The Blues Magoos - Tobacco Road

[@fionastokesgilbert1696]

For any Blues Magoos fans out there, Ron Gilbert (bass) passed away yesterday, February 16, after a battle with an aggressive cancer.He was surrounded by his family and is now at peace and no longer suffering. We loved him very much and are heartbroken.

[@papadopp3870]

Sorry for your loss. His band probably spawned more bands than the Beatles in my age group!

[@john-x8c3k]

The true roots of sureal music .They were great expeirmental music .Endless ideas!Thanks to the MAGOOS!

[@tunesmith7437]

One day way back in the early 1970's I was selling my used 1950's Fender Duosonic guitar. I was living in NJ back then. The doorbell rings and standing there was Pepe from the Blues Magoos and his girlfriend was with him. He bought the guitar. I wonder if he still has it. Vince

[@leroywallace7098]

Man these dude's had a sound like no other at the time. I remember jack Benny. You all have a good day now

[@ew1usnr]

I admire Jack Benny for allowing the Blues Magoos to do their thing. :)

[@richardbosworth6635]

@@ew1usnrJack Benny was obviously from his introduction a cool guy.

[@jackyhenderson9521]

Sid Barretts fave band

[@mudhens4ever]

My dad would have turned the TV off, despite how much he and mom loved The Jack Benny Show. Me? I’da loved it!

[@nigelmarshallkenyonabbott8684]

Just like my parents, but NO ONE could deny the coming revolution in non mainstream heading their way (Beatles). But non mainstream became mainstream in less than a decade

[@chairmankim-dmz]

That's a beautiful rendition of Tobacco Road. The 1960s are still groovy.

[@MichaelWiberg-nh5cd]

Larry and Sunshine used to live there back in the day .

[@johnmitchelljr]

Man!! live on Jack Benny. "Kids" sure had musical guts back in the sixties. I"m proud of my psychedelic generation. Thanks very much for sharing.

[@Mr60smusicman]

Amazing live clip of this classic song, Jack Benny adds a little humor to this great performance, thank you for posting this musical gem!!

[@marccatone6696]

They played at my high school in Danbury CT in May or June of 1968. They wore jackets with small lights attached.

[@chutsler]

Love the 'Yardbirds-style' Rave-Up!

[@shovelhead56]

Lot more goin on there with these musicians than the eyes can see. Looking back with the perspective of a 66 year old, these musicians were extremely intelligent and well spoken🤙

[@andyburns5472]

Jack Benny playing some groovy tunes whoda thunk it!

[@publicanimal]

This is absolutely incredible footage! We can finally put to rest the question of "Who did the best version of Tobacco Road?" Thank you for uploading.

[@stlrockn]

The Nashville Teens did the best version.

[@MarieProvost77]

@@stlrockn Only if you're a terminally hip listener - while the Teens' version may be more obscure to many, the Magoos took the song out to another level

[@stlrockn]

@@MarieProvost77 I stand by my original statement

[@ABab-lv3si]

Yeah DLR did

[@publicanimal]

@@ABab-lv3si lmao. I like Eat 'Em and Smile, but that is an absurd statement.

[@stthbldt3594]

They flew off on some of the wildest rock I've ever heard then talked so impressively eloquent afterwards 🌬🔥

[@hectorfeliciano8183]

PURE PSYCHEDELIA MAN! SUGARCUBES in your CUP and BROWNIES!!! What a good combination!!! DROP OUT, TURN ON, TUNE IN.

[@kavilivinglife]

BLUE MAGOOS. IS A EXUBERANT. .PSYCHEDELIC ERA SONG. THE. BEST. FOR THE 60S 70S UNTIL TODAY'S. .AMAZING. IS. MY FAVORITE IS. MY COLLECTION. .FOREVER

[@jeffwepfer4426]

Spot on. Great Era in music. Remember The music never stopped.

