Behind The Vinyl - "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" with Terry Draper from Klaatu

[@Xolonogamer]

Fun fact: I added Terry as a Facebook friend. He said "Happy Birthday" to me on my birthday.

[@beatleserick]

Me too!!

[@mjsmcd]

Ending organ sounds like walrus

[@YamilGonzales]

So cool!

[@Ho_Lee_Fook]

Awh

[@ronniedrake8196]

He has listened to some of my karaoke klaatu tribute songs him and Dee I have songs on the klaatu rocks site. I am so honored

[@ZalMoxis]

A criminally underrated band..... I love them....

[@musiqman7]

True, but it's great when you get to introduce other people to them!

[@Antonio-ev4qk]

More than criminally

[@crapmalls]

Im 40ish found this band 2 days ago and wow...

[@tragiclifeform347]

We must protect this man at all costs...

[@s3bast1aannn]

I'm with u

[@The_Mimewar]

He’s still alive and still making music as far as I know. He’s under Klaatu, and Terry Draper on music searches

[@Forcoy]

Yes

[@friedmandesigns]

Terry needs no one to protect him. Got it covered. ✌

[@thelonelypiper9562]

Si,el ayudó a The Beatles....

[@smfletcher1944]

Love that they took the Beatles comparison as a compliment...he comes across as a very modest man. Bloody nice Canadians!

[@Phil1stalk]

Terry's lying. They knew exactly what they were doing producing a sound like the Beatles and they put the name Beatles hidden on the first album covers, they played with backwards tracks, they hoaxed us good.

[@BoltRM]

@@Phil1stalk 🐂💩

[@artexjay]

@@Phil1stalk No lol, if you look at the articles and shit it was alll the media doing Klaatu wanted to be known only as Klaatu not as individual members of the band that's why their first album only credited the band itself no individual members. The media is the ones you fooled you into thinking that, by the time another new outlet called the bullshit out on the original reporter the rumors were already spreading like fire. Klaatu literally did nothing.

[@BradenMcClure-q6k]

​@@Phil1stalkoh gtf over yourself 🙄

[@globalado2593]

Rush, Webster and Klaatu hanging in the studio, all making iconic, high grade albums. A great piece of Toronto history, I didn't know. A true 'Here among the cats' moment.

[@kittylove1182]

“Is this gonna fade out soon?” What a guy

[@johnliebenthal]

Still remember buying this album when it was released, and sitting around with my friends trying to figure out clues to the Beatles rumor. That second album, Hope, though. That was an amazing amazing rock opera.

[@edwardbliss8931]

Amazing how a guy with such a deep voice could have higher vocals on the tracks

[@Marble_Tree]

Edward Bliss haha yea but it was almost 50 years ago this was recorded so he was a lot younger then

[@charliedontsurf70]

Thats what 40 years does to a person.

[@eduardoalcala8310]

he was singing in falsetto that's why, and of course he was younger back then

[@rizzo_grt]

There are two main voice registers, chest voice and head voice. Men tend to speak using chest voice, which is a lot lower, however, many prefer to sing with head voice, because it sounds a lot nicer. Someone said age also has to do with it and that's true- but even when he was younger he could have had a speaking voice very much lower than his singing.

[@publicpoet]

Falsetto, and younger. Barry Gibb has said it's hard for him to do Falsetto anymore.

[@watchdogggs]

these guys deserved to be so much more popular than they were.

[@davidwright8476]

Extremely underrated compositions...world class

[@temporalproductions2251]

"Popgressive" is the term I thought i'd coined to describe KLAATU, one of the BEST bands ever... Terry, thank you SO MUCH for what you and the band created! Love "Older" more and more, as I get..... older...

[@fredfanny4597]

I was 9 yrs old when this song came out. It touched me....took me away from the difficult childhood I and my siblings were experiencing and into another, kinder place. Loved it then and love it now. Thanks for writing it :)

[@billrosmus6734]

A bit older, but same same. :)

[@regaltip8A]

I was 9 as well but knew immediately that it was not The Beatles.

[@wolzly1]

Beautiful, thank you for sharing your experience. This really hammers home to me what I've been saying that the "musicians" of today are doing great damage to our youth. What the world needs today is an army of folk singers.

[@saxmidiman]

@@wolzly1 No, we need a new Frank Sinatra, so I can get her in bed!!!

