Croton-on-Hudson Battle of the Bands 1967

Croton-on-Hudson, NY. 1967. Battle of the Bands. The Hairy Things rock. The Tradewinds roll. The Bad Habit await puberty. Tim Smith and The Active Ingredients just crush it. The people shuck and jive. Feel the Love!

[@ghostexits]

Every aspect of this document is incredible: the talent and casual brilliance on display from these suburban teenage musicians, the unabashed and un-self-conscious enthusiasm from the young concert/dance attendees, the impressive craft apparent in the direction and edit of the documentary film itself. Did every US high school in the 1960’s have its own teenage Otis Redding, Jim Morrison, Shindig dancers, and young Maysles cinéma vérité film crew? If this isn’t evidence of cultural apex I don’t know what is.

[@kelechi_77]

It was the start of such events as inspired by the British Invasion, punk and future subcultures would later carry the torch many years later with teenagers banding together to create something without the help of the mainstream.

[@deloressutton1176]

Unbelievable! It was so nice to see my brother, Tim Smith, singing and playing. What a treat! Thank you🙂

[@HemiVic]

What’s he doing these days?

[@rurelaxed21]

@@HemiVic I just moved from that town a year ago but still in the vicinity.I repair electronics,thank you.

[@rurelaxed21]

Thank you Delores. A longer version of this is on You Tube somewhere. Love ya.

[@mrsixiesrock2274]

@@rurelaxed21 What part of the video are you in !?

[@rurelaxed21]

@@mrsixiesrock2274 I play the organ at beginning for "The Active Ingredients"

[@vauxhallvillian]

This is one of the most brilliant pieces of film I have EVER seen....!!! As novice as some of these bands are....they have far more passion and soul than some of the million dollar sellers now a days! Love it!

[@alissunwolf8249]

+Johnny Panic It's so true that passion and soul are what makes great music.

[@scottthornley4287]

Shows how fully rap,grunge,hip-hop,and nu metal,and above all punk suck,go back to Newtown with that stuff

[@scottthornley4287]

Best stuff is psychedelic garage and early metal,lime spiders fused it

[@BradyDale04]

I was impressed with that Blues Project cover of Cheryl’s Going Home 3:58

[@Visions191]

"looks like we stunk pretty bad on that one" hahaha

[@zenbabaloo1931]

This is a beautiful time capsule item. "We sucked pretty bad on that one." Maybe so but that's okay, kid. Rock on, young 'un, rock on!

[@jonkarpoff9403]

The video was shot by NBC News pros thanks to Shad Northshield who was a Producer at NBC and a resident Croton. Shad died in 2000. Kath Corcoran was one of the two student Producers of the Battle of the Bands who pitched the idea to school officials and sold it, created and distributed posters, arranged for lighting and sound. What a great event in Croton's history.

[@drynerson]

Jon Karpoff Hi Jon- If you can access the comments, you will find that many perfect strangers appreciate this video as a sort of time capsule. Classic! Still fiddlin'?

[@jonkarpoff9403]

Not so much arthritis ...

[@dougffox]

Jon, when I first saw this video, it struck me that whoever filmed it was using a 16mm camera with either a internal mag stripe, or a synced Nagra reel to reel. Next thing that came to mind was that most likely it was someone working at one of the TV networks in NYC at the time. Nice to see that my hunch was right. I grew up in Irvington, just down river from you guys up in Croton at this time. My dad worked at NBC and undoubtedly knew Mr. Northshield. What stands out in this film, to me, is how good the audio is. Very well balanced and clean.

[@vibemasterguitars2306]

Absolutely fantastic

[@dawneden]

@@drynerson In case you missed it--I just posted a link above to the entire film, which someone put online in July: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4Kbg59-Zd5kqa8 .

[@briannewell6064]

Battle of the Nerds. I love it. At this time the landscape was littered with garage bands like these. A wonderful time to be a teenager for sure. Except for that Nam thing.

[@BlakeGildaphish76]

i really like the rain-swept street scenes!

[@andydickey]

Remember it well. I was CHHS class of 1971. Still live in Croton.

[@arolnick212]

OMG I was there....and got a sight of myself at maybe 14 or so....like seeing a ghost. And weren't the musicians good for their age and time!!! Imagine!

[@rdelavarre]

I was banned!!!

[@rdelavarre]

How cool!! I love your dance style! PRecious.

[@disgruntledgoatiam]

Where? What time in the vid?

[@redflamered]

I was shocked at 3:58, they played Cheryl Going Home by the Blues Project. One of the best unknown rock songs of all time. Listen to the Blues Project do this song on youtube. Its great.