[@123cranky]

Blues Magoos at Ridgewood High School (Bergen County, NJ), Fall of '67. Anyone remember? The year before we had The Blues Project.

[@justsomeguy2943]

The best I’ve got is Charlie Daniels at Roxbury Township High School in 1986.

[@richardbosworth6635]

@@justsomeguy2943Sorry for your loss. But in actuality Charlie Daniels was an incredible musical talent.

[@justsomeguy2943]

@@richardbosworth6635 We have lost SO MANY greats.

[@ew1usnr]

They were fantastic.

[@bigronwaggles404]

One of the epic old time rock bands.

[@marlyharris]

This was great! Ron Gilbert told me about the video. It's really terrific music. And, in 2015, Ron, the bass player, is writing (and playing) his own fabulous songs. What a treat.

[@jb20092009]

Marly Harris Ron looks here like he’s going through cold turkey. Wasn’t he using heroin for a while?

[@evelynmagoo]

James Berman is there any further information on that, just curious

[@fionastokesgilbert1696]

@@jb20092009 No he wasn't. Get your facts straight before you post this shit for all to see.

[@fionastokesgilbert1696]

​@@jb20092009 N0- Ron was NEVER on heroin. You need to be a little more careful with peoples legacies and the memories of his loved ones. I was married to Ron for 30 years. He passed away this year...Shame on you.

[@livr3009]

Our band Eloi opened for The Magoos on May 3, 1967, and they liked the harmonies we added to the verses enough to include them in this cover of The Nashville Teens' original hit in '64.

[@JBCo2012]

Is that really true lol? How can you prove it? Lol

[@detoth67]

Why would he pretend to be in a nobody band that nobody has heard of? Sounds legit.

[@chutsler]

You guys were 'Time Machine' fans...eh?

[@ricmazur8620]

Problem with this story is that Tobacco Road was on their album Psychedelic Lollipop which came out in December 1966.

[@fallspeed]

@@ricmazur8620 They released "Tobacco Road" as a single in June 1966 per the Nuggets boxed set liner notes.

[@zeppelinmexicano]

This version of Tobacco kicks ass.

[@samueldd0616]

Definitely a live performance, on Jack Benny! Epic!

[@MosheHaMayim4591]

RThey were unique with excellent harmonies and a sound all of their own. One of all time faves.

[@bradentonguy50]

Saw them at Seaford (Delaware) H.S. Auditorium in Fall of 1967. They had suits that had electricity lights embedded in them blinking all around. Great concert!

[@bradentonguy50]

Meant electric lights

[@yardleybottles6025]

This is incredible. Thanks for posting!

[@superduper3728]

The drummer is shredding this song...

[@MarieProvost77]

Geoff Daking was their secret weapon, imo - he has the same sort of sense of dynamics/restraint that I hear with Ringo Starr & Mick Fleetwood.

[@gwugluud]

One of the 3 times in the history of Brit Invasion-era rock that a band featured on TV performed...Live.

[@Mondo_mog]

who are the other two? The stones is one right

[@clearview4076]

@@Mondo_mog The Electric Prunes and Strawberry Alarmclock.

[@Selvikus]

There are actually plenty, just need to know where to look.

[@kensolar69]

Sorry, several dozens played live on The Ed Sullivan show. They also played live on The Smothers Brothers Show. On the 3 different Dick Clark shows they might have ad-libbed, but many of the shows back then were live. The Blues Magoos BTW were from Brooklyn and not considered a Brit Invasion era band back then..

[@elantric]

And Blues Magoos were from New York, USA

[@KingInky13]

Damn love how he uses that theremin!

[@guitarman6742]

Awesome! Bob Wyld, Producer.

[@davidlitchke4964]

Edgar, and Johnny winter, and friends, do a great rendition of this song.

[@Bopalena]

Jack's trippin' on Owsley Purple, man!