[@bobbcarpenter7031]

I had an email exchange one time, around '97-'98, with the members of Klaatu regarding the *way* they sang the line, "...the public scoffed 'it's far too rude!'" from SubRosa Subway, my fave song off their debut. I remember telling them that the lyric sheet said "rude," but I heard "drude," as in druid. Y'know, something underground...something hidden or of the occult. They assured me, as writers of the song, that no druids were part of the song. I believed them then, but today I still hear what I heard 47 years ago. And that's okay. Why? Because they took the time to write little ol' me back. Their wonderful way of handling me back in the 90s can be seen and heard in this wonderful video of Terry Draper. He is so laid back...so humble...so warm, that it makes me sad that more people in the music world were unable to experience this criminally underrated band. I can still remember putting the arm/needle down on that spinning, black album with the sun face label, and hearing a forest in my mind and the wondering, "Wait. Who put the needle on the record again?" I was just starting out with listening to The Beatles. Klaatu was my second favorite band from those wonderful 70s. After all, the singer told me, told all of us, "We are your friends." And it still feels that way almost 50 years later. "Thank you" barely scratches the surface of how I feel and what I want to say...

[@marquismaintenance]

Klaatu, is absolute MAGIC Their composition, and usages of timely effects, enhance the wonderment, intrigue, and fantasy, of our immersion into their world, and music. Severely and tragically underrated They deserved extreme accolades

[@toug65]

Nicely put.

[@BoltRM]

Absolutely the best _little known_ band ever.

[@johnliebenthal]

I've always wished someone would turn "Hope" into a stage musical.

[@patriottex4813]

I love this song. It is unique, haunting, ethereal, and beautiful! This music is it's own legacy.

[@Klaatu123]

Terry is a great person and Klaatu was a great band. 😃😃😃. Blessings to the three members of this band.

[@williamdd.winsor5873]

Heard the album shortly after it was released. Bought it around 78 . Had a young kitten that was enthralled by the intro , used to circle the speakers . I enjoyed the whole track .

[@The_Mimewar]

If I try and sing along with calling occupants, I choke up, and begin to cry with joy. This song excites my imagination.

[@The_Mimewar]

@@TheBigMclargehuge that’s awful brave of you to just come out like that. Well done!

[@ChantMacleod]

What an amazing video. I could listen to Terry talk about music forever.

[@brushez]

It's amazing how many people have played this song and not figured out that the beginning is someone walking through the woods and they come across a turntable and put the record on . It goes right over their heads Bravo Klaatu ! That's how to maker a record

[@marcmartinez4140]

What do you mean? I thought everyone knew that?

[@faulsname8869]

Dude you can just tell Terry has stories for days. A wise old chill well-spoken hippie musician.

[@yes_yes4986]

The fact that he kept having to figure out something interesting about the album completely reinforces that they wanted to be known for their music and not for their individuality

[@lucianoschwab578]

He's such a modest, polite and talented guy!

[@oldman3319]

I can remember the first time Klaatu released their first album in the seventies. ( I was born in 1954 ). I was totally flabbergasted. This unique sound. And worldwide there was a rumor that Klaatu were formed by old members of the Beatles. What an honor.

[@canadianstudmuffin]

Great great band! :)

[@leskobrandon2684]

Just realized how much the outro resembles "Easy Like Sunday Morning" by the Commodores.

[@Sotto_]

Or rather, the Commodores sound like them. 😉

[@bradkaitting8990]

Brilliant band, and absolutely timeless.

[@defconkev]

Knowledge shared, Knowledge learned, thank you!

[@jacquelinekroft]

Thank you Terry for all the great music you have done. Yes you are an inspiration.

[@tinuymaruja]

I love this record🤩 and Klaatu..

[@rawh7466]

I honestly hold this song to the same esteem as something like bohemian rhapsody

[@johni-m8944]

I agree, every time I listen to this song it never feels like 7 minutes

[@timwhitnell7145]

Criminally underrated

[@gutitecuan3463]

prefer it over Bohemian Rhapsody tbh

[@rawh7466]

@@gutitecuan3463 I would *almost* agree lol

[@esles206]

@@gutitecuan3463 me too, I'm so glad I discovered this band a couple of years ago.

[@YesOkayButWhy]

This video is nothing short of beautiful. The bumper shots of that gorgeous LP spinning, getting to hear and see Terry reminiscing about the making of this fantastic album, and of course the wonderful music. So cool.

[@MusicMeanderings]

"I could only make it do 'wee wee waa waa' for some reason" LOL

[@safersects4633]

Thank you, Terry! Discovered Klaatu at age 14 and still think your first two albums are among the greatest of all time.

[@bigkozlov]

You have brought much happiness to the occupants of this planet with this song

[@josephcormier7457]

My first exposure to this tune was the splendid version from 1977 by Richard and Karen Carpenter. Several years later, I got to hear the original and what a joy it was to hear it the way it was truly meant to be played & sung. Klaatu is a national treasure.

