The Leaves- Hey Joe

This is the original version of the song made famous by Hendrix later. This is also the source for Frank Zappa's parody on the song as it appears on the "Only Money" album (Hey punk where r u going with this botton on your shirt" etc).Jim Pons is the bass player of this band, later to join "The Turtles", and later , with Eddie & Flo to the 70' version of the Mothers of Invention.

[@geofbrit59]

This is right up there with 'Louie Louie'. Every garageband in the 1960's did this song.

[@CosmicXRay]

Jim Pons' bass playing is killer....

[@rickherrera4859]

I remember hearing this in ' 65 when I was eleven! My adolescent mind was blown!

[@hamilton59840]

This song was also covered by THe ByRDs at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, with David Crosby on lead vocal. After The Leaves folded by the end of 1966, bassist Jim Pons joined The Turtles in mid-1967(following the departure of Chip Douglas), and later joined Mark "Flo" Volman and Howard "Eddie" Kaylan in Frank Zappa's band, The Mothers Of Invention after The Turtles disbanded in 1970.

[@schuberttim]

As much as Jimi Hendrix's version is liked, this version blows it away. It's simply kickass rock. THIS is where punk rock started.

[@cynthiasummers8238]

I agree. This was the best raw version of this song.

[@slowcoin2183]

only took half the song for the camera guys to figure out there are 2 singers

[@bconigliaro]

My friend Mitch McCombs worked as a short-order cook in a bar with a guy named Joe. From his first day on the job, McCombs was just waiting for his chance to say, "Hey, Joe, where you goin' with that bun in your hand?"

[@carolannpacificadam1944]

I lol' d. Thank you 👍

[@bconigliaro]

@@carolannpacificadam1944 Many thanks to you.

[@rolo1955]

This the version I remember coming from my 9 volt transistor radio and from my dads 1962 Impala!

[@lightninbob1]

+Isaac Tanis 63, but you were close.

[@WytZox1]

+John Afella ~>; When Mom and Dad were watching Tonight Show on TV us kids were tuned into Top 40 AM Radio! ☺

[@videomaniac108]

FA Barragan Me too on my little 9v pocket transistor radio in 1965, listening to top 40 AM rock on WLS in Chicago.

[@rtsi2000]

@John Afella I snuck my Arvin 9 volt transistor radio with an ear plug to bed many a night

[@MrDonsullivan]

John Afella LOL, sounds like we were brought up in the same house.

[@annwellington5841]

Garage Psychedelic bands like this changed my life at 16. It made all the difference in the world!

[@gordonfitterer4660]

me too

[@chinto50]

at 13 our garage band played its first gig... the local park . LOL.. we played for 6months using a garbage can for a tom tom.. thanks to our parents who put up with our playing every saturday " all day" in our garage..

[@CosmoLupertazzi]

Yeah, I was in a few, and we ALWAYS did this song. I remember a different, shall we dare say better version of it by the Leaves. Tim Rose had the best, earliest version IMHO. Give it a listen: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2qplmShh5KrrNk

[@docsavage8640]

Neither garage nor psychedelic here.

[@richardlavallee9106]

Noel Redding used basically the same bass line with Jimi Hendrix. I heard this original when I was in Germany in 1966 over Pirate Station Radio London & never heard it when I got back to the States. So glad to re-connect here. Thanks everyone.

[@AsAngelsSing]

60's garage punk doesn't get much better than this!

[@93KHJBOSSRADIO]

I So Agree!

[@strengthandbulkMadness]

Yup, sounds like punk but not on purpose.

[@jorchdatorch842]

I wish it would though. If this is the best then this is my last time looking it up. Sad.

[@rullmourn1142]

@@jorchdatorch842 try 13th floor elevators.

[@dimitriostsougkranis3232]

Ignorance

[@mikestang679]

Every garage cover band played this one, along with The Seeds "Pushin' too hard" ......those were the good olde days!!!

[@photonotavailable7936]

mike stang Plus Gloria, The Last Time, etc.

