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Get Together (Youngbloods song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Get Together
| cover = Youngbloods Get Together.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Youngbloods
| album = The Youngbloods
| B-side =
| released = July 1967 (original)
June 1969 (re-issue)
| recorded = 1966
| studio =
| genre = Folk rock, psychedelic rock
| length =
| label = RCA Victor
| writer = Chet Powers
| producer = Felix Pappalardi
| prev_title = Darkness, Darkness
| prev_year = 1969
| next_title = Sunlight
| next_year = 1969
| misc =
}}
"'Get Together'", also known as "'Let's Get Together'" and "'Everybody Get Together'", is a song by American rock band the Youngbloods, originally included in their 1967 debut album 'The Youngbloods'. It was written in the mid-1960s by American singer-songwriter Chet Powers (stage name Dino Valenti), from psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service. The single was The Youngbloods' only Top 40 on 'Billboard Hot 100'peaking at number five in 1969.
Background
The song is an appeal for peace and brotherhood, presenting the polarity of love versus fear, and the choice to be made between them. It is best remembered for the impassioned plea in the lines of its refrain ("Come on people now/Smile on your brother/Everybody get together/Try to love one another right now"), which is repeated several times in succession to bring the song to its conclusion.
Original recording history
The song was originally recorded as "Let's Get Together" by the Kingston Trio in a live performance in March 1964 that was released on June 1, 1964, on their album 'Back in Town'.[http://www.allmusic.com/album/back-in-town-r96526 The Kingston Trio, 'Back in Town'] Retrieved February 29, 2012. While it was not released as a single, this version was the first to bring the song to the attention of the general public. The Kingston Trio often performed it live.
Cover versions
*A version of the song first broke into the top forty in 1965, when We Five, produced by Kingston Trio manager Frank Werber, released "Let's Get Together" as the follow-up to their top ten hit "You Were on My Mind". While it did not achieve the same level of success as the other, "Let's Get Together" provided the group with a second top 40 hit on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 when it peaked at number 31[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/we-five-p21349/charts-awards/billboard-singles We Five charting singles] Retrieved February 29, 2012. and number 5 in Canada. It would be their last hit record. This was included on their second album, 'Make Someone Happy'.
*The most notable recording came in 1967, when the Youngbloods released their version of the song under the title "Get Together". It became a minor Hot 100 hit for them, peaking at number 62 and reaching 37 on the US adult contemporary chart.[http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Get+Together+by+The+Youngbloods&id=45799 The Youngbloods, "Get Together" 1967 chart positions] Retrieved May 18, 2015. However, renewed interest in the Youngbloods' version came when it was used in a radio public service announcement as a call for brotherhood by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. The Youngbloods' version, the most-remembered today, was re-released in 1969, peaking at number 5 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100.[http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Get+Together+by+The+Youngbloods&id=45800 The Youngbloods, "Get Together" chart position] Retrieved May 18, 2015
*Also in 1968, the Canadian group 3's a Crowd released their version of the song as a single, titled "Let's Get Together". It peaked at number 70 on Canada's national singles chart.
*In 1970, Gwen and Jerry Collins released a version of the song as a single that reached number 34 on the US country chart.[http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Get+Together+by+Gwen+%26+Jerry+Collins&id=121932 Gwen & Jerry Collins, "Get Together" chart position] Retrieved May 18, 2015
*In March 1970, the Dave Clark Five reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart with their version retitled "Everybody Get Together".[http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Everybody+Get+Together+by+The+Dave+Clark+Five&id=42326 The Dave Clark Five, "Everybody Get Together" chart position] Retrieved May 18, 2015
*In 1995, Big Mountain released a version of the song as a single that reached number 28 on the US adult contemporary chart and number 44 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100.[http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Get+Together+by+Big+Mountain&id=4648 Big Mountain, "Get Together" chart positions] Retrieved May 18, 2015 It also reached number 32 on 'Cash Box'.
Chart history
Weekly charts
;The Youngbloods;The Dave Clark Five
Year-end charts
Legacy
*The Youngbloods version of the song has been featured in several films, including: 'Purple Haze', 'Forrest Gump', 'The Dish', Stephen King's 'Riding the Bullet', 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas', 'Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story', and 'Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore'.
*The refrain's lyrics are shouted in muted voice by Krist Novoselic at the beginning of the song Territorial Pissings on the Nirvana 1991 album 'Nevermind'.
*In 1990, the song was used in the TV series 'Midnight Caller' titled "Ryder on the Storm".
*Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, the media conglomerate company Clear Channel Communications included the Youngbloods' version of the song on a list of "lyrically questionable" songs that was sent to its 1,200 radio stations in the United States. 'Slate' published what it claimed was a copy of the list.
See also
* List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States
References
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