Groovin'

Like thumbing marshmallows into the anus of a cat.

Perfectly fine I guess, but nothing here differentiates them from the other 10000 bands chasing the Beatle's coattails in the late 60's

There are some nice passages, but overall I don't get it. Unmemorable album that could be kicked out of the 1000 to make room for a more recent album.

Probably the worst combination of band name and album cover I have ever seen. Actually not bad tho. Quite enjoyable with some really good tracks.

I generally like this kind of 60s pop but as the album went on it wore thin with me, particularly when they got to "a place in the sun" which I thought was overdone.

I wanted to hate this hippie nonsense, but then it had so many classic bangers.

Ce n'est pas moi qui vais rédiger la critique du jour, mais bien mon grand-père avec qui j'ai partagé l'écoute de cet album. À toi Papy : "J'ai beaucoup aimé entendre cette musique rock dont le rythme me rappelle ce que j'écoutais dans ma jeunesse. De belles voix avec des rythmes très dansants. Un moment rare que j'aimerais renouveler." Vous l'avez probablement remarqué, mon grand-père n'a aucun savoir-faire en terme de critiques musicales. Je me vois obligé de reprendre la main. L'album est nul. Les Rascals sont des merdes. Le leader du groupe, l'ignoble Dizzee Rascal nous offre une performance en dessous de tout. D'abord sur le titre Dizzee Rascal Type Beat, puis sur la chanson Zone dans laquelle il répète inlassablement "Laissez-moi chuis dans ma zone, Neksan Orelfeu, Orelzi, Dizfeu, Nekzi, Dizsan, I don't speak but french but Nekfeu, Orelsan, Dizzee, Neksan, Orelfeu...". À oublier.

"Groovin" is a perfect, timeless song so this album has that already going for it (Groovin is a 5). "How Can I Be Sure" is another classic. And there's a song I only knew as a Pat Benetar song ("You Better Run"). The other songs don't really compare to those gems, but it's still a great listen overall.

I enjoyed listening to this much more than I thought I would.... generally from listening to random music from this album generator, I think I'm realizing I like 60s music more than a lot of other styles/genres

This album was so much fun to listen to. So glad I didn't skip this recommendation

Dudes hit every genre in one album. A waltz halfway through the album? Come on...they did that

Mostly innoffensive stuff. Occasionally some jarring, incongruous guitar arrangements, as might be expected from a rock band doing soul, but on the whole they are probably the blackest sounding white men I've heard. David Cassidy was obviously a fan, he covered 2 of their songs. An interesting historical footnote, but not sure why it would be on any list of essential albums.

Great 60's album.

Great album. It's another one of those where I already knew half of the songs, but hadn't quite figured out who the artist was.

Kind of meh they sound like they are trying to ride the Beatles coat tails

Oh, I love this group and their songs. While I listened to these songs when I was 10, I continue to appreciate them, even more today. I had no idea they had a song with such a strong Latin connection - Sueno.

A pleasant surprise. I'll add this whole album to my regular rotation

A solid blast from the past.

Super vibey! Really solid album from front to back.

10/10 PSYCHEDELIC POP !!!!!!!

Not too shabby! This one is going into the rotation

Great listen-I had kind of forgotten about this album. Great collection of songs.

I love 60s pop music, so there was pretty much no chance I wasn't going to love this record. I'm familiar with the hits from The Young Rascals, but this entire album is solid top to bottom. My favorite tracks are probably, "A Girl Like You," "How Can I Be Sure," "Groovin'," "I Don't Love You Anymore," and " A Place in the Sun," so pretty much the entire record. A total delight to listen to!

Really loved this

This album feels like a greatest hits album to me. There are a couple of weak tracks, but the Young Rascals put their stamp on blue-eyed soul here. Granted, it's like eating cotton candy and there isn't a ton of depth here, but I think that can be said for a lot of bands in the 1960's who were churning out pop hits.

White Soul awesomeness

Holy cow! Such an amazing collection of songs... This is a killer album, and I'm adding it to my library for repeated listens.

This was just really solid. Loved every song. Great listen.

A lot of fun. Several songs I knew but not in their original form. I was totally groovin'.

I love this group. When I first saw the cover I didn’t realize what was on this album. “How Can I Be Sure” with its wonderful 3/4 time and accordion. How did I not notice the red “This LP Has The Big Hit ‘How Can I Be Sure’” on the cover?! “Groovin’” with the wonderful birds. “A Girl Like You,” “A Place in the Sun,” “I Don’t Love You Anymore,” “You Better Run,” “A Place In The Sun.” That’s a lot of songs I recognize off this! This has a lot of soul sprinkled with bits of psychedelia that sounds great. Love this great specimen of 60’s pop!

Hells yes. great stuff. very groovin.

If you’re looking for great top quality 60s pop, this album is perfection. Sounds great, good run time, catchy and mellow songs, it’s all the jolly from that era.

Chill album, nice vibe

Excellent..forgot just how good this album is…dating myself, but this was a great era for music..listened a few times

banger

Big fan, very me! Surprised I hadn't listened to much of them before

Very good! Full of fun songs :)

Really good! Great voices, classic sound and lots of interesting tunes. Even my kids like it (although it does sound like an Italian restaurant in places)

Beatles ripoff (complimentary)

I went into this one not expecting much, but I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed it. This was a very good album. I think I liked pretty much everything here. I actually kept having this album and song come up when I would search for Aretha Franklin's cover of the title track of this one, and I was pleased to find that the original is pretty good as well. I think I enjoy Aretha's version just a bit more though. I really enjoyed How Can I Be Sure and I Don't Love You Anymore, but as I said everything here is pretty good. Fun fact: The intro for Sueno is sampled in A Tribe Called Quest's track I Lost My Wallet in El Segundo. I immediately recognized it and was very surprised. Also a good song. I was debating on whether to give this a 4 or a 5, and if I had half stars it'd definitely get a 9/10, but I don't. I just don't think it quite reaches into that 5 category, though.

4.0 - If Zombies had gone in a more Motown direction instead of diving into Sgt. Peppers psychedelia, the result would sound something like this. Standout: “Groovin’” but it’s all pretty good. A solid little pop record from 1967 .

They have a nice sixties pop sound. I like the arrangements, though it looks like many of the artists (horns for example) go uncredited. The pop hits are catchy – it was good to hear “How Can I Be Sure” for the first time in 50 years or so. The 2 lead vocalists can sing. Looking at the albums that were released the same month in '67, we have The Who Sell Out and Headquarters by The Monkees, which sound spoofy and retro by comparison, except for I Can See for Miles, of course. This is an eclectic and well produced outing from a bunch of Italian guys from New Jersey.

Don't think this could be more 1960s if it tried. Mild psychedelia? Three-chord garage rock? Trippy flute solo? Blue-eyed soul? Check, check, check and check. It all holds together really nicely though! Side two is the strongest, kicking off with the immortal summertime stroller 'Groovin'' and finishing on the wonderful 'It's Love'. My favourite cut, though, is the driving, aggressive 'You Better Run' - it kicks ass on a reasonably wimpy album. Very good all told.

This is pleasant, robust and refuses to stay in the centre of my attention for the length of a song. Good twang and croon, nonetheless.

album for simps (complimentary)

It’s perfectly fine 60’s pop/rock music.

New kid to the group. Hi guys! Seems a mix of styes across songs. Some blues influence, some 60s West Coast reverb in the guitars, some East Coast beach music. Find Somebody is the standout with that first note evoking U2’s Desire, the Safaries, or the opening scene of a Tarantino movie

So I was aware of this band as I was coming of age in the mid-70’s, but was never a fan of late 60’s pop, and had never listened to this album before – so it was a good exercise… Pros - I was worried when “A Girl Like You” & “I’m So Happy Now” comprised 2 of the first 3 tracks, as that stereotypical, late 60’s pop sound with the “required” pre-arranged pop brass charts just grates on my musical nerves – but thankfully those were the only poor tracks on the album… - I liked the diversity outside of the 2 mentioned above, as it seemed like they were experimenting – and I always appreciate that… - The 3 hits from this album were really well done for its time, and I gave all 3 of them 5-stars out of 7 on my ranking scale, so – - “How Can I Be Sure” - “Groovin” - “You Better Run” The last of the 3, was the original to the definitive version that Pat Benatar would record on her “Crimes Of Passion” album in 1980 – which was stunningly good, but kudos to the Young Rascals for creating it in the first place… Cons - The album was recorded in mono, and I get it was the late 60’s but, but that was kind of a drag… - The lyrical content outside of the hits, is absolutely dreadful schlock… The basic theme of the songs from start-to-finish is – - I’m looking for someone like you… - Okay, I found somebody… - Yay – let’s get married now… - Oh no – maybe I’m having some second thoughts… - Wait, maybe it’ll be okay… - Well I guess now we’ll just be groovin’… - Oh wait – maybe I really don’t think I love you anymore… - Uh – I’m pissed, so you better run and get away from me… Ugh… Anyways, based on the 3 top-shelf songs, combined with the creativity and diversity displayed throughout the album, I’m gonna give this a solid 3…

Quite easy to listen to and Groovin’ is a classic song. I don’t know if this is an album that everyone “has to hear” so I’m not rating it that high.

A diverting album with great production. Sort of like The Zombies meets Tom Jones.

Well, I can say for sure that the song Find Somebody was not meant to be listened to on headphones, because the complete switch between left and right ear for the guitar is super unpleasant. Like, it feels like my headphones are breaking in time with the music Setting that monstrosity aside, this is an interesting album. The famous songs don't really start until halfway through. The hits off of this album are great. Most of the rest of the songs are a bit dull. They are in the process of becoming a psychedelic band here, but it doesn't feel full formed yet. Perhaps that's appropriate since this is their last album as the Young Rascals before they dropped the "Young" 3/5 Fun at times, but also annoying at times and uninteresting at other times

Blue-eyed soul, with a psychedelic tinge - bonkers panning of the guitars, especially.

They walked so the Beatles could be substantially better... and make music before them

How is this released in '67 and not '63-'64? It sounds really outdated and I'm sure it must have done so at its release as well. There's a few fun songs, "I'm So Happy Now", "A Place In The Sun" and "It's Love". But mostly it just sounds like discount Beatles.

One stone cold classic soul song, one well know pure 60's pop hit. Throw in some baladeering, some straight rock and a spattering of everything inbetween and you get a band who don't sound like themselves. There doesn't seem to be a Young Rascals sound, and I for one am prepared to hold that against them.

Not terrible but not very exciting. It's just there. One of those albums. There were so many big, game changing albums in 1967 and this ain't one of 'em.

"white soul" isn't a genre, it's cultural theft

yo this has gotta be the best "generic" late 60's album. only one dud track

This one is far more than its title track, tho 'Groovin'' is one of the most profound feel-good tracks of all time. The album is all positivity: 'I'm so happy now'; 'I feel a strange, exciting thing about to be'; 'Life could be ecstasy / You and me endlessly.' Even on a song like 'I Don't Love You Anymore,' assertiveness is the name of the game: 'It's like my life had just begun.' Their cover of 'A Place in the Sun,' which more than equals Stevie Wonder's 1966 breakout, maintains the record's sanguinity. Susan Sontag once wrongly criticized Gertrude Stein for being 'all affirmation,' for not being 'where there is an adversary, a problem.' How we explore happiness constitutes an artistic conundrum, a 'problem' if you will. Felix Cavaliere and his fellow New Jerseyites are enthralling explorers of joy: 'You'll never see me complaining / 'Bout love - I'm in all the way.' Same.

This may be the best distillation of 1960s popular music we’ve heard to far. There is soul, psychedelic rock, garage rock, and colorful pop all here and it works! The Young rascals packed a lot into 35 minutes.

Maybe there’s some nostalgia at play, but these tunes warm my heart and get my toes tapping!

Some soulful ass white dudes lol

"Groovin'" is the third album by American rock band the Young Rascals. Blue-eyed soul is the Wiki-listed genre. It's that and a lot more. Eight of the eleven songs were released as singles. The Young Rascals included Felix Cavaliere (vocals, keyboards, organs), Eddie Brigati (vocals, percussion), Gene Cornish (guitar, vocals, bass, harmonica, percussion) and Dino Danelli (drums, percussion). Commercially, the album reached #5 in the US. A prancing piano opens "A Girl Like You." Cavaliere strong on the vocals. Soulful with the horns. Great male and female backing vocals. Here's your blue-eyed soul. A dark, edgier guitar begins "Find Somebody." A tambourine and keys. They're venturing into pyschedelia on this one. Brigati on the vocals. Three songs, three different lead singers. Gene Cornish takes the reins on "I'm So Happy Now." Excellent vocals, horn accentuated. The drumbeat and music is very poppy 60's. The first side ends with the tremendous "How Can I Be Sure." Another prancing piano intro with Brigati on lead vocals. Strings and a trumpet. Wow, they've successfully gone cabaret/baroque. The self-titled "Groovin'" opens side two. Birds singing and a more Latin American beat welcome us in this chill song. A melancholic harmonica. It's the one song I had heard the most on this album. Just in case you wondered if they can rock, exhibit "You Better Run." Pounding drums, harder-edge guitar and Cavaliere wailing. Garage rock at its finest. The album closes with "It's Love." A swirling piano and, yes, flutist Hubert Laws enters the song. An interesting jazz-rock fusion of sorts. What makes this 1001 challenge worth it is when across an album you had little to no idea about and it blows you away. I've had it happen a handful of times and this is one of those albums: a fantastic album! There is so much to like here. Three different lead vocalists, all outstanding, as are harmonies and backing vocals. Yes, blue-eyed soul but also 60's pop, garage rock, pyschedelia, Latin American beats, R&B, ballads, jazzy and cabaret/ baroque pop. Eight of eleven songs were singles but the album has a great flow. No fillers. An album everyone needs to hear.

