American Bandstand 1964 - Record Review - The Belmonts / The Classic 4

[@smilanesi98]

These kids were so beautiful! So happy! I hope life was good to them. The smiles on their faces say a thousand words.

[@swgame2511]

Oh please

[@rickytickykatz9599]

This clip is awesome!! Keep the Philadelphia clips coming please!!!

[@Kfltdlgxlyltxotxtkxo]

Jesus Christ loves you all ✝️ John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

[@dancerdon9175]

Hey there Aaron and Gary good to see a Bandstand clip back on this channel! Pardon my aging neurons but as I recall the kids were dancing the “South Street/Pony” to the Belmonts’ tune. Lots of energy. I know I’d never make it through the entire song nowadays. 🚦🐴

[@YCDTI]

Hi Don! I hope you’re well. I definitely defer to your knowledge of dance moves 😊. You could teach a master class. Looking at it more closely, I think you’re right that they’re doing more the southstreet vs. mashed potato here. The feet in and out, going side to side, on those 2 moves still confuse me. I think the MP has more of a twist of the ankle in and out (inversion and eversion to be technical, 😂)? Are Bobby Baritz and Bruce Richard doing the pony at about 2:18? Did kids do the southstreet outside of Philadelphia or was it more of a local move?…so many questions. You’d think I’d have this down cold by now. 🫤 😅 Thanks Don!

[@dancerdon9175]

@@YCDTI You nailed the technical specs to the MP - inversion/reversion of the feet from the ankles down. Never thought of explaining the dance step in that manner. I’d expect no less from you 👍. Bobby and Bruce are dancing the South Street @2:18. The difference between the South Street and Pony are nuanced in the body moves. Both the SS and Pony are east coast moves. In the west the Pony morphed into the Surfer Stomp. All of those dances were from 1962-1963. In the John Waters version of Hairspray all the cast did a mean “Mash”. Waters nailed the recreation of dance steps from the era!!! Don’t defer to me for expert recollections. So many dancers of a certain age out there have expert recollections 😊. BTW you comment in your descriptor about the Classic 4 was outstanding and clever. But, then, your accompanying descriptors never disappoint. Kudos, props and all those out of sight accolades. ✔️➕🕺

[@mrob75]

hi Don…Enjoyed reading your comment and yes, South Street / Pony combo it is…With a bit of Mashed Potatoes thrown in for flavoring. This was definitely that era when hints of freestyle moves were floating around the set. Hadn’t said hi to you forever, Don…Hope you’re doing well! :-) (Mario)

[@dancerdon9175]

@@mrob75 Hey there Mario. All’s well here and I hope the same is true your way. Absolutely true about this clip’s nod to almost the entire floor engaged in a freestyle dance of one style or another. You’re the resident expert on Philadelphia era American Bandstand so I’m assured you immediately noticed the kids showing off the best of new dance styles. Stay well and tuned in! 🕺

[@Gaylel1]

Look at e’m..they are cutting up there with that song! I guess it was the stand alone song after Dion left the Belmonts, right? Glad to see ya back on You Tube., Aaron❤️

[@colinstl]

Very cool and funny clip today. I would have probably gotten up to dance to The Belmonts song, and slowed it down to the Classic 4 song, but that's just me. Great stuff as always Aaron -- thanks bunches and hope you and the regulars on the page are doing well as always!

[@billritter4213]

Great clip from the twilight of the Philly era. I guess Chico prefers more slow dancing music than the other. I probably would have been dancing with the the two girls during the first record myself.

[@jjconc]

Yes, one boy and 2 girls dancing. So simple back then. No one "freaking out" and making opinions.

[@thruthealcove]

Hey Aaron! It's an absolutely FRIGID Saturday in NYC & this just warmed me up, thank you! There's just something about early 60s music that is unmatched! Really, no matter the song, it just really gets your attention. The sound of the recordings, the simplicity of the lyrics & arraignment of the songs, the mono mixes (in most cases), the feeling. Glad to still feel that music, even though I was born way after this era. This was a great segment, I don't recall seeing 3 teens rate songs, or even dance to them. Those girls were rocking on The Belmonts' song! Thanks for this one Aaron, it was good to see this.

