My First Time Hearing The Night Chicago Died

[@bradwaters3891]

Absolutely brilliant song. First time hearing your review. Very happy that you listen to the full song and then comment. That is rare.

[@finallythere100]

Flapper Music at end ... St Valntine's Day Massacre, IS Night Chicago died.

[@rickdavis1030]

I remember the first time I ever heard this song I was actually driving through Chicago. I was on my way to California and stopped in Chicago to see a friend I hadn't seen in years. Was on the Dan Ryan Expressway, listening to the radio when this came on, as the "Pick Hit of the Week" or whatever it was they called a new record they thought was going to hit it big. I had never heard of the song or the group before, but I do remember that the DJ was NOT HAPPY with it; he didn't like the title, he didn't like the subject matter, and you got the feeling that he was told "play this song or look for a new job", because he made no secret of the fact that he did NOT like it. I thought the song was OK, kind of catchy, but what really stood out for me was how unhappy this guy was about having to play it.

[@SweetThing]

That DJ was Not the only person who didn't like this song. I hated this song and still do! This song is one of two songs that I detest! Once this song gets in your head, you can't get it out!!

[@jillybean4265]

Talent is when a band can sing about a true traumatizing event and make it sound happy. Great you didn't pause throughout the song. You get the full hit that way.

[@brendapaddlety2413]

So glad you're reacting to The Night Chicago Died 😊 I was 13 when that song came out 👍 wonderful memories playing Barbies,tag,swimming,or jacks with my friends 😁💚 carefree times 😊

[@willow0828]

Oh my God... It's been so long since I've heard that song. I still know the words. My dad used to say, why don't I remember how to do my homework, as well as I remember the words to songs. I'm sure my father, wasn't the only father that spoke these words to his children.

[@carolyncoppola974]

Love this song! Thank you! I get tears when the father comes home safely!!!! I also see a few more requests for Vicky Lawrence “The night the lights went out in Georgia “, and One Tin soldier (not sure if artist)! Thank you!!! Great channel!

[@MoMoMyPup10]

Mah childhood dude. Also in this category is "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence, "One Tin Soldier" by Coven, and "Seasons In The Sun" by Terry Jacks.

[@GinMae]

OMG -I remember all those songs... and also a song by a group called "Ocean" - "Put your hand in the hand..." - I actually liked most of these.. except for "seasons in the sun" -- and another one from the era: "Shannon" - which, when I first heard, I thought "okay -sad" - until I heard it was about somebody's Irish Setter... ... awwwww...

[@southernwanderer7912]

"The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" is great song. I'd love for Ty to react to that one.

[@tanyamason4136]

All great songs

[@PaintedCavern]

I was born in 1964. These are the eternal songs of my childhood memories!

[@williamchick]

Season in the sun always hits me hard

[@cheshorcatbeats1273]

The storytelling here is crazy! And from a kid's perspective!

[@pcallas66]

This hit number 1 August 17, 1974 and was only there for one week. I remember this song when I was a young boy. I used to request it to a DJ all the time as a kid. Thanks for sharing.

[@annlittle6193]

Great song. Love this group I was about 13 and remember another great hit of theirs called Billy Don’t Be a Hero. I cry to this day every time I hear it.

[@SuperVonKiller]

Glad you liked this one! It was a fun song as a kid in the 70's

[@TrueAngel1963]

I'm so glad you picked this song. I was a kid when this was out, and I grew up listening to Chicago radio, so I heard this song 3 or 4 times a day for a whole summer. I've never gotten sick of it, and honestly, I've never gotten through it without crying. When his daddy kisses his mama's face, almost 50 years later, I am a puddle. God bless you. I love you. Keep going.

[@phoneguy7589]

I'm glad you enjoyed it also!!! This was one of the first radio songs I remember singing along to when I was little. Thanks!!!

[@tomyoung9049]

Always liked this song. Another of theirs to check out is "Billy dont be a hero". Both got a story. But the song kicks.

[@BostonMarcus]

I am 51 and remember this song on the radio as a kid. Thanks for the memories, MRM.

[@caralayne503]

Woah. Never knew whom did this, nor heard it all the way through before’ The transitions were really interesting once you hear the whole song. Interesting!

[@BenjoReacts]

Based on the real battle between the police and Al Capone and his gang. Love this song! Love and respect ❤️🔥

[@daveowens9849]

Man, you know you're old when the music you listened to back in your teen years is called "old school seventies." lol. Heard this a lot in the mid seventies on WOWO Radio out of Fort Wayne. They played the heck out of this song. I never bought the 45, or the album, but it may have certainly popped up on a lot of the K Tel 8 tracks back in the day. The chicks dug it.

