How About Some Love For The Rascals?

[JSngry]

Ok, I'm driving to see my Mom a few Sundays ago, get out of range of Dallas radio, and switch to East Texas Radio Survival Mode, which means looking for the least barfy oldies station of the moment (used to be a really good Soul station, KZEY-AM, in Tyler, but they've long since turned into a really BAD hip-hop station. Besides, even the best hip-hop ain't made for AM).

Anyway, I found one that seemed to not rely too heavily on the cliches. Commercial break comes up, and the DJ says "When we come back, something by The Rascals. But first, this..." "Oh shit," I think, "it'll be either "Groovin' (great song, great record, but WAAAAYYYY overexposed for me after hearing it for 36 years) or "Good Lovin'" (never cared all that much for it. Nice enough, but...)" So I did a quick scan, found nothing of interest, and came back just at the end of the break. To my surprise, they very next record they played was "A Girl Like You", one that I haven't heard in a good long time.

Well, tell you what. I had forgotten jsut how good that record sounded. And especially how good it FELT. Not really pop, nor rock, nor R&B, none of the above, it actually swings like a jazz side, but of course it's not jazz. It's just a joyous little slab of music that sounds great on the radio and sticks with you in an equally joyous manner for quite a while afterwards. Hell yeah.

So I got to thinking about all the other Rascals hits that were similarly sui generis, and there were quite a few, actually. Good songs, good records, a mighty impressive Top 40 musical legacy. Then it dawned on me that you really only hear just a handful of that legacy on a regular basis today, and that's just not right. When was the last time YOU heard something like "A Girl Like You" or "It's Wonderful" on the radio?

AMG call this one

"Arguably the greatest greatest-hits album of the '60s", and I'll not quibble with that.

So, here's to the Rascals. They done good and deserve better. Check'em out.

Edited July 13, 2003 by JSngry

[Harold_Z]

Yeah Jim....I dig 'em too. For me they're local guys and I used to see them before they made it in some of the local joints. A GIRL LIKE YOU is one of the best and I AINT GONNA EAT OUT MY HEART ANYMORE and IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MORNING are nice sides too. I sprung for the 2 cd Rascals anthology awhile back and never regretted it. Live Felix handled the bass lines very nicely but on the records there's some VERY nice Richard Davis and Chuck Rainey. Also it should not be overlooked the Dave and Eddie Brigati were the Starlighters for JOEY DEE AND THE STARLIGHTERS of PEPPERMINT TWIST fame.

[danasgoodstuff]

According to a stax records fan site (sorry I don't know how to do links but if you run "stax records" in google it's one of the first up) "the singer of the Rascals" (presumabley Felix?) is recording with Steve Cropper (this from an interview with Steve who also said he was working on a new MGs album). OK, I know I used too many parentheses, but it's interesting news nonetheless. I agree that the Rascals were a fine band, way more better than that other organ/no bass R'nR band, the Doors.

[chris olivarez]

JSngry the sides that you mentioned I have'nt heard is so long I've forgotten what they sound like-arrgghh!!! I'll have to dig them up somewhere. I do remember that toward the end of their career that the Rascals did a two lp set with Jazz influences in it.I'll have to dig that up as well.

[jazzbo]

You know, thanks for bringing this thread up. I remember some great music by this band, and haven't heard it in years. They were alright, damn straight.

[BruceH]

I can mention a group that I'd like to hear on the radio: The Remains.

An American 60's group that recorded a double-handful of garage rock gems, had zero hits, and were never heard from again. They deserved better.

[BFrank]

Wow. Bruce.

The Remains!

Good call.

Jim - I hate to say this, but I think "Good Lovin'" is one of the all-time great singles. It's near-perfect, actually.

"Groovin'", OTOH, is not one of my favorites.

[Saint Vitus]

I think the Texans here would like to be reminded that the new HC of the Boys sang "Groovin'" in a Tostitos commercial.

[mikeweil]

AMG call this one

"Arguably the greatest greatest-hits album of the '60s", and I'll not quibble with that.

So, here's to the Rascals. They done good and deserve better. Check'em out.

Noticed this thread only now ..... -_-

I LOVE the Rascals' music, had that Greatest Hits on LP and wore the grooves out. Found them to have much more soul groove than other white bands.

I seriously consider the Rhino handmade 6 CD set .....

[JSngry]

Wow...so much wrong with the visuals, yet in the end, it's right.

[mjzee]

It was great growing up as a kid in the Sixties.

[Brad]

I was never a big fan in the 60s but now when I hear their stuff on the 60s station on XM, I realize how good they were. With age comes knowledge

[Guy Berger]

The album PEACEFUL WORLD is a good one.

[mjzee]

I had the "Lonely Too Long" 45 in the picture sleeve, and remember feeling so naughty because you could see a bare (porcelain) breast (same picture as shown below).

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Also it should not be overlooked the Dave and Eddie Brigati were the Starlighters for JOEY DEE AND THE STARLIGHTERS of PEPPERMINT TWIST fame.

Bloomin' 'eck! I never knew that!

Now that was a nice band. Imperfectly competent I think, but with plenty of enthusiasm and good taste to make it up.

MG