The seeds of what was to become The Classics IV were sown in Jacksonville, Florida in the early 1960s when a young drummer named Dennis Yost joined some high school classmates in a band called "The Echoes". By 1965, he had moved on to form a another group with James Cobb, Wally Eaton, and Joe Wilson, calling themselves "The Classics". Wilson was eventually replaced in the group by Dean Daughtry.
The group achieved their first taste of success with a local hit titled "Pollyanna" written by Joe South. The band started to attract attention, not only for their soulful sound, but Dennis was one of the few drummers to play while standing up and also singing lead. When the band learned of a New York City group that had a small amount of success with a song titled "Till Then," using the same name, they changed their handle to "The Four Classics" and eventually "The Classics IV".
By 1967, the band had moved to Atlanta, Georgia and were soon approached by Bill Lowery of The Lowery Music Group, who secured a recording contract with Capitol Records. For their first release, guitarist James Cobb and producer Buddy Buie added lyrics to an instrumental called "Spooky", a regional hit for saxophonist Mike Sharpe. After the record's release, it was picked up by a radio station in Louisville, Kentucky and began to get airplay. The song's popularity spread nationally and it climbed to number 3 on Billboard's Hot 100 in early in 1968, although it only reached number 46 in the UK.
Now in demand for TV and live appearances, the group hired drummer Kim Venable and brought Dennis Yost to the front to sing. A follow up song called "Soul Train" failed to match the success of "Spooky", but another tune written by James Cobb and Buddy Buie, "Stormy" shot up the chart to number 5 in 1969, becoming the band's second million seller. Later the same year, they scored a number 2 hit and a third gold record with "Traces Of Love", also written by Cobb and Buie. Touring with the hottest acts of the day, Dennis Yost and The Classics IV scored two more hits in late 1969, a number 12 hit called "Every Day With You Girl" and "Change Of Heart" which reached number 25.
They changed their name again, to Dennis Yost and the Classics IV, and had one last minor hit, "What Am I Crying For?" (1972, #39) on the MGM South label.
As musical tastes changed, guitarists James Cobb and Dean Daughtry, along with producer Buddy Buie left The Classics IV to team up with some former members of Roy Orbison's back up band. The result was The Atlanta Rhythm Section, who would go on to have an impressive string of hits in the 70s, including two Top 10 records, "So In To You" and "Imaginary Lover" along with their own cover version of "Spooky".
An attempt to feature Dennis Yost as a solo artist never got off the ground and he could only muster minor success with, "Midnight" and "Where Did All The Good Times Go", as he switched labels to Imperial in 1972. One last top forty entry, "What Am I Crying For?" was released on the MGM South label and a final effort, "Rosanna" stalled at number 95 in March of 1973.
Although he could no longer make a hit record, Yost never stopped touring, and continued to appear with the likes of Gary Lewis and The Playboys, Chuck Berry, The Drifters, The Coasters, The Turtles, Paul Revere and The Raiders, Eric Clapton and many others. After moving to Nashville in 1993, he added writing and record production to his list of accomplishments. He currently has twenty-seven published works to his credit and produced Barbara Lewis ("Hello Stranger," "Baby, I'm Yours," and "Make Me Your Baby") on a song called "Donor" to help the cause of organ donation awareness.
At the turn of the millennium, Dennis underwent successful throat surgery for a condition that had severely impaired his singing voice. He also won a trademark dispute which gave him exclusive rights to the name "The Classics IV" for both performing and recording purposes.
Where Did All the Good Times Go
Classics IV Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You lived up the highway, 'bout half a mile
We laughed away the hours, runnin' to and fro
Tell me baby, where did the good times go?
I can still remember summers in the shade
Winters by the fireplace, the promises we made
You said, you'd always love me, what happened, I don't know
[Chorus]
Where did all the good times go? Where did they go?
Tell me, woman, if you know, where did the good times go?
I can still remember summers in the shade
Winters by the fireplace, the promises we made
You said, you'd always love me, what happened, I don't know
Baby, where did all the good times go?
[Chorus]
In the song "Where Did All the Good Times Go?" by Classics IV, the singer is reminiscing about his past while reflecting on his current situation. The song is about the loss of good times, the end of a relationship, and the feeling of being disconnected from the world. The singer begins by talking about his childhood, and how he once lived in peace and simplicity. He then moves on to talk about a past relationship, and how he and his partner used to run around together, laughing and having a good time. However, this relationship has ended and he is left alone, wondering where all the good times went.
The lyrics are simple, yet powerful, as they capture the feeling of nostalgia and longing. The chorus repeats the question, "Where did all the good times go?," emphasizing the confusion and sadness that the singer feels. The use of repetition adds to the emotional depth of the song, and the question itself resonates with anyone who has experienced loss or change. The song is a reflection on the changes that life brings, the loss of the innocent joy that comes with youth and the difficulty of finding that joy again as an adult.
Line by Line Meaning
We lived in the country when I was a child
When I was a child, my family lived in a rural area.
You lived up the highway, 'bout half a mile
You lived a short distance away from me, up the highway.
We laughed away the hours, runnin' to and fro
We had so much fun running around and playing together, that time seemed to fly by.
Tell me baby, where did the good times go?
I'm wondering what happened to all the happy times we used to have together.
I can still remember summers in the shade
I have fond memories of the times we spent outside during the summer, enjoying the shade.
Winters by the fireplace, the promises we made
During the cold winter months, we would stay inside by the fireplace where we made promises to each other.
You said, you'd always love me, what happened, I don't know
You told me that you would always love me, but I don't know why our relationship has changed.
Baby, where did all the good times go?
I'm still wondering what happened to all the happy times we had together.
Where did all the good times go? Where did they go?
I'm asking the question again, hoping to find an answer.
Tell me, woman, if you know, where did the good times go?
I'm asking you, if you know where all the happy times we used to share have gone.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BUIE, COBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@omarliu1963
40 years ago, I love this song so bad, nowadays ...where did all the good times go?
@stevetang5175
This song was released in 1970. I was a 7 years old kid. 50 years goes by. It is still my most favorite.
@rodneyrodrigues5178
Love the songs of the 70s one of my favorite love grows by edison light house cheers rodney rodrigues
@fernandodieguez2553
Hermosa canción..Saludos desde Peru
@hsu1162
懐かしい!!
@ssebtze
久違的好歌, 拜謝版主 😜
@billquattlebaum1577
I love this song! Dennis Yost and the Classics IV were great!!!! Nice video, also!
@rodneyrodrigues5178
I remember listening to all these lovely old songs in my growing up days as a little boy those days music really had true melody and meaning un like the music of today there's practically every song either depicting violence orsex themes very demoralising and I must say disgusting not forgetting meaningless
@niyaro1
我變年輕了！
@user-xf3hg3nv6z
老歌不死 只會感傷