[@ThePowerpointMaster]

Bo Diddley

[@ludannelasyvyus1824]

Yes, I was playing bass in a few "garage" bands back in the day, at 14 y.o. I even had a violin shaped EKO Bass. I think the Leaves bassist has a Höfner

[@rasjjmitchell7977]

Man, they sure were the days, man. Every band HAD to play Hey Joe, Gloria, and Dirty Water, they were our "Standards"!

[@mikestang679]

@@rasjjmitchell7977 Right on, bro, those "standards" were mandatory, the crowds demanded them, I remember "Talk, talk" being requested an olde Box Tops tune...😄😁😄😄

[@normanwitt4692]

Often imitated never duplicated. Best version of Hey Joe.

[@brucegibbins3792]

I like how the bass track has been mixed good and loud, almost as the bottom end has become the lead instrument - very cool.

[@danahellerud9259]

I don't know if any of the members are alive.....but if they are....Thank you for such great and innovative music. I love and respect the 60's music. The greatest music ever made. LONG LIVE THE 60'S

[@nottavictim5]

MW the bass line makes this!!!

[@kimbarrett9734]

Jim Pins went on to be in The Turtles.

[@kimbarrett9734]

And Frank Zappa!

[@cadillaccasper]

Jim Ponz works for the NY Jets and is suing the team because he designed their logo and never got paid

[@nuwavedave]

A guitar hook as groovy as "Satisfaction" and "Day Tripper" - The perfect high-energy Flower Power dance number. If you had a band in 1966-68 and didn't play "Hey Joe" - you just didn't get the gig. That's Jim Pons on lead vocal. Not very long after this show, The Turtles from Inglewood, CA snapped-up Pons for their lineup - and he continued to make Rock 'N' Roll history.

[@laurenholladay]

This is my favorite version. I was 10 years old and had the 45 on vinyl.

[@1950Grendel]

The song had been around since the 1950's. The first recording was by Billy Roberts in 1962 (available on YT) and it's the version that Hendrix virtually copied, except with an electric guitar and his own solo. This is the first rock version, the one that almost every garage band plays.

[@ed241]

This is correct. The Leaves were not the first.

[@tambyrlane]

My favorite version of this song. It almost goes off the rails. The bass is is killer.

[@daveshultz7765]

+tambyrlane I agree! It was one of my favorite songs of the 60's. Cool to see it was remade later. Just too bad it was Hendrix who did it.

[@ludannelasyvyus1824]

It looks like a HOFNER "Beatle" bass. That and a similar looking violin shaped made by EKO were seen in MANY such groups in those years. Also it has been said that RAIN was one of the 1st songs to have the bass prominent in the mix. Though, the Hofner bass in this Hey Joe track is definitely prominent & dominant in the mix. Hofner & Rickenbacker with Dinio, Desi & Billy kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5jIfJyKfNhkmrc

[@93KHJBOSSRADIO]

I couldn't agree more! My Fave also!

[@tulsydevi]

tambyrlane Me too

[@thomasneville9456]

The best version. They put a spin on this song no one else could hit. Even Hendrix.

[@coolmamac]

Right on man. This was the one I loved. Every rock band of the period played the this version.

[@m10bob22]

Every block in suburbia had a garage band in 1965-67....and this song was a standard of all of them.

[@Davilow]

Billy Roberts made a few changes to a 1955 song called 'Baby, Please Don't Go to Town' that was written by his ex-girlfriend Niela Miller. Roberts then changed the title to 'Hey Joe' and had it registered for copyright in 1962.

[@lamper2]

good smart valuable historical contribution!

[@kitcat4650]

Billy's original 1962 copyrighted version had a first verse: 1) Hey Joe, where you going with that money in your hand, I'm chasing my woman, caught her messin with another man, Goin down town, gona get me a .44. Anyway this was done from memory, as I was in some local bands at the time, & some one in the group bothered to look this up. So a few locals thru this verse in the front of the song.

[@MrDonsullivan]

Davilo Olivad This is Niela claim. I’ve heard her song. There’s a similarity but in my opinion two different songs. She should take her claim to court, I’m sure the royalties are considerable for this song.

