Thank you for uploading this. Up until I played this video, I had never heard a version other than Harry Nilsson's. The group definitely puts their own stamp on this song.
Spanky and Our Gang deserve to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame even if their only song ever was Give a Damn. Of course, their other stuff is brilliant within the context of their era.
Spanky & Our Gang recorded LEAVING ON A JET PLANE before Peter Paul and Mary, and EVERYBODY'S TALKIN' before Harry Nilsson. Great producers, Jerry Ross and Scharf & Dorough found these songs for them.
They performed it live before they ever put out an album. It wasn't put on their debut album, but on the second album. Spanky tells the amusing story of how Fred first sang it to her in that house in Coconut Grove - just do a search for Spanky & Our Gang 2012 Martinez CA
I would give anything to be able to do a Marty McFly and go back in time to when this came out; to see my folks as a young engaged couple, and so many family members who have long since left this world, driving their classic cars and watching Walter Cronkite on the news every night; listening to music like this on their record players and 8-tracks.
i wouldnt insult spanky and our gang by putting them in the so called rock hall of fame.leave that for madonna,grandmaster flash,etc.elaine,judith durham,bev bivens,melanie deserve much more than this
Personally, I feel that this group, even though short-lived, still does not get the recognition and credit they have long deserved. SPANKY & OUR GANG FOR THE ROCK 'N' ROLL HALL OF FAME!!!!!!!
So my teenage years. I forget how long ago it really was.......I always appreciated this group, they just didn't hang around as long as I would have liked. They were pretty cool. : )
Only reason this song became popular years after it was written and recorded by others before Nilsson's version was because it used in the popular movie "the Midnight Cowboy" with Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman..who are we trying to kid here?