[@tapeinosG5011]

Jack Benny - Intro and Dialog Lyrics I was born in a bunk Mama died and my daddy got drunk Left me here to die or grow In the middle of Tobacco Road. Grew up in a dusty shack All I had was a-hanging on my back And only you know how I loathe The place called Tobacco Road. But it's home The only life I've ever know Only you know how I loathe Oohh, Tobacco Road. I'm gonna leave and get a job And with some help and grace from above Save some money, an' get rich enough And bring it back to Tobacco Road. Written by John D. Loudermilk • Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group

[@marys7251]

Hey, Peppy...what a long strange trip it still is...remember touring with the Who and Herman's Hermit's?.....camping in the UPPER PENINSULA of Michigan?...etc.? I hope you remember me. ..Mary Skora...? Get in touch if you want. ..Mary S. I just ran across Geoff the other day. ..Keith Moon's birthday party at the Holiday Inn in Flint, MI ?.... SMILES..... hope I hear from you soon..... Hope you remember me too.

[@marys7251]

Don't know what happened to my picture don't know what happened to my email address...:[e-mail]

[@shannahuffman4655]

Another one of my favorites

[@jamesknight4784]

never heard them live before not bad...............................

[@1013Paul]

Most bands lipsinked back then.

[@bristlefist]

Curious they never went full psych freak out on any of their other numbers. Tobacco Road is a stand out track for that reason and much more psychedelic than the greatful dead or jefferson airplane. Reminds me a lot of Interstellar Overdrive

[@Timinator62]

This is so groovy man.

[@flashcat945]

Fantastic!

[@ryanwilliams1803]

90s' millenial here. . That jam in the middle was very furiously sloppy, in a good way :D great trip. awesome footage I love Psychedelic Lollipop!

[@MarieProvost77]

Yeah, actually, sloppier than any of their recordings, which are consistently tight. One of the things I like about these mid-song "expeditions" is that you can tell the band itself isn't entirely sure what's going to happen. Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac also did a lot of that live.

[@VideosFromTheUnderground]

Wonderfulll !!

[@charleshall3372]

Blues Magoos were generous with lending their amps!

[@judochop61]

I played a univox head through a sunn cab with 2x18 inch speakers

[@johnmitchelljr]

Good version, for fun look up The Nova Local’s version. Thank you. Great video.

[@paulforder591]

Whoa! Jack Benny introduces the Blues Magoos. Well now, even the Establishment and this psychedelic band can coexist. Superb Yardbirds--style guitar riffs and raves. They should've been more popular; today they're little--known & obscure. Does anyone know the name of this program? 😸😸😺🎸🎸🎸🎶🎵🎶🎵🎼

[@mitchgawlik1175]

That would be The Jack Benny Show. Jack was a funny guy and his thing was being the biggest cheapskate on earth. Old videos of it are worth watching for snicks.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

I didn’t think Mr. Benny or his producers were hip enough (or pressured by rock’s growing appeal) to host bands like this. Jack’s early career standup comedy schtick was to hold a violin and occasionally play a little.

[@thegoodtest]

Lol! At 3:22 Jack Benny pulls the cotton out of his ears 😎

[@markusmcferren3394]

When Jack is introducing the band, you can hear one of the band members playing the melody to their song 'Yellow Rose'.

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

this reminds me a lot of blue cheer. i've heard OF the blues magoos but never heard them that i know of. which seems odd as this long form of acid rock seems something i would've really dug from the start. and the juxtaposition of jack benny with this band is excellent. jack benny cracks me up. you should watch his old 50s tv show. its like comedy on acid with surreal elements. you need to date the video sources. put them in a historical context. when was this footage recorded? thanks for the video.

[@AlabamaManWhore]

AMEN BROTHER

[@junkboxxxxxx]

OH ROCHESTER, ROCHESTER ⁉️ Yes Missa Benny

[@geraldbaker4019]

How Jack Benny was able to survive so many years after this taping is beyond me. Vaudeville and psychedelic metal music are two things you really shouldn’t put together.