[@yobeeziskey1495]

Terry, I just found this interview so I hope you still read comments about it. I was 22 when 3:47 EST was released and completely blown away by it. For all these years, this, and the follow up album Hope have been the centerpiece of my music world. I do in fact consider both albums to be a single work and listen to them together every time. I just wanted to thank you and the others for being such an important part of my life in music. Take care and be proud. Thank you...

[@lauraburrell9285]

Sitting around with my 13 year old son quarantined trying to find the sounds that make us all feel better. Thank you for bringing us so many.

[@richardmann5049]

This was one of those records I would buy just because I liked the cover. What an eye opener when I first dropped the needle. I have been a Klaatu fan ever since.

[@divergentsenior]

Such humility. I’ve loved this group for decades. Nice to see what gentle souls they are.

[@joshuamarsella]

Just bought this vinyl. Came in the mail today. Adding it to my vinyl collection that will someday go to my son. I want to make sure he has access to some of the better and more obscure music out there.

[@ThreeOfKlubs]

Joshua Marsella I'm so happy to hear that

[@frankmaconnerie168]

Id love to see ypur vinyl collection. Should make a video of it

[@DreamRubycon]

I hope (excuse the pun) you have bought "HOPE" by now as well it really is amazing album one of my favourites , it's very interesting on how it was recorded. Terry Brown is a great producer would have come about without his help.

[@musiqman7]

I went to college in the early eighties. Klaatu was actually introduced to me by a high school teacher. There was a time in college when I had to sell of some of my records to eat. I never, ever considered parting with my Klaatu albums! My son (now a 25 year old electrical engineer) likes the band, as well. I always use Little Neutrino as one of the tunes to check a car's audio system.

[@flipflopnerd4759]

i just got the record at my record store second hand for 6 dollars, which was a huge steal imho!

[@phydeauxddog]

Ringo had Klatuu on his album cover.

[@Pro1er]

No, he had Gort the robot on his album cover. Klaatu was the alien.

[@frankmccormick1175]

@@Pro1er yeah, goodnight Vienna 👍

[@suskaklapp6641]

@@Pro1er He had both!!

[@Pro1er]

@@suskaklapp6641 Err no, the cover featured Gort the robot and Ringo, not Klaatu.

[@huntsidway]

Klaatu was so uplifting, intelligent, melodic, sparkling with wit, and filled with Hope. Loved the first album (the flatulence on 'Anus of Uranus', hilarious!, and The Little Neutrino was epic), but Hope was so ambitious, and I went back to it again and again; operatic really, and truly amazing for any pop music ever. Love these videos! Thank you!

[@frankvandenberg3915]

Loved 3:47 EST but Hope was just transcendental... "Lie on your bed, lights off, headphones on and let your mind/spirit reach out across the universe"

[@snailhairdune]

Very interesting. I love this album. I'm also a big fan of King Crimson and The Beatles, so it's great that Terry namechecks Michael Giles and Ringo! Giles' free-flowing drum style is superb, drummers just don't seem to play like that these days! I'm also obsessed with mellotrons!

[@CDS-Productions]

Great album. one of my all time favorites. Klaatu is a big part of my musical mind set...

[@barrybogart5436]

I lived in Toronto and Montreal in the 70's and was a Klaatu fanatic. I still have all the vinyl. When I moved to Vancouver I found another Klaatu fan. That shocked both of us. Not sure what that means,

[@roadieric9472]

Many thanks to Terry for sharing some cool memories. Rock on from Chicago.

[@frankinsensed8058]

Great album and what a difference to hear from a gifted musician from yesterday who also has some great insights and some humility at the same time.

[@spooge33]

Damn Right it holds water. I listened to that station back then as they tried to unravel the mystery.

[@phenbuz]

This is so beautiful and emotional to hear who created the master piece....This is wonderful.

[@JacquesDray]

You can't get any more Hoser than working at Sam's Yonge and Dundas location and hanging with Rush and Max. Thank you for your service Mr Draper.

[@jodilawler4956]

This song is one of my favorites!

[@samjones1954]

Terry, you make Toronto proud

[@Franyjoss]

I love Klaatu. I love all their albums and Terry's solo albums. This man is huge inspiration for me. Great video guys!

[@Franyjoss]

Well it's awesome to see another fellow BM fan who can appreciate Klaatu too! Its cool that there's people not stuck in only metal and actually hear all sorts of music. Cheers!

[@theeerieghoul524]

Count me in, i Love Black metal and Klaatu too,

[@marcmartinez4140]

What's Black Metal?

