🎵 The Box Tops - The Letter REACTION

[@TidePride]

Most amazing thing about this song is Alex Chilton was ONLY 16 when he cut these vocals....unreal

[@niles006]

Story I heard that he was 16 with a hangover 😂😂. Idk, but it’s a good story ❤

[@TidePride]

@@niles006 at a minimum he sounds liked he smoked 3 packs of cigarettes 😂

[@uslegions2619]

Unreal...

[@THEDEEPDIVE]

it's FN incredible

[@BlowinFree]

Wowsers

[@shocker3156]

This song was popular during the height of the Vietnam War. It takes on a new meaning when listened to from the perspective of a GI fighting in South Vietnam, and thinking of his GF back home who wrote him a letter.

[@anonyarena]

Alex Chilton was not 22 at the time, he was only 16 years old when he recorded The Letter. During the recording he gargled whisky (but did not swallow it, because he did not wish to be DRUNK when he sang it, he only wanted his voice to sound less youthful.) The whisky helped him get that gravelly voice, which he felt was the appropriate sound for this song. When you listen to the other big hits by The Box Tops, such as Cry Like A Baby, Soul Deep, Neon Rainbow, and Rock Me Baby, you will hear that he does not always have such a rough and gruff vocal, and could actually be very soulful. On one other song, Choo Choo Train he did gruff up his voice a bit again on that one, but not quite as much as on The Letter. Sadly, Alex died of a heart attack in 2010 at only 59 years old. He is a greatly missed talent.

[@myowndrum286]

Funny how a song can stick in your mind forever, isn't it? One song can make you think of an event in your life forever. When I was 14, this song was on the charts. One evening, this song was playing on my record player, but it was a cover of Joe Cocker singing. In the middle of the song, my Dad, who was a cop, came into my room and told me my childhood friend had been killed by a drunk driver. That was over 50 years ago. Yet still, I hear this song and think of Allen. It's bittersweet because it's a great song, just sad memories for me.

[@galenstone9097]

Alex Chilton was miles ahead of his time. Big Star was the template for a hundred bands.

[@michelleplombe7019]

Not to mention producing and bringing out the best in such seminal bands as The Cramps and Panther Burns.

[@jax4538]

And Elliott Smith

[@MisterDarkfall]

I never travel far without a little Big Star

[@rickb.4168]

Especially Teenage Fanclub!

[@rickb.4168]

@@MisterDarkfall September Gurls

[@surlechapeau]

Brad & Lex, you’ll love their "Cry Like a Baby"!! Alex Chilton on lead vocals.

[@user-gt2uf8cq9y]

And "Soul Deep", "I Met Her in Church", "Sweet Cream Ladies Forward March"...

[@allisonoconnor8055]

I love this song!! I remember being a little girl with my transistor radio and the letter would come on WOW!👣🎶😍✌💃

[@LordEagle]

💥💥💥💥💥💥👍😎

[@zzrydr]

Get them to play "Cry Like a Baby"🐥 and of course "Soul Deep" is a no-brainer

[@hyzercreek]

AM radio used to be a thing

[@easyrolling]

Alex Chilton was only 16 or so when this was a monster hit in 1967. But it was later that he made his stance with an influential band called Big Star . His voice was not like this later on. Someday hope you listen to Joe Cockers' amazing different take on this song. Super reaction..

[@paulkazakoff9231]

Cocker version is awesome !! This original one is a true classic of course !

[@TonyM1961]

Total classic. While this is by far their biggest hit, they have a lot of great songs and the rabbit hole is worth exploring

[@jerihalter1339]

I've always loved this song.

[@ryanab01]

I remember listening to this song over and over as a child. My mom had this single on a 45 rpm record.

[@klaptongroovemaster]

That single guitar note at the end... That was a Rickenbacker 12 string guitar. It was Tambourine Man by The Byrds.

[@winstonsmith8441]

The lead singer, Alex Chilton, was only 16 when this song became a hit. Joe Cocker does an amazing cover of this song. Their hit, Soul Deep, is also worth a listen.