[@kittykatapult8259]

omg. I forgot about the K Tel 8-tracks. Now that's a flash from the past @dave owens :)

[@barbaramatthews4735]

I was alive in the Seventies but my age was still single digits.

[@GinMae]

@@barbaramatthews4735 I went double-digits (10) in 1970.. but I lived mostly in the midwest, and did not have older siblings to guide my tastes.. so the very first "album" I bought myself was the "Partridge Family Album" - and imagine my shock reading the credits to learn that the cast of the TV show did not actually SING all the songs... major disillusionment!!

[@Jstme60]

That takes me back! I used to wake up to WOWO every morning as a kid about the time they were doing the farm report!

[@daveowens9849]

@@Jstme60 In a little red barn on a farm down in Indiana, Let me lay my back on a stack of new mown hay. 'Round the barnyard where the farmyard folks are pally, Let me dilly-dally all the live-long day.

[@ChataCovers]

i'm so glad that you liked this song, i am 59 years old, my mother bought me this very album you were showing back in 1974 , i was 14 years old and so happy!! This was my favorite tune back then lol

[@nothingbutlove40tis]

This has always been one of my favorites! I've still got the 45 from when I was 12

[@teesiemom]

Oh my gosh! I love this song, it always makes me smile when I hear it! Lol! I was 14 the first time I heard this, when a local band played it at a teen social at our church back in 1973. Geez, is my age ever showing! Lol! Oh well, I enjoy this song just as much now as I did then.

[@TrueBornNana]

I remember this song very well. Takes me back to my childhood. Always enjoyed it.

[@Caperhere]

Was 14 when it came out. Summer of ‘74. They had another hit called “ Billy Don’t Be A Hero”. My older cousin had a crush on a guy named Billy, and she played that 45 record constantly. Good memories.

[@MoMoMyPup10]

I only knew the hit by Bo Donaldson and The Heywards. Paper Lace had a hit with it too?

[@Caperhere]

MoMoMyPup10 I think so. I think it was their song.🎶Billy, don’t be a hero...lol.

[@rickdavis1030]

@@MoMoMyPup10 "Billy Dont Be Hero" was actually a hit for Paper Lace in the UK in 74, but Bo Donaldson & Co. remade it and it was a hit in the US for them, but not for Paper Lace.. PS: No offense, but God Almighty did I hate that record. Terrible song, sappy, bubble-gum junk.

[@SuperVonKiller]

“ Billy Don’t Be A Hero”. Heck yeah!, I worked construction for 30 years, every time I saw somebody getting ready to do something unsafe I'd use their name in place of Billy and sing the chorus! Haha!

[@MoMoMyPup10]

@@rickdavis1030 well I was like 12, and it was cool to me :) I also had a best friend named Billy who moved away soon after it came out. Never heard from him again. Sentimental value. Lots of songs back then were sappy - we dug it. lol Remember "The Streak"?

[@catfishandcoleslaw]

I really dig this song! Every time it’s on the 70 station I turn it up! Great reaction, Ty!!

[@pcallas66]

A classic from 1974. I've always loved this song. Thank you for reacting.

[@frannibarr116]

I can'tremember the last time I heard..Loonnnnnnggggg time ago! Thanks for playing it!

[@CJTexas-bp2gi]

I love this song so much, for all the reasons you stated, I was driving in the car for 2 hour last night in the hills of texas with my Sirius radio blasting on the 70's hits and I kept hitting the rewind button.

[@MRM-Wendy]

I grew up with these 70s songs. I had this song on my Ipod. Love it! Great thing about being born in 73, i grew up with some of the best songs. I go back to the 70s everyday, with music.

[@mikemaggio4979]

A.M. Staple! I couldn't tell you how many thousands of times I heard this when I was in my early teens!

[@carmenmcalistet5452]

When I was a kid in East Jackson, occasionally I could pick up stray radio station signals, especially when thunderstorms were approaching. The analog signals would literally bounce off the front, sending signals farther. This song, along with Band of Gold by Freda Payne and a few others will forever have WLS Chicago sang after it. Before modern technology, it was an amazing thing. Sorry so long.

[@TrueAngel1963]

WLS Chicago was one of my stations, too. They played this song many many many times a day that summer!

[@brianedwards9240]

Heard it years ago on radio but never really listened to it til now. Great song.