[@johnmullins2113]

Correct.

[@lauranceemory4448]

we played in the basement, but yeah, ya got that right

[@trextrextrex]

Simply the best version

[@jayuihlein1664]

Awesome band, awesome drummer, great song. Long live the 60's! Rock on!

[@kilts4u2]

For my money, this is still THE best version of this iconic song. Just watching Jim Pons play that Hofner bass is priceless. Ah, those were the days.

[@22lyric]

I agree!

[@howardmarks8647]

Spot on!

[@ronfisher5259]

This was actually the first version of Hey Joe I heard- and YES I love the fast tempo

[@desotopete]

This version sucks.

[@petejones879]

I still think Patti Smiths version is the best

[@ThePoppy4u]

still the BEST version...and i saw everybody do it live.

[@ophiolatreia93]

Really?

[@ophiolatreia93]

@Justice Boofer erm no.... The majority of the world is below 70 don't you know... What an arrogant statement

[@ophiolatreia93]

@Joanna d'Arc it's not the original version. The circle of 5ths chord progression may have been lifted from that but the lyrics and style of song is totally different. It was written by Billy Roberts originally. Then Tim Rose gave it a bit more of a cool sound that hendrix used..

[@ophiolatreia93]

@Justice Boofer you mean not seeing hendrix? Agreed

[@insanelook]

@Joanna d'Arc exact.

[@ctranger]

I have been looking for this original version of this song for the past 45 years. Thank you.

[@alex-mo2wh]

This isn’t the original tho

[@brianw338]

Joe Mama : What is ? Or, who did original ?

[@jreedmx40]

@@brianw338 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZ7VeIKOf7KEoJI

[@brianw338]

@@jreedmx40 : Oh cool. Thank you for providing the link. I love the history.

[@insanelook]

@@jreedmx40 no, this is still a cover, this is the original first version kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHauY3h6pt2jmbs

[@93KHJBOSSRADIO]

Ok We All Agree 1,000's Of People Recorded HEY JOE.........But To Me THE LEAVES Had The VERSION That Stood Out Most---In My Mind.........Amen............Punk 4-Ever

[@HHHBASSMAN]

This came out in the spring of 1966, it topped out at #11 in Chicago in July, every garage band in the city immediately learned it. Hendrix's version was a shock to me but I eventually got to like it too.

[@BORNdischarged]

60’s garage rock really shook the music world up, and I’m glad it did.

[@TANTRUMGASM]

shook the world up? the leaves ? lolo lolol klol llol nah

[@karouselkar3149]

It sure did. Old now but not forgotten.

[@radioman66]

If you are a Turtles fan you may recognize the bass player with the Hoffner bass, that's Jim Pons he went on to join the Turtles shortley after this.

[@davidotness6199]

I remember this like yesterday. That bass line break is killer. Good singing too.

[@michaelromine7195]

71 an still love 60's an70's music great time in America wish the world was like that nowadays

[@carolannpacificadam1944]

Almost 69. Ya know I never thought I would talk about the past. But music was great in the 70~80 ~ 90s Not that new isn't good I just FEEL like that era is good. And music 🎶🎵 makes me FEEL... THIS RENDITION IS excellent. I have heard quite a few ..the tempo is a nice change. .. I enjoyed the leads

[@mykllee3]

Simply the best. So raw, so good.

[@93KHJBOSSRADIO]

Of all the Hey Joe's this version by the Leaves, was the first original record that made it to # 1 in Los Angeles, & # 31 on Billboard.....selling the most singles making it the highest chart buster & making it the most successful & popular version of the song!

[@chinkadero]

Thanks for that killer info! I played drums with Bobby many years later in San Diego doing really cool hip bar / club gigs. He was relentlessly cool and fun.

[@nsc217]

biff van arsdale I think Jimi’s version IS more successful

[@MrDonsullivan]

nsc217 Jimi’s is probably the version most people know. But it was his first released song and didn’t chart well at all.

