Major Lance - Monkey Time

[@SandySummers]

Major Lance is one of the most under rated talents of his era.

[@jeromewade2254]

His daughter Keisha Lance Bottoms served as Mayor of Atlanta,GA!

[@djolegeorge860]

Absolutely, no-one could dance like the Major!

[@edge78a]

Major Lance came over here to England and legend has it that his is the dance style that was emulated and immitated and then mutated into what today is northern soul dancing. Along with his wonderful music thats not a bad legacy to have left. Got an album and most of his Okeh releases. RIP brother KTF

[@Ransomhandsome]

When the Beatles returned to the UK after their triumphant 1st U.S. visit in 1964, Paul emerges from the plane with a Major Lance album under his arm ... look it up!

[@matildadhumxoxo5801]

Wow!

[@matildadhumxoxo5801]

lol

[@peeterpoon]

Few singers conveyed happiness the way Major Lance did!

[@freefadayzs1]

He was a great dancer.I remember hearing him when I was a kid.Looked it up and found it

[@ElKabong47]

Wow the music in those days was incredible --- the vocalist, musicians just great many, many, years later just can't get enough..simply fantastic..thank you internet and You Tube.

[@6motion6]

I'm 58 and Shindig and Hullabaloo (despite the fact that they were somewhat controlled by corporate interests, but nothing like today) and Shindig were the only shows that showcased the stellar artists of the day, plus they didn't care about race. Thanks to these shows, those of our generation came the closest but of higher quality than MTV. Oh yeah, WABC, KDKA in Pittsburgh and WLs in Chicago were also impt. sources of fine music

[@SWOTBWOT]

The first CD boxed set I ever bought was Major Lance's music. Everyone probably thought I was weird but I knew what I was doing.

[@blackprix]

Definitely a 'dance song' that gets you up and moving ... still sounds great and still makes me want to dance!

[@Isotec1]

This is the reason why I love the old classics.They are better than the new stuff today.

[@windjammer777]

Major Lance can sing and move....this is great to watch - almost made me want to get up and jam!

[@boilinabag]

carl davis who produced this, and was the guy behind the sixties sound passes today.... one of his great productions............

[@woodyt56]

Warm fuzzy memories of childhood. Shindig, Hullabulloo, Hollywood Palace, and of course The Ed Sullivan Show.

[@Bobjb999]

I was a preteen when this was a Top 40 hit. I always loved it. I learned later Curtis Mayfield (famous for writing the Superfly soundtrack) wrote the song. The only recorded version I ever owned was on an Al Kooper l.p. Al covered it. The song's a first-rate example of what was great about '60s R&B music!

[@TrocilynRufus]

❤❤❤Love this song

[@dogstoat]

Fast feet.....the Major would have held his own on any Northern Dancefloor!!!

[@reecolor]

something about this song it's just pure joy (makes me wanna cry!)

[@gina72916]

I remember the entire family gathered around one television as we watched Shindig!

[@teacherB32]

When I heard this song in the movie SHAG I feel in love with it. Great tune!

[@garymorris9571]

Superb. I love seeing Major Lance doing it live.

[@spoonerfive]

Thx, Laura! Great funny memories of that time in my youth...

[@LauraAmiga]

Thanks for your great contribution.

[@60srecords]

He had several hits ,this was a favorite..He was also a good dancer!!

[@tcorman]

From Wikipedia: The series house band, the Shin-diggers (later renamed the Shindogs), featured a young Glen Campbell, Joey Cooper, Chuck Blackwell (drums), Billy Preston, James Burton, Delaney Bramlett, Larry Knechtel (on bass) and pianist Leon Russell. So there you have it, naderchaser - a pretty fierce band!

[@CosmicFork]

I wish that I could dance, like Major Lance... Ain't he cool?

[@chess1458]

absolute killer video,thanks

[@salemst]

Major Lance was a boxer?? I'll be damned. Great voice with amazing energy--and one heck of a dancer. That explains the moves. Really enjoy his music. Bill

[@tyler1820]

I'm 13 years old and I really love this music, I have no idea how everything went high-tech but I would kill to be a 50s, 60s, whatever kid as long as this music is on the radio.

[@boomboom48]

Love it, thanks much!!!!!!!!!!