[@janewhite4486]

What happened to the band's hair ? When they first came out of New York they had shoulder length hair and light up suits ! Howard White, 2-22-15

[@photonotavailable7936]

Jane White Yeah, here they look like Gary Puckett and The Union Gap.

[@jb20092009]

They had moved back to The Bronx where they rented a house and were looked upon negatively (my grandmother who owned a hardware store with my grandfather called Peppy ‘Ma-am’ I think) and considering their earlier experience in 1964-65 (when their hair was a lot shorter) when they were holding jam sessions, they didn’t want to offend people so they made the ultimate sacrifice and cut their hair shorter. It was still long for where they were as many high school kids there still wore d-a’s and crewcuts.

[@MarkErickson-Painter]

Jack Benny was great, maybe stayed too long behind the speakers. Nice, very nice version of this song, love the buzzy bassy phychedelicness.

[@flagemdown66]

Wow! Look at those SUNN amps! Also used at the time by The Who and Jimi Hendrix. I had one back in the 80's just like those. Mine sounded bland and colorless... it was clear and loud, but not musical to my Fender-Lovin' ears!

[@bure998]

+flagemdown66 howdy...i too noticed the awesome sunn amps. i was in a band back in the day and still have my original '69 sunn 'studio PA', in near-mint condition! this was the same amp as the sceptre but with no reverb. dont know what model you had but mine sounds amazing (with guitar) thru my half-stack! cheers!

[@flagemdown66]

I had a 60 watt head, got it the 80's in a trade deal...it didn't have reverb or trem it might have needed some TLC in the tube department or I might have been using the wrong speakers. Jimi Hendrix, The Who and many others did just fine with them.

[@bure998]

+flagemdown66 hi again...thx for the reply..yah the studio PA has around 80 watts..i did have it refurbed about 6 years ago. when sunn went to all solid state in the mid-70's they built incredibly loud but, as you said earlier, lacking in tone amps. i saw johnny winter in boston back in the day..he was playing thru 2 'super coliseums'. we had horrible seats near the very back but in a way i was glad of that..he liked to play very 'treble-y' and it was so loud it was like jamming icepicks in your ears! O M G !!! when fender bought sunn they put out the all-tube 100 watt model T...this thing was a real tribute to sunn...monstrously powerfull with a fat, greasy midrange and tone to die for. if you still play and can find one, they're awesome. have a great night and Merry Christmas!

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Sunns channeled Leslie West’s massive guitar sound in the early days of Mountain.

[@nigelmarshallkenyonabbott8684]

With Jack Benny meeting the Blues Magoos that would be the musical equivalent of sweet and sour sauce

[@thomaswalthall998]

A sad example of some of the horrifying photography common in the late 60s and early 70s.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

I disliked that even back then. It was a lame attempt at matching the hipness of the audio presentation with the video.

[@niccoarcadia4179]

too cool for school..

[@mitchgawlik1175]

I don't think this is the best version but take away some of the psychedelic overload and it would have been pretty good. Maybe this is where Edgar Winter and Ronnie Montrose got the idea for their live versions? A kool thing about this clip is the writers didn't have Jack ripping on the band and the music trying to make them look silly, something Steve Allen and other comedic hosts had no problem doing.

[@Mississippi4Clemson]

I’m an 80’s and today Metalhead. However I wouldn’t have my music without bands such as The Blues Magoos , The Doors and Paul Revere & the Raiders paving the way first . Though those bands are not considered Metal , They did set the stage nonetheless …

[@smokeycretin9]

Whoa! The edible just kicked in too.

[@charleshall3372]

Syd Barrett dug'em!