[@roryhalfyard8876]

You goons, its not about the charts, Jimi didnt give a fuck about the charts, he just wanted to do what he loved and play music, who the fuck cares about charts and shit, you like whatever you like, Just because something doesnt hit the charts doesnt mean that its garbage, just means the general public likes to follow like sheep

[@photonotavailable7936]

biff van arsdale #1 on The Big 11-10, KRLA Pasadena.

[@titostacos]

This is the version I used to hear on KHJ Boss radio back in the sixties.

[@alzenno4333]

Tina Delgado is alive!!!

[@dlagrua]

This was the only version of Hey Joe that ever hit the billboard top 30. It was the most energetic performance of this song in the mid 60's. The singer/bass player Jim Pons later went on to become a sportscaster.

[@jimiscnc3750]

i think pons taped ny jets football practice at hofstra university for a few years?

[@Joeage]

Jim Pons left the Leaves and joined the Turtles when the Turtles bass player, Chip Douglas, quit to go produce the Monkees. Pons was with the Turtles from 1967 to 1970 when the Turtles broke up over various legal issues. Mark Volman and Howard Kayland joined Frank Zappa and became the core of Zappa's comedy music period. During the filming of Zappa's movie, 200 Motels, the bass player, Jeff Simmons, quit and Jim Pons joined Zappa's band and was re-united with Volman and Kaylan. In December of 1971, Zappa's band was playing at a casino in Switzerland which caught fire and burned down becoming the basis for Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water. The fire destroyed all their instruments. Uncharacteristically, Zappa had the band vote on whether to rent instruments and continue their tour or end the tour early. The band voted to play on. Only about one week later at the Rainbow Theatre in London, some delusional "fan" got on stage and pushed Zappa into the orchestra pit inflicting very serious injuries and jeopardizing his career if not his life. The band disbanded since Zappa was going to be out of commission for a while. After working with various bands for a couple of years, Jim Pons left the music industry and took a job with the New York Jets. He held various jobs with the Jets including assistant equipment manager, film and video director. He retired in 2000 and now lives in Florida.

[@photonotavailable7936]

Heard this many times on the Big 11-10, KRLA Pasadena, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

[@ronmorgan8214]

true, before FM became a thing

[@Joseph-ax999]

Oh yes. Dave Hull, Dick Biondi, Emperor Hudson, they had a great lineup.

[@Lighthawk1000]

Never knew Jimmi did this as a cover. But, his soulful rendition is unforgettable.

[@BritIronRebel]

Billy Roberts wrote this song & wasn't given credit for it for some time (after lawyers got involved). Dino Valenti (of Quicksilver Messenger Service) attempted to steal the composer's rights to it after hearing Billy Roberts play it while Dino was in prison for pot. Billy Roberts original version sounds much more like Hendrix's version.

[@SteveT__001]

@@BritIronRebel which is here kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqvMmoGwe7yNpck&ab_channel=Ikerbustovillate and the simpler original demo is here kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZ7VeIKOf7KEoJI&ab_channel=StephenDorianKutos

[@davekeller6597]

That's funny because I just heard the Billy Roberts original version and it sounded just like Hendrix' version. But this one, which I heard a clip of as a child in a commercial for some record collection of college fraternity hits from the 60's, sounds totally different. And that was before I had even heard of Hendrix' more famous version.

[@davidhamm5626]

I am pretty sure that Arthur Lee and Love , did it before Jimi....slightly quicker than his version.......

[@user-rv6ru9oz5e]

Absolutely awful version, playing upbeat quintessential mod rock, while just hollering away at the mic. Thank goodness Billy Roberts got copyright credit and Jimi Hendrix made it famous.

[@gregdavidson5898]

Jim Pons on killer bass and vocals later to be in the Turtles and then Zappa and the Mothers.

[@kiltedwolf2]

His was a fun ride to say the least. He couldn't read music when he joined Frank Zappa's band. The piano player would write the bass lines and Jim would improvise. As much as a musical taskmaster as Frank was, it's amazing that he was able to fanagle his way by. When he left the Mothers, somehow he found his way to NYC and by accident, became the videographer for the NY Jets. That lasted for over a decade. He met a Dr and moved with her to Jacksonville, Fla where he lives today.