[@denilsonbernitz4170]

Love your Mastodon profile pic

[@Franyjoss]

@@denilsonbernitz4170 thank you!

[@anthonybarnes2355]

I still play this tune once in a while .

[@t.anthony3940]

I love my cousins to the north, Canada! 🇨🇦

[@damienstargemini]

Great to hear the story Terry! Big fan of Klaatu to this day. Timeless music and arrangements.

[@oseasgonzalez4307]

this is stupendous content. what a great concept for a series

[@buaidhnobas1ify]

Of all the albums I have had the , not just the immense joy of hearing, but one of the best childhood memories I have. From Buch to Beethoven, Aerosmith to Cheap Trick. Thank you thank you, for being a human.

[@BilnBax]

What an honest Dude!!...............

[@mindybaum9310]

Great band !! I was a young girl but I knew great music ❤

[@rolandhowells4618]

I love this song, and the whole album!

[@libracordial]

What a masterful recording!

[@thinker8699]

Oh wow! I saw these guys at a bar, Uncle Sam's in Niagara Falls Canada and bought this album. They played with face coverings so, no one would recognize them. Memories!

[@Pro1er]

Great song. I agree, the Carpenter's did a wonderful job covering it as well. Decades ago, I used to drive from Detroit to Toronto to shop at the Sam The Record Man store on Yonge Street because it was such an awesome store.

[@TheTop40hub]

Such a great song. Love Klaatu. Thanks for all your music. It always took me A Million Miles Away.

[@albertofranca5009]

Great video, congratulations, beautiful songs will always be on our minds, thank you Klaatu.

[@dilanthayapa5284]

One of the most underrated bands of all time.

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

This was so awesome to listen to

[@FSM46AND2]

Nice shout out to Michael Giles; fantastic drummer light years ahead of everyone. Great song.

[@regaltip8A]

I hear a bit of Keltner as well especially bass drum patterns

[@eduardoalcala8310]

you are spot on sir, Michael Giles was a pioneer, "In the wake of Poseidon" and "I talked to the wind" are perfect examples of his unique craft

[@FSM46AND2]

Eduardo Alcalá cheers!

[@audiomez]

The Cheerful Insanity!!!

[@igalsolomon]

This is what great music do: Let us understand each other even we're from different places and times. Love this man.

[@shyman99]

Glad he gave a shout out to the Carpenters as I think they did an amazing version of this song.

[@kgrose0219]

These songs are so bomb ass good! Besides the Carpenters, Who else is covering them??

[@knockedoutloaded279]

Carpenters is best version

[@gregbutcher_musicplacecheck12]

I first heard of these guys back at the start of 1984, by a good mate Eddy. I heard a few albums, all so amazing. Excellent :)

[@Aenima308]

I love the part where he says I’m trying to think of something else interesting to tell you about the album

[@tragiclifeform347]

Jason Lee I love how he goes into detail about that stubby bottle.

[@madronaldsalvador]

me,too. a sign of being compassionate -thinking of others' interest.

[@YesOkayButWhy]

I love that too. The whole album is so interesting.

[@esentertainment7368]

One of my favourite songs

[@MidosujiSen]

5:53 "It was a long time ago..." You just know every great memory of those days flashed before his eyes in that moment.

[@maryelms5948]

I wish today's bands/musicians could be as humble, modest and more importantly, passionate about the music they are making.

[@joebloggs8636]

I bought this album when it first came out,I knew it wasn't The Beatles..but I loved it just the same, I got the second album upon release..thru the years I eventually got them all...I also have Terry's solo on cd..I still have my originals....in mint shape..great band and very cool guy.

[@RockyRobar]

I realize taste is in the ear of those who listen BUT I personally think this Album is one of the BEST EVER ... I must have listened to it thousands of times with my head phones, NOT ear buds, turned up on blast. I find that Terry in this interview seems to be very humble and a person I could like and respect. I wish he had mentioned what came first the name of the Band.... Klaatu from the character in the movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still” or the Song “ Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft.

[@Syndicate93]

When I first heard this song I thought about how it much more it sounded like early 1970's British prog rock rather than the Beatles with the Mellotron as a base element for the song (Much like Moody Blues, King Crimson and Greenslade, among others did). Emulating trumpets using a Moog synth was also common giving a very unique sound, so it's really fun that he mentions my other musical role models as an influence when making this masterpiece!

[@careyrowland]

Fascinating music and sounds here. Thanks for sharing your perspective on these snippet tracks of LP history. Keep up the good work!

