Get Together (Chet Powers song)

"Get Together," also known as "Let's Get Together," is a song written in the early 1960s by American singer-songwriter Chet Powers (aka Dino Valente).

The song is an appeal for peace and brotherhood, presenting the polarity of love versus fear, and the choice to be made between them:

:You hold the key to love and fear:All in your trembling hand:Just one key unlocks them both:It's there at your command

It is best remembered for the impassioned plea in the lines of its refrain, which is repeated several times in succession to bring the song to its conclusion:

:Come on people now:Smile on your brother:Everybody get together:Try to love one another:Right now

Recording history

The song was originally recorded as "Let's Get Together" by the The Kingston Trio and released on June 1, 1964 on their album "Back in Town". While it wasn't 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.

A version of the song first broke into the top forty in 1965, when We Five, produced by Kingston Trio manager Fran 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 forty hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when it peaked at number thirty-one. It would be their last.

Jefferson Airplane recorded a version which was released on August 15, 1966 on their debut album, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off. In 1966 Chet Powers, in an effort to raise money for his legal defense on drug charges, sold the rights to the song to Frank Werber.

In 1967, 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 sixty-two. However, renewed interest in the Youngbloods version came when it was used in a television public service announcement as a call for brotherhood by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Re-released as a single in 1969, it became a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number five. This version remains the most-remembered today. The Youngbloods' version of the song has been featured in several films, including Forrest Gump and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Nirvana's bass player, Krist Novoselic screeches out the chorus of "Get Together" at the beginning of Territorial Pissings, from their 1991 album, Nevermind.

Garth Brooks, singing under the pseudonym Chris Gaines, incorporated the chorus into his 1999 song "Right Now." (The songwriting credit went to Powers and folk singer Cheryl Wheeler.)

Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, the media comglomerate company, Clear Channel Communications, included The Youngbloods' version of the song on a list of "lyrically questionable" songs that was sent to its 1200 radio stations in the United States.

elective list of recorded versions

*1964 The Kingston Trio on their album "Back in Town"
*1964 The Byrds
*1965 We Five, US #31 single
*1966 Judy Collins
*1966 Jefferson Airplane on their album, "Jefferson Airplane Takes Off"
*1967 The Youngbloods, US #62 single, re-released in 1969 US top 10 single
*1967 H. P. Lovecraft
*1969 The Cryan' Shames on their album "Synthesis"
*The Carpenters' version of "Get Together" is featured on their first album "Offering" from 1969. The album was later repackaged as "Ticket To Ride" in 1970.
*The Association
*The Dave Clark Five
*Linda Ronstadt
*Anne Murray
*1989 The Indigo Girls on the Epic Records release of their album Strange Fire
*1991 Nirvana referenced this song on their song "Territorial Pissings"
*1994 Big Mountain
*Deana Carter
*Wynonna Judd
*1999 Garth Brooks under the title "Right Now"
*2003 Lizz Wright on her album "Dreaming Wide Awake"
*2007 Ann Wilson on her album "Hope & Glory"
*David and the Giants