[@ronluckenbach9492]

First version I heard as a kid ...we had a garage band...I bought the 45 ...we learned the song and started to open our sets with it even though we were primarily an originals band. The frenetic vocals of The Leaves bass player were mimicked very well by my bro... Our audience always just loved that song.

[@mistertomasP]

I remember this version from when I was in 7th grade. It was the coolest song on A.M. radio. There was no F.M. back then. Thanks for posting!!

[@loungerenownrecords]

Great song!!This has always been my favorite version of the song.Euphoric and electrifying!! I have this album in my vinyl record collection.

[@Margaret1448]

They played my high school (Canoga Park H.S. in the San Fernando Valley) and all my dumb Yearbook says about it was, "They left..." I thought they were GREAT!!! :D

[@noway2day1]

I am only expressing what I know. The " Leaves " whoever they were , recorded it first. Hendix did it his rendition, and it blew me away. I love both versions .

[@larrya7360]

One of the more memorable bass lines in history. Great song. Too bad people only know of the Hendrix version. This was the golden age of garage-band rock. Probably could narrow it down to golden year, 1966.

[@b1zook456]

'66 was a great year for music. I was just a lad then but I still remember Beatles, Stones and great tunes like this one. If you want a really different cover of "Hey Joe" check out the version by Deep Purple, IMO one of the best covers ever.

[@giorgiocurcetti4178]

b1zook How about the Byrds' cover, included in the album 5th Dimension? That was a great one too..

[@videomaniac108]

66 was great - with groups like Music Machine, The Shadows of Knight, ? and the Mysterions, pre-Grace Slick Jefferson Airplane, The Troggs, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Love, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Electric Prunes, The 13th Floor Elevators, The Count Five ... .It was great to be a teenager then with a pocket transistor radio, listening to top 40 AM rock and pop.

[@tomrowan293]

66 was the golden year for music, the Sunset Strip, The Leaves, The Standells & Love all from L.A.---b4 the crap from SF came to be

[@ludannelasyvyus1824]

@Jim Nesta - DEFINITELY☺ I was 13 then, and had a sister who is 6 years older, so, I got in early, as she always had "Boss Radio" on. We were in the right era musically speaking, wouldn't change anything about that.

[@Iambigdaa]

Yes, yes I remember this version after like 50 YEARS!!!!!!!!😆

[@alskii7]

This was the first version of Hey Joe that I heard. It and Hendricks version are my favorite 2 of who knows how many covers have been done. Comparing this version to Jimi's is like comparing an apple to an orange. They're both different interpretations and outstanding in their own right. Thanks for posting this video, Verdiez!

[@jameskinkland3215]

You might want to check out the HAZZARDS version from Richmond VA.

[@chriscampbell9191]

Killer version. The energetic singing, the trebly, biting lead guitar (a la Townshend), punchy bass lines -- compared to Hendrix's version it's like Hey Joe on speed, in a good way. And this one didn't get much airplay. It was that lost gem that only got rediscovered by garage and psych music fans when it was put out on Nuggets.

[@benhallums2951]

THIS AIRED IN B&W ON THE NEW AMERICAN BANDSTAND 1966 ON ABC-TV USA SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

[@jamro217]

That is the most unusual bass tone ever. A cranked Hofner. Well done, Jim!

[@normanbaratelli4651]

DEFINITELY one of the best interpretations of this classic.

[@jimwalker1683]

Sorry. No way. Just a bunch of noise and singing in the wrong key. And smiling on tragic lyrics, terrible

[@eudymaverickmentor]

Probably the best interpretation.

[@richarddelgado2723]

@@jimwalker1683I agree and then I disagree… You’re right in that it was pretty rambunctious 😖… 😀☝️ But at the same time it had some potential… It seemed that they needed to learn how to play with some control … If they did that then version might have turned out better… It does employ the familiar ascending bass line that Hendrix would use in his famous version So it can’t be all that bad…..