[@Kfltdlgxlyltxotxtkxo]

Jesus Christ loves you ✝️ Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

[@cynthiapickett8577]

One of the last Philadelphia shows.

[@moemcgovern7345]

It just wasn't the same once it left Philly.

[@AmericanBandstandAgain]

What a Blast. Never heard these songs before. These are always fun to watch. Thanks Aaron and Gary, and as always, keep'em coming.

[@jthyme7940]

Another great upload, Aron! I met The Belmonts when they performed in Clear Lake, Iowa at the legendary Surf Ballroom in 2009 (I think). 2 original members....Freddie Milano and Angelo D'Aleo. SUPER nice guys. They said it was their first appearance at the Surf since Feb. 2, 1959 and said it looked EXACTLY the same as it did that night. As for "It's Too Late" by the Classic 4, it was written by Chuck Willis and originally recorded by him in 1956 Buddy Holly & The Crickets covered it in 1957 for The Chirping Crickets LP and a decade + later, it was covered by Eric Clapton/Derek & The Dominos. All great recordings.

[@gregmoore7709]

Thank you guys. A bit before i started watching but its still bandstand , so it was very much enjoyable . wonder if any boxing matches ever broke out in Philly,it got very crowded at times lol. THAX AGAIN AND LOOKING FORWARD.......

[@jimsmith6547]

Thank you sir for another ab upload

[@floydthebarber9956]

Wow. The calm before the storm. The Bealtes hit the US charts for the first time on this date and were on Ed Sullivan three weeks later.

[@garthchouteau1983]

Yeah, and the Belmonts were already without Dion, so their days were pretty much numbered regardless. There is of course a better song titled "C'mon Everybody," by Eddie Cochran

[@cindyduran4236]

They'll just a groving! Like the 3 dancers doing it together.

[@sharonramone9178]

Thanks Aaron. Another great clip!

[@mypalsalvintage135]

Those were the good old days!

[@steveriddle4458]

Love "C'mon Everybody" by the Belmonts!

[@bobbywall172]

There’s Barbara, great dancing and real pretty girls❤️

[@Bevity]

My mother used to dance like that. My sister and I thought it was strange at the time. The guys with the dark suits and skinny black ties look really sharp.

[@robbalboni4179]

another great clip from ab! the belmonts song was pretty good, moved along nicely. this was when dion was solo but the belmonts continued on for a while. the classic four was a nice ballad, nice for a slow dance. i think both these songs were covers but still good, thanks for sharing another fun clip from the classic ''american bandstand'', always appreciated!

[@TakaiAkita]

Thank you dear Aaron for this nice video.

[@josephguagenti3730]

End of the Philly era

[@FDAngelady]

Another goody, love the dancers from this time.

[@mattleinhauser9166]

I wish we had great music like this today, love it ❤❤❤❤ I was born in 1960. But I really love the music from the 50's 60's & 70's. We need to get back to great music like this 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@TheCabbagequeen]

The Classic 4 here was a band from Texas led by Bobby Osborn. Their song was on Countess Records in 1962, a B-side to a cover of "Wine Wine Wine". "It's Too Late" was a cover itself; Chuck Willis wrote and recorded the original in the 50s. As for this cover ballad, it was released under the Classic 5, who later changed to Bob Osborn and the Classic III. Hope this clarifies the story of the second Record Review selection.

[@bradsense7431]

The lyrics for - "It's Too Late" sounded familiar and I realized I had heard done by Derek and the Dominos -on the Layla LP. That was not actually the same Classics 4 who did those great late sixties hits was it? Did not sound like the great Dennis Yost. Their song "Traces" is one of my favorites.

[@nuwavedave]

Not the same group. The Classics 4 were formed in 1965, and had a minor hit, "Pollyana" - until the Four Season's' management killed radio airplay on it for sounding too much like Frankie Valli and company.

[@mrob75]

Here The Belmonts of “Dion & the Belmonts” fame are borrowing the hook from Gary U.S. Bond’s “New Orleans on “C’Mon Everybody”. The kids show a lot of comfort dancing to this familiar 1961 beat. I will stand alone on this comment, but this “Belmont” record shows the perfect example of the kids having a blast before the arrival of the British …I’ve always said that both genres / eras held their own merit.

