The Box Tops: Neon Rainbow @ the Hoboken Spring Arts & Music Festival

Another tune from the 2009 Hoboken Spring Arts & Music Festival in Hoboken, New Jersey! This time The Box Tops perform their only flower power hit "Neon Rainbow." Watch this at your own risk as it "may induce flashbacks" ...

[@jkamp558]

Vietnam, 1968. One of those songs carried in my head that kept me sane. As with many others; The Letter, Cry Like a Baby and Neon Rainbow, were bookends (or dead ends) to our jungle tour. Bless those guys for their rhythm and words.

[@GoldTop57]

They didn’t write most of that. Wayne Carson wrote The Letter, Neon Rainbow, Soul Deep, and more

[@brianpatrickclarke5993]

@@GoldTop57 - And that's all you have to say in reaction to this Vietnam vet's comment? And Alex Chilton's remarkable vocal interpretation even as a teen? Bizarre.

[@alannowland9300]

Great

[@radioman66]

Wow, Life is something we don't hold the cards for. Even Alex when this video was shot didn't think he would be gone from this world in just short of a year from this moment. RIP Alex what a great soulful voice.

[@cynthiawhite8868]

Love this THAN ks

[@glennhfriedman4571]

who knows when they are going to leave ? Be here Now

[@alannowland9300]

Great

[@bwrobeson]

Incredible voice...I miss you Alex...I caught myself smiling while I listened to this...lovb

[@HC_GUITAR]

Alex chilton = genius

[@KingOFuh]

I luv this song. Sweet Cream Ladies, too. Cry Like A Baby even more

[@gordenscottfan3107]

Alex was lucky someone had the sense to make him sing with a ruff soulful voice with the Box Tops....he gave up that style and never sounded anything but average after that. That was his choice but he lost so many fans that loved the ruff soul sound and chased after a sound that just never went main stream again....

[@raoulandgretchie]

@conan1982 I always clap with Alex at the end of this song. The applause will never be enough. Thank you. Claps for posting.

[@davesuiter]

Memphis Music from the 60s; it doesn't get much better.

[@glennhfriedman4571]

Hi records, Memphis .. with Al Green, Ann Peebles Willie Mitchell himself, Sly Johnson, Don Bryant and more

[@casualtuner]

God bless Alex.

[@stevefuji1548]

I always found it interesting that Alex Chilton created such a unique vocal sound for his work with the Box Tops, then totally abandoned that sound after leaving the group. His vocals with Big Star have no resemblance to the Box Tops vocals. But even years later, when doing these reunion performances, he didn't bring back that sound.

[@ravenkatz1980]

I know. His voice was deeper and sexier and more varied with the Box Tops.

[@RockandRollWoman]

​@@ravenkatz1980 And he was only 16. Mind blowing.

[@jjs490]

So Great , this is my favorite Alex Chilton / box top number. What a Beautiful Soul he was. !!!

[@anthonycarr4417]

Hardly a day goes by that I dont play this song,its one of my favorites. I just love that ending. November 1967,first time going to Disneyland with my family. You can never go back in time,sure wish i could though with hindsisght.

[@conan1982]

I'm glad you dig these videos. R.I.P Alex ... thanks for all the music ...

[@Belladog-j8z]

"And Life is Love, in a Neon Rainbow". From rural Arkansas I landed on Overton Square in midtown Memphis in the fall of 1977. This song is what I saw and felt.

[@luislaguna1219]

¡ que nostalgia ! que recuerdos que evocaciones y lloro lloro por aqueños años, por aquellos tiempos 1967-1969 SALUDOS A TODOS LOS OLDIES AMIGOS

[@thevoid99]

oh, he is funny. he will definitely be missed. it's one of my favorite box tops songs though i'm more of a big star fan.

[@peterzang]

So beautiful. Thanks Alex.

[@shelbytn1955]

You were one of a kind, Alex, and will always be missed.

[@pacorroca]

miss you alex

[@Theearthtraveler]

Thanks for sharing one of my all time favorite songs. The Alex and the Box Tops certainly deliver an excellent live performance!!!

[@odonna17]

Why all the talk about Alex being difficult? He seems very affable here and sounds just as great as he did in 1967 when I was just a kid at school ! Donna

[@grooviefan]

If you base everything on a single video you are sadly mistaken. He was beyond quirky - to b polite. .

[@stephanieclaire2569]

Love this song and Alex sounds great. Thanks for posting this video. 😊

[@humbertorodriguezaguirre85]

Es un verdadero tema gracias por esos panques de recuerdo

[@davesuiter]

1:10 is when the magic happens !

[@ninkariemann]

Thank you Alex for a wonderful time. ç

[@peterzang]

@conan1982 It's so lovely that AC went out on top. He never sang bettr or seemed happier. Ain't much maybe, but it's all we can hope for.

[@born2grooveu]

my fav BT song.

[@festersuncle6298]

Cool for Alex Chilton to go waaaaay back to this band.

[@SouvenirDin24]

Love this when the commercial for the talktalk advert comes on - am surprised that it's not been re-released (well, to my knowledge it hasn't anyway) considering it was used for X factor as well and that it's a brilliant song! :)

[@thatmuse76]

He is singing more with his natural voice (i.e. the one he use in Big Star) than on the original recording.

[@hollies65]

Very nice! R.I.P Alex

[@suzannenoa9736]

I miss Alex 😢

[@TheJoany22]

and rainbow will do, but this ones outta here ....... love Box Tops

[@bethk3773]

It's Memphis once more.

[@a_missippian]

wow this was capital

[@dadisgreat1]

OK - I'd never heard this before I jammed on it in a pub...but a contemporary version ca't be a bad thing...see my channel!

[@LEEFORDJAGG]

Solid gold. I would have loved to see the Box Tops Live with Alex, but I guess a U.K tour around this period would have been a stretch. I did see Alex with Big Star at the Shepherds Bush Empire, just before his untimely passing.

[@maryquant1967]

just found out via huffpost. love this tune!!

[@gordenscottfan3107]

Alex's voice is so bad here, he was made to sing more soulful when he made the Box Top records which he did so well. later he gave up the ruff soul sound for what we have here a plan vanilla voice....

[@conan1982]

For best results watch this video in high quality ...

[@vonhorn29]

this MADE my night. Thanks

[@weisserstein]

Fantastic

[@simonemaletesta715]

Canzone bellissima ed Alex meraviglioso ❤️

[@sharrose7594]

Love you Alex even though not here

[@shanenichols1052]

Alex sounds great

[@yaroslavxiuhcoatl3233]

Sob grandes...!!!

[@allenf.5907]

He had it back when they cut the songs but he kept it! GREAT vocal and performance.

[@carlosLopez-cc1xo]

la primera siempre va ser la primera la demás ya no suena igual

[@robertolozanopetitsoleiluk6797]

WONDERFUL ❤️

[@marystewart9756]

What's up with Alex's accent?

[@daisyglaze1817]

What do you mean?

[@conan1982]

He *was* from Memphis and later lived in New Orleans.

[@marystewart9756]

Alex lost his Southern accent long before this was filmed. I was referring to when he uses a New York accent to joke around.

[@daisyglaze1817]

I love Alex. I want so badly to be right there with him and it drives me crazy knowing that'll never happen. These videos are truly precious ❤

[@sfender2182]

@Daisy Glaze You just might be right there with him if you both make it to heaven, remember Alex sang about Jesus Christ in one of Big Star’s best songs! Here’s a prayer for both of you to spend eternity with many others in paradise.