[@josephferguson4507]

Jack Benny gets it where's Rochester Blues Magoos still around nicest guy still sound great

[@danielwilliams2735]

We caught Jack Benny off guard in 1970. He wouldn't talk to us. We had long hair. When was this recorded? The Blues Magoo's never made it out here to the West Coast. 2 guitars? I know them for their vibraphone piano duets. Pepe's guitar was pretty much non-existent. WHO knows? Don't ask Jack.

[@Slamit88]

Simply Stated: The TALENTED 'B's MG'oos' Played some GREAT Melodic-Hook Filled - "Psych/Pop Rock n' Roll".... Older Sista' Had Their "Psychedelic Lollipop" Album (Which Sounds WONDERFUL To This Day!!) In The House Back Then & I LOVED Their Sound!!🕶🔥

[@larrybeckham6652]

omg, JACK BENNY?????

[@junkboxxxxxx]

Oh yes. There were a dozen Sullivan-type variety shows throughout the 60s, with celebrity interviews, animal acts, circus performers, magicians, singers, and rock groups. It was pitched toward the whole family, with the idea that there would be something for everyone, including the teenagers who smoked funny cigarettes. I'm guessing mom and dad left the room when the Blues Magoos came on, and/or plugged up their ears like Jack Benny did...

[@larrybeckham6652]

I watch both Jack Benny's shows (the variety and the sitcom) first run way back then. I think it miss this one.

[@9750939]

@@larrybeckham6652 Classic Jack Benny gestures; so happy to see him play along.

[@danjohnston1345]

Wow I totally get why parents in the 60s and 70s hated their kids music.

[@MsLoosylou]

Sounds a lot like they were listening a lot to the Liverpool Five, especially "She's Mine"

[@flagemdown66]

is this the only live footage of them? They were great and they should have been as big as the Doors!

[@jb20092009]

No there's plenty more. Just take a look.

[@brucehartnell1475]

Jack Benny gets psychedelic!! Who knew? Rochester, maybe?

[@safffff1000]

Pre Hendrix?

[@debussy10]

Was this really live? I can't tell with the visuals.

[@9750939]

So many cameramen back then favored extreme closeup facial shots. Hated it then, and still do. Much prefer seeing musicians actually playing their instruments. But this is outta sight!

[@andrewlees8070]

Broadcast 1st November 1967

[@mitchgawlik1175]

I saw them a year earlier in Chicago on Thanksgiving night when the opened for the Lovin' Spoonful and the Association. To hear them start up with "We Ain't Got Nothin' Yet" and rise up out of the orchestra pit was a mindblower.

[@jamesgeiger4795]

I remember Sunn amps were very loud amps.

[@donbagley2322]

Nice psychedelic jam.

[@phillydisco-h1r]

Sounds like it went from Tobacco Road into Psychotic Reaction

[@michaelsena7445]

Scare Mom & Dad. Boo

[@davidtakata7135]

See the Nashville Teens version.

[@leond4994]

god bless Ed Sullivan.... He also introduced the Beatles to the world. I will never forget that night of Tele Vision

[@aojeda133]

um not ed sullivan. jack benny.

[@benlewis754]

Why did so many shaggy pop rockers and hard rockers get beauty parlor haircuts late in 1966 or early in 1967???

[@lkleinenbach9740]

Because the Mods over in the U.K. started going to female hair stylists to get the bouffant, back-combed, blow dried styles, that were not available at traditional men's barbershops. Men owning hair-dryers was virtually in-heard of. Actually, the Mod women, a la Julie Driscoll, Twiggy and later American actress, Mia Farrow had shorter hair than the males back then.The British were and still are the trend setters for music and style, especially back then...Between the years of 1964 and 1967. The long hair that the American garage groups had were just two years growth from a former crewcut and a parted men's haircuts.

[@thegoodtest]

At 3:22 Jack Benny pulls the cotton out of his ears!😎LOL!