[@tonyrossDCPL]

Point of clarification in response to many commenters who seem to be asserting this is the "original" version of "Hey Joe" -- The Leaves were the first to record the song, but they didn't write it -- it had been around around 3-5 years and played live by numerous bands before their recording. Just exactly who "wrote" it and what elements were used from earlier country, traditional, and R&B songs is a matter of great debate.

[@ronmorgan8214]

copywrited in 1962--billy roberts

[@lonnieanderson4233]

Got this 45 back 1966 from a record pack that had 10 45 rpm records for a dollar. Most other records in the pack were junky but a couple like this song was great

[@garymorell6924]

This always got a lot of play time on the high school cafeteria juke box back in the day .

[@hamilton59840]

The gentleman on the left in the band is Jim Pons before he left and added his services with The Turtles (following Chip Douglas's departure).

[@seeuonline]

+Billy Angus- Jim also was in Frank Zappa's band after the Turtles and in 1972 he went to work forthe New York Jets setting up their first videotaping system of their games and practices. He moved to Jacksonville, Fl. in the 90's where he worked with the Jaguar football team doing similar camera work. He has since retired and currently plays in a blue grass group. .

[@kilts4u2]

Good to see that Jim is still alive and kickin'. You too.

[@flinkinyc]

Any idea what happened to John Beck, the singer of The Leaves?

[@romankalyniuk2596]

First time I ever heard this song was in 1965 by the Leaves. Never heard a better bass line in any other version.

[@williedunaway]

This is the greatest garage rock song ever.

[@michaelcummingsherrera1232]

Brings back memories of dancing to this song beaucoup times back in the Summer of 1966. There was a park in TO with a rec center where the dances were held. Casey Kasem used to host them.

[@zvjzik]

I was privileged to see The Leaves live at the Santa Monica High School Auditorium way back in 1960-something. It was cool watching them Live when Hey Joe first hit the charts. I haven't thought about that for years. Amazing to see this video, brought back great memories.

[@kimbarrett9734]

The Leaves played in our gym at Canoga Park high. Birmingham got the Doors! Palisades got Love.

[@retrorex]

Hey, I didn't know there were 2 lead singers on this! They both sound so much alike, I thought it was just one guy. I bought this single when it first came out in '66 and still have it, but have never "seen" The Leaves until tonight. THANKS for posting this!

[@braddeniston643]

Camera man didn’t know either 😂

[@user-bw6dm8jy1g]

@@braddeniston643 The director was obviously clueless about the song. They were pretty dismissive in those days and wouldn't listen to the song beforehand.

[@kathleen3177]

Love this and Jimi's versions-- I have the 45 of this one

[@kimbarrett9734]

I used to babysit for their manager back then. He was married to Pat Boone's sister, and would often call the house. Only recently I learned it was Pat Boone who discovered this band! Very cool.

[@idrivea9119]

Glad to find this. I never would have gotten the link between this song and Zappa by only listening to the Jimi version.

[@monkeeman1966]

From the spring of 1966! It's Boss!

[@jackempson3044]

It was nuts! Sometimes it's fun just to hear raw music like that.

[@auletjohnast03638]

THE GUY DOING THE SECOND PART OF THE LEAD VOCALS AND PLAYING THE TAMBOURING IS GENE CLARK OF THE BYRDS.

[@jim9637]

He does resemble Gene but that is not him, sorry.

[@kenw6161]

Good information!

[@kimbarrett9734]

Nope, not Gene Clarke, although I think Byrd's did do a version of Hey Joe

[@Joeage]

John Beck is the secondary singer and tambourine player.

[@kimbarrett9734]

Live how these guys are smiling thru these lyrics

[@VoxMax1200]

After this..i don't want to hear Hendrix's version anymore. This is something fantastic

[@satanicondevil]

My name's Joe, so I occasionally had a kid or two in high school sing this to me or at me!

[@almcconahay9064]

I give Hendrix a lot of credit for identifying a hot mess diamond in the rough and reconstructing it into one of the greatest rock songs ever

[@elliotjones3098]

this one was done before the Hendrix version, and it's great

[@AsAngelsSing]

Actually, this song has been covered by several different musicians!

