THE ASSOCIATION (1983) - Live in Concert

[@jgiblin]

I heard these guys in concert when I was about 12 or 13. I bought a ticket and went downtown to see them. Great show. Afterwards I found their bus outside the theater and they were hanging out. As a fledgling musician I was interested in meeting them and picking their brains. I was drawn to Larry Ramos because he sang well and also played guitar really well I walked up to him (I was fearless then) and started a conversation. What a nice guy! He took some time with me, answered what must have been a lot of dumb questions and treat me like an adult. I appreciated his kindness to this day. RIP Larry.

[@bennyadler5882]

Larry was the Greatest Filipino talent ever, there or here, period.

[@TheDeastman13]

@@bennyadler5882 yeah. but i've met a LOT of talented musicians who weren't at ALL 'nice'. Larry was unbeLIEVably generous to people he met, myself included. AND, when i found an email address for him, just a few years, if that, before he died, and related the story about meeting him, he was aGAIN warm AND...sent me(free) his solo CD AND a copy of 'the association's greatest hits'. this guy was THE role model for 'how to be a great human AND musician'.

[@bennyadler5882]

@@TheDeastman13 I think we concur!

[@bennyadler5882]

@@TheDeastman13 Always one of the best guys ever.

[@belabelasko8223]

That's amazing. Thank you for providing some insight and history concerning this great band, and of the unassuming and helpful personality of Larry Ramos.

[@JB-wh3we]

The Association embraced the soothing "Bubblegum" Baroque Pop sound and then they gave it depth and meaning w/ their lyrics. An iconic, and vastly underrated group.

[@marladell6091]

Played at my high school in 1966 right before they hit it big...Wow was I lucky and so were all the kids at my school......incredible band...!!

[@teddysmith1952]

Played at my High school (Monroe HS in Sepulveda Ca) in 1966 as well!!

[@marladell6091]

Hey Jim...were you class of '66? I was too....Vikings GO!!!!

[@rozchristopherson648]

I'm 61 and this is the first time I've ever seen The Association in a live concert. Thank you.

[@williamtruett2813]

Yes, the Association was an amazing group. Loved their music as a 12 year old and still do going on 70. Going on 69 to be exact.

[@terrancearnold8530]

The Association: The most underrated Band of the late 60s, they were so good as good as Zappa.

[@larrywatkins]

Tremendous group who else has seven singers,any way it's a disgrace they aren't in the hall of fame maybe they were too good!

[@fredcloud9668]

The Hall of Fame is a disgrace.

[@doreenarchambeault7172]

I loved them so much. Great harmony

[@williamboylejr.9098]

I was watching TV with my dad and we saw the Association perform this song. My dad asked who was this group, and I told him it was the Association,, He said that they should disassociate I told my dad, who was a country music fan, that this was a number one song. Rest in Peace Dad.

[@kaylalindblom628]

Requiem for the masses just as touching 😢in 83 as it was in 67 on the Smothers Brothers. As it would be today.

[@normankennith7919]

yes indeed! abrilliant track but sadly, still nobody has got the message!!!

[@cathyhacker3812]

My absolute favorite late 60's band. Love "Along Comes Mary", "Cherish", Never My Love" & all their other songs. Always makes me feel good. "Cherish" was my late husband, Kenny & my favorite song. That was "our song".

[@barbarabonnette2705]

My eldest sister especially loved these guys. For their time period, I can say they were Masters of the music they produced. They truly did have a unique sound that made them standout.

[@4687878]

Larry Ramos was magnificent on the guitar,..and a very good singer,...pleasantly surprised that they were that good live !!

[@valerieteti1755]

Damn he was cool!

[@rafaelallenblock]

And he has such an infectious smile. Nice.

[@drdanielldiehl7618]

Is that not his brother by 1983???

[@HelloooThere]

Condescending

[@glenncbjones]

And Larry was also the obvious “gear head” of the band! I think that might be the same Fender Telecaster “Thinline” (much evolved!) that he played on their “Ed Sullivan” appearance, though he may have had many of them! One very cool dude indeed! If I’m not mistaken, I think the band had a “Hagstrom” endorsement deal around the time they were on the “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” but Mr. Ramos loved his Telecasters! And BIG HATS!

[@erzug]

That standing ovation was well deserved.

[@jedsa05]

Geez-Requiem for the Masses is STILL chilling.

[@barbarabonnette2705]

I always loved that song. It gives great perspective to the feelings of the 60s and 70s………very moving.

[@chriskent3398]

An unusual group for the times, but gave us many great songs. "Windy" is my favorite, but there are many others.