[@thechancellor3715]

Yes, Gary U.S. Bonds sound immediately came to mind.

[@annlouisescheuer1979]

Not crazy about this song but really like watching the different styles of slow dancing.I watched this show everyday when I got home from school. Danced with my older sister.

[@MosesPreciado-m4p]

Dancing all wild, freestyle, mid 60s really cool during the belmonts, not to mention those 2 girls dancing at the record review.

[@joefagan6244]

Dancing to I want to hold your hand Beatles in this program.

[@ladyanne8139]

Such wonderful times.. 💖 ❤️ 💕 music and dancing beat any blues. .

[@joycemartin7516]

It’s 10/15/24 in Austin, Tx! Great song and singers! Seniors were great in ‘68! I’m 75 and still rockin’ to the ‘60s today🥳🎶

[@RandyR]

Haven't heard either song, but they are cool. Give them both a 70.

[@RileyTG204]

1:30 is that how they used to do the mashed potatoes on American bandstand?

[@YCDTI]

Yes it is! 🥔 🕺

[@RileyTG204]

@@YCDTI that’s cool. They do it different from how I learnt to mash potatoe, but I also learnt it from TikTok so what do I know 😵‍💫

[@YCDTI]

@@RileyTG204 In retrospect, they were doing a dance called the South Street, a dance that was common on the east coast and particularly in Philadelphia. The kids dancing on Tik Tok aren’t usually doing the old school dances like the jerk, pony, mashed potato, frug etc… hopefully they were doing it right. 😂 👍

[@MrWahooknows]

The guys spent as much time getting their hair slicked as the girls did getting theirs poofed.

[@pattnorton3217]

LOVE IT EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL LOVE DICK CLARK!!!

[@cathyanndee9984]

Patch sleeves can move it and two chiclets dancing when in the day passed on the single fella waiting on the come on 😅😂❤

[@JukeboxJoeB]

I'm a really big fan of both Dion and The Belmonts, and I've never heard this song before. It doesn't even appear on any of their CD'S. So I guess the record literally went nowhere.

[@YCDTI]

Definitely a rarity. One of the things I really love about these old shows is hearing songs from back in the day that I’ve never heard before. 👍

[@bradsense7431]

@@YCDTI Absolutely. Hearing some of these great songs for first time is a real treat being able to enjoy listening to over and over. I have thought about is how music from a persons youth can be special to them but some may sort of downplay it saying it is only nostalgia, or people stuck in the past remembering the good times but not the bad. I certainly believe nostalgia is part of it. The tunes do sort of transport our minds to slices of our past, but there is more to it than that. The reason I say that is because for myself hearing some of these old songs for first time they too are special to me and I have no memory of which to attach to those specific songs. It is the style or type of music from that period that shaped these songs and that is what I like so much. It is how songs sounded during that period of 1960s through early seventies that gets too me.

[@dancerdon9175]

@@bradsense7431 Nicely said @bradsense!

[@magnomaxx2010]

Yes, one day, your parents, your grandparents were just like you. Don't demand too much from them, which they have done in the past

[@Beaglemaster3]

thefatbat374..."It doesn't even appear on any of their CD'S" Yes it does. "C'mon Everybody" by the Belmonts, is on the ACE Records CD "The Sabina, United Artists & Laurie Sides Vol 2 The Belmonts", released in the 1990s.

[@ddburdette]

Mike was correct. The average of the three ratings for the second song was 76!

[@liquidninja6654]

Chico is no fun. What a killjoy

[@AdrianDeVore]

He wasn't feeling the music.

[@magnomaxx2010]

Yes, one day, your parents, your grandparents were just like you. Don't demand too much from them, which they have done in the past

[@jenniferhansen3622]

Everyone's taste in music will be different and that's okay.

[@boinknook]

Preppy!

[@robertharrison2.055]

thanks ''

[@nuwavedave]

Aaron, The Classic Four are not the same group that hit with "Stormy" and "Spooky" in the late '60s. The Classics Four featuring Dennis Yost was formed in 1965. I don't know who these guys are, but it sounds like the record hole is off-center.

[@YCDTI]

That was my attempt at being funny, but the names of the 2 groups are so similar, I should’ve put a winky emoji there or something. They are definitely not, or in any way related to, Dennis Yost or The Classics IV - one of my all time favorite groups.