[@ceticismocritico8066]

The original version of "Cheryl's Going Home" is from an Italian band called The Rokes. The original song is entitled "Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi" and here's the link to the original song: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJa5i5eLobuIrLs

[@roaches.]

They also did Steve’s Song by the blues project just before that

[@TomGargiuloArtandFilm-fu2hv]

Cool.... nice 'direct cinems'/ cinema verite technique in the early parts and crowd dance scenes. A true document of youth, aspiration and dream . ......

[@markymarc9339]

BEYOND COOL! This is the stuff from the only years that mattered (65-67). Kicks and chicks. I wish I could have been in that dream.

[@johndonlon1611]

God bless all of them!!! They had the gear, some talent and the balls and went forth.

[@michaelfuria4257]

complete with a Farfisa Duo-Compact organ! And a Steve Katz sound-alike..Blues Project..so Boss. So many memories...

[@gwugluud]

It's hard to find live footage of mid 60s garage bands, thx for posting!

[@hoctor]

THIS is what it was like to be like 12/17 in those days. Get dressed up with suede beatle boots, black, circle belt buckle, striped shirts, I grew up in Crestwood NY near Yonkers, Chain Reaction, Steve Talerico, group like the Blues Magoos, or good versions of them, luv this one

[@maaakx]

The Hairy Things performed an anti-war benefit in my front yard when I was 4 years old! It's my first memory, sort of.

[@johns6362]

I am seventy one, this is my era, and I have been in the music business. The band with the lead singer with glasses and the Rickenbacker guitar player. He had that classic psych rock voice that would have stood with the Strawberry Alarm Clock and many other bands of the classic garage rock genre.

[@johns6362]

I keep listening to this guy sing, he should have been in San Francisco singing with the Chocolate Watch Band or some other Psycedelic Band, He has that sound all by himself.

[@johns6362]

Does anybody know who he is or what happened to him.

[@antoniolucas98]

@@johns6362 someone told me that his name is Steve Miller, but i don't have any more information. He is really a cool guy and great musician. I wish i could know more about him

[@JoeLeeHenderson]

@@johns6362 That is Stephen Miller, and he is still a professional musician (guitarist and singer) in Brantford Ontario

[@19mole76]

Good grief, this is a killer piece of footage!! The good, the bad, the downright awful - they're all here, trying their best!!! Absolute genius!

[@randybargar4916]

Very decent cover of Light My Fire.. keyboard player in particular nailed it

[@rdelavarre]

YEs! Who are the musicians in that segment

[@rdelavarre]

@Rusty Shackleford I took lessons with STeve Miller. Nancy Miller was a teacher of mine.

[@emeryclifton9912]

It's still one of the very few pieces of footage that captures youth on that particular day and culture that was about to change history

[@tomasdeaquinosouzajunior9265]

O cover do the Doors ficou legal !! 👏👏👏👏👏🇧🇷

[@hankhoffman8475]

Wow, this is just fantastic. What a time capsule from that era-it reminds me of the junior high school dances I went to in 1967 and 1968.

[@premikrusselltubbs8107]

OMG, the sheer joy of seeing my musical homies from daze gone by ;-)

[@drynerson]

Missing you!

[@BassGods]

Wait till the Midnight hour Aaaah Aaaah 🎶 😂😂😂😂😂

[@patrickbuckley344]

It is great to see the passion of these early 60' S bands- Thanks, I enjoyed it☺

[@steveundertoned9456]

Simply a wonderful, magical of teenage document.

[@Guidotoons101]

This is just amazing footage! Thanks so much for posting! I played many Battle of the Bands back in the day. SO great to see these bands!!!!

[@Glendoras]

The Bad Habit RULES!!!

[@bottomefeedercardsmusicsat5106]

The Bad Habit are the most punk band ever

[@Amptender]

What a great piece of history!

[@The_Klystron7]

Great piece of music history. !

[@yippie8793]

Fantastic ! I played in a Battle of the Bands in high school. What I wouldn’t give to have had footage of that. Rock on…

[@dwightharrington5261]

i really dig the third band blues project cover awesome!!!

[@fabiannacht1784]

No egos. Love it.

[@patricklemire9278]

This is amazing

[@datari]

03:50 "We stunk pretty bad on that one" .. awesome!

[@drynerson]

+datari That's my band!

[@Shushmuckle]

@@drynerson You guys are my favorite! How long did the Bad Habit stay together?

[@disgruntledgoatiam]

@@drynerson I was born in 68. Wrong era. I always listened to sixties shit in the 80s. It took a lot of balls for you guys to get up on stage and play. A great memory.

[@jeffrosenberg4476]

This is precious stuff! Thanks so much for sharing it.

[@TV21]

Thanks for sharing this amazing footage, its awesome.

