Customer Reviews

Groovin'

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Collectors Choice is getting to be as good at reissues as Rhino Records with these Rascals reissues of all seven of their Atlantic albums (Sundazed has the other two, originally on Columbia in the Rascals' final years). What's particularly nice about the first four of these is that you get the stereo AND mono mixes of all the songs (in the case of Once Upon a Dream, the mixes are noticeably different) along with completely restored cover art and liner notes. Groovin', as many others have said, might be the best place for the uninitiated to start their Rascals collections (along with the Ultimate Rascals package on Warner Special Products with 20 tracks, including everything on the Time Peace Greatest hbits disc and six more). Great job, Collectors Choice...some long overdue respect for these classics!

The Young Rascals never got better at writing perfect blue-eyed soul pop songs than with "Groovin'". One of their finest albums, the band blended a variety of styles into their music quickly developing their own identit and sound. The singles "Groovin'" and "How Can I Be Sure" were both top twenty hits that featured ambitious productions and rich arrangements/melodies. There isn't a single track of filler on the band's third album.

We get both the stereo and mono mixes (which differ slightly here)remastered by Bill Inglot and Dave Schultz. Inglot and Schultz do a terrific job avoiding all of the missteps that make most remasters horribly flawed; none of the albums are loud/compressed and feature a nice wide dynamic range. Be prepared there is tape hiss as these were recorded in the mid-60's and I have to salute Inglot and Schultz for NOT giving into the temptation of using noise reduction (which alters the sound).

We get full credits for the album as well as a nice brief essay on the making of the album.

The Young Rascals (they were soon to drop the "Young" part of their name which they hated and was added at the insistence of their record company)were America's secret weapon in pop music during the 60's producing some of the finest albums of the 60's. Add in the detailed arrangements by Arif Martin and the top notch performances and you've got a classic album. Highly recommended.

The sound of this Cd is crystal clear.

This was one of my favorites albums when I started to listen rock.

Used to play it before Zeppelin 2. Several Top Ten included. In my opinion, the Rascals best album. The "See" album is my 2nd choice from this band.

Brings great memories.

I got it at a bargain price.

Simply said: A Perfect Buy!!!!

The four lads from NYC outdo themselves on this release. The title cut still stands up 40 years later. The vocals and musicianship provide indication of the sophisticated layered sound the Rascals would produce on future releases. Chuck Rainey provides a low end bass groove that dominates the feel of the tracks, which are lead by the screaming organ and thumping backbeat. Recommended listening to return to an earlier, more innocent time.

I've worn out the old LP version of this which I bought as a cutout 35+ yrs ago (to say nothing of other Rascals and anything else that was on Atlantic--they had some kind of rampant overstock policy forever). I'm rating it on the strength of the album alone, which was probably the best from this vastly underrated group. But if there was a flaw in their recordings it was the stereo mixes which sounded like some 5 year old was playing with your balance knob on your stereo. Just listen to the intro to "Find Somebody". Chalk it up to experimentation during the early years of stereo, but the mono is bound to be a bit less distracting. If someone came out with 2 titles on one disc, all in mono, (instead of one album in two mixes) it might've been a better idea. Better yet, find the original masters and remix them into stereo that doesn't sound so ridiculous.