Great video from GK&TP performing "The Masquerade Is Over & I Heard It Through The Grapevine" live at the 1969 Harlem Festival. The video quality is excellent. I could watch this over and over!
Enjoy, folks!!
Great video from GK&TP performing "The Masquerade Is Over & I Heard It Through The Grapevine" live at the 1969 Harlem Festival. The video quality is excellent. I could watch this over and over!
Enjoy, folks!!
I'd seen the Grapevine portion before but not the first two and a half minutes or so, which sets up their big hit perfectly. Gladys shows, as ever, she's an incredible singer, and the Pips are great too. Maurice King directs the band.
One of the best live acts ever!!!
Great clips. Some of the Pips moves reminded me of the Marvelettes clip from the 1963 Apollo performance.
I love Gladys Knight and the Pips.
Bubba is so distracting and William is the smooth one. Not sure how to describe Edward's dancing. I barely pay attention to his dancing because the other two are so lively [[I hope I chose the correct adjective). I hate the fact that I never saw the group perform live.
I love the routines during William's lead vocal section on Friendship Train. Gladys joins the Pips on that part.
Check it out at about 2:04
I remember them doing the song and routine on the Andy Williams Show. There was a big locomotive that was part of the backdrop, and the Pips were on the platform bit that went across the top of the wheels of the locomotive. It was bouncing up and down so much it looked as if it were about to give way.
I always pair Friendship Train with You Need Love Like I Do, from the same period, in that they're great, rhythmic songs that are hopelessly unknown to all but us lot.
Yes, of course they were on one single over here, I'd forgotten that. I've looked on youtube for that Andy Williams clip but can't find it.
No problem, guys.
I think "Friendship Train" reached #17 on Billboards HOT 100 & "You Need Love Like I do" only made it to #32 But I like "You Need Love...." so much better.
You're a better hunter than me, Reese... But I was right about the bouncing board.
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