March 03, 2025

1967 - December: The Young Rascals ”Groovin’”

31 minutes

The Young Rascals were one of the early groups which would define the genre of "blue eyed soul." For a period of two to three years, this group would generate hit after hit. Their third album, Groovin', would close out the era in which they were known as “The Young Rascals,” because follow-up albums would see them using simply the name "The Rascals."

Felix Cavaliere was a classically trained pianist, and joined a band called the Starliters, where he met David Brigati and his younger brother Eddie. Cavaliere convinced Eddie Brigati and guitarist Gene Cornish to leave the Starliters and form a band, recruiting jazz drummer Dino Danilli to flesh out the band. They called themselves "Them" until they found out that a group out of the UK was already using that name (Van Morrison's band). They settled on "The Young Rascals" when comedian Soupy Sales used them as his back-up band when he toured the college circuit in 1965.

Much of this album is a collection of singles rather than a cohesive piece of music. Eight of the eleven songs are either A-side or B-side single releases.

The Rascals moved into a more psychedelic direction after this album, and they would be largely done by the early 70's. They were early inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, receiving that honor in 1997.

Bruce presents this soulful album for this week's podcast.

Groovin'

This signature song from the group almost didn't make it as a single. Atlantic Records pushed back on this track because it was very different from the sound of their other songs, having a more Latin influence. The inspiration for the lyrics was Cavaliere's girlfriend Adrienne Buccheri. He only got to see her on Sundays because he was so occupied with the group, music, and touring on other days.

You Better Run

Many listeners who grew up in the 80's will be more familiar with Pat Benatar's cover of this song than the Young Rascals' original. It was released a year before the album as a single, in May 1966. The song has more of a garage band feel than other songs on the album.

A Girl Like You

This is the lead-off song for the album, and went to number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Upbeat, feel good, this is the opening song of new love. It starts off subdued with piano and vocals, then builds into the horns and percussion.

If You Knew

This song was released as the B-side to the single "I've Been Lonely Too Long" from their previous album called Collections. It is the only song on the album to be listed as written by all member of the band. Most songs were written by Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel (from the motion picture “The Graduate”)

Dustin Hoffman's got his breakthrough role in this coming of age film.

STAFF PICKS:

Green Tambourine by the Lemon Pipers

Rob leads off the staff picks with the best known song from a short-lived Ohio band. Unfortunately the success of this song would cause the record company to pigeonhole the group into doing more songs in the psychedelic genre. The group was unenthusiastic about this direction, and would leave the label in 1969, dissolving shortly thereafter.

Sunshine of Your Love by Cream

Lynch brings us a signature song from the original supergroup. The song arose out of a bass riff that Jack Bruce created after seeing Jimi Hendrix for the first time. Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton take turns with vocals while Ginger Baker utilizes a tribal beat on percussion.

I Can See for Miles by The Who

Wayne features the only single from the Who album “The Who Sell Out.“ Although it went to number 9 on the US charts, guitarist and writer Pete Townshend expected it to do much better. The Who made use of the studio as an instrument on this heavier, psychedelic song, using techniques similar to the Beach Boys and the Beatles at the time.

I Second That Emotion by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

Bruce closes out the staff picks with a song that originated from a trip Smokey Robinson and Al Cleveland took to a Detroit department store in search of a gift for Robinson's wife Claudette. When Robinson told the salesman of a set of pearls, "I sure hope she likes them," Cleveland accidentally said "I second that emotion," rather than "I second that motion." The two laughed about it and wrote this song which would go to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Hip Hug-Her by Booker T. & the M.G.'s

We close out with a funky instrumental which was on the charts at the time.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings