Reviews (page 3 of 7)
I was groovin' from the outset, and while the album started flagging a little in the middle, "You Better Run" and "It's Love" came to the rescue and solidified the 4 in my estimation. Not exactly my go-to style of music, so while I had heard at least three of these tracks often enough, this was mostly new to me. I thought the band was solid, the singing was great, the tunes were well-written, and the whole package had a cohesion and personality that was impressive.
Solid
Classic rock, with some good jazzy leanings
3.7
Better than I expected.
Muito bom. Me surpreendeu demais. A banda é bem diferente do que eu já vi do fim da década de 60.
Breezy pop de va nice
8/10. Credit where credit is due, Aretha Franklin couldn't have covered Groovin' if no one had written it.
Never heard of this band but I really enjoyed this. It was short and sweet.
It was really fun to hear groovin in the wild; otherwise this was just a fun collection of psychedelic pop rock type stuff.
This was great. I knew their hit single, but hasn’t listened to any of the other songs. Very much my style of music.
I was really surprised home many songs I knew on this album especially ‘You Better Run’ that Pat Benetar covered on her debut album. This was solid throughout.
okay, beetles vibes
Reminded me of the Zombies. It's optimistic and lush baroque pop and blue-eyed soul. Many catchy and melodic tunes, this goes beyond the hit singles. Especially enjoyed the more psychedelic tunes. It tries to get flashy at time with unusual instruments like that weird woodwind in "You Better Run" or the organ in "A Place in the Sun", but they don't do much to contribute. After "Groovin", I think I got tired, and the only song that left an impression was "I Don't Love You Anymore." Still, I did enjoy these tunes a lot and felt an urge to sing along at many points.
gillade detta
Groovy!
Soulful easy listening. 4/5
Great oldies album. Brings back great memories of listening to the golden oldies station as a kid! TBz 1. Groovin’ 2. How Can I Be Sure 3. It’s Love 4. I Don’t Love You Anymore
Solid album. Reminds me a lot of The Righteous Brothers, Beatles and The Beach Boys at times. The only song I didn't like on the album was "I'm so Happy Now" and besides that the album is really good. Standout tracks were "Sueno", It's Love", I Don't Love You Anymore" and "A Girl Like You". Overall nothing mind-blowing but still a nice, easy to listen to album. 8/10
groovin is right
Blue-eyed soul, R&B. Está bien. Un 4.
Mellow album with some nice vocals, good for a scary sunday and I would say original for the 60s. 7.5/10
A bit of everything. Fun with it. Interesting cover of A place in the sun - I had only heard this on one of the Trojan compilations before. Didn't expect to hear it with an organ backing!
This album is great! I will definitely be listening to this again.
This album was a fun listen! I can see why Groovin’ is favorite from this album. Added a few songs to my oldies playlist.
Haven't finished listening to this one yet, actually, but it seems pretty good.
Pretty good
Cool album, really enjoyed it as a whole this morning. Maybe not quite worthy for a 4/5, i think it lacks a wow factor. I will give it a 4/5 just because it is from '67, and is impressive for the time. Also interesting, how the titles in the album follow a love and breakup story, when listened in order.
This is a well written and performed record. Nothing too special about it in my opinion and there were certainly more ambitious projects released in '67. I think the title track is my favourite but there are some other gems here and there. Personal Enjoyment - 8.5 Songwriting - 7.5 Lyrics - 7.5 Originality - 7.5 Production Value - 9 Artwork - 8 Overall - 7.9
I was digging this - a 3.5 that gets rounded up.
solid
Ok. First listen to this. Surprised how many songs leapt out. Very dynamic style. Of course groovin' is one I knew but I'd say I probably didn't know the other tracks. Enjoyed it.
I hadn’t heard of the Young Rascals before, but I love the band name and I think the album art is great. Music from 60s-70s seem to have been a generally safe bet with me so far, so let’s find out if I can add another album to that! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: A Girl Like You, Groovin’ I felt pretty certain after the first track that I was going to like this. I wasn’t wrong. This had the kind of feel-good vibe that I also get from the Monkees. It was a great album to just sit back and have fun listening to. It’s not the kind of album to change your life or turn you into a philosopher, but it’s frankly enjoyable and that’s the main point of music in my humble little opinion. I’ll definitely be keeping the Young Rascals in mind for playlists when hanging out with friends.
Does groove
Very enjoyable album. I liked the 60s soul sound.
Parece Beatles
Приятный альбом, хорошо сочетается что-то от грува и регги вместе с музыкой 60-ых типа Beach Boys и The Beatles.
Includes one of my favourite ever tunes, so gets an extra star for that - and for generally being funky in a good white boy way
Quite enjoyed this album. Probably won't listen again often, but was good enough to listen again to.
The Rascals - 2 x great vocalists/songwriters, fantastic drummer, and excellent guitarist- what a band! This album is great, but somewhat hampered by strange production on a few songs. That said, listen to the perfection of Eddies vocal on How Can I Be Sure. And theres no more that can be said about Groovin' that hasn't been said before - one of the greatest songs ever. I don't want to say that the Rascals are underrated - because those that know - know how talented they are. I just wish that they were included more often in any list of the best bands/albums of the 60's.
Excellent! Perfect 60s sound, every track was good, and really requires more listening to appreciate even more I think. It just strikes me as fun simple music that everyone should like, except for angry, jaded, cynical gen x'rs who have a serious problem with things being too straightforward. Yes, feeling is a natural rhyme with healing, wife with life, accept it, it's gonna be in a song. Now, you can enjoy The Rascals.
Thought I had never heard of them before, but then "How Can I Be Sure" came on and I recognized the melody...then Groovin' came on and duh, of course!
I didn’t realize they had so many bops. I’d listen to it again.
I think the biggest thing that impressed me about this act is the variety of the songs. For a band from 1967, the songs really varied a lot more than I was expecting. They felt free to experiment and try different ideas it seemed. <And hey, they're from Jersey, so I guess they can't be all THAT bad?> But seriously, a number of the songs I was familiar with, even though at first I did not realize they were from this band. And no covers, which a lot of acts from this time period were doing more and more. In fact I know a number of bands have covered their songs (whether on their own albums or live, so it's great to finally hear the original version). Yes, it did seem a little dated, but how much they changed their style from song still impressed me more than I was expecting. Very pleasant surprise.
To be honest, the first time through I wasn't sure what to think other than it was decent at least. But as I kept listening I got more and more hooked. There's a lot of good, fun tunes. I mean, if you like anything from this era, they capture that pop rock and pseudo-psychedelic sound. You can hear bands like the Byrds, Beatles, Buffalo Springfield, Donovan, etc. (even Motown) in their sound and it's pretty admirable. So then I'm not surprised that 8 of these tracks hit the radio as singles. Side one is great - A Girl Like You is poppy and Motown-y, Find Somebody is more psychedelic and edgier rock, I'm So Happy Now is pure California pop, Sueno has great guitar chops, and How Can I Be Sure has great vocals (a different sound than the rest, more soaring). It was almost like listening to 5 different artists. And I haven't even mentioned Groovin (side two), their biggest hit, which I actually find okay compared to these others. Another one that sounds more Motown-y, but I guess that is due to who sang lead vocals. You Better Run (edgier) and A Place in the Sun (softer, though aa Stevie Wonder remake) are also cool tracks on side two. If you only give this a quick listen I can see how you'd shrug and say not bad. But it is real solid if you take time to listen carefully.
This album has surprising depth, belying its vocal pop roots. Interesting to see that they wrote most of their own stuff too.
Sick album. I have a bias towards mid to late 60's tunes so I really enjoyed this. Great sound to it. Even the filler songs are songs I enjoy. 'I'm so happy now' is such a joy to listen too, as is 'It's Love' and 'A Girl Like You'. The title track is a classic. Album flows very nicely throughout. I recommend this album to anyone a fan of 60's and 70's music.
Loved this album. More than I thought I would. 4
this album cover is immaculate
Light, infectiously cheery 60s pop.
Catchy pop tunes that are genuinely soulful and fun to listen to. Top notch late '60s music. Fave Songs: Groovin', How Can I Be Sure, A Place in the Sun, It's Love, A Girl Like You, You Better Run
The Young Rascals were essentially a singles band. The first album of theirs that I owned was a greatest hits called Timepeace (1968) - not a dud track on it. The Groovin lp however does have some filler. In fact I would rate five of these eleven tracks as such. But the other half dozen songs still make this a mighty listen. They were great pop songwriters and great artists clamoured to record their songs. Dusty Springfield did a great version of How Can I Be Sure & Aretha almost owned Groovin in the end. I think The Young Rascals were the first white boys to be signed by Atlantic & this album must have made Ertegun & Co. very happy indeed. The song Groovin became an immediate classic - from the instrumental opening you are immediately lazin on a Sunday afternoon. The flute on It’s Love turns what could have been an ordinary rocker into something much better. But they could certainly rock - A Girl Like You & You Better Run are up there with their best recordings. The only cover version on the album is their take on A Place In The Sun which, while interesting, pales next to the version Stevie Wonder had recorded the year before. Anyway, I always wait to hear the concertina in How Can I Be Sure & it always knocks me out. So, despite the filler, there’s enough greatness on this album to give it 4 stars.
the sound of listening to childhood oldies in a car during the mid-afternoon. happy-go-lucky positive nostalgia
Disco muy de la época de los 60, con buenas melodías, bien construido musicalmente y con buena voz. Aun sin tener grandes hits, merecederos de ser un buen disco.