[@westcoastpaeb]

THANKS for posting this film

[@stiffsdotcom]

This is fantastic.

[@donnalethal]

This is fantastic!

[@mjg086]

The band doing the Blues Project and Doors stuff is great. Shame if they never recorded; even an obscure 45 release.

[@garethturner6021]

Great archive footage, brilliant quality!

[@jpinnacle]

Wow, this is simply the best thing ever. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for sharing!

[@funkadelphiarecords]

the greatest garage rock performance of "Steve's Song" by the Blues Project is at 2:43

[@drynerson]

Agreed.

[@funkadelphiarecords]

@@drynerson the fact that this band plays not one but TWO Blues Project songs proves how genius they really were...

[@TheCoreyLight]

Love it!

[@TheTedIV]

I Love it, this is awesome. thanks drynerson..

[@oidschwabinger]

awesome piece of garagepunk history, thank you for sharing!!!

[@mickjames5388]

Amazing! Feels like I could've actually been there!

[@tigerbug69]

This is cool! Very rare to see footage AND audio from a battle of the bands. Thanks heaps for posting this!👍👍

[@user-hv5uy7ct6g]

awesome footage

[@rainafortini5797]

I see the person last commented what I am about to say but I have no other words this is just about the best thing I’ve ever seen on KZbin or television… To be caught by surprise like this I mean to see old Croton like that and then the high school gym with the coolest looking people dancing, great musicians practically in diapers killing it on the drums guitar is singers adorable people saying “we stunk at that than “this was absolutely amazing and I’m only four minutes in lol Who are you? I haven’t explored yet but I hope there’s a ton more stuff like this it’s absolutely wonderful are you one of the kids playing in one of the bands? Awesome Thank u

[@drynerson]

Sorry - it's a one-off. Which kind of makes it even cooler? That was might band that sucked!

[@rainafortini5797]

@@drynerson lol… none of the band sucked I’m amazed by the amount of talent! I moved to Croton in the fourth grade in 1971 so this is a little bit before my time “socially“ lol but one of the first things I experienced, literally within the first week if not the first day was Billy Mills bringing his drum set into one of the CET classrooms miss Schoonmaker I believe… Or maybe next door and we all went next-door and it was amazing it was like being on the set of the Brady Bunch or some thing L O L… I immediately wanted to play the drums… so monkey see monkey do I guess but watching this made me realize from the moment I moved to Croton life became special in a way… I guess that’s why it’s so shocking to discover in old age what a bunch of shit most people turned out to be even after being blessed with so much profundity, great influences, so much talent… I think I said this already but I literally believed all kids in the world, at least in this country had the same formative years to some degree or another anyway… Anyway I don’t know what I’m talking about anymore but thank you so much

[@rainafortini5797]

@@drynerson I still haven’t watched the whole thing but I fast forward it a little bit to see “come on baby light my fire“ in the middle he even screams “fire” so boldly I mean anyone can criticize it if you really wanted to but overall it’s just brilliant… so much talent and who shot it all by the way? It’s like American bandstand came to Croton to produce a show with these beautifulYoung men and women, so stylishly dressed with awesome lighting and dancing so well… Oh my God I wish there was more video of the past… Correction I mean Film! That’s another reason why this is so amazing it’s freaking film! Such beautiful colors

[@Mncrr]

My pal Mike Turturro the drummer in first band with Tim smith singing and on keyboards. Joe cooney on guitar in another band. I believe this was pvc gym

[@rurelaxed21]

@@Mncrr Yes it was

[@dannyhood66]

At 3;53 the kid says we sucked pretty bad on that one. Lmao!

[@johnmitchelljr]

Thank you.

[@ludovica8221]

This is great.. I just wish The Watertower West was on here

[@rdelavarre]

These guys were great muscians. Brian later joined Squat on my Grunt....I love the groovy dancing!!

[@TyWest57]

I was 10. It was awesome.

[@Ashpalm18]

My dad, skip showed me this video. Croton was so different then it is now!

[@fancyest]

GREAT STUFF!

[@gwugluud]

3:50 Sounded FANTASTIC to me..

[@AugustMedia]

OMG... this is priceless!

[@fchiu64]

Hello all! This is a real treasure! We have posted/highlighted it on a fan page "The (Greater) Croton Songbook" on facebook Thank you for sharing it!

[@milesdougal]

Fantastic

[@rdelavarre]

I love this video, or 8mm film.

[@supermamamaxi]

Man, this is priceless!

[@raoulvanhorn]

Wow - this is exactly what I was doing in 1967.

[@phrayzar]

Great footage, set to become a youtube classic.

[@mistermarkdavis]

3:30 to 4:00 is amazing. They clearly got an early start. I bet they got great.