[@guymichel101]

Yeah! Everybody, especially English bands, covered this song. I bet James Brown and Dean Martin did, too, maybe even Jose Feliciano or Doris Day. And I'm sure Dylan did it, probably Donovan too. (But I hope Bruce Springsteen didn't, cuz it'd be way too corny with his pseudo-hard-times persona.) But here. hah! This one here is greatly psychedelicate, and verse visa. They didn't know Jack, but neither did Jack. I mean did he ever take acid? Whoa-maybe he did...!? Did he grow up in a rusty shack? On the Lower East Side maybe? Anyway I love everybody.

[@michaelwalls4346]

They are sounding a lot like The Pink Floyd circa 67 here

[@KevinOrtega1980]

I like this version better

[@thomasdudley4558]

ramones ripped off the magoos hair stlyes but thats not so the magoos were a huge influence on the tangerine puppets dd ramones band and the psych lolipops howard sterns band pluss joey hyman was pioneering more metal sounds with purple majesty but in a way the ramones resurected that magoos page boy cut in the dank long free hair 70s! helped of courze by tod!!! delco punk crown prince !

[@talesfromtinpanalley-thedo6198]

this is not only a moment in live TV history, it is unsurpassed ... hear the recording on vinyl or cd or on Nuggets then you know this is the most dynamic version, the other versions are tame 'beat pop' or dated Edgar Winter 'heavy rock blues' bores by comparison . Lenny Kaye agrees ..

[@PAULTHOMSON-s8k]

A DULLER VERSION OF THE SONG THAN THE NASHVILLE TEENS VERSION.

[@thomasdudley4558]

magoos type o negative brooklyn old new metal! first real band who used pyro and other big as life features monkees tried to copy but failed!

[@ChicagoRob2]

There was a lot of pot smoking back then - ask me how I know!

[@kennethlowther2458]

There were REAL artists back then, not like milli-vanilli lip syncs !

[@cheshirecat438]

The Magoos style hasn't aged too well. It seems really dated and kinda stiff and abstract on this. Frankly, despite the 'Blues' in their name, there wasn't enough actual Blues in their sound, compared to Hendrix, Cream and Led Zeppelin, who essentially just souped up the Blues, making it louder and heavier and peppering it with 'psych' elements like fuzz and wah wah. The Blues Magoos lacked great soloists, and instead got into a sort of 'trippy' experimental approach here that probably seemed Up To The Minute at the time, but now seems random and stilted in hindsight. The Who didn't have a great lead guitarist either . . . but their rhythm section was explosive . . where the Magoo's just seems frenetic. I like their early records like 'We Ain't Got Nothin' Yet' and 'Tobacco Road' with their British Invasion sound . . but they seem to be trying very hard here to sound Psychedelic, and they just aren't quite up to the task. Still . . it's really cool to hear them playing live here, and to get to see their SUNN backline in action.

[@jamesknight4784]

it is quite obvious the magoos didn't even have the chops of hendrix, or cream , but who does. they were there in the beginning.you just kind of got to appreciate them in contex.

[@roadkillsrus]

To look at this in hindsight is to not see it. It was actually pretty good. They're just different. And they seem to recognize their limitations, which is a huge plus.

[@richardbosworth6635]

@@cheshirecat438 It’s hard to be psychedelic when you’re from New Jersey / New York.

[@carlrudd1858]

Take some Yardbird fans...add a dash of Count V...add a dash of Shadows of Knight... add a dash of Cryin' Shames... add a dash of Music Machine... add a dash of Strawberry Alarm Clock...and what do you get? Some very generic mid 60's rock. Toss in some flashing lights and some sound effects and bingo...some very generic mid 60's rock. They're not psychedelic in any sense of the word I ever understood...and if this is blues, I'm the Grand Phenwick of Poland.

[@paulforder591]

I don't agree with your opinion, full stop! I dig the Magoos' style, and to me, it's listenable. 😸🎸👍

[@marvinsmith2116]

Art link letter. Too much.

[@theedrstrangelove]

Even Jack Benny was trans-generational.