[@txtardis7887]

Thank you - for Then and Now 🙏

[@S3TCC]

Great album, purchased it the day it came out.

[@chrismarriott9131]

Best song, best band of all time. My band at the time actually covered this song--we had a horn section, so I took all the synth parts are wrote them out for trumpet, trombone, and sax.

[@oliasofsunhillow7116]

Wow, interesting, great recollections of the past! A friend of mine, his older brother bought this album brand new and turned us on to it as we were getting stoned! The following year, I heard the Carpenters single version on the radio and was also impressed by theirs and it wasn't until my sister bought the Carpenters album that same year that I had heard their full length album cut matching that of Klaatu! I was already into Pink Floyd, King Crimson, ELP, Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Renaissance and Rush as well as more mainstream music and along with the AM radio airplay music as FM Stereo rock stations started to surface and "Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft" from Klaatu was right up there along with the rest of the album but I could never find the album until I came across in a used record store in 1978-'79 period! The same thing with Jon Anderson Olias of Sunhillow, he turned us on to that one too that same year, 1976 but I could never find that one until I found it in the same used record store a couple of months before finding Klaatu Hope! I also found Nektar A Tab In The Ocean and Recycled in that same record store in that same timeframe too! His brother came back from Germany in 1976 with a bunch of German prog rock albums that I've also liked alot too! I was twelve-thirteen years old back then! Long live classic vintage prog rock and KZbin! Great video!

[@davidmoon3474]

When I was in high school in 1982, it took me a long time to find this LP. Back then, it was difficult to get rare LPs in Korea,... so I stayed up all night. .. They were my heroes at the time. hahahaha

[@dennisw2625]

In the 80's I convinced my little rock and roll bar band to cover "Sellout". OMG. The response was amazing. I spent a great deal of time letting people know we didn't do it. I hope I helped to spread the word. Five of the most colorful musical mosaics I have ever heard and enjoyed to this day. The walking through the woods finding the turntable wasn't cheesy at all. I saw it and had to laugh. Perfect start! Thank you John, Terry and Dee.

[@gromek6936]

One of my all-time favourite bands, and albums! As unique as any Beatles album!

[@theeerieghoul524]

Me too, nice picture by the way

[@bruceocrockett183]

Great track….so much orchestration to absorb, great vocals, cool concept, wonder if we’ll ever get a cosmic response. We are your friends!

[@caryd67]

I definitely hear the Ringo influence, especially in the bridge. Beautiful song! Side note, my brother went to England and met Michael Giles. He bought me home a CD, signed just for me. The Michael Giles Project. Unfortunately, Mr. Giles signed the CD wrapping. I’ve never heard the recording because I didn’t want to wreck the signed packaging.

[@nadafro3116]

Thanks Mindhunter for recommend me to this masterpiece 🔥🔥🔥👍🏼👍🏼

[@JCRyan534]

I was about 14 at the time this came out and we really bought into the rumour that it was the Beatles coming back together. The local radio stations didn't do much to dissuade us. Loved the song even though we found out it wasn't the Beatles.

[@frankietatcanbearrange3874]

When Carpenters released it I thought they were the original composers especially Richard, but after many many years later I've discovered only just these few years ago it was Klaatu. 😮 and ever since then I kept listening to this album. Amazing man!

[@benedictlouise8169]

Thank you sir for creating the best drums on a song

[@Voicedude]

Terry is DA MAN! Funny, talented, smart, and an all around nice guy! And the main reason I am the only Yank on Bullseye Records Of Canada's 'Takin' Care Of Christmas' compilation. To have a hero of yours be the one to greenlight your inclusion is a career high that money and fame can't match!

[@eric7922]

...half consumed bottle of 50, stubby bottle...knew how to play that too. I brought Labatt IPA to parties back then so I would know what skunk was stealing my beer. Anyhow, dude’s the quintessential Canuck...funny, interesting, detailed, humble. Klaatu, Max Webster, Rush - the Toronto trifecta of timeless goodness...

[@timwhitnell7145]

Triumph too

[@Annie_E_P]

Absolutely love this album, and it's sitting on the shelf next to me now - and gets an airing now and then. When the Carpenters did their version, and our local pub band said it was their song, I had to put them right on it.... well... y'know. Keep the faith Terry & friends. BTW, Little Nutrino is a killer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@oppai9611]

hope is one of the greatest album i've listened to

[@douglasmossop9462]

Great band. Saw them at the Ontario Place Forum. Terry we enjoyed every minute of the concert.

[@JohnLRice]

Great to get Terry's thoughts on this! I'd love to see a video of all the band members commenting on The Little Neutrino, one of my all time favorite songs!!!