[@MaynardGKrebs-gv4vy]

Cool journey through the past....

[@soulvigilante]

The Hairy Things' lead singer (Steve Miller?) was born four decades too soon. He would be headlining Glastonberry in the 21st century.

[@paulmessis1985]

This quite simply has blown my mind to smithereens... this is AMAZING!!! thanks!!

[@dtny2la]

The Tradewinds guitarist on the far right is my father LOL great vid!

[@Syntox]

What a freaking TREASURE!

[@pinball091]

Great video. People playin it like they mean it.

[@o.r.grinter7763]

The kids playing around the 3:30 mark are so badass!

[@kristenprice6565]

...I lived n/around Croton-On-Hudson/Krugers from 1978-'95-ish (off and on) . Huh .

[@ecollins]

Wow 🤩 ♥️

[@haulofrecords]

.... I like the Hair Things comment from the kid singing after their song: "We stunk pretty bad on that one."

[@rurelaxed21]

The band that made the comment was The Bad Habits

[@machoninny2960]

That was fun

[@hanssjoberg9230]

Mrs. Gilles was a great teacher, Union deserter.

[@Glendoras]

That's the best part!

[@xxxxx1302]

TOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤❤❤

[@MichaelWilliams-tt3lz]

Great video. I saw it thanks to my friend Eric Turkheimer who was a 13 year-old seen walking right to left... looking like a 13 year-old at about the 7 minute mark. I graduated HS in Virginia in 1968. We were lucky to grow up with that music. I always though of Tappan Zee as the crossroads of the East Coast, too. Congratulations to Croton.

[@paolocogo8232]

Wooooow!!!

[@beandipcartography]

Boss !!!!

[@surferbri5346]

Multiple cameras too, must've been a big contest

[@dtny2la]

Yes

[@onemanmatt]

Great :-))))

[@nealos66]

What a rare gem! Was this a film project? The production value is way up there for a local battle of the bands. One of the best glimpses into that magical era I've seen.

[@drynerson]

It became a mini-feature on a slow news day on the Huntley-Brinkley news hour.

[@patrickcollins8926]

When Westchester kids knew how to have fun. Interesting choices: Wilson Pickett, Blues Project, Doors, Newbeats (would love to hear more of Tradewinds' punk-jazz-noise "Bread & Butter"). Only Brit Invasion tune is Zombies cover, which to me has always sounded more coolly American than English, as it does here.

[@PennCentral13]

The lead singer of the Active Ingredients sounds 100% like the lead singer in one of the bands I was in

[@mcmike100]

Paisley shirts!

[@ariel1972]

Brilliant. Who down voted this?

[@GeneralUrsus]

There's probably a button under the share section. I was just going to share it on my music blog for others to see. When you embed the only thing that shows is the video.Thanks.

[@PhosphorDigital]

This is brilliant, even in spite of the under-exposure. Such sweet earnestness of the players, even when "…we [sucked?] pretty bad on that one…" I'm left craving more footage from that day, including interviews with the players, the dancers, the chaperones. Credits would be good too, they all deserve it…Except for The Active Ingredients, we don't know which band is which. Thanks for the fun, drynerson!

[@toren737]

The Active Ingredients 8.5 Best New Music

[@rdelavarre]

Class of 76. Amazing . Would love to know the other band members. My heroes back then were Bryan Bowman, Ned Doughtery, Dorie COllier, Jeff Ward, members of the best Croton band, Squat on My Grunt. Hope to hear from others from Croton, NY

[@drynerson]

Thanks to Jim Brown for curating this. Most of whom you mention are still friends.

[@rdelavarre]

@@drynerson are you from croton? What happened to drummer Jeff Ward?

[@drynerson]

@@rdelavarre Yes I am from Croton, but I went to boarding school for high school. I played bass in the Bad Habit (youngest band) with Geoff and Andy Collier and David Beldock. I was in the jug band with my brother Deane off and on for years. As far as I know, Jeff Ward is living in midcoast Maine. I am in touch with Dore and Ned on facebook.

[@rdelavarre]

@@drynerson So cool. That CHHS class was so cool. Hippies, dope, but smart guys and talented. Jeff Ward was my neighbor in Croton. I was four years younger, but I admired these guys so much. I graduated in 76. I hold the record in NY state for most wins by a pitcher in 76. 15 wins 0 loses, one perfect game. A full ride to Univ South Carolina. I've written a memoir which is on amazon. i just finished a novel which I am trying to sell as a movie. Play guitar, have 8 strats and one acoustic. My dad was a concert pianist and filmmaker. Croton was the best place ever. As you can tell, I live in the past. Hope to see more of your posts. Thank you, Rene delaVarre