What Happened to The Box Tops?

[@jvsmith7888]

Soul Deep is still one of my favorite songs. I can still remember the first time I heard it on Chicago's WLS radio.

[@RockandRollWoman]

Larry Lujack and Art Roberts!

[@jvsmith7888]

@@RockandRollWoman Don't forget Clark Webber and Ron Riley!

[@RockandRollWoman]

@@jvsmith7888 I don't remember Ron Riley. Maybe I had decamped for California by then. Did you go to Navy Pier for festivals?

[@jvsmith7888]

@@RockandRollWoman Ron Riley was one of the DJs at WLS around 1966. I was just a kid then but I listened to the radio a lot on my transistor radio. I remember staying up as late as I could listening to Art Roberts and waiting for "Peter Fugitive." My family had moved north (Aurora) by the time they started having Chicago Fest (then at Soldier Field) and I had grown up with a family of my own. I never did make it to Chicago Fest or the Later replacement at Navy Pier. By that time (late 70's, early 80's) I could hardly stand to listen to the music they played on WLS. Today, I do find myself missing AM radio at times. There's nothing like it today.

[@AnthonyMcInerney-vl5bf]

I was 14 in second year high school in 1969 when Soul Deep was out and it still remains one of my all time favourite songs.

[@oldguy9078]

I saw Bill Cunningham and Gary Talley recently on the 2022 Flower Power Cruise. The show was great we had a huge pool party on the lido deck and all us old hippies in our 70's danced like it was 1968 all over again.

[@dkerr4077]

A really good band of their time. I always wondered what became of them. Heard "The Letter", and made it to second base on the same night. Ahh the memories.

[@dannycorsaro546]

lol me too 🤣🤣

[@antrygis1]

I hear ya man. Workin' on the night moves. The tunes had a lot to do with it.

[@anadraham2995]

BEST. COMMENT. EVER‼️‼️‼️

[@johnnyx9892]

"and made it to second base on the same night." Bro I hope you slid in.......... Headfirst........

[@anadraham2995]

@@johnnyx9892 They teach you to slide feet first these days to avoid injury 🤕 but I'm pretty sure you'd get thrown out attempting that maneuver (unless she's super freaky)...

[@RUSure-jm9rp]

Joe Cocker’s cover of The Letter is also fantastic.

[@PaulSmith-pz9eq]

I loved Soul Deep and the Box Tops I always enjoyed listening as when Mr Chilton passed U understood that Box Tops sound had also passed. A wonderful band of the 60’s. I’m happy I grew up in the 60’s and wish I could go back there .

[@whathappenedtothem_]

Thanks for listening

[@jtshark9283]

just one winge. Chilton was almost broke till Cheap Trick redid one of his songs to be the theme for "that 70's show" Because of the fact he still owned a share of the publishing rights. He was paid $70 every time the show aired. In reruns or first run till he died.

[@susanhutchison1270]

Alex Chilton was only 16 years old when he sang The Letter.

[@elmolewis9123]

I was surprised to hear the band's career went into the '70s. 👍

[@randallanderson1632]

I saw the Box Tops live in Columbus, Ohio in 1969. It was at a medium-size tavern. Personally, I have a problem with concerts where most and in some cases all of the band members never played on their hits, usually because they are replacements.

[@lilajagears8317]

I completely agree.

[@melodymakermark]

When you have a stable of house musicians of the quality Chips Moman had at his disposal, you’re going to use them on the studio cut. It should be noted that all the Box Tops members could actually play their instruments, however.

[@faithf5846]

I heard “I cry like a baby today” in my car. Brought back memories. Such a good 🎵

[@chipmusick682]

What a joy they were to listen to...non-pretentious, make you feel good music made by people who knew what they were doing.

[@KLG777]

Favorite song, soul deep.

[@bltvd]

I saw the original Box Tops perform for the first time since the sixties when i was visiting Memphis in 1998.

[@melvinliles]

Always was a fan of Box Tops..Knew John Evans personally...not a great friend mind you...just knew him. He owned a music store in West Memphis , Arkansas. When I was playing music there and in Memphis...me and a friend, John Ellis, used to hang out there and talk to him all the time...bought an old Gibson from him. Really cool dude. Also was in the hospital one time and got to meet Alex Chiltons mom..She wanted to hook me up with her son.....those were the days.

[@bryanpalmer9660]

Can't believe the behind the scenes politics that went on regarding the Business,can't believe Alec Chilton didn't achieve solo success he was a talented singer and should have with Big Star!

[@markcampbell7554]

Alex Chilton is very underrated. I can't imagine the Box top's without him.

[@whathappenedtothem_]

Agreed

[@michaelharrington75]

You wouldn't have to imagine them without him. Without him nobody would even know who they are.