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

"Windy" was such a big summer hit. Still makes me think of sand and salt!!

[@christophergaff6992]

The poor drummer doesn't the credit he deserves!!!

[@jimpease280]

I agree. Ted Bluechel was my favorite band member. Many say he was a mediocre drummer but I think he was not only a good drummer but a great singer.

[@allansbullet]

I believe "Along Comes Mary" was the VERY FIRST song played at the original Monterey Pop Festival - the FIRST rock festival! Brilliant band, especially vocally.

[@timbaldwin6283]

The set that they played at Monterey was phenomenal!

[@jackcrane7853]

They were the most original sixties band!

[@cathleanjohnson675]

A 60s kid when they had their heyday, " Along Comes Mary" is my favorite Association song, RIP Larry Ramos, the fact that this group is not in the RHOF is a travesty..

[@rosarioreside3327]

My ever first time to watch The Association Concert . It’s so sad that Larry Ramos left us so soon have a beautiful voice too &radiant smile . This Rock group is timeless really beautiful Thank you for putting up !

[@TheDeastman13]

the first time i saw them was April 13, 1968...westbury music fair, westbury, long island/ny...before the concert started i saw larry checking out the crowd and went up to him to ask if he might sign the leather guitar strap i'd brought with me. it was my gf and mine 6 month anniversary and i wanted to give it to her...after he signed it he said, 'why don't you come with me and i'll introduce you to the rest of the band and they'll sign it, as well...'. as others have said here, amazingly congenial. i saw them a number of times after that. just before he died i found an email address for him somewhere and wrote and told him this story...he sent me a signed cd of his AND the association's greatest hits(which i didn't need, since i have all the original material...and i'm not crazy about the remakes on that album. but still...he just sent it to me). wonderful person...it was fun seeing them backstage...crazy bunch of guys... and, somehow, seeing them that day...i got how to do harmony...magical communication...i DID harmonize before that, but...AFter that i was soooo much better at it... some of my favorite concerts...and i've seen many...great musicians and vocalists... i remember when i saw them at Fordham University in the Bronx...they were supposed to play Ed Sullivan the previous Sunday...but Ed's people wanted them to do one of their hits. and THEY wanted to do a new song off of the eponymous, Association(as someone else here called it, 'stonehenge'. might be my favorite of theirs) album...Under Branches...so they said they wanted to play it for us that night. a capella...amazing. it was a real shame that America didn't get to hear it on the Sullivan show. big mistake, that... thanks for posting this video...a few songs here i'd never heard before...

[@donuzar6329]

I was at that April 13th show in Westbury too.....worth every nickel I made for tickets

[@TheDeastman13]

@@donuzar6329 small galaxy...i enjoyed that show SO much that i went out afterwards and bought tickets for the next day, as well...and, like you said, it was worth it. i had to travel from brooklyn x public trans. and walk from/to the LIRR...and it was STILL worth it...glad you enjoyed it, as well...

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

​@@TheDeastman13 Great story about the Fordham University show. I wonder if WFUV kept a record of that concert?

[@TheDeastman13]

@@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288 i'm guessing that WFUV is the Fordham, on campus radio station? and, if so, i'm ALSO guessing that if they still exist you could probably contact them x email these days and ask...it WOULD be great to hear that concert again...if not just for that one song...

[@RETROTV1394]

The Association is truly a legendary band from my youth so many great songs .

[@maxkomine1934]

An Incredible group and one of my very favorites on so many levels. RIP brother Larry Ramos and Brian Cole.

[@belabelasko8223]

Great sentiments from you.

[@staypress]

and now Terry Kirkman

[@jackinthegreen5178]

Just a 'stone cold original'----The Association! I have such affection for these Barefoot Gentlemen---Birthday being their album of greatest achievement! The song 'Under Branches' from another remarkable work of art, simply entitled: Association or sometimes referred to as 'The Stonehedge' album is a forever classic! Sadly, so little if any airtime devoted to these GREAT works!

[@conuregirl007]

Larry Ramos-my favorite. Saw them in concert in the 80's.

[@Boertje247]

Jim Yester sounds so great, as do all the guys harmonizing. Even a better version than their original, this sounds a little more grounded in their maturing over the years. Flawless harmonies, such unusual instruments for “rock” musicians. Golly, and no autotune!😆💕💕❤️💕

[@chiplovitt8538]

This is so awesome! No wonder they asked the Association to open the Monterey Pop Fest! So many great musicians, and those vocal harmonires. Few did it better! So many talents in this band, ...Larry Ramos, too, especially that blues song...what a band!

[@cathyhacker3812]

Love Larry Ramos

[@gillysmusic]

What a voice Larry had. RIP.