Leutige nummers, maar weinig speciaal. Toch van genoten
Really good! Great voice, great sound and lots of great tunes. Even my kids like it (although it does sound like an Italian restaurant in places)
This is a decent early rock album. I like how much soul influence there is in many of these songs.
I enjoyed listening to this album. It had the retro sound that hit the spot for me today.
Quite liked this one surprisingly. Bit funky.
A good solid album from those Young Rascals with one of their biggest hits along with some other decent songs. An easy listen, nothing too challenging, just a chill record that was enjoyable.
An okay album; a bit too mellow. Most of the songs are about being happy and being in love. Adding trumpets and tambourines is a nice touch. It helps makes the music more entertaining but is not enough to make one care.
Van genoten
Cool, classic, kinda psychedelic. Hard to pick a favourite song, though I like sueno and I’m so happy now. I like the use of a diverse range of instruments that help make each song sound unique, yet part of a cohesive whole.
Great 60s soul /rock album
Sounds like stuff my mom listens to but it's actually pretty awesome.
This is a find!!!
Lovely! Great songs!
All the feel goods! How can you not smile?
It's like a mixture of the Beach Boys and blue eyed soul with a bit of garage rock thrown in. I like it.
Groovy! Liked it a lot.
Good album, nice music, good singing
Enjoyable and diverse album with a consistent quality in the songs
A album with different music styles
"Find Somebody" is awesome. You can hear the many different sounds that influenced, and were influenced by, this band. The Beatles, Smokey Robinson, Otis Redding, Jefferson Airplane. This really is a crossover album for a lot of 60's music. And a shout out to Pat Benatar for taking "You Better Run" and turning it up to 11.
How can I be sure and groovin slap. Sometimes the popular single songs are the best and I am so at peace with being basic
não conhecia antes, curti bem
Gammeldags 60’er rock, simpelt, feel-good, groovy, blues, rnb
Sounds like something from the 60s
Best ziek, gewoon zo'n beetje jaren 60 vibe. Helemaal niks mis mee.
This seemed completely unknown to me, until I heard the title song. Very enjoyable record.
I like the progression change in "A Girl Like You" from melancholy into more uplifting tones. Overall album have energetic tunes not very groovy but ok for rock band. Genre: Blue-eyed soul, rhythm and blues
Groovy!
A pretty fun '60s pop album! Very good for doing the dishes to. You could find better music from this genre and decade, but you could also do a lot worse. Glad I listened to it.
Cool 60s rock album. Nothing breakthrough, but enjoyable.
Only about half the songs are on Spotify, which was a shame. Really enjoyed the songs I did hear. Not sure why they were not huge, or why they have been forgotten if they were a big deal.
Love it. Late 60s pop with a bit of soul. Good voice, resembles Blood Sweat and Tears singer. Thoroughly enjoyable - 4 stars.
Enjoyed this, not heard of them before but like a boy band version of Dusty Springfield
I really liked the first side of the album. It was really different from what I expected out of a 60's album, and it pulled "psychedelic" well in my opinion. The second side was way worse as it follows a weird narrative and I don't like spoken word in music. Favorite track: Groovin'
It's a pretty decent 60's psychedelic-ish album. That being said, that is my jam so I will rate it a 4. If you like Ogden's Nut Gone Flake, 13th Floor Elevators, Forever Changes, you should go ahead and give this one a try too. Highlights: 1, 2, 3, and 6.
Notable disc de pop seixanter, amb influències d'r&b i alguns temes molt destacables, com 'You Better Run', que després versionaria Pat Benatar o 'How Can I Be Sure', un dels grans singles del '65. De la resta, a diferència d ela majoria de discos de l'època, no hi ha gaire ompliment, una molt bona col.lecció de cançons
i actually really liked the majority of these songs. i thought they were fun, different enough, and had good music overall
Notable songs: A girl like you , I’m so happy now, how can I be sure, groovin Notes: I enjoyed this album. Love the vocals and the overall soulful sound of this album. Obviously groovin is a classic and it kicks off with a great intro in a girl like you. Interesting concept with you better run… it has this blues type of feel, they pulled it off really good. Overall 4/5
Pretty groovy I guess
Solid gold blue-eyed soul.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: You better run, A place in the sun, How can I be sure
-Nice drum fills and bass riffs in "Sueno" -"You Better Run" really stands out as must heavier than the rest -"Place in the Sun" is upbeat -Pretty standard early rock, a little chilly for my taste
Enjoyed it from the first song. Fun, happy album.