[@broadwaypfb]

used to go to certain bars at Jacksonville N.C. and watch the Black Marines dance to this music . Never will forget their beautiful smiles as they did their dance. this was in '64 or '65

[@LauraAmiga]

Thank you very much for your great information.

[@LauraAmiga]

Thank you. We are keeping ...the soul.

[@stevencochrane115]

Saw him i live in person, twice. At the Torch UK. Managed to get on stage and shake his hand, he was knocked out by all these white kids lovin' his music. Really nice guy, great singer, Thanks for the music Major.

[@misisipimike]

so so sweet I got a ear cavity!

[@mooseydeucy]

Classic stuff...I remember Shindig and Hullabaloo...now at fifty-six...still the fresh golden oldies of our time. LOL WABC AM New York City...WWRL AM , NYC

[@jomommajo1323]

I wish I saw uncle Major before he passed

[@carolynramos2573]

Love it

[@bonnierusso]

Great Song, Great moves. AHHHHHH Great memorys!

[@Dr.Pepper001]

In 1963 this song was on American Bandstand. Only 6 of the kids were doing the Monkey Time dance while the rest were doing traditional fast dancing.

[@louismatassa8489]

Still listening a great song 🎶🎵🎶🎶🎶🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@dbd1353]

Ekocentric, are you talking about Major Harris, who did the song "Love Won't Let Me Wait" in '75?

[@golowandslow]

Major Lance was the Crown Prince of Dance who could glide as good as James Brown... He used to do the St. Louis Hop TV show once in a while & was my very first fave singer in 5th grade or so... RIP Major... MC Mickey 1

[@MISSEDHERSIR]

This is Rock and Roll. I believe Curtis Mayfield wrote it, or produced a lot of Major Lance's material. A real classic!

[@TrocilynRufus]

❤❤❤Good dancer & singer

[@drummerkid21rr]

love this.... his hair is sharp

[@spoonerfive]

An unsurpassed example of '60's R&B ...Something about this song...always fresh, always gets me dancing. As good as any single from the giants of that era. I "borrowed" the 45 from my sister and somehow forgot to give it back....I borrowed "Mama Didn't LIe" by Jan Bradley along with it, and didn't give that one back either, so those two brilliant performances are forever linked for me. Ha Ha, sorry Wendy, I still have 'em in a box somewhere in the attic!

[@robertbihn3005]

Major Lance, released June 7 1963, written by Curtis Mayfield, it Hit #2 US R&B chart

[@LauraAmiga]

@starhorizon1 Thanks for sharing your nice memories.

[@savagetwin52]

I believe Major Lance is the father of Mayor of Atlanta!

[@ricklaponte5869]

Absolutely right

[@clarkewi]

I loooovvveee the recond but his is an amazing performance. Northern Soul.

[@mycroft3006]

Great song, one of my favorites. I liked the cutaway to the guitarist holding a Danelectro Guitarlin too - though he didn't seem to be playing it at the time :)

[@MaxineNicholson-ft1dr]

Smooth dancer , cool dude, rip .one of the best .

[@ThePopcorn1958]

magnifique !

[@duncanidaho2097]

This was cut short but it was live, not lip synching to the studio recording.

[@lindamartinez6454]

FAV.

[@zzyyxxo]

great video.

[@jimm6095]

I Dig Shindig!!!

[@jeffrobdine]

What a great talent, those were the days !

[@razelma]

Excellento!!

[@efsb]

Is it just me, or can't you just see the roots of Northern Soul dancing in his moves..?

[@LauraAmiga]

@broadwaypfb Thank you for sharing your memories.

[@LauraAmiga]

Rest in peace.

[@TJCATLOVER]

Good song!!!!!!!

[@djdeitch]

Fantastic Major track,ktf.

[@brownfoxx76]

SHAG SOUNDTRACK!!!!!!

[@jennifursun3303]

can anyone post the lyrics for some reason, even when my ears were much younger, i ndever could figure out all the words thanks

[@chiangui24]

so sixties!

[@soulie64]

Some cool moves :)

[@mikeaustin1]

If I'm not mistaken, "It's Monkey Time" was the flip side of a single the company (OKed) was trying to push. It wasn't "intended" to be the hit, but DJ's started playing that one, and the rest is history. I love Shindig, a very underrated show. Almost everyone went on and sang live (music could be live or recorded) but it's a great look at these people, many of whom are sadly passed on. They really got to show their stuff in prime time. R.I.P. Major, you and Curtis were a great team!