[@sunshinemachiningtool633]

I saw these guys in 1966 Terre Haute Indiana playing an outside concert in a football field. must have been their first tour. no smoother sound than they produced and really fun to listen to still

[@Malc2311]

Could it have been this one ? Aug 28 1966: The Great Concert, Memorial Auditorium, Terre Haute, IN - with Cannibal and the Head Hunters and the Vogues

[@TheClassicmania]

i was in my early grader yrs wen my mama bought a 45 vinyl Windy song, twas instant love for the song.. Then one day, i woke up listening to Cherish, & most of was my heartfelt embrace, Never My Love. Long live The Association. Thank you & thank you.

[@IanGreen-xh1qi]

I was too young to appreciate them. Now listening today's crap I wish I was!

[@denniskoller5662]

Everything That Touches You is perfect for me.

[@malcolmclarke3033]

Such wonderful harmonies.

[@randyfreeze789]

Greatest band ever! Harmonies and musical prowess put Beach Boys to shame! RIP departed members.

[@petelaufman4359]

10 members makes it easy...but the Beatles wrote 10 times the songs.

[@mr.kite0535]

I don’t know about the best band ever, but they were a very good band and wrote some very good material, and they were a good band live which is rare today. Their material wasn’t easy to do live.

[@a2ndopynyn]

"The Thinking Man's Beach Boys."

[@patrickbooth7919]

Why compare just enjoy

[@Crazyboutguitars]

No doubt about it, they were on top of their game in this performance! I never realized how versatile Terry was, and Larry Ramos was an underrated guitarist, and Ted’s vocals were surprisingly good. Jim Yester, Brian Cole (RIP), all those guys were top notch musicians.

[@dontbakdown6015]

How great is that lead vocal on Along Comes Mary..that is not an easy song to sing...😊

[@ikewagner2298]

Ever time I have a conversation with anyone about the best groups of the sixties, I always mention the association and the turtles!

[@a2ndopynyn]

Don't forget Spanky & Our Gang!

[@edvardmiler6749]

Really love their "Cherish" and "Never My Love".

[@dawna4185]

WOW! True musical geniuses!

[@chrishultgren777]

Strange they were playing the oldies circuit in 1983. 😮

[@sailordude2094]

I listened to an Associations greatest hits post on KZbin and Along Comes Mary was not on it and that's why I came to listen, lol.

[@danmccarthy4700]

Their vocals are like fireworks. You hear a line start in unison and by the time that line is over it explodes into 5 or 6 parts. It gives me goosebumps.

[@shellymusgrove3328]

Terry & Larry

[@jersonllanes818]

my favorite group in years 70s a record created song famous & popular never my love 💖

[@scottkelly9139]

Saw them in 68 at Anaheim Convention Center with comp tix from KTBT Underground FM. I was 13 and it was the very 1st concert that I went to without my folks

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

Is that a Hammond organ I'm hearing?? Huzzah! 🎶🎵🎶

[@syfman6]

Love this music! 💚🎸

[@M231231]

One of my favs of theirs is Everything That Touches You.

[@EricBlackmonGuitar]

This live version of Along Comes Mary does not dissapoint by any means!

[@aaronbst]

I'm always impressed that these guys not only were a strong unified vocal front, but also played their instruments. Can't say that we have enough of that mix today.

[@ToomaMac]

My first time hearing, and seeing, these guys other than via radio; they really were top notch musos and vocalists. Thanks, DOJOTONE.

[@mikelounsbury9232]

One of the best bands of all time

[@fredcloud9668]

Beautiful.

[@markdezii]

WOW WOW!! They floored me.

[@Vito_Tuxedo]

Holy shit... these guys were great! I listened to their albums when I was in college, and my band played _Windy._ I was surprised to see Jules (Gary) Alexander playing bass. Awesome job. I didn't know he had returned to the group. I lost touch with them after their 4th album, and didn't realize that they went through so many changes in their lineup. This particular version of the band was flat-out awesome!

[@boblstclair4023]

Love this !

[@fredkaplan9720]

Great Group❤

[@centralscrutinizer7374]

This is incredible! What a performance! Thank you! If only the video director was as good at his job as these guys are at playing.

[@Bildad1976]

Beautiful stuff! I love it! (I only wish I could have been there to do a pre-mix on the vocals.)

[@douglaspredmore1633]

Thanks for posting this!

[@FURDOG1961]

18:03 Larry tearing it up with the blues/gospel!

[@Eaglerow77]

Awesome.