I really enjoyed this album, listened to it twice. Reminded me of my folks and hearing it in the 80s when I was a bambino
Really loved this! Lovely chilled vibes for a sunny day
I really liked this album. Feared it would be 60's dreamy nonsense but it is really good. Spans a few genres.
Really enjoyed that, particularly How Can I Be Sure. Better than the David Cassidy version. Also Groovin. Will definitely listen again. ****
Nice chilled 60s vibes. Nailed on for a 3 until Groovin’ came on. Instant elevation to 4
Solid work. Very easy to listen to with a couple of classics in there I never knew came from them. 3.5 rounded up.
Really liked this album. Fresh look at the 60-70’s and just laying around and listening to the past .It was really Groovin😊. Surprised how many of these songs I’d heard before but not knowing it was the Rascals. Great harmony and lyrics. This was a surprise
interesting, but no my style
I enjoyed this album much more than I anticipated. It may have been because I watched Once Upon a Time In Hollywood recently and this felt like it was ripped right from the soundtrack. Just a sort of folksy rock group trying to grove and have fun. What else would you expect from some young rascals in the late 60's. Album cover is very strange but it was probably a strange time.
Classic
groovy
Great album, plenty of soul. I was expecting something more psychedelic based on the cover but this was really enjoyable. I once had an empty LP sleeve of this album that I repurposed to house a loose J Dilla vinyl, and I’m thrilled to actually hear what it was I didn’t have. Favorite tracks: A Girl Like You, Sueno, Groovin’, Find Somebody. Album art: Love this one, very fun. Bizarre caricatures, but the colors and the vibe are undeniable. 4/5
Easy listening 60's jams. Would be good for like the background of a party with parents.
Great album, and was super smooth from beginning to end.
Fun listen
3.5! Solid.
Some upbeat rock, a pretty fun listen.
Liked what I heard, Spotfiy was missing half the album
Simple and happy 60s music. Nothing too offensive, but not all that great either.
3,4 Highlights: A Girl Like You, Find Somebody
Without consciously remembering the name of this album, I was about to give a one-word review: "Groovin'".
This sounds exactly like the 1960’s and if it’s the nostalgia of that time you’re after then look no further. That said there are better examples than this to whisk you away to the times of joss sticks, kaftans and ban the bomb marches. Groovin is the obvious stand out track which has the power to slow down everything around you without the use of anything herbal and turn the sky a psychedelic pink. Wish I was back then and knew everything I know now but the trip here was still amazing. 3/5 30/6/26
The Young Rascals are a moment in time. Groovin’ is an all time great single, evoking a specific period in history - much simpler, less jaded and caustic, and definitely more innocent. I was a mere boy if 7 when this came out and remember my mom singing along to Groovin’ as well as Tony Orlando and Dawn’s Toe a Yellow Ribbon. Listening to the full album you can see hints of The Who vocally but, for a band from New Jersey, the innocence of the 50s still lingers amidst these songs. Not unpleasant and I can see how several of these songs were minor hits as singles, but again, this is a record released at a time when simple well crafted songs about love and relationships made the charts. I recognize the quality but it really isn’t in my top 1001. 3/5
no es muy original pero tiene canciones disfrutables como "How Can I Be Sure" y "Groovin'" 3.7
somewhere between the kinks and the early beatles, really enjoyable 60s soulish rock but nothing that really stands out great production and instrumentation, lyrics are a bit cheesy
Sounds kinda dated and not really that interesting.
I didn't mind it. The cover art is abhorrent but the music is pleasant.