[@marywatkins6798]

I knew The Letter and Cry Like A Baby as songs, but didn’t know the name Alex Chilton until years later, The Replacements did a song about him.

[@chriswallace9113]

If not for Alex Chilton, college/alternative rock as we know and remember it would simply not exist. He and Big Star are credited by some of the biggest and most influential names in the genre as influences.

[@gordenscottfan3107]

Chilton gave up that soulful singing voice for his natural "amateur" sounding voice and even used it at box tops reunions which ruined the shows.

[@megatron8461]

It’s no surprise that Alex Chilton-as a teenager-and his box tops had The Letter as a soulful masterpiece, and took a backroads-style R&B spin to it.

[@domestikgoddez9823]

i saw them right after they released the letter. my high school had a dance/prom and the they played there. so young... they played the letter about 5 times. my very pretty friend teased and flirted with alex til he blushed. the stage was a 1 ft riser in the gym. so he could hear her and could not avoid seeing her. it was all in good fun. were about 2 or 3 yrs younger than him.

[@DebbieCA]

Wow! Great story! Thanks for sharing.

[@Nazz1952]

We met them in Beverly Shores Indiana, on Lake Michigan, New Years Eve in 1971.

[@terrid7498]

Great band! Love The Box Tops! (TD)

[@antrygis1]

Alex Chilton. That voice. I loved cry Like a Baby as much as the Letter but they never played it on oldies stations that I heard.. Think I'll que it up now. Chilton with Big Star....another tragedy. Lots of guys with lots of talent never got paid....right. Tragic. Wish they, especially Alex had more happy endings.

[@peterhwarren]

Great research. Thank you!!!!

[@whathappenedtothem_]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Maarjaanaa]

The door you closed to me is the best.

[@bennyadler5882]

I think that's Ronnie Jordan at :08, the original co-lead singer of Ronnie and The DeVilles. Ron was there with original member Bill Cunningham.

[@musicisgoodforthesoul999]

Love Alex and Big Star🎶🎶

[@msherer260]

Completely left out in what happened to the Box Tops is the fact the lead singer had used a put on voice all during the hits and went on to TRY and perform the rest of his life (including a few return shows with other Box Top members) with his natural voice a much mellower and not distinctive voice. What made the Box Tops was the Soulful voice Alex Chilton used as the lead singer.

[@joelcampbell1491]

Loved Soul Deep

[@donaldlee1224]

As a young Marine serving in San Diego in 1970, there was a fella in our platoon who said he played with the Box Tops. But according to you the players avoided the draft, which was common at that time. However was there any one you know of with or associated with that played with BT? And know I hold know animosity, it was a crazy time in history. Thanks.

[@dasdguy7606]

Glad you made it back..

[@RETROTV1394]

My favorite version of this song ...From Southern rock band The Boxtops " from Tennessee. Far better than Joe Cockers version .

[@TheRealDrJoey]

Thanks for the fun video.

[@johnnyx9892]

Q: What Happened to The Box Tops? A: They got redeemed....😂😂😂😂

[@taimeuppe6174]

mempho boy here..love them Box Tops

[@gordenscottfan3107]

The brilliance of the Box Tops was the soulful voice the producers had Alex Chilton sing with and the top level studio musicians playing on most of the records. Without the producers getting that voice out of Chilton "The Letter" would never been a hit. Chilton went on to be a cult band hero but using his natural voice was not really good enough to break out.

[@jhutchings7627]

You should mention Talley and his mother, now making wonderful youtube videos together.

[@bolt4694]

I redeemed my box tops for a Roger Ramjet decoder space ring.

[@sillymonkeyplayz4104]

Do the hollies!

[@justgivemethetruth]

Cry Like A Baby is a classic. Chilton looks and sounds a lot like Eddie Money.

[@TyroneEpps]

I like this alot

[@timgutierrez2211]

How can you mention their songs without including SOUL DEEP ? / ?

[@JismIsm-en4kz]

The FAKE Box Tops are playing Westbury Music Fair, Long Island NY - March 18 - Total joke

[@robertsferrazza8774]

All time america and word class best songs/sounding/ music. Top 10 easy ! There are 2000 top 10 bands of all time, you knew w that don't you. Powerful man, yes I said man. One of my wishes is I wish I was born in Memphis.....

[@psmoyer63]

Very cool!

[@amptechron]

Big Star!

[@tonygee50]

The bottom fell out.

[@dougboyer5829]

I met her in church

[@johnmcbarron7282]

Apple Paloosa?

[@gretchensittinger1089]

cool,wunderbar

[@ejdprice]

That video was confusing.

[@andrewcarlton6357]

HERMAN'S HERMITS is my favorite band and these guys are a cheap rip-off.