[@jtf2dan]

That last sound you heard was the first string from the song Turn Turn Turn by The Byrds, so it must have been cued up next...the video for "The Letter" was chopped suddenly at the end.

[@ninja_tony]

I think what Brad’s talking about with the ending is for a split second you can hear a note of the next song, which I’m almost certain was The Byrds Turn, Turn, Turn.

[@djl9919]

I always liked this tune. Rock on Brad & Lex

[@terenzo50]

Absolute classic. Thanks also to Joe Cocker's cover.

[@devaderocher-barron6928]

This was most likely a losing for tv show. Watch the keyboard player "look ma no hands" moment lol

[@crusadeelectronics2444]

I like how the keyboardist is like yea we're not playing. lol

[@markburnham7512]

Amazing that Alex Chilton ever, if briefly, fit into the pop music mold. A unique voice and a very unique guy.

[@antarcticorb9197]

They had to mime, and that's why they were smiling and joking.

[@jimmeltonbradley1497]

The vocalist, Alex Chilton never got the full recognition he deserved. His later band, Big Star, is legendary

[@jenniferjacobs228]

They look so stilted because they are miming their song and probably have never been on a TV show before and are nervous. But I remember this song being played a lot on the radio. Fantastic song.

[@WoodGuy]

I really like this song, it's been in my music library since it came out in the 60's. They also did Soul Deep and Sweet Cream Ladies, both also good.

[@michaelmiller9452]

Old memories. I was in Navy Nuclear Power School in Bainbridge, Md in 1967 when a friend asked if we could go to Lancaster, Pa on a Saturday. It wasn't far and I had a car, a 1954 Nash Ambassador. He wanted to see this band playing at a bar there, as the song was just starting to be played on radio and hadn't charted, yet. 5 of us went. They were not as good live, after all they were just kids and still learning, but the song was great.

[@brachiator1]

This song was so raw and catchy when it first popped up on the radio. Simple lyrics that got straight to the point. If you remade it today, I guess it would be "my baby sent me an email."

[@kassandrariemersma7902]

My baby sent me an email best laugh this morning!!! Thanks

[@esmokah]

Something about matching on tinder 🤣

[@lauriebutler4115]

Great song from my high school days! Alex Chilton was great and so young when the Box Tops made this hit. Great Memphis music.

[@thomasflynn5366]

I love how nobody is even trying to act like they are playing this live LOL.

[@roydivo6189]

I love this song! Funny thing is, I discovered the spoof of this song first “Vanna, Pick me a Letter” 😂 anyone else hear that on the radio in the 80s? Then I found the real song and loved it

[@josephdurham6051]

I remember hearing "vanna pick me a letter". On the radio. Good stuff .

[@alanarakelian5021]

"Soul Deep" from 1969 is another good one by the Box Tops.

[@deniseriley6622]

My Hubby and I listen to this song every weekend while sitting by the fire pit. It's on our Playlist.

[@jonnno243]

Around the same time a this, The MIndbenders released this song. The lead singer was Eric Stewart, who had sung "I'm Not In Love", with 10cc.

[@goodgoat3096]

This was the #1 song when I was in the Army. After being drafted and yanked out of your life, when it was time to go home this song was played much.

[@stoneblue1795]

Thanks for your service, buddy.

[@aarongoldstein7614]

Saw Alex Chilton twice in concert in Boston - once solo & once with The Box Tops. When I saw him solo I requested some Big Star & he gave me an angry glare. R.I.P.

[@dukedex5043]

The singer was 16 in this, believe it or not.