[@ElizaDolittle]

Oh wow! I remember this song! Reminds me of a fourth of July extended family picnic at Eisenhower Park on Long Island. It must have been playing on the transistor radio while we were there! Had to be around '74.

[@sharonanderson8175]

I really loved the fact that you didn’t turn the music off and on.

[@Leann68]

1974 this song came out , I heard this song past night driving , it reminds me of everything going on in Chicago.. they nailed it in this song. 💁🏻‍♀️

[@Guevara46410]

Praise The Lord MRM I'm originally from the far southeast side of Chicago. I first heard this song in Spanish when I was a kid then, when I got older I heard the English version. Both versions are very good and both tell the story within the song really well. Good song. Stay blessed my brother. 🙏✌🏼🙏

[@Bacchus69]

My father had this album when I was a young. Brings back good memories of my childhood. Paper Lace had many good songs.

[@bluelovesmemory6939]

I remember my older sisters and brothers listening to this. I had forgotten all about it.

[@quagmire01]

This brings me back to when I was a kid and my sister used to play it all of the time.

[@katyb3265]

I remember Billy Don't Be A Hero. But I don't remember hearing this one. And I like it a lot. It's a great sound. I just can't figure out why I'm just now hearing it when the band itself is no stranger to me. It's curious for sure. Anyway, I really enjoyed it.

[@lethalweapon4052]

This is one if my all time favorite songs. Its so catchy. Especially the nah nah nah's and rhe clock. I was pre teen or just became a teen when this came out. This and the song I believe it was by Chumba Wumba came out around the same time. That was Gone So Long. It gets stuck in your head. Not to mention it's pretty factual, Al Capone did manage to take over Chicago for a while. Can't wait to hear your reaction.

[@kdpflush]

I think Gone So Long might be Chilliwack?

[@lethalweapon4052]

@@kdpflush thats right.. thank you

[@joshhencik1849]

While a great song...there is nothing factual about this song at all. Yes Capone ran the town, which is exactly why he didn't go to war with the police. Didn't need to. He owned the city. Plus there is no "old East Side." They would have been fighting in Lake Michigan. There is a now-commonly referred to East Side which is downtown, but it is not a historically referenced district. This song is a fun song, told by a British band that used some artistic license in American history to create a hit song, probably loosely basing this on the Valentine's Day Massacre, in which Capone's men dressed as police to infiltrate and murder Bugs Moran, which failed to kill Bugs but killed seven of his gang.

[@lethalweapon4052]

@@joshhencik1849 So I guess its safe to say " Capone took over the town" since you said He ran it. Sounds like the same thing to me. But hey thanks for the information.

[@jojowhite9041]

@@lethalweapon4052 There was no deadly fight between Copone and the police. Al Capone was actually apprehended in a movie theatre. It had catchy lyrics but this British group failed miserably in American history.

[@ramonaalvarez7559]

70's .. luv luv .. another great. Our group of teens always jammed to this & many others @ the ATL parks on weekends or while roller skating 👍

[@brendapaddlety2413]

Makes me happy 😊 when you say "playlist" 👍💚

[@troyalcorn1184]

I am brought back to the days of me being young hearing this. I was 2nd grade maybe? IDK. I was too young to know but I was old enough to remember it.

[@wearinganapron]

I loved it back then, and it's one of those I'm STILL singing! I don't think this group had more than a couple of hits (I might be wrong), but this was a great one. Someone on youtube has a video for this song with vintage photos of Chicago, and photos of Al Capone -- gives an authentic ambience.

[@0013pokijo]

I heard this for the first time in high school. Sitting in our local ice cream parlor.

[@13bonnie13]

I am so glad that I was a teenager in the 70s . So much great music.

[@davebones6120]

I was 16 when this song hit it big. Like the other songs I've left comments on; it tells a story of a real place and a real time. It amazes me that over 45 years later, songs like this as well as JD songs, Gordon Lightfoot songs and others are making a comeback with the millennial generation. We didn't realize back then just how good we had it.

[@barbaracollins8552]

Love that song and Paper Lace ! Billy,Don’t Be A Hero and The Black-Eyed Boys are wonderful as well !

[@katyb3265]

Had to hear this again. I really do like it. Good night MRM. 😉

[@Deborahtunes]

And Chicago has never recovered since...

[@Vanna8484]

I love this song! The music is great, but I especially like the juxtaposition of the upbeat music and the sadness of a bunch of cops dying. It just seems odd, in a good way. And I love the lyrics about how his Mom was worried about his Dad, and he came back safely in the end.

