Tuesday February 1, 2022 “Concrete & Clay” Unit 4 + 2

As we continue Valentine’s mixtape suggestions we have a 1965 number one hit by a group that obviously wasn’t able to count beyond four otherwise they would have called themselves Unit 6.  And many of you familiar with this song might not think of it as a song detailing indestructible love but according to the lyrics:

“...our love will never die, because we'll see the mountains tumble before we say goodbye…”

“Concrete & Clay” was written by Unit 4+2 band members Tommy Moeller and Brian Parker and after they recorded it in the UK it gained the attention of US record producer Bob Crewe who immediately recorded a near identical sounding version by singer Eddie Rambeau…perhaps a naming inspiration for the future Sylvester Stallone movie series.

In a rare circumstance the Unit 4+2 version as well as the Eddie Rambeau version both charted in the US and experienced a remarkably similar race up the charts but likely impeded both of them from the success that the single sales from both entities would generate.

Russ Ballard, one of the six members of Unit 4+2 would go on to be the lead singer for Argent, the band formed by former Zombie keyboardest Rod Argent and Ballard would also write “New York Groove” recorded as a solo by Kiss member Ace Frehley, ”Winning” by Sanatana and the band America’s last top ten hit “You Can Do Magic” among numerous other songs.

Stay safe and well…and to further complicate the math in this group’s name the video looks like they are Unit 5 + 1 because after the drummer’s cowbell introduction he appears to have gone home.

You to me

Are sweet as roses in the morning

And you to me

Are soft as summer rain at dawn, in love we share

That something rare

The sidewalks in the street

The concrete and the clay beneath my feet

Begins to crumble

But love will never die

Because we'll see the mountains tumble

Before we say goodbye

My love and I will be

In love eternally

That's the way

Mmm, that's the way it's meant to be

All around

I see the purple shades of evening

And on the ground

The shadows fall and once again you're in my arms

So tenderly

The sidewalks in the street

The concrete and the clay beneath my feet

Begins to crumble

But love will never die

Because we'll see the mountains tumble

Before we say goodbye

My love and I will be

In love eternally

That's the way

Mmm, that's the way it's meant to be

The sidewalks in the street

The concrete and the clay beneath my feet

Begins to crumble

But love will never die

Because we'll see the mountains tumble

Before we say goodbye

My love and I will be

In love eternally

That's the way

Mmm, that's the way it's meant to be

And that's the way

That's the way it's meant to be

That's the way

(That's the way it's meant to be)

Whoa, that's the way

That's the way it's meant to be