The Youngbloods — 12

ALBUM: The Best of the Youngbloods (1967)

MVC Rating: 3.5

‘Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now.’

That lyric is probably one of the most remembered lines in rock music. Quick, who sang it?

Well, you’ve already got the answer in the headline. The Youngbloods weren’t the first to publish; their version was the most popular. But even that requires explanation. The Kingston Trio recorded a version in 1964. The Youngbloods did their version in 1967 but only went to No. 62 on the Hot 100 charts.

Meanwhile, the song was used in a commercial and re-entered the Hot 100 in 1969, climbing all the way to No. 5.

Singer Chet Powers wrote the song, but he is probably best known for his work using the pseudonym Dino Valenti in Quicksilver Messenger Service. He wrote and sang two of Quicksilver’s biggest hits ‘Fresh Air’ and ‘What’s About Me.’

‘Get Together’ has been covered many times. Nirvana used the famous line in their sarcastic intro to ‘Territorial Pissings.”

According to Songfacts.com:

“Get Together” stayed in the zeitgeist, with covers by Linda Ronstadt, The Sunshine Company, and The Staple Singers in 1968, but it didn’t break through as a hit until 1969, when The National Conference of Christians and Jews distributed it to radio and TV stations to support Brotherhood Week.”

For a band now considered one-hit wonders, the Youngbloods were good beyond their hit; The ‘Best of’ includes the hit along with popular album cuts and not-so-successful singles. Youngbloods lead singer Jesse Colin Young went on to have a moderately successful music career.

NOTE: An earlier version of this post had Chet Powers in the band. He wrote the song, but was not in the Youngbloods. He played with Quicksilver Messenger Service under the name Dino Valenti.