Customer Reviews

The Young Rascals

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After too many years of being unavailable, this absolute classic comes to us in both stereo and mono versions. For those who were there when it originally happened, you'll find the mono versions punchier and exactly the way you remembered them. This was not a high tech band by any stretch of the imagination during their genesis. Separation of sound in stereo is fine but mono with these guys is where it's at.

This was the first band I ever saw live and the record captured that raw, r&b driven sound. The music is exciting, soulful and totally believable for that period. Eddie and Felix had a certain "simpatico" together, however short-lived. Dino's drumming was dynamic, certainly setting a higher bar for others to aspire to. Gene provided the solid rhythm, an art lost in many of the contemporary guitarists of today. To top it off, nobody quite drove the B3 organ quite like Felix.

Close your eyes and imagine a small club, sweat pouring off the walls, the music pulsating, rhythms driving, kids dancing, screaming, the music never letting go. This is the Young Rascals. I stiell hget doosebumps hearing "Ain't Gonna eat My Heart Out" and their version of "Midnight Hour" which for my money, is the mountaintop.

If you like the Rascals this is the one to get. I bought this on LP in 1967 after seeing them at the Fillmore San Francisco. All songs are in stereo and then they repeat again in mono versions. Great sound in both. Felix Cavaliri is one great singer and keyboard player and the drummer (Eddie) battles it out with him on every song. Makes you want to get up and dance even to the slow songs--very emotional voice. Play-- Do you Feel It-- and you won't be able to sit still. They were great in concert. Felix is still touring with his band--wish he would come to San francisco --I would be first in line to see this genius of rock n roll.

The CD was spectacular, I had this album when I was in Junior High School, and to hear the songs again digitally processed was magnificient.

I recommend that everyone brings back a little of their teen years back to their lives and enjoy the moment. We are never old at heart.

The Young Rascals (aka The Rascals) made the airwaves sizzle with their awesome music; this was only their debut album but right from the start they proved they could perform alongside the best of them! Felix Cavaliere sings and plays a B-3 organ very, very well while Eddie Brigati sings and plays drums and percussion equally well. Gene Cornish sings and plays guitar on this album and Dino Danelli also works some magic with the drums. This fine CD gives us all the tracks from their first record album in both stereo and mono versions; and I do agree with the reviewer who writes that "Mustang Sally" is performed differently in mono than it is in stereo. Actually, it's great to hear both versions; you can decide for yourself which rendition you prefer! (The stereo versions come first followed by the mono cuts of the songs.) In addition, the sound quality is excellent and the artwork incorporates the original record album artwork from 1966.

There's a lot of great music here and I can honestly say I like every track on this album. These songs are also available as MP3 downloads but you won't get both stereo and mono versions of the songs; so I recommend the CD edition to get the songs in both stereo and mono.

"Slow Down" begins with a great guitar intro; they sing and play this number very well and The Young Rascals never let go of a single superfluous note--I like that percussion and the way they switch off between major and minor keys makes the song a standout especially when they perform it. "Slow Down" also has that classic `60s R&B/rock sound I love so much. "Baby Let's Wait" uses the organ really well; and "Just a Little" is easily one highlight of this fantastic album. They perform this faultlessly--what a poignant tune this is!

"I Believe" is a comparatively slower ballad that is very well done and the organ sounds just great. "Do You Feel It," the only song on this album that was written by these artists (Felix and Gene), picks up the pace again with the drums and percussion enhancing the musical arrangement. "Good Lovin'" certainly isn't the longest song on the album but it's easily one of their biggest hits ever--The Young Rascals never sounded better and this tune is incredibly electric! In addition, listen for great covers of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" and another memorable tune, "Mustang Sally."

"I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore" has a man telling his woman she must pick between him and another man; the guitar and organ again work wonders for this tune. The song set ends with a nice Wilson Pickett cover as they perform "In the Midnight Hour" to perfection.