A couple good songs but mostly forgettable. 2.75
I don't think I actually listened to The Rascals before, or at least what they're called after this record. They're another one of those blue-eyed soul groups that combined elements of pop and rock into their sound, with primary songwriter duties handled by lead vocalist and keyboardist Felix Cavaliere and percussionist Eddie Brigati. From what I gather, Groovin' compiled most of the singles they had written between 1966 and 1967, showing the band following the at-the-time trend of incorporating psychedelia into their sound alongside some Latin and jazz arrangements, and... it's okay, I guess? The compositions are decent enough and reasonably played, the vocal harmonies are solid, and there are at least a few good ideas here, such as the main riff of "Find Somebody", the Latin-infused guitar rollicks of "Sueño", and that flute embellishment that opens the closing track "It's Love". In particular, I really dug the swaggering "You Better Run," which would later be given a hard rock treatment by Pat Benatar. But that said, the album can be summed up as a compilation of singles largely themed around teenage melodrama. I get why, because Cavaliere was dating a high school student at the time, which inspired him to write most of these songs. First, it should be made apparent that he was at least 24 at the time, so... eww. Second, it's not like I'm against teenage melodrama; I've enjoyed the likes of what Olivia Rodrigo and Sombr offered in this decade. But I do feel that their records had the benefit of detail and nuance in describing their relationships, and I don't get that here in the songwriting. Also not helping matters is how muted the production is. I've tried listening to this album in both mono and stereo, and I'm just not getting the necessary oomph that really elevated their sound. Though there are some jarring mix decisions left in, like the alternating panning of the guitar line in the opening of "Find Somebody". Finally, as far as psychedelic acts in 1967 go, there were plenty of better options to choose from. I mentioned this in my review of Pink Floyd's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn two weeks ago, but even that record was trying to be innovative in all its experimenting. This, on the other hand, feels like it was following a trend. At the end of the day, Groovin' is just an okay record for its time. I would be curious how The Rascals turned out after this, when they started writing albums rather than just compiling singles. But as it is, this is just fine.
Hey! It was fine!
Started a little slow, but improved quite a bit after Sueno. Definitely didn't think I would enjoy this, but was pleasantly surprised by a few. They have a very 60s sound
This has a Monkees/Beach Boys/Zombies vibe to it. It incorporates some South American rhythms, soul, and rock. Definitely an "of its time" album. I'm not really "Groovin" but it passes the vibe check for sure (3-3.5).
Oh, really don’t think I am in the mood for this today. The exercise is teaching me that the 60’s really wasn’t my decade. But I did appreciate their innovative use of both channels AND the flute. 3 Boolean: surprisingly, true
Incredibly generic 1960s pop. Neither bad nor memorable. "You Better Run" is about as close as it gets to being interesting, but the song was over by the time I realized it. The cover art is silly.
Groovy
Three great songs do not make a great album. Other than those three, the others are toss away fillers. I was seven when this album came out and and the song Groovin’ was all over the radio, a perfect summer pop song.
Sounds like some of these songs would've been very great radio hits. But that's it
It was ok. 2.5/5
Довольно базово звучащий альбом для шестидесятых. Приятные песенки. За обложку отдельный респект. How Can I Be Sure - понравилась больше всех. Скрипочка, аккордеон, классно. Ну так, в общем, с пивом потянет, что называется. 3/5.
Nothing special.
Pegadizo. Un blues entrando en los setenta. Estuvo bueno
the termites
3 (El anterior era un 2)
2.5
This was ok, didn't blow my socks off but not bad!
They list their band as The Rascals now, guess they're not Young anymore. Standard 60's pop equals 3 stars
That was a fun, and groovy, album.
I liked a few songs. Rest was kinda mid.
Pretty good music. I especially liked the song Groovin.
Yeah okay.
The album had an easygoing and pleasant atmosphere, but much of it felt less memorable to me than I expected. At times, it reminded me of a lighter and less distinctive version of The Beatles. Find Somebody stood out to me for its guitar riff, while Groovin’ was the only track I had already known before hearing the album.
Perfectly fine psychedelic pop/soul. Groovin' is a solid track. Other than that, not really speaking to me.
Nice, but for me, irrelevant.
ну норм.
This was a pleasant surprise. I cringed when I saw the cover art and title, thinking it was going to be a Monkee's knockoff or something. That still exists in this space, but there is also smattering of soul and multicultural sounds that balance out the record and make ot actually interesting.
3.5 stars
Pretty solid.
I saw all of the Beatles comparisons before listening, so I was pretty confused when the opening track is nothing like the Beatles. But then the next song comes on and I got it. I still think that a decent bit of the album isn't going for the Beatles knockoff thing. And when it isn't, it is much stronger.
I can't quite figure out if they're going for imitation Beatles or Rolling Stones but they can't quite pull off either. It's not bad but I listened to it a few times and still can't pick one song that really caught my attention. And as for that cover 'art'...
fav songs: a girl like you groovin' i don't love you anymore a place in the sun warm, melodic, soulful 60/100
Pop precursors! Lots of earworms - How Can I be Sure!
Bubblegum pop. It’s nice but not anything spectacular.
3.5
Olay, jut very of its time. 3 stars
Meh. This is like a mixed bag of popular styles at the time and they really don't seem to have an identity of their own. It's not terrible, but it's not very interesting either. "Groovin'" is the best thing here, and it's just okay. 3 stars.
3.5
The most average album I've ever heard. Therefore fitting it find itself on this list
6/10 Estuvo bien, pero nada wow. Encaria muy bien en Stranger Things, no me aburrio pero tampoco me sorprendió nada
This is the same as the previous. Felt burnt out at the end. 6/10
Chill album, I didn’t mind it at all. Groovin’ was definitely the standout.
raro de bueno
Ganz nett ...