[@BeHappy-cp4fv]

This particular video was filmed at a TV station in Germany. And there's a reason the band members are smirking and trying to act out. When the box tops got hired by a German TV station to come perform in front of a live audience. But the German TV station treated the boxtops very badly. When the boxtops arrived attestation they were not given a room to come sit in they were told they had to go wait out in the waiting room with everyone else. Occasionally a TV station official would come out and talk to them to discuss things. They had promised the boxtops they could perform their new song which is why the boxtops wanted to go there. But this TV station was now saying they couldn't they had to perform the song, the letter. So what the box top band did was they tried lip sync off-key still their mouth would not match the words and if you'll notice the band members such as a piano player is not actually touching the keys most of the time or playing the tune. They're trying to be difficult on purpose to pay the German TV station back for their mistreatment. That's why there's a lot of smirking amongst the band members. The band really are very nice people but they were very badly mistreated by the Germans.

[@dionisioiacobelli6689]

This reached # 1 single on Billboard. It's only 2 minutes long .

[@franklopez2803]

When this first came out I remember a local radio station playing this non-stop for over an hour.

[@bella-xp7qd]

Brings back childhood memories. Thank you

[@maxbrazil3712]

Al Green did a cover of this that SHREDS!

[@selfdiscardedkingofruin7291]

This song just brought back so many good memories of when I was a child laying on the couch in the summer while my mom cleaned the house listening to her old records including this song

[@dewdewism]

I remember watching this with my family live when I was a kid. My mom said, "they all look like they've been smoking pot"! With a look of disguise. 😂

[@JasonHalversonjaydog]

and he's still got it, just checked out a video of him singing this in 2018 and he still sounds great

[@amb6899]

Couldn't be him he passed in 2010

[@VidiotSavante]

Here's some more you should check out from singer Alex Chilton's other band, Big Star: "I'm In Love With A Girl", "Don't Lie To Me", "September Gurls", "Watch The Sunrise", "O My Soul (full 5 min 38 sec version)", "Thirteen", "You Get What You Deserve", "In The Street", "Try Again", "Feel", and "The Ballad of el Goodo"

[@musician4life451]

Lead singer Alex Chilton was 16 when this song was recorded (born 12/28/50)

[@ericscott4225]

Senior citizens did the best version of this song

[@eximusic]

Alex Chilton - total rock legend. Love his singing and music. Big Star is his band after The Box Tops, you need to check them out.

[@cspaikido]

By the way, I saw an interesting fact about this song. The opening line, "Give me a ticket for an airplane," was given to him by his father who bet he couldn't write a song, the result was the only #1 song for the Box Tops.

[@SingOnStreet]

Thank you for reacting 💛💗💓💞

[@robertbagley9199]

Hell of a voice for a 16 year old don't you think Brad/Lex?

[@OhArchie]

There was a novelty cover of this song by Dr. Dave called "Vanna, Turn Me A Letter". You can find it on YT.

[@A2Z83]

Thats funny. The first version I heard was a ska/reggae cover

[@donnabruhn6907]

Just plain groovy, fun music 🎵 🎶

[@jlutzudrums9142]

GREAT SINGLE FOR ALWAYS 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 Thank you Brad & Lex !!!!!!! Happy good week end !!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU

[@jameshatley9390]

Yeah, this is Chilton (a major American song crafter), so go for some Big Star next, which is THE archetypal band that never got the radio support but banged out three pretty stellar, all killer no filler, LPs. Ballad of El Goodo might be a point of departure.

[@jimmiekendall5529]

Wow 1967 68 was in nam in 68 this song just fit right in to getting back home.

[@jimbodavis1944]

I LOVE this song. Epic voice...

[@ronaldcrawford9310]

Man! I'd love to go back to when I heard this song the first time......riding around in my 1963 Ford Fairlane w/ a 260V8 and 3 on da tree!!!

[@827dusty]

One of the most iconic songs of the 60s Rock music scene. Great song.

[@dirtylemon3379]

Their other big hit was Cry Like a Baby. Very good too.

[@qhl5579]

Love this song. Sorry I had to miss it live on Stream. Brad and Lex, we have done a number of songs off of the Album I mention, KTel 20 Explosives!! This is one.