[@catserver8577]

Played the 45 at my babysitter's house many many times. Awesome!

[@janinebennett4492]

Great memories of growing up in the 70's

[@stevecraig6076]

Loved this song. Used to chase the radio dial trying to find it. that and Louie Louie Louie (by the Stories) and Lady Marmalade (LaBelle). such a great time for music

[@julieperkins7077]

LOVE that song, I've read about what happened with al Capone and that movie. Just love old songs

[@cricketpitts3744]

Awesome song love paper lace!!

[@leeann3920]

Never been fond of how they chose to end the song. Outside of that, I do love this song. Again, the seventies just had some great music.

[@brendapaddlety2413]

I'll be at work when you're reacting to this song 😞 oh well I can watch it when I get off work 😁👍

[@TheLemzia]

Paper Lace!!!! The Night Chicago died & Billy don't be a Hero, were two of my Favorite songs in 1974! 1974 is also my Favorite year PERIOD for Music!!! Thank you for bringing back these memories! I also really enjoy seeing peoples First reaction to these songs, Makes me wonder what I looked like, and how I reacted to them back then?

[@MoMoMyPup10]

I only knew the hit by Bo Donaldson and The Heywards. Paper Lace had a hit with it too?

[@TheLemzia]

@@MoMoMyPup10 I forgot about Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods! I Liked their version Best!!! I was about 9!! wow.

[@southernwanderer7912]

Haven't heard this in a long time. What a great song. Unfortunately, it's still going on.

[@pamnicklas5536]

I still have this 45 record!

[@kimberlystark3944]

So do I!! Love it!

[@robwagnon6578]

How's it going bro, we would finish our classroom work and my 3rd grade teacher would let us go in the corner and listen to pop-music and this was one of all our favorites back in those days I think 1973:) This makes me tear for our inner cites now, dear God save the children!!

[@jennytmaher]

Paper Lace were actually a British group. In the US they are considered "one hit wonders" as "The Night Chicago Died" was their only hit. In Britain (and Australia) they also had a second hit. It's about a young volunteer in the Civil War, and it's called "Billy Don't Be a Hero". It's also worth a listen.

[@razorback9926]

A great slice of cheddar. Beyond magnificent.

[@Nitro1970]

Always loved this one

[@robinbachman7218]

The lyrics at 4:27 I always tear up, thinking of my mom and dad.

[@TrueAngel1963]

I have never gotten past that moment without crying. Never.

[@GinMae]

One of my favorite "one-hit-wonders" - some have considered to be a "novelty song" - but I don't - it's just a great pop song... thanks for a thoughtful reaction.... (I'm old enough to remember hearing on the top-40 radio)

[@mermaidwe2743]

You are the best. Listened to others no contest. Tks

[@patriciaewing8164]

I looked up the song by the UK group Paper Lace, it was a fictional fight against the Chicago police and Al Capone Syndicate! It was released in 1974 an extremely upbeat fun song to sing along with 😁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@lindajones3696]

I remember this song from the 70s..my favorite part...the nananananana part at the end

[@markbell4017]

I don't even remember when I first heard this. I was a young teen when it came out, but I listened to it so much that I really don't remember the first time.

[@wboyd4330]

Loved this when I was young!

[@daveenglish2358]

"The Cowboy Way" soundtrack has a Ty playlist nomination. "FREE YOUR MIND" by En Vogue. Musically, I'm positive, you will absolutely love it! It's so awesome! And I guess the deep lyrics are a plus, too.

[@Modern-Renaissance-Man]

Saw this movie a million times and love it! I'll always remember this song because that's when wood fell upon the stage and started dancing, etc. LOL!

[@daveenglish2358]

@@Modern-Renaissance-Man Oh, You mean William Pickett. I figured you knew the movie. I just rediscovered how much I liked that song.

[@kimberlycaldwell3124]

Yes yes YES!!!! I LOVE THIS SONG!!!

[@celtaciaclemment1229]

At the part where his Dad comes home, my eyes get feeling funny every time I hear it for forty-five years....

[@philipe7937]

That’s a great song with a story in It, I have that song on my playlist.

[@randall-king]

I grew up here in Texas and my dad used to listen to this all the time.

[@ericnordstrom4335]

I really liked this song when it came out on the 45rpm records in the early 70s. The band also has another good song called Billie Don't Be A Hero which could have been based on a rrue story but of course was not. It would be nice if you put this on your channel. Thanks, from Canada.

[@joankisloski6972]

I forgot about this one. Danced around the living room to this one.