[@petelaufman4359]

Played the song Cherish and Never my Love too fast... The first song and Wendy was cool

[@PlateOshrimp499]

The playing and singing (as well as recording quality) here are all top-drawer! This guy sitting in on keys may be the best they ever toured with. This has even a better version of Goodbye Columbus than on their Live album, I think. Thanks so much for uploading!

[@kensellers4082]

It looks like Ted Bluechel has a set of timbales with his drum set. When I saw The Association in concert in 1972,. I don’t think Ted had the timbales then. I’ve heard a later version of “Just About The Same,” where it sounds like the band is using both timbales and conga drums in addition to the traditional drum set. The song sounds great with all of that percussion, with a Santana or Sergio Mendes and Brazil ‘66-like rhythm. PS The late Larry Ramos was such a great singer and musician; he was also a fine gentleman. What a loss to his family and his many fans. Requiem aeternam, Mr. Ramos.

[@valerieteti1755]

Larry was my favorite loved him

[@j.woolbright4524]

Wow! This was getting close to 20 years after the original recording and they sound better than ever!!! Just fabulous.

[@susanjoycesabo8450]

I saw a revised version years ago at the Rock Casino in Northfield Park, OH, which is now MGM. My favorite song is "No Fair At All". I also like "Everything That Touches You." What happened to Ted Bleuchel?

[@Malc2311]

@@susanjoycesabo8450 Ted is happily retired these days…

[@cardboardheadguy7814]

They should done a record in the early 80s

[@Malc2311]

They did cut a series of sessions for a complete album - but it remains unreleased ! Only a few intermittent 45s appeared...

[@cardboardheadguy7814]

Wasn’t that 1983 record with other people like mike love

[@Malc2311]

@@cardboardheadguy7814 There were two LPs issued during 1983, one of which was the New Memories LP on which ML guested, along with a few others, but both releases consisted of questionable cover versions. The unreleased sessions they cut at the SunWest studios during the early part of the decade, which would have amounted to a whole lot more than a covers collection, sadly never materialised

[@kensellers4082]

They had a reunion album entitled, “Vintage.” In addition to their own great songs, they also had several other popular songs on the album including “Isn’t She Lovely” and “Just The Way You Are,” among others songs.

[@ricklaffoon4534]

There were a few recordings made in the early 80s such as "Dreamer" which was a Top 20 AC hit.

[@acsjr222]

The writer of this song Tandyn Almer was a downstairs tennant. The best wordsmith I ever met. Look up the lyrics of this song. He went to write songs for the Beach Boys like Sail On, Sailor.

[@tipakongphan3250]

Yes, Windy is​ my song​..... 🤩💖

[@ronalddoolittle]

I was at an Association concert when they announced that "Windy" had gone to number 1😊

[@michaelfernando523]

A bit of a higher key on ''Never my Love '' and a new arrangement.I dig the one stereo version from ''Inside Out'' which to me is the best Association Long player.

[@brettkom4074]

5:38 Cherish 11:26 Never My Love

[@texaspchcmonkeespodcast4586]

And you gotta love Larry wearing a pith helmet for that last interview clip before Windy. lol. Love it!!

[@brianm.armstrong70]

BOOMERS RULE! PERIOD! OUR GENERATION had the music and innovations, that set up the future that will be squandered by a greedy generation of layabouts that ride our coattails!

[@jhs8496]

Huh. I've never seen The Association. I always envisioned them, though, as a sweater-wearing Four Folkies kind of a group. Well.

[@beebob7772]

Second only to The BEACH BOYS As a Live Vocal & Instrumental 60's & On Band!

[@johnoneto4351]

“MARY JO WANNA” 😂🫡

[@wendysplace3867]

My favorite is :) Windy.

[@FURDOG1961]

22:24 "Years Of Trying"

[@ptrisonic]

I've often wondered whether Neil Finn was a fan of theirs? Best, Pete.

[@TheDeastman13]

i think Neil was more influenced by the Beatles...

[@davidfurino2987]

Yeah 1966,aloha

[@texaspchcmonkeespodcast4586]

Great posting friend! Do you by chance have the uncut version of this show that has all the interview segments as well?

[@ronromigh3425]

Thanks for posting. Is this available on dvd or blu ray ? How about on cd ?

[@clannad99germany70]

Actually I am surprised about that great live sound in 1983, remember a lot of original songs were record by session musicians and only the vocal parts were by the band itself, so great live sound.

[@tantraman10]

I saw them LIVE in the 60s circa 1967 at Blossom Music Center and again in 1969 or 70 at Bowling Green State University and BOTH times their vocals and instrumentation were SUPERB!! I wonder how much, in their case, was the Wrecking Crew a record company decision rather than an actual necessity!