My impression after 1.5 songs: this is pretty fine music that was just drowned out by the better stuff coming out from The Beatles, The Mamas & The Papas, and others around the same time. Yeah, and I stand by that point after listening to the whole album. Usually, I take notes during, but nothing ever came to mind that my first impression didn't already cover, honestly. If I want to listen to some iconic 60s music, I will go to anything but this. It's like getting a knock-off, off-brand, poorly assembled Lamborghini, when an actual Lamborghini basically has the same cost. AKA, having an account/subscription to a music streaming site. Not worth listening to before I die, but also, not actually a bad listen. Just kind of pointless. Favorite Song(s): I'm So Happy Now
Some OK tunes. Stylistically I found it all over the place, none of the styles particularly appealed to me and I found the arrangements dated (not surprisingly from a 60 year old record I guess).
Nice '60s music with a few nice hits (A Girl Like You, Groovin'). Just nice, not the best of its time.
buenisima la portada
On est en 1967, le "Summer of Love" bat son plein, tout le monde se roule dans l'herbe avec des fleurs dans les tifs en pensant que la paix dans le monde va arriver par l'opération du Saint-Esprit et de trois buvards d'acide. Et au milieu de ce bordel chromatique, débarquent ces quatre types du New Jersey qui, au lieu de nous balancer du garage rock un peu hargneux comme ils savaient le faire au début, décident de nous pondre l'album ultime du "tout va bien, les oiseaux chantent et la vie est une brise légère". Mon premier réflexe, c'est l'urticaire car j'ai une sainte horreur de l'optimisme béat en musique. Pourtant, je dois me rendre à l'évidence : ces putains de hippies savent y faire. Ce n'est pas un album, c'est un piège, on commence l'écoute avec une grimace de mépris, prêt à dézinguer cette pop "blue-eyed soul" un peu proprette, et on finit par se surprendre à dodeliner de la tête comme un imbécile. C'est là que réside tout le paradoxe de ce disque et sur ce point il est d'une efficacité redoutable, presque insultante pour quelqu'un qui préfère les structures un peu plus déstructurées. Le son de cet album est d'une clarté limpide, merci la production d'Atlantic Records qui, pour le coup, ne s'est pas foutue de la gueule du monde. Les Young Rascals ont délaissé les amplis qui saturent pour quelque chose de beaucoup plus aéré, presque pastoral. On sent l'influence de la soul de Motown et de Stax, mais passée à la moulinette d'un groupe de rock blanc qui aurait passé trop de temps au soleil. C'est une musique qui respire, qui prend son temps, avec cet orgue Hammond qui vient tapisser l'espace de manière feutrée. C'est l'antithèse absolue de la violence sonore que j'affectionne, et pourtant, il y a une honnêteté dans cette légèreté qui finit par briser mes défenses de vieux cynique adepte de post-punk. Le morceau-titre, "Groovin'" par exemple, c'est le mal incarné sous forme de pop song avec ses bruits d'oiseaux en intro et son tempo de sieste dominicale. Il devrait m'exaspérer au plus haut point, mais le talent est là : la mélodie est imparable, l'arrangement est d'une sobriété exemplaire et la voix d'Eddie Brigati est juste assez soul pour ne pas tomber dans la mièvrerie totale. C'est chiant à admettre, mais c'est du grand art de la pop. L'album ne se contente pas de flâner car il y a des moments où le groupe se rappelle qu'il a des couilles, même si elles sont bien cachées sous des vestes en velours. Des titres comme "You Better Run" (certes sorti un peu avant mais emblématique de leur style) ou certains passages plus nerveux de l'album montrent que derrière les sourires, il y avait un vrai groupe de musiciens capables de tenir la route. Le batteur Dino Danelli est une machine à groove, il ne joue pas, il sculpte le rythme. C'est peut-être ça qui me sauve le truc : ce n'est pas de la pop fadasse pour ascenseur, c'est de la musique jouée par des mecs qui ont écouté énormément de R&B et de jazz avant de vouloir devenir des idoles des jeunes. Alors oui, ce n'est pas le chef-d'œuvre du siècle et si je devais emmener dix disques sur une île déserte, Groovin' resterait sur le quai, probablement oublié sous une pile de journaux mouillés. Mais dans le cadre de ce projet, où l'on se cogne parfois des horreurs inaudibles ou des albums conceptuels pompeux qui durent trois plombes pour ne rien dire c'est un peu le sorbet citron entre deux plats de résistance bien lourds. Je lui mets un 3 sur 5 parce que c'est la note de la réconciliation. C'est la preuve qu'on peut aimer la musique sombre, exigeante, voire brutale, et quand même apprécier un disque de pop bien foutu de 1967 sans avoir l'impression de trahir sa religion. Ce n'est pas révolutionnaire, ça ne va pas changer ma vision du monde, et je ne vais pas me mettre à porter des pantalons à pattes d'eph pour autant. Mais le disque s'écoute d'une traite, sans ennui, et c'est déjà une victoire en soi. En fin de compte, les Young Rascals ont réussi leur coup : ils ont créé un disque qui, presque soixante ans plus tard, garde une fraîcheur étonnante et c'est agaçant d'aimer ça, vraiment. J'aimerais pouvoir dire que c'est de la merde pour hippies défoncés, mais la musicalité est trop évidente pour être balayée d'un revers de main. C'est plaisant, c'est bien écrit, c'est bien produit. C'est un 3/5 solide, honnête, qui ne prétend pas être plus que ce qu'il est : une bande-son pour les jours où le soleil tape un peu trop fort.
Good but not much is memorable per say.
This was nice enough but I'm not sure why it's considered good enough to be on the list. It doesn't seem to do anything that's massively exciting or original.
Good album. It's a solid 3. But I don't think it goes beyond that. The song I liked the most is "Find Somebody" (kind of psychedelic).
Captures the 60s vibes - Good background music
enjoyable little pop album
"Groovin'" is a competent pop album for its era. While I recognise that music appreciation is largely subjective, I find it difficult to understand its inclusion in the 1001 Albums list. It is often noted for setting a benchmark for "blue-eyed soul" and for taking certain risks with its arrangements and compositions; this is certainly evident on the title track, which is a highlight. The album is a cohesive piece of work, but it feels firmly rooted in 1967. Unlike other records from this era, that possess a timeless quality, this collection sounds somewhat dated. While it was likely a significant marker for the genre at the time, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the truly standout albums from the same period. Great album art though! Three stars. Side one 1 "A Girl Like You" (4/5) 2 "Find Somebody" (3/5) 3 "I'm So Happy Now" (3/5) 4 "Sueño" (3/5) 5 "How Can I Be Sure" (3/5) Side two 1 "Groovin'" (4/5) 2 "If You Knew" (3/5) 3 "I Don't Love You Anymore" (3/5) 4 "You Better Run" (4/5) 5 "A Place in the Sun" (3/5) 6 "It's Love" (3/5) Total - 36 Average - 3.27 304/1001 165/304 albums reviewed were new to me
Great
Muy buen disco, parece el inicio de la psicodelia, dentro de la línea Beatle.
I’m going to the beach!
In a world of the beetles why would anyone want to listen to beetles wannabes. This album is just ok.
Høres ut som en samleplate av typen Absolute 60s, men man har gått for de helt ålreite, litt billigere låtene fra litt mindre band. Det mest imponerende her er hvordan et band klarer å høres ut som et samlealbum med flere artister. Vanligvis liker jeg at det er litt spenn i albumet, men også at det er helhet. Dette virker litt tannløst og som at plateselskapet har satt det sammen for å cashe inn på tidens rytmer. Helt ålreit, men The Monkees er fortsatt det beste boybandet fra 60-tallet
Day824 - i had no idea “you better run” was a cover when pat benatar did it. i wasn’t crazy about this album but groovin is a great song
60's vibe, like hippie, not my style, but ok
i like sueno a lot
Reminds me a lot of the Beach Boys; decent songwriting; side two is definitely stronger
Super - neki, kar ne poznam. Prvi, "A Girl Like You", je ful tak quintessential 60s pop rock. So far je vse ta vajb. Prijetno, inoffensive. A, "Groovin'" pa poznam! Fletn. To je to, basically.
Look, there are worse things to listen to whilst drinking a malted milk at the hop with your steady.
The Beatles if they didn't sound like shit. Still had some meh songs but some were quite nice and a good variety. Fav song: Find somebody
A pleasant one. Funny we just had a quick shallow vibratos from Dolly Parton a day ago and now we’re back to the deep slow vibratos. It feels like he’s shaking my shoulders. Music wise, ok. Nothing really stands out. Productions can be better but I get it was in the 60s. So it’s not too bad. 3-3.5
a fine album. nothing really stood out, and nothing was really offensive. overall it was just fine
A very 60s album. The production or editing or something was very jarring to my ears. Otherwise, not sure how this stands out from other 60s albums -- it was ok, but average. 3*
Cerramos la semana con una desconocida. Disco simpaticón, agradable. Matutino y hippie como gran parte de la producción de la segunda mitad de los sesenta. Siento que algunas de sus canciones maridarían muy bien con Wes Anderson (A Girl Like You, por lejos. También incluyo acá Sueño). Todo muy feliz. Quizás a veces de más, pero es algo propio del género y de esos años. Favourite track: You Better Run. Hasta el lunes, que tendremos otra semana corta.