[@pcallas66]

It debuted the week of June 15, 1974 and hit number 1 the week of August 17, 1974.

[@tracyminer9974]

Love it!

[@Hollingsworth2781]

this was a huge hit in the 70's.

[@normapounders4352]

That really did happen back and I think the 60s are the fifties when Al Capone was trying to run the streets of Chicago he was in a war with the Chicago Police and there was about a hundred cops that got killed one night because of Al Capone and his gang

[@daveenglish2358]

Being a history nerd, I hated this song at first. But, it's so gosh-darned catchy! It's snappy, I like it!

[@barbaramatthews4735]

I liked that band when I was little. I liked Billy Don't Be A Hero. (You played that one already.) This song was about an actual event that happened in 1929 on Valentine's Day. Capone and his gang shot and killed 7 members of a rival gang. They gathered the other hand in one place, I think it was some garage and they were massacred. The other gangs leader was George "Bugs" Malone who was perceived to be a threat to Capone. Basically all of them were thugs and criminals at war over turf. The massacre was known as the "St Valentine's Day Massacre" Same type of stuff that happens today but that one was 90+ years ago. Times don't really change but names and places do. Back then though the thugs dressed well and we're glamorized.

[@fuzzipariah]

Boy does this take me back to AM radio..."WABC, Cousin Brucie!" 😁

[@TheMadeofhonor]

Love this song!

[@mondecello]

Love this song and Billy don't be a hero!!!!

[@mariateresasalvi9672]

Love this song. Heard it every morning on the radio before going to grade school along with kung-fu Fighting from Carl Douglas. There is no eastside in Chicago. It's based on the 1920s Valentines Massacre with AL Capone. Its fictional mixed with actual events.

[@ursulabklyn_mia6148]

I haven't heard this song since I was a kid in the 70s. I loved it but I probably didn't understand the whole story. Reminds me of the Partridge Family songs too. BTW Chicago has not changed a bit. I have to hear it one more time.

[@lemhanback9595]

Lol Amazing how sometimes the only thing you remember is chorus. This to me was one of those songs. You're right definitely a 70s feel good vibe. Glad I lived through those years. Since you liked this you might want to check out "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down" believe it was Dusty Springfield that performed that one. Might be Buffalo Springfield. Mery isn't what it used to be. Lol

[@stephenurso9267]

I remember the single had Steve Miller's the joker on the other side!

[@TheLemzia]

Now there's an Extreme Great tune!!!

[@masyelraf]

I doubt that. This is a British band and Steve Miller would not have been a b side to this.

[@primitivochapa7837]

This was a huge hit when it came out reached number 1

[@bigbow62]

Now all we need is.... Bad Bad Leroy Brown... The Badest Man In The Whole Damn Town 😎🎙 Yes this is a oldie & a goodie ! ✌🤔

[@jamieritter3873]

NOT A CHICAGO FAN BUT I ALWAYS HAVE LIKED HOW DIFFERENT THE BAND WAS.

[@denisehoward4517]

it gives me lot of memories

[@derekthomas4435]

Sir , you are Correct ... IT's a 70s thing ... Some of my personal Favorites ... No Lie , No Joke ... Were produced by The Mega-Super Group Starpoint ... 1985 ... Brother , this was Absolutely some of the Greatest Vibes , Ever . The Two tracks that ... Must be Held in the Highest Esteem are ... Til the End of Time and Objective of my Desire ... This is Old School , although Timeless . Brother if you have Not Experienced this Music ... Please , search it ... Sir , you will be Glad you Did !

[@Bandit77TA]

Awesome!

[@sharonkay8638]

Paper Lace were a part of ‘bubblegum’ pop in the UK. Songs, catchy enough but not especially memorable and made for the ‘teenyboppers’ (between 12 and 14) and those who only listened to the top twenty and pick of the pops on BBC radio 1. So surprised it was requested, I obviously have to check my music snobbery! Not a huge fan but nice to hear occasionally.

[@ericnordstrom4335]

I was 9 going going on 10 years old when this song was on the radio. I researched about Chicago and there is not an east side because there is one of the Great lakes directly beside the city where the east side would be. The lyrics are pretty accurate except for the 100 cops that did not die. There was however 2 rival gangs one was led by Al Capone and the by a well known gangster. Al Capones gang killed 7 of the other gangs members. Just a little trivia about Al Capone that not a lot of people know about is that he was called scar face because he was in a knife fight and got slashed across his left cheek. To hide this from the cameras he would always turn so you could not see the scar.