[@Dixler683]

Al McMonahay, hah you are too funny man. Hendrix played it in the style it was originally recorded. He did not clean up this hot mess.

[@notvalidcharacters]

It was fine as it was. Hendrix gave it heroin.

[@wjmartinmusicman]

Can not believe that I found this original version of this old 60's song that Jimi Hendrix made famous. So glad that you posted this.

[@lawrencerasmus]

I had the original 45 demo. I got it from a girl I met at the Pike in Long Beach California. Wish I still had it. Our band and every other Garage band did this song. Those where the days

[@tammyhennig]

This is the ghost of Jimi speaking and I'm telling you all its OK to like both versions.

[@timothygraham4304]

swedishpear With all due respect ghost of Jimi, even you can't tell me what is and isn't ok!

[@marktemsic7457]

there's only 16 different "covers" of this song... which is best...?

[@pm0501again]

True but I never could connect with the Hendrix version. Leaves all the way.

[@robulusx2]

Hendrix and Roy Buchanon's are best

[@mfb3042]

I remember this one first. The original was written by Neila Miller as Baby Please Don't Go To Town with different lyrics in 1962. Then her boyfriend supposedly had stolen it as Neila says, Billy Roberts and he turned it into Hey Joe.

[@markdavid294]

These guys were 60s bad asses.

[@Yaos_fit]

why can't music be as good as this anymore ..

[@pizmopier]

I saw them play at the Rose Garden in Pismo Beach in 1965 - awesome!

[@gerrygreene6354]

Saw the Leaves at the Whiskey. Hey Joe was terrific. They shared the bill with Beau Brumble's another day in LA.

[@Beatle849]

That must have been one hell of a show.

[@Stratmanable]

It's the Beau BRUMMELS, idiot.

[@petercrowl9467]

Upvote except for the unnecessary "Idiot"

[@briannewell6064]

Apparently the cameraman didn't make rehearsal.

[@ricocruz4196]

I know! He pretty much misses the singing (lip synced), guitar "solo" (not), and the bass runs. But it was the 60's so i guess it's pretty cool we even have film of it. Also, Electric Prunes. Really? That's the best they could come up with : )

[@brianw338]

@Brian Newell: Yeah no shit. Frustrating as hell.

[@mikemiller6628]

Pons kills it on Bass.

[@lendlkaiser3622]

This is the first band I heard this song ,back in the 60s it was haunting then and still is!

[@Johns805]

heh. I've dug (LOL!) that tune ever since it came tinning out.of my transistor radio...50 years ago? ouch! :)! I notice the audience just sits there and claps....even if I was the only embarrassed dancing fool, I'd be demolishing the dance floor with that one.....what a rockin' gem!

[@MicrophonicFool]

That is fucking fantastic.

[@robertgraham4517]

We loved this song back in the day .. I played bass part in a few bands .. Iconic part was the bass work

[@DerGlaetze]

It was played in all the garage bands here in the San Gabriel Valley too. I'm talking about the "Battle of the Bands" action that was going on, back then. Remember them? There was always one going on in Covina, in a big open warehouse, on Azusa Avenue. Those were fun times.

[@Bloomfield246]

The number of groups who have recorded this song is almost endless. I still think this is the best version. The two other slightly different versions by the Leaves are also great.

[@ellentravers7889]

I first heard the Leaves do this number when I was 15. Every garage band across America added it to their repertoire and it was one of my favorite tunes from the era. It was powerful, hard rocking and just driven, with that distinctive bass line and rhythm guitar. I realize today it sounds rough, but that's part of the charm. I wish all of you could have heard this version, as I did, with virgin ears. It was like nothing that had come before. I loved the later Hendricks version, as well as the Byrds' version, but this is still my favorite.

[@DerGlaetze]

This song just cranks! Badass all the way. Primordial Punk!

[@93KHJBOSSRADIO]

Great Blog! I think Hey Joe by the Leaves made the top 5 in L.A. in mid-May 66! The Leaves did my favourite version of Hey Joe!