[@lorrainemiller688]

Lipsynch-o-rama! I especially loved the keyboards, lol! 🤣Always loved this song, and always hated what had to happen to musicians on television appearances! 🧐

[@biggmaqq]

I think this was the shortest song ever to reach number one on the Billboard pop charts.

[@lourall5390]

Seems it was 1 minute 48 seconds. Among the most popular songs in Basic Training in 1967, right behind The Animals, "We Gotta Get Outta This Place".

[@joelilley6603]

One story I read said that while getting ready to record the song Alex Chilton used that voice just clowning around in the recording booth, and the producer loved the voice, and asked him to actually sing the whole song like that. When you hear him in other Box Top's songs his voice does not sound like that and later with other bands it was not like that. I could be wrong but I definitely remember reading that.

[@matthewaraiza9880]

Between Box Tops and Big Star, Alex Chilton is one of my favorites.

[@burtrangle3546]

Alex was also in Panther Burns with Tav Falco. Check it out.

[@rickb.4168]

Alex Chilton. Is as English a sounding name as you could imagine! Are you sure he’s American?😂😂

[@bryanforis1839]

Great band live and a great music

[@dennish3032]

Everybody was required to mouth the lyrics to the pre recorded censor approved version to prevent bands from adding time or unapproved words on live tv. So all seemed to forget how to play certain parts of their song.(hands in wrong place for the music).

[@mojobag01]

The note at the end sounds like the intro to Turn, Turn, Turn by The Byrds. I guess it crept into the 20th copy :)

[@ShawtyzBack777]

One of my all time favorite songs ❤️🎵

[@dr4782]

The ending was supposed to have the sound of an airplane. "The Letter" was a huge hit in the fall of 1967, spending four weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, beginning September 23, 1967. Clocking in at a brief 1:58, it's one of the shortest #1 hits in U.S. pop music history.

[@michaelherbert1395]

As many have mentioned, the vocalist is the great Alex Chilton. Later, he was in a pretty cool 70s band called Big Star.

[@stortebeker6464]

The "Ending" was the "Beginning" of the next song in this TV show. The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn!

[@stevenmutzu8940]

This was the number one hit of the year where I lived at the time.

[@tomcollens4621]

Alex moved to New Orleans, hung out here, loved the music scene here, and died here.

[@danjoda755]

Hey guys, if you want to get your baby to dance, try Joe Cocker's cover of this song! In particular, I recommend the version from the Mad Dogs and Englishman tour, it's FIRE 🔥😁🎸🎹😊✌️

[@connieleighton4375]

Yes please !!

[@BoomerMcBoom]

Oh Yeah!

[@andyfletcher3561]

Oohhh the morning I first bought that LP...Still tripping pretty hard after a night of a handful more or less of Purple Barrels. Handed the record store cashier a $100 dollar bill, picked up the LP off the counter and walked out the door. Thankfully he was a cool cat and chased me down with my change just before I drove off. No clue how I managed to walk in past my parents in that condition after being out all night frying my ass off, but I did. Straight to my room and those $10 dollar headphones...

[@BoomerMcBoom]

@@andyfletcher3561 You’re referring to “Mad Dog and Englishmen”? Great memory to associate with a great album!

[@danjoda755]

@@andyfletcher3561 Fun memories, Andy. I was lucky to have an older cousin who was an electrical engineer and serious audiophile, who kept me supplied with high end KLH speakers and Bose headphones. When Mad Dogs and Englishman came out on LP, along with the earlier Leon Russell albums (especially Shelter People and Leon Live), I nearly destroyed my hearing. Those were powerful times, my friend! 👍✌️🎸🎹🎹🕊️

[@lynneblacketer6479]

It was a clip from a TV performance. Some copies didnt survive fully intact. Back then, they didn't actually get to sing or play live, just lip synced to a recording. Performers weren't trusted to do live performances on TV. They were mocking that a bit at the end there.