[@keithgrimes9622]

The instruments are pre-recorded on this one, but he's singing live.

[@danielstump3204]

About 1963? Shindig? Where did we go wrong, that caused us to lose this kind of entertainment?

[@gfhandel]

Absolutely has "Curtis Mayfield" Chicago sound written all over this..thanks.

[@LauraAmiga]

You are wellcome, my friend.

[@spoonerfive]

@fosbury68 --I didn't know that "Mama Didn't Lie" was written by Mayfield, too! I guess I'm an even bigger fan of his than before, if that's possible...what an underrated genius HE was...

[@kevincheatim3252]

Very very underrated

[@sprucetree49]

One of my two or three favorite songs. Superficially a dance tune the melody is very poignant. It was written by Curtis Mayfield and was a favorite with Laura Nyro.

[@keithgrimes9622]

The major key verses are very chipper and cheery. When they go to that minor key bridge, that's when the poignant quality you refer to kicks in. Yeah, I hear it, too.

[@zylem13]

I wore the grooves off that record! Great performance. But did anybody see anyone do the Monkey in this video?

[@gropegrape]

curtis mayfield wrote this song him and lance went to high school together

[@LauraAmiga]

Thank you for your great comment.

[@margaretswanagan8237]

Didn’t know he made this classic

[@MetropolitanSoul]

You can really see it here !

[@melodysanger103]

REMEMBERING MAJOR LANCE (APRIL 4, 1939 - SEPTEMBER 3, 1994) [04/04/2024]

[@tntselections]

theres a version on rocksteady, from a jamaican Progressions - Are you ready. boss rocksteady. check it

[@baileez821]

There were two versions of doing the dance--slumping the shoulders like an ape and swinging your arms was one way--and I don't see the Shindig dancers or Major doing either, which is pretty funny.

[@valeriereaves4096]

Bet y'all didn't know he was a boxer

[@tygerstripe]

THE LANCE COULD DANCE!....KTF

[@LauraAmiga]

@edge78a I appreciate very much your comment.

[@LPincay]

Yep. He's dancing his sexy ASS off!

[@JackMDT8888]

Some Northern Soul was created in England......and a lot of artists would have been forgotten if us NS boys hadn't kept their talent loved and appreciated in the UK.....we loved the music and didn't care the colour of who made it....unlike the US.

[@margaretswanagan8237]

This song was on my mind I don’t know why

[@daryllect6659]

Teri Garr is in there. Can you find her?

[@hawaiiguyy]

huh? strange? what happened to the falsetto? which is one of the singular, compelling features of this song.

[@ultfan67]

According to producer Carl Davis, Major Lance was a great dancer but not the world's greatest singer. To compensate, The Impressions sang backup on the studio recording of "The Monkey Time". In the areas where Major was weak, The Impressions did the lead with him. You can hear Carl talk about this in the documentary about Record Row called "Cradle of Rhythm and Blues" which as of today is on KZbin.

[@LauraAmiga]

Nice comment! Regards, Laura.

[@clarkewi]

@edge78a He was a treasure - the perfect vocalist for Curtis Mayfield songs.

[@fosbury68]

both Monkey Time and Mama Didn't Lie were written and produced by Curtis Mayfield. You probably already knew that.

[@stephentillman2849]

I like this song as wells as mm mm mm mhm (I think that's the name )

[@TerryMarineBMF]

Angie Angel > Supergirl!!! u got yours an i got mine~~blessings in Christ! All i no is i luv u

[@1uptospeed]

i new he could SING but dance too talent not to often SEEN this beat brings a feel

[@peterzang]

this is the shit. Bruce used this as inspiration for The E Street Shuffle.

[@golowandslow]

Ora le Amiga!... The Major rules, RIP... Now go check out MC Mickey 1/Soulful Strut/You Tube for some oldies props to new school swag.

[@maradonatotti5142]

Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Shuffle is based on this Monkey Time.

[@teacherB32]

Awesome song, but while watching the video I couldn't help but think of how oppressive the times were in America to African Americans. We've definitely come a long way.