[@jukeboxjonnyv]

being on the Sunset Strip as a teenager with this song playing is a great memory

[@robertyancey4867]

The Leaves knock this out of the park!!! It feels like going the road 20 miles over the speed limit with your speakers cranked!!!

[@saabninefive93]

Only 20? LOL Just kidding. Knocking it out of the park is exactly right!

[@abbyandsadiesmom2040]

@@saabninefive93 This live versin SUCKS! The recorded 45 rpm record version is so much better.

[@muffs55mercury61]

Ahead of it's time for mid-1966. One of early ones to depict violence. Still a fairly moderate hit reaching #31. The guitar and bass are terrific here.

[@DerGlaetze]

One of the very first punk anthems and pure gold.

[@avstud09]

Wow, takes me back a ways! Calle in the sixties-loved it!

[@benhallums2654]

THE LEAVES' Hey Joe Hits THE Billboard HOT 40 Chart on 6/18/1966 for 4 Weeks at No. 31 on MIRA RECORDS.

[@clarkewi]

Huge hit in LA spring / summer '66. LSD not illegal until October. An amazing year. Led to London -LA- SF axis. World has still not recovered.

[@MrDonsullivan]

clarkewi Oh man what a summer that was in LA. Sunset Blvd was wall to wall people, big open drug fueled parties in the canyons, bumping into rock stars on the street,,, the best of times.

[@levalpat]

damn.. I was alive and kicking as a young teen in 1966 in LA and I never heard this!!!

[@clarkewi]

@@levalpat I was very fortunate. I was in a band that played Hollywood venues like the Hullaballoo and Cinnamon Cinder. Through other musicians I met from Laural Canyon, I learned about "Acid Tests" that the Grateful Dead played at. Owsley's "White Lightning" was not yet illegal (until October). Jerry and the boys were hawking it like candy at Schwab's drug store on the Sunset Strip. Check out Riot On Sunset Strip (1967) - Mimsy Farmer's Trip. On KZbin. This will give you a flavor of that crazy era.

[@clarkewi]

But I would do it all over again if I could.

[@1blastman]

this is an awesome playlist Thanks for posting this.

[@radioman66]

@marjimjohn Jim ended up playing bass for The Turtles by late 66 early 67. He is on "Happy Together" and all the other Turtles hits. He stayed with them until 1970 then he, Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman joined up with Frank Zappa around 70, 71 time period. Jim is out of the music business professionally, he was real big in creating "NFL Films" the doccumentation of filming football games and reviewing them on sports shows and for the team and coaches to study. He's retired now.

[@spyderlogan4992]

This is the very 1st version of Hey Joe I heard; And every high school garage band I played in did this arrangement.

[@martyacosta2335]

I played this song in our garage band back in 1965. I was 10 years old. We played it at the battle of the bands on Cermak Ave in Chicago. I couldn't get the bass lick right so I improvised. I played the first notes right and then I'd run my fingers all over. After we played two older guys approached me praising me on how I played it. I thought they were making fun of me so I went home and learned how to play it correctly. This was imperative since we got offered to play at Lincoln Park Zoo a few weeks later. I never heard the Jimi version until 1969. My brother Joe was on lead guitar and he was 13. I don't think any of us was older than 13. I never knew who made this verion until today. Had you asked me before who made this song I probably would have guessed, The Shadows of Knight.

[@jamesarnette1394]

This comment seems really familiar. It seems like I read almost the exact same thing in the comments from a different video. What would make a person issue the same opinion about different things multiple times?

[@martyacosta2335]

@@jamesarnette1394 I may have posted this comment on the "Leaves" video. Or, someone stole my comment.

[@alandyzenhaus3185]

I've downloaded around 500 versions of Hey Joe! This is far from the first although by far the best. It's not even The Leaves first recording of it. Jim Pons on bass and vocals went on to join the Turtles. When he quit the music business he became the video editor for the NFL's New York Jets!

[@libraryquiet]

This is great. I like the way they sing it. In that hurry up broken way. Very original.