[@GeorgeSwift-qj1ik]

Thanks for clearing that up, whew!

[@martinleavitt6094]

Greetings.. The Beatles are coming!!🇬🇧 a few weeks away....little do you know..good or bad.....sweeping changes are apon you...cherish the few teenage innocent days you have left....on Feb,9th...culture will shift,slowly at1st...then..🤔...... enjoy your day.. 🤟😎🤙

[@cantstopsinging]

Not crazy for either song, especially the 2nd one... and in another month would be a total change in music and pop culture

[@hothemeep1219]

They also played The Beatles just before this extract

[@jaguzman97]

Life was better then, unless you were being to Nam!

[@MosesPreciado-m4p]

Show that episode where they play the beatles first!

[@allenkracalik7662]

That Classic 4 version of It's Too Late She's Gone is barely passable. IF you haven't heard them already, check out Otis Redding's version and Buddy Holly's on his Reminiscing lp.

[@janvandekerk6877]

It is 1964 but three years later those hems on the skirts went up by fifteen inches .

[@boinknook]

True, but I loved the preppy look. The sweaters, headbands. Still wish that was the style today.

[@ЮрийБакиев-д7ж]

🎼 🎵🕺🎶💃 ✌️🤩

[@gogoyubari366]

Pretty girls back then!

[@Nomad-vv1gk]

I thought there were never any Black Americans on American Bandstand during its days in Philadelphia. The videos below prove that belief to be wrong. While there are Black teens dancing and even participating in the Record Review portion of the show, it is obvious the camera man is being instructed to do all he can to either not show them or only partially show them. On the dance floor, they are not positioned in the direct line of sight of the cameras. In fact, unless you are actually looking for them, you could probably watch the show dozens of times and not notice them. Being a true Baby Boomer, I watched AB every day after school, starting when it was a 90-minute show, then later when it was reduced to a Saturday show. I always thought there were no Black dancers until the show moved to Los Angeles, CA. I now know that wasn't true. Maybe it was because I watched it on a 12" b/w TV.

[@godscountry6473]

Both songs sucked...in all honesty. I'm wondering if those were the same Belmonts that were with Dion or not? If they were, there "trying to sound hip" sound wasn't too hip. The title of the Classic 4's song definitely fits it because that doo-wop sound they had was already outdated by 1964 and was definitely "too late" for the times. That Chico dude was definitely Mr. Congeniality, for sure.

[@lilchopstixz2161]

Yes that is the Belmont’s that were with Dion.

[@mr.pastry779]

1964 still had number of doowop songs along with surf, girl groups,roy orbison,four seasons,bobby vintons best year for hits,Del shannon,Gene pitney,Dean martin,The righteous bros,and inevitable the fantastic beatles,1966 to me was the big shift away from the early 60s sound and fashion's.

[@sirbacon1617]

The belmonts early 1960s stuff is really good though ok

[@Nomad-vv1gk]

I thought there were never any Black Americans on American Bandstand during its days in Philadelphia. The videos below prove that belief to be wrong. While there are Black teens dancing, it is obvious the camera man is being instructed to do all he can to either not show them or only partially show them. On the dance floor, they are not positioned in the direct line of sight of the cameras. In fact, unless you are actually looking for them, you could probably watch the show dozens of times and not notice them. Being a true Baby Boomer, I watched AB every day after school, starting when it was a 90-minute show, then later when it was reduced to a Saturday show. I always thought there were no Black dancers until the show moved to Los Angeles, CA. I now know that wasn't true. Maybe it was because I watched it on a 12" b/w TV.

[@EdKazO-Vision]

Music was really getting stagnant during this period. Warmed over Gary US Bonds. Thank goodness for the British Invasion!

[@sirbacon1617]

no ok

[@nevertrump-z2y]

There's only one Bandstand.........50s/early 60s. never watch the later ones

[@timacoata7456]

Try to get a kid to figure out a math average today😮”ah, dah”! These kids were sharp , smart, and happy hysterical being kids!

[@GeorgeSwift-qj1ik]

Neither song even reached the top 100. Classics 4 was dismal.

[@timacoata7456]

Good times except for JFK a few months earlier!