[@timothyhadley5699]

That was only on their first album, right? I agree--it was the record company's jitters and not necessary.

[@marks.3303]

@@tantraman10 It was the record company's decision. Studio musicians could nail a song in one or two takes. Plus, the band toured so much, they usually only had a few weeks to record an album. But they were themselves great musicians and could play and sing complex harmonies live. There's some footage from Monterrey Pop and some other festivals which show they were good musicians.

[@ricklaffoon4534]

@@timothyhadley5699 A documentary I saw said that most of the recordings were with studio musicians and that Brian and Ted never recorded for the albums . It was a common practice in the day for these things to happen. Recording time was apparently expensive and the producers wanted to have the songs right by the first or second take. Therefore they used people such as The Wrecking Crew to accomplish this.

[@pmsfar-outgrooviness8025]

@@ricklaffoon4534 Brian and Ted played on all the songs on their 2nd album - and maybe only that album

[@jross5407]

They didn't play their own instruments in the recording. A great song they picked up over time.

[@robertcartwright563]

Must have been The Wrecking Crew playing instruments during recording.great live video.

[@marks.3303]

@@robertcartwright563 For their big hits, it was mostly session musicians, although woodwinds were handled by Terry Kirkman and I believe Jules Alexander played lead guitar on Along Comes Mary. The band did perform on other tracks, on their entire second album, the stand alone single Six Man Band, and all the later albums starting with the self-titled 1969 album ("Stonehenge").

[@ricklaffoon4534]

@@marks.3303 From what I saw on a documentary Brian and Ted never recorded and the ones you mentioned did some recording but not a lot. The record companies wanted studio musicians to handle the bulk of the recordings so as to have them done within a couple of takes , thus not taking up a lot of recording time.

[@TheDeastman13]

@@ricklaffoon4534 this is the second time you posted this...i let it go the first time...the only album that had studio musicians was the 'along comes the association' album. their first...i don't care what the documentary said...read Russ Giguere's book...

[@ricklaffoon4534]

@@TheDeastman13 I didnt know any of them had written a book . Title ??

[@digitalenzymes6349]

I’ve been searching high and low for “unsmiling angel.” If anyone has any idea to point me in the right direction it’s much appreciated.

[@Malc2311]

facebook.com/association.biography/videos/3511478778884604 ;-)

[@sallycravens2767]

18:00 Larry Ramos singing Unsmiling Angel beautifully.

[@markjulianoriginalhooli2217]

Not the best rendition of "along comes mary" but this was the coked out 80s still the 60s wouldn't have been the 60s without the association ✌️

[@user-SahmJuanElse]

I’m quite naive. I had no idea along comes Mary was about Marijuana.

[@venderstrat]

What just happened?

[@hardlines5472]

Live ?

[@Ned88Man]

who is playing bass? Brian Cole died in 1972 from a heroin overdose

[@Malc2311]

That's Jules Alexander on bass...

[@Ned88Man]

@@Malc2311 wasn't he originally a rhythm guitar player?

[@Malc2311]

@@Ned88Man rhythm and lead, but he switched over to bass for the reunion tour...

[@derrellthomas239]

Thought that looked like an older Jules.

[@kensellers4082]

@@derrellthomas239 When I saw The Association in 1972, Jules Alexander also played electric piano on his great song, “Kicking the Gong Around.” And, on the tv show, “In Session,” in 1975, Mr. Alexander played organ, with the late Richard Thompson on piano, in an almost orchestral sounding version of Jim Yester’s song, “Along the Way.”

[@aicram62]

Duh i did not know the song was about MJ

[@manuelguillermocalzadodomi9503]

How important was Russ

[@mrb4886]

Very

[@belabelasko8223]

@@mrb4886 Ditto!

[@keithbaker5932]

His book is excellent, with lots of background on the music business, the L.A. music scene of the time, and the band.

[@TheDeastman13]

@@keithbaker5932 agree to all 3.

[@kensellers4082]

@@TheDeastman13 The great Howard Kaylan of The Turtles mentions both Russ Giguere and Jim Yester in Howard’s autobiography, “Shell Shocked.”

[@neilmansfield8329]

What a sexy man Larry Ramos was No with God

[@rogerread3828]

Larry looks like manny pacquiao

[@timblessing2815]

And no Hall of Fame . . . sigh.

[@thomcarr7021]

I believe they are preforming over a recording of an album. It has none of nuances of a live performance. The vocals and the video are not in-sync. The sound is exactly as the album.

[@chrishultgren777]

the wrecking crew were miracle workers. (These guys weren't good players.)