The Young Rascals gave so much to make people happy--and they always succeeded. This is a fine CD for any fan of the band and it also makes a strong starting point for newcomers to the magical artistry of The Young Rascals (aka The Rascals).

Great to have the mono mixes! The mono Mustang Sally is a totally different take! It's slower and in a different key than the stereo version!

Just a note to the other reviewer who mentioned the difference in "Mustang Sally". Check out "Slow Down" in the mono/stereo mixes. One is a half-tone lower than the other. However, I don't think they re-recorded it in a different key (B major) as opposed to the standard key (C major). I think the engineer/producer was twiddling the speed control on the taperecorder.

Been searching quite awhile for this "blast from the past".Growing up as a musician,it inspired me tremendiously! Played alot of their material and to this day,still consider them top notch R&B,Rock& Rollers of the last 4&1/2 decades!! WELL WORTH the purchase!! Much Thanks,in keeping their music alive,from vinyl to CD format.

The Rascals first album was all covers except one song called do you feel it?. They really didn't start writing originals until the second album collections. The rascals are one of my favorite bands and I have the complete discography. I have all that I really need which has all of the Atlantic albums in stereo and the singles versions in either mono or stereo and then the last two albums with only Felix and Dino (Peaceful world and Island of real)released on sundazed. The only thing that I was missing was the first four albums in mono so I purchased the collectors choice releases that have the first four albums in the mono and stereo. The first four Rascals albums were originally released in mono and stereo and the later albums were released just in stereo. What I noticed is that some tracks sound way better in mono and some sound way better in stereo.

Slow down-Best cover of this Larry Williams song in my opinion, blows the Beatles version away! Mono version is okay but I like the stereo better.

Baby let's wait-A really chill ballad that Eddie really shines on. The mono versions sounds way better and is in your face. The stereo sounds very distant and in a cave.

Just a little-Cover of the Beau Brummels with Gene on lead vocals. I like the original much better not that the Rascals version is not bad but I skip over this track. It sounds pretty good in mono and stereo.

I believe-Another really chill Eddie ballad. Felix provides great organ work. Mono version is way better than the stereo version. The mono version is more clear and pristine like and the stereo version sounds sorta distant.

Do you feel it?-The one and only original of the album. Felix is on lead vocals. Not one of their best compositions but I do enjoy it. Sounds decent in mono or stereo but I would go with the mono version.

Good lovin- Cover of the song originally by the olympics. The rascals version is a complete classic. The mono version sounds sorta tame and lame compared to the killer stereo version.

Like a Rolling Stone-Dylan cover, not much of a Dylan fan in the first place so I skip over this one. They do a good job because it sounds a lot like Dylan. Gene Cornish does a great job singing just like Dylan. Have not listened to this track enough to compare mono vs stereo.

Mustang Sally-Don't like this song at all!

I ain't gonna eat my heart out anymore-Absolutely love this song, one of Eddies best vocal pieces. Mono all the way on this one. The stereo version sounds horrible, the mono sounds so clean and crisp and the stereo sounds distorted and horrible.

In the midnight hour-A very good cover of the Wilson Pickett classic. The stereo version sounds way better than the mono.

In all this album was a good debut for a band that would really take off in the near future!!

An interesting debut. These guys had their chops down when they cut this LP but they came up with better material later on. Still, it's interesting to hear them do songs by Dylan and the Brummels. Still recommended. Classic mid-60's stuff.

This is the Rascals debut release, which was an indication of their future greatness. There are a timeless list of hits, including "Good Lovin'", "Mustang Sally", "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore", and "The Midnight Hour", as well as interesting takes on "Like a Rolling Stone", and the Larry Williams song, "Slow Down". The scream of Felix's organ leads most of the songs, and the vocal harmonies are tight. Cornell Dupree and Dino lay a solid backbeat down, which make the R & B tunes swing. A solid, fun release.