The Young Rascals-
Groovin'
Notes-
Artist: The Young Rascals
Title: Groovin'
Label: Collectors' Choice
Format: CD
Catalog: CCM 802
Recorded- December 28, 1966 - June 22, 1967
Original release: July 31, 1967 Atlantic Records
This CD release: Aug 28, 2007
Line-up/Musicians-
Gene Cornish- Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Eddie Brigati- Guitar, Vocals,Percussion
Felix Cavaliere - Piano, Keyboards, Vocals, Programming
Dino Danelli- Drums
Other credits:
Main Performer, Producer- The Young Rascals
Producer, Arrangements- Arif Mardin
Engineer and Producer- Tom Dowd
Engineer- Chris Huston
Remaster Engineer- Bill Inglot
Tracklist-
(stereo)
1. A Girl Like You
2. Find Somebody
3. I'm So Happy Now
4. Sueno
5. How Can I Be Sure
6. Groovin'
7. If You Knew
8. I Don't Love You Anymore
9. You Better Run
10. A Place In the Sun
11. It's Love
(mono)
12. A Girl Like You
13. Find Somebody
14. I'm So Happy Now
15. Sueno
16. How Can I Be Sure
17. Groovin'
18. If You Knew
19. I Don't Love You Anymore
20. You Better Run
21. A Place In the Sun
22. It's Love
Bruce Eder, All Music Guide says- The Rascals move into the era of psychedelia with a vengeance on this album -- their best of their entire history -- which also retains a soulful core and adds a bit of a Latin beat. The original album on Atlantic was a monster seller thanks to the title track, practically the group's signature tune (number one on the pop charts, number three on R&B), but "Groovin'" was only one small strong point on the album of the same name. "Find Somebody" marked a return to the group's garage band sound with a psychedelic twist, including phased fuzztone guitars and some catchy lyrics and choruses. "How Can I Be Sure" is the second-best-known song off of this album, but it has a fully successful companion piece, "I'm So Happy Now," which applies similar instrumentation to very different (but pleasing) effect. Gene Cornish's "I Don't Love You Anymore" could be the finest pop song in the band's repertory apart from "How Can I Be Sure," with a delectable guitar part, scrumptious melody, and delicious chorus. "You Better Run" was more than a year old when it turned up on this album, and its garage band sensibilities are a bit more primitive than those of "Find Somebody," but it's a great piece of rock & roll. The band turns in one superb Motown cover, "A Place in the Sun," done in a surprisingly subdued fashion. And for a finale, Cavaliere and Brigati turn in an exultant period piece, "It's Love," whose soaring lyrics are matched by guest artist Hubert Laws' flute -- alas, his presence would point the way toward less effective, more disjointed work in the group's future, as they moved more deeply into psychedelia.
Professional Free Press Release News Wire - Los Angeles, CA (OPENPRESS) July 18, 2007 -- The Rascals emerged from New York City in 1966 with a British Invasion look and an American soul– music sound. By the time their golden run on Atlantic was over, they’d racked up an incredible list of hits: “Good Lovin,” “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore,” “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long,” “Groovin’,” “A Girl Like You,” “How Can I Be Sure,” “It’s Wonderful,” “People Gotta Be Free” and “Carry Me Back,” among others.
The principals of Collectors’ Choice Music (CCM) spent years securing reissue rights to the Rascals’ Atlantic albums, and will release them on August 28, 2007. The Rascals LPs have been reissued on CD before, but not with the original mono mixes – which purists (including remastering engineer Bill Inglot) believe to outshine the stereo mixes. So with the first four albums – The Young Rascals, Collections, Groovin’ and Once upon a Dream – CCM includes the stereo versions back-to-back with the mono versions. (Yes, there’s a certain geek factor to that, and that’s what makes CCM great!)
The Rascals were composed of songwriters Felix Cavaliere (organ/vocals) and Eddie Brigati (vocals) along with Gene Cornish (guitar) and Dino Danelli (drums). The series traces their evolution through their garage and soul origins through their mastery of songwriting and their yearning to attain a higher artistic purpose as illustrated on the later albums.
• Groovin’: By the time of Groovin’, the Rascals had graduated to writing most of their own material, and this album bore three huge hits: the title track “Groovin’,” which struck a chord with its strong vocals and lazy harmonica; and “How Can I Be Sure” and “A Girl Like You,” each a pop gem enhanced by Arif Mardin’s sophisticated arrangements. Created in the mono years, CCM again includes both mono and stereo versions.
Don Krider, on Epinions.com says - The Rascals (who once billed themselves as The Young Rascals) offered something for everyone among their 18 Billboard Hot 100 Singles between 1965 and 1971 --- pop, soul, rock, rhythm & blues and jazz influences can be heard in the music of a New York band.
They were unique and exciting enough that Sid Bernstein, the man often credited with bringing The Beatles to the U. S., became their manager. According to Dick Clark, in his book "The First Twenty-Five Years Of Rock And Roll," Bernstein announced the arrival of The Rascals on the music scene at The Beatles' August 1965 appearance at Shea Stadium via the stadium's electronic scoreboard with the message, "The Rascals Are Here!" (prompting folks to ask "Who are The Rascals?").
Critics once labelled The Rascals as "the groups' group" because their concerts were as likely to be attended by the hottest musicians in the world as they were by loving fans. People often seen in the audience at their shows included members of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals and Beatles' manager Brian Epstein.
People who wondered what "The Rascals Are Here!" message meant soon began buying Rascals singles and albums by the millions.
The Rascals took 13 of their singles into the U. S. Top 40, with three singles making it to # 1 on the charts: "Good Lovin'," "Groovin'" (four weeks in the top spot) and "People Got To Be Free."
They dominated the Top 200 Albums charts in Billboard magazine as well, charting with 10 albums between 1965 and 1972. The album being reviewed here, "Time Peace: The Rascals' Greatest Hits," is a steady-seller even today and hit # 1 on the Billboard charts in 1968.
Between 1966 and 1968, four Rascals albums each spent over a year in the Billboard Top 200, with "The Young Rascals" in 1966 logging 84 weeks on the chart (it hit # 15), "Collections" charting for 74 weeks (it peaked at # 14), "Groovin'" tagging up for 59 weeks (peaking at # 5) and "Time Peace: The Rascals Greatest Hits" reaching # 1 during its 58-week chart attack.
Along the way, the band also won Gold Record Awards for three million-selling singles ("Groovin'," "A Beautiful Morning" and "People Got To Be Free") and for five of their albums.
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