95. The Young Rascals - Groovin' (1967)



















Track Listing

1. Girl Like You
2. Find Somebody
3. I'm So Happy Now
4. Sueño
5. How Can I Be Sure
6. Groovin'
7. If You Knew
8. I Don't Love You Anymore
9. You Better Run
10. Place in the Sun
11. It's Love

Review

This is a mildly interesting R&B album with a couple of very good songs. If anything can be said about it, it is the fact that it is very nice. Fortunately, however, there is a certain twist to it. Groovin' doesn't stay comfortably in the pleasing R&B section, they explore both with effects and with psychadelia and garage rock. Therefore not your garden variety easy-listening.

Even so, the album stands out more through it's pleasentness than it's innovations. This is at the same time it's strength and downfall. It is non-offensive but also doesn't push itself far enough.

There is of course the Young Rascals' most famous track in Groovin' but it certainly isn't the most original thing here. Other tracks are much more interesting, like It's Love where the track starts with a perfectly out of place piano to develop into a great track.

It is good, no doubt, but not something I will be adding to my Mp3 player. So, you can either stream it from Napster or buy it from Amazon UK or US.

Track Highlights

1. It's Love
2. You Better Run
3. Sueno
4. Groovin'

Final Grade

7/10

Trivia

From Wikipedia:

Their first minor hit was "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore" (1965), followed by the #1 single "Good Lovin'" (1966, originally by the Olympics). Soon, the band began to mature as songwriters and released other hit songs written themselves, including "Groovin'" (recorded in 1967, it's one of their best-known hits), "It's Wonderful", "How Can I Be Sure" (which got to Number 1 in the UK when Coverd by David Cassidy) and "A Beautiful Morning" (1968).

Their best-remembered song was "People Got to Be Free" (1968), a passionate plea for racial tolerance. Unusual for their time, the Rascals refused to tour on segregrated bills. After "People Got to Be Free", the Rascals never regained their former fame or had as large a hit.

In 1970 Eddie Brigati left the group, followed by Cornish in 1971.

Cavaliere and Danelli released two more albums as "The Rascals", Peaceful World and The Island Of Real, using other musicians and singers. They finally disbanded in 1972.

Cavaliere released several solo albums throughout the 1970's. Brigati (with his brother David) released "Lost in the Wilderness" in 1976. Cornish and Danelli worked together in other groups, including Bulldog and Fotomaker.

In 1982, Cavaliere and Danelli joined Steve Van Zandt in Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, Van Zandt's project between his stints with the E Street Band.

The (Young) Rascals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.