This reminds me of sitting on the porch or the basement with my dad back in the seventies listening to the “oldies.” If I don’t give this 5 stars, he may haunt my radio until it knocks some sense into me. Besides, this album is just plain awesome.

This album is groovin'. Great from top to bottom. Thoroughly enjoyed listening.

Got damn

The only rascals album I ever owned was the greatest hits, which i love every song on. But this brings a different feel. One that is more varied I think. Going to go buy this one on vinyl as listen to it. Great album.

Well I loved it. Might be considered boring but Groovin’ is just perfect. A masterclass for songs to get stuck in your head.

i think ultimately, this album in the grand scheme of things is not very important, but i adore it a lot. i don't know if it has aged very well - it definitely sounds like a mid-late '60s album and modern listeners may find it mundane, but i was raised on this album and the rascals in general. i think the crop of songs is great, the sound of the rascals, at the time, was fairly groundbreaking, and the musicianship here is extremely underrated, especially the drumming of dino danelli (some of the greatest fills of all time!). is this a monumental album from 1967, in hindsight? maybe not. i still love it a lot.

Hatte Angst als ich die Jahreszahl sah, aber der rhythmische Groove der sich durchs Album zieht gefällt mir

That vibrato is something else. Also the nicest breakup song ever, barf

lives up to the album’s name

Basically flawless and a pure joy.

👍

Loved it

Fantastic classic

I was a little surprised by this album. I was previously familiar with Good Lovin' (not on this album) and Groovin' but no other songs by The (Young) Rascals. However, then I realized when listening that I recognized quite a few of these songs. This is firmly in "oldies" territory rather than "classic rock" in the instrumentation and song structure. The songs are really good; I would listen to this again.

Enjoyed this! Psych pop with tasty harmonies and interesting instrumentation.

Happy 60s album

Really enjoyed it

Guay

16/03/25 I had never heard of this band before. It was a good album.

Not an artist I was familiar with (other than the name) but it was a nice pop record.

It is very good 60's rock with soul music influences. I saw several people's comments that this recored sounded like a knock off of The Beatles or trying to imulate them in some way. This record came out in 67 when The Beatles released SPLHCB. Now it may just be me but this record sounds nothing like that, not sure what they were listening to. This record is very soulful and had some very iconic tunes and the band definitely had their own sound.

Groovin’ by The Young Rascals might not have redefined the ‘60s music landscape, but it’s a fascinating gem that shows the band experimenting with soul, psychedelia, and Latin influences. While it never quite reaches the heights of its more celebrated contemporaries, its best moments—Groovin’, How Can I Be Sure, You Better Run—prove The Young Rascals were capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the big names of the era. It’s an album that feels slightly overlooked, a reminder that not every great album from the ‘60s became a cultural monolith—but some are still well worth discovering.

One of positives of this exercise is the reminders of forgotten great music. And the forgotten music leads to an appreciation of an entire album not heard before. This is one of those albums.

Interesting use of instruments, some real nice songs

A solid example of its genre, though not the most famous. I had already heard How Can I Be Sure and Groovin, so I was glad to hear the rest. You Better Run was the biggest surprise, some welcome hard rockin

What an enjoyable album, I want this on vinyl for evenings when I’m thinking about life. Sure it’s reminiscent of the Beatles in a lot of ways but I don’t think in this case it is a bad thing compared to other similar sounding albums. They have their own voice here that’s representative of the time and isn’t a copycat. That’s refreshing. They touch on some beautiful motifs around love and depression and loneliness and yet I feel upbeat somehow. Groovin is a great track and find somebody eerily has a similar opening sound hard days night

This was really pretty great -- a time capsule in the best ways.

Beam me back to 1967 because this was groovy as hell!!!!!

Never listened to this album before so I'm surprised by how many classic songs there are. And a couple that I've never heard that were surprisinly good (Sueno was my favorite). For an absurdly pop LP, its pretty impressive.

Fun rock and soul from the late '60s. They also verged on some psychedelic sounds while being very mainstream. Hard not to like this.

I like it, and it gave me a cute song to send to gravy. 4/5

Good album

Enjoyable listen, but this album really feels like it was just made as a cash grab because of Groovin'. I don't really have a whole lot of input on this one, but I did really enjoy the organs for some reason. They scratched a part of my brain I didn't know I needed scratched. Solid listen, would listen again. But Christ what a horrific album cover.

I'm into it, and I agree; it is Groovin'. It transcends the 60s and doesn't feel tethered to that time. It's just the right amount of nostalgia.

good clean fun!

Sunshine perfection with a hint of the psychedelia they would embrace. Groovin' is sublime.

This is what this list is all about-- I knew a couple of songs off this album and they weren't even the best ones! have a new respect for the 60s magic of TYR.