Let's Get Together

"Let's Get Together" by We Five

Picture the mid-1960s, a moment when folk music was electrifying and evolving, when the gentle harmonies of the folk revival were colliding with the energy of rock and roll to create something fresh and vital. Out of that fertile crossroads came We Five, a San Francisco group whose bright, harmony-rich sound captured the optimistic spirit of the era. This recording of a much-loved folk anthem became one of their notable moments and a snapshot of folk-rock at its most hopeful.

A Folk-Rock Group From San Francisco

We Five were among the early practitioners of folk-rock, the genre that emerged when folk's acoustic sensibility met rock's electric drive in the mid-1960s. Based in San Francisco, the group was best known for their gorgeous, intricate vocal harmonies and their bright, jangling arrangements. They had achieved significant success with their version of "You Were on My Mind," a major hit that established them as one of the more polished and appealing acts of the folk-rock movement. Their sound was warm, melodic, and rich with harmony.

A Hopeful Anthem of Unity

This song was a folk standard that had circulated widely, becoming an anthem of community and togetherness. The composition, written by Chet Powers, also known as Dino Valenti, would later become far more famous through the hit recording by another group, but We Five's version stands as an appealing early interpretation. They brought their signature harmonies and folk-rock energy to the material, creating a bright, uplifting take on a song that called for love and unity among people. It suited the idealistic mood of the moment.

A Solid Run on the Hot 100

The single performed respectably on the national chart. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 13, 1965, at number 90, and climbed through the late autumn weeks. It peaked at number 31 during the week of December 25, 1965, and enjoyed a run of eight weeks on the chart. While it did not match the success of their biggest hit, breaking into the Top 40 confirmed We Five's continued appeal and their place within the thriving folk-rock scene of the mid-1960s.

An Anthem That Found a Bigger Stage

The song itself would go on to far greater fame in the hands of others, becoming one of the defining anthems of the late-1960s counterculture. We Five's version, recorded earlier, represents a different and gentler reading of the material, rooted in the polished harmonies of the folk-rock movement rather than the psychedelic energy the song would later acquire. It stands as a fascinating early chapter in the life of a song that would come to embody an entire generation's ideals.

The Birth of Folk-Rock

The mid-1960s witnessed one of the most significant transformations in popular music, the moment when the acoustic folk revival plugged in and merged with the energy of rock and roll. This new hybrid, folk-rock, brought the thoughtful lyrics and rich harmonies of folk together with the propulsive drive and electric instrumentation of rock, creating a sound that felt both meaningful and exciting. We Five were among the early pioneers of this movement, and their polished, harmony-driven approach helped define its gentler, more melodic side. This recording captures that fresh fusion at an early and hopeful stage, before the genre splintered into countless directions.

Why It Still Shines

For lovers of mid-1960s folk-rock, this recording offers a beautiful example of the genre's harmonic richness and optimistic spirit. We Five's vocal arrangements remain a delight, and the song's message of unity feels as resonant as ever. Press play and let those bright harmonies wash over you, a hopeful sound from a moment when music seemed to believe it could bring people together and truly change the world for the better.

"Let's Get Together" — We Five's singular moment on the 1960s charts.