here, Ottawa Ontario Canada, and believe it or not my wife's brother ( aka my brother in law ) sometimes plays guitar with them as they still occasionally play small venues such as fairs and bars. Awesome to see you reacting to it. Thanks Jamel.

[@lemhanback9595]

I just love how you get into the music. Funny thing is as old as this song is it is still relevant today. People are still trying to separate themselves from others with signs. Hope one day the signs start promoting togetherness.

[@maryscaggsdane1978]

Wes: thanks for sharing your amazing talents, and great taste in music here. I don't know loss you're facing, but may the memories of your past be a blessing to your future. ❤

[@katherinebosse5706]

I have been waiting for this song for so long!! Thank you Wes!! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[@steveabdelkoui5663]

One of my favorite songs by a great band with a message. Music back then was music .

[@XCaliKev]

👍😎 Wes & Jamel, thank you for that. That song is probably the first song I knew, & sang along with as a kid. Love it, thanks for the memories guys!

[@firefightromantic]

I saw Tesla perform a GREAT cover of this at The Troubaour in Philly. FANTASTIC!

[@meliplay]

From the five man acoustical jam live Al um? Is that the one you were at? That's awesome

[@davidbordonaro1631]

I've been waiting for this one , I knew you'd love it !

[@gvbezoff]

The Five Man Electrical Band was a Canadian band from Ottawa. They were known as the "Staccatos" until 1968. Two other great songs from them are "I'm a Stranger Here" and "Absolutely Right".

[@shellihouge938]

Thank you, Wes, for requesting this song! It's one of my all-time favorites. I remember calling the radio station over and over to request they play it. ✌️❤️

[@goldieschooch8512]

What a blast from the past✌🏻!! Always loved this song 🎧! I appreciate you bringing us such great 🎶Music!! Shout out to You “Brother Wess” 🤍✌🏻☮️

[@wesfizer8991]

Thank you

[@davidkeech9738]

Another great bluesy Canadian song from about ten years later is Doin' It Right by The Powder Blues Band. A real banger!

[@djhrecordhound4391]

🎶...Doin' It Right on the wrong side of town...🎶

[@OscarRuiz-gj3mp]

a fav from back in da day!

[@inukshuksixtyfour1164]

Another fun song by this band is "Werewolf". Would be a good one to listen to around Halloween. ;-)

[@coletedeux]

The anthem of a generation. Protesting the war in VietNam, Civil Rights, rich privilege, etc.

[@Apostrophe65]

This became a hit again in the 90's for a band called Tesla. They do a really good live cover.

[@The_Rad_Dad3]

I grew up hearing this version. The Tesla cover is more common on the radio nowadays, but this is the one I’ll always remember from car rides with my dad

[@BenNawrath]

Freakin great song. My first exposure to this was the version by Tesla (the 90s hair band) on their Unplugged performance called "5 man acoustical jam", and is a great example of tunes my parents said "oh yeah that's a remake." That and Black Crows Hard to Handle being an Otis Reading tune.

[@billpunch265]

I love you brotha. thanks for all that you do. good human beings are hard to come by and you are one of them. thank you for that

[@cathyfox5602]

Five man electrical band 🇨🇦 great tune takes me way back

[@bobschenkel7921]

A true classic one-hit wonder song from the early 70's. Tesla's cover is good enough, I still prefer the original. Another one-hit wonder you might try, the band is called Starbuck and the song is Moonlight Feels Right.

[@djhrecordhound4391]

They had a couple hits in USA, but a handful in Canada

[@rogerdodger6025]

5MEB had one more lesser known hit called "Absolutely Right" circa 1974.

[@drs2328]

@@rogerdodger6025 Great song!

[@drs2328]

Another great one is "I'm a Stranger here".

[@sirslice]

Enough with "the one hit wonder" inaccurate statement!

[@barbwolpert1856]

Have always loved this song!

[@lookfun7886]

Best song about signs I've ever heard.

[@jen_alanfromchicago53]

'Sign of the Gypsy Queen' - Canadian band April Wine 'Born Under a Bad Sign' - Cream Honorable mention... Joni Mitchell- 'Big Yellow Taxi'

[@KipMcD]

I can still hear my oldest daughter (she’ be 33 this year) sitting in her car seat singing the first line of this song… Thank you for taking me back there Jamel.

[@davidmyers5916]

Jamal, thanks for playing one of the favorite songs of my youth. And thanks to Wes for recommending it! It was very much in keeping with the time and other songs of protest.

[@cjr142]

Les Emmerson who wrote this song while in the five man electrical band passed away Dec 10 2021 at age 77. Thank you for the music Mr Emmerson, rest in Peace.

[@lasagnasux4934]

Wow, a band I've actually not heard of. This is a first! Glad to be learning along with you!

[@labyfan1313]

Sadly there's a lot of Canadian bands that don't get much airplay outside of Canada. Here they still play this song all the time. It's actually the Five Man Electrical Band if you're looking, not Electric.