[@Dave-yq8rb]

Another great blast from the past

[@christianalander9487]

I'm sure I'm not the first to say that you guys should also check out Big Star. It was singer/guitarist Alex Chilton's other noteworthy band. They came a few years after the Box Tops, after Alex turned 20, haha. Big Star are considered to be pioneers of power pop. Start with "September Gurls" or "In the Street". (You may recognize the second one...)

[@EastPeakSlim]

Cruisin' to the local drive-in during high school and this comes on the AM. Jack up the sound, order a root beer at A&W and groove on that Farfisa organ. Good times.

[@richardweed9727]

At the very end, it sounded like the playlist was starting to play "Hey Mr. Tamborine Man" next. (same note and timbre)

[@stevensprunger3422]

Wow I remember when this first came out I was a youngster but I never saw the video holy goodness this is amazing this is the first time I’ve seen them move with their faces and their hair and all that stuff wow this is incredible thank you for doing this song and this video wow‼️‼️

[@DavidHenley-x6c]

They were from my hometown Memphis and Alex was just 16 at the time. Later he formed a band Big Star and moved to New Orleans❤

[@megarouge61]

That snippet at the end was the beginning of "Mr. Tambourine man" by The Byrds

[@j.b.hawkins2991]

You should check out Alex Chilton's other band, Big Star. They have some great songs. One of them, "In the Street" was used as the theme for "That 70's Show."

[@elceenomoun8115]

My husband was a Box Top for a couple of years (not in this video). Check out their catalog, they had some great music.

[@bockerwright4132]

I sang this in a pub stood at the bar one time.... more than one time actually

[@VogonPoet67]

This video always cracks me up. Bands back then usually lip synched to make these things. These guys realize how goofy it is to pretend to be playing their instruments and make fun of it - the moment when they keyboardist does the "look ma, no hands" is the best.

[@Just-Me-Living]

That at the ending made me think they were admitting to lip-sync, lol. The song is timeless though.

[@xtiants]

The ending sounded like it got cut off, just as another song was about to start. From the sound of the half of a guitar note, I'd guess it was "Turn Turn Turn" by the Byrds that was about to begin. This video was probably recorded from a tv broadcast which featured bands of the 60's, or something like that. So, it wasn't really "on purpose." Well, you asked.

[@davidamadeo4674]

I saw the Box Tops in concert in 1967 at the Bushnell Memorial in Hartford Connecticut. I guess I'm dating myself 🤣 Keep up the good work you two.

[@cajunsushi]

One of my favorite songs from Junior High.

[@MtnMan-ny6vu]

Alex Chilton is one of my main musical influences. I came to it late, but he's a one in a million artist. Just ask Paul Westerberg how great he is. Brad & Lex should react to "Alex Chilton" by The Replacements. Love that band, too. Thanks to Paul, Mike Mills from REM and countless other champions of Chilton's work; people like me got to be clued in to how great him and Big Star were. Absolutely some of my all-time favorite music.

[@lindanicholson950]

One of my favorites from high school.

[@mdennis9496]

The amazing things that he was 16 YEARS OLD when this was recorded!

[@jpah8944]

The twang at the end of the song that Brad mentioned was actually the start of another song called Mr Tambourine Man by the Byrds.

[@jamesevanko7037]

Speaking of uncanny voices, I'm sure Bad To The Bone falls into the same category.

[@JustAnotherBlader]

kid was only 16 here but had the swagger and stage presence of a grown man like a 40 yr old drunk man lol

[@ronnelson7828]

Alex Chilton was just a baby when this was recorded. When he grew up he turned into Eddie Money.

[@Nimno74]

Alex Chilton, probably the most underrated song writer from this era, or ever. Check out 13 by Big Star, he wrote it when he was 13. Also, once you are familiar with the man, check out the song Alex Chilton by The Replacements.

[@ryangonzales9729]

She said, "like you been smoking all a lot" hahaha.. she's cool

[@jamesl1809]

Girl, you always make me smile.😁

[@stevenconnor4221]

Mr Chilton was fabulous, as well as big star his solo stuff was great also.