[@TheCarnivalguy]

Oh wow. I haven’t heard this in years. I was 15, one month away from turning 16, when this came out. I love the counter culture message of the lyrics. Most guys my age at our school thought it cool as hell. Some of the local garage bands always included this wherever they were playing in the area. Peace brothers.

[@bobthebear1246]

YES. So glad you finally did this 1970 classic. You should do the 1990 live acoustic cover version by Tesla, which is also great. That's off a live acoustic album appropriately titled - with an obvious nod to this band - *Five Man Acoustical Jam.* 😊 You should also do another great 1970 classic, "Ride Captain Ride" by Blues Image. That's also a great song. None of the members of Five Man Electrical Band ever went-on to become famous. The band itself wasn't around for long, and with this song they were definitely a one-hit wonder. But what a hit - #3 in the U.S. - and a classic!!!! 👍🏻

[@celiagorleski2716]

Song from my days. Glad to know who did it after all these years. Thanks.

[@jeffcoat1959]

This song received a TON of radio airplay back in the early 70s.

[@charlenetalmadge5877]

i have always liked this song - it's a shame no one now cares about the lyrics. you can learn a lot on how to be a good human in the songs. thanks so much for playing it.

[@timothywachowicz8308]

You can't do this without doing " ABSOUTELY RIGHT" by these fine lads! Gratitude & Appreciation for all the good vibration Jamel! Blessings to You & Everyone here! :)

[@johnnolan5579]

Five Man Electrical Band was one of the most talented Canadian bands of the 70's. Excellent albums and songwriting and outstanding musicianship all around. They were overshadowed by bands like Rush and The Guess Who, but they were definitely their equal. Some of their undiscovered tracks like "She Sure Could Sing the Blues" with the great Gloria Jones need to be heard.

[@jimearnest4342]

Thank you Jemal for reacting to this song, I've been suggesting it on several channels for several months and finally somebody got to it, thanks again

[@jayarr961]

R.I.P. Les Emerson. Class Act guy. He died of Covid related complications in December 2021. He wrote this song and was lead guitarist and singer of 5 Man Electrical Band. He was 77

[@jgsheehan8810]

Haven't heard this or anything from 5 Man Electric Band for a long long time. thanks.

[@robertowensiii1567]

Great song by "The Five Man Electrical Band"! I was born in 1961 and grew up listening to all 60's and 70's music, which in my opinion, was the best music! I was 10 years old when "Signs" came out in 1971! Nobody makes music like this anymore! Have you heard the crap they play on the radio now? I listen to MeTV Music, they play all the 60's and 70''s songs!

[@keymack2477]

Thanks for your reaction, Jamal. I'm not sure about in the States, but here in Canada this was a huge hit in the early 70's! When you get to the end of October you will want to react to their song called "Werewolf"! Thank you hugely to Brother Wes for the suggestion!!!

[@karencolley-smidt864]

I have loved this song since I was very young in the early 70s. Such a great song 🎵 🎶

[@MarkTitus420]

Such a huge hit when I was a little kid. It was always on the radio and everybody always cranked it up .

[@kbusby4824]

Great request, Wes. Tesla did a great cover of this song in the 80s.

[@wesfizer8991]

Tesla did a great cover

[@georgesotiroff5080]

I had forgotten just how great this song continues to be.

[@williammurray1341]

Those 75-85 year olds out there rocked in their day. Now the grands and great-grands have to step up.

[@sandrataylor3723]

I can remember when this song first came out but now every time, I see the signs plastered on every corner and in people's yards around voting time, I think of this song.

[@labyfan1313]

When I first heard this song as a teen I loved the first scenario about judging people by their appearances with how he fooled the man by hiding his long hair, "you look like a fine upstanding young man", then the joke was on the establishment when he took his hat off. The part where he put the note to God in the collection plate is very touching. Love this song.

[@maryneff686]

Good choice, Wes! Condolences and thanks for an excellent request. Hope Jamel's reaction and lots of support here brings you comfort.

[@wesfizer8991]

Thank you

[@sirslice]

"Electrical"... Great Canadian band from Ottawa.

[@TracyfromNC]

This always reminds me of Charlie Daniel's Uneasy Rider..hilarious and fun! What a message. Condolences to Wes. A great artist!

[@meliplay]

Condolences Wes. Prayers for you always 🙏

[@12symon]

62 year old native Texan, who loves the Green Bay Packers. Go Pack Go!! It doesn't matter where you are from, you just cheer for Your Team, for life: Win, Lose or Tie.

[@peimainepc]

I remember this song. A movement to ban giant billboards resulted in removal of big tall billboards in Maine, and many other states. This song was a rally-call.

[@philminion3675]

Thanks i haven't heard this song in 50 years great memories

[@jon-pauldupont5746]

The band Tesla did a great cover of this on their album “5 man acoustic jam”

[@paulmorris8762]

'cause they were 5MEB before becoming Tesla lol

[@richardpostma7041]

Some good Canadian kids right there . The classic rock station up her still plays this song along with their other top 5 hits " I'm a stranger here " and " Absolutely right "

[@djhrecordhound4391]

In another month or so, the more adventurous stations will also play "Werewolf"

[@lorilxn1597]

Listening to this song for at least 40 years