Pleasant without being offensive
I had no idea what to expect when going through The Young Rascals' 1967 album Groovin' other than it is a very 60s album, but I walked away somewhat impressed with what these guys were doing even though it isn't groundbreaking by any means. Sometimes all you need in life is a bunch of guys in the 60s to make a Rock and Soul album and just have fun with it. The lyrics are simple, the instrumentation is quite interesting, and the album itself flies by without a care in the world. Groovin' is a very simple piece by definitely and not something I'd call a classic or essential, but it was a nice break from a lot of the mismatched and all over the place projects I have been hearing recently. Not much to say here other than I enjoyed this! Nuff said.
Not too bad. Kinda 'standard' mix of 60's pop/psychedelic pop
Temu Beatles
This is a perfectly fine album, some lovely upbeat grooves & tracks, but there's something that falls flat. Maybe it's the fact it sounds like I'm listening to a Beatles spin-off album. Or maybe it's the taste of vanilla I get as I listen. It's not bad, but nothing is really standing out as particularly interesting.
Easy listening psychedelic. Worse ways to spend a half hour.
3.5
Like it 3/5
I've seen this album while flicking through my copy of the book, though I'm surprised to learn a band called "The Young Rascals" isn't British. I kinda dig this album cover. It's fooney. The anatomy is all weird, especially on that poor red-shirted fellow. His left wrist is definitely going to snap once Stripy Bell-bottoms up top lands on him - that arm is being twisted to the max. Anyways, this is obviously a Beatle-chasing act. I'm expecting some of-the-time pop rock music. Hopefully something short, too. Here goes. This was more competent than I was expecting. It's hard to knock some feel good, heartfelt tunes, even if the heartfelt tunes in question are appearing on the thousandty-one best of all time album list. I like the larger-than-life, orchestral feel that many of these instrumentals have. Makes me want to love and be loved and all that. The pianos are generally the strongest aspect of this music, making for a sweet, sentimental listen. The pop rock guitar riffs guide these tracks along nicely, I like the plucky strings on the few tracks where the feature, and the songwriting lands when it's good. Sure, it can be a bit of a mixed bag and it's certainly derivative, but I can't knock a good time. I'm pretty sure I've heard the title track before, though I'm not entirely sure. It's nice. The delicate, lush, easygoing instrumentation is the strongest aspect of the song. The piano driving the piece is pretty great, especially in the lead-up to the chorus, though it's the finer details of the track which really make it for me. The harmonica is pleasant, the bongos add a nice bit of percussion and I like the delicate organs in the background. The songwriting is pretty decent, too - especially during the chorus. Overall, nice tune. I enjoyed it. Book time. "The Young Rascals are remembered primarily as one of the relatively few mid-Sixties White groups to whip up an exhilarating brew of soulful R&B and rock 'n' roll that could stand comparison with their African-American peers." Played with The Beatles at one of their concerts. More of a singles act. A few different styles sampled on here. Peaked at no. 4 on the US charts. Wikipedia says the title track of this album topped the singles chart and one reviewer thought it was good. Great. This album doesn't seem to have much going for it, but I'm sticking my increasingly-long neck out for this album. It's certainly better than many of the other 60s pop rock albums on this list. It gets me in that sunny bunny feeling, ya know? I cosign this inclusion.
Like a sixties tribute band. Lots of variety of songs. Then the sing Groovin pops out from nowhere.
Some classics on this one.
This was the most Beatles sounding record that wasn't the Beatles I've heard in quite a while.
3.5
Not a band I'm familiar with but they fall somewhere between the Beatles and Motown. Perhaps an early example of blue-eyed-soul, for my tastes it perfectly listenable but largely lacks any kind of bite that's going to keep it interesting and bring me back to it.
This was a great album from a band I never heard of, but certainly recognized some of the songs.
Classic!
01) A Girl Like You - 7,0 02) Find Somebody - 6,5 03) I'm So Happy Now - 6,5 04) Sueño - 7,0 05) How Can I Be Sure - 7,5 06) Groovin' - 9,0 07) If You Knew - 7,5 08) I Don't Love You Anymore - 7,0 09) You Better Run - 6,5 10) A Place in the Sun - 7,5 11) It's Love - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,18 (72/100) Current ranking: 437/848
This album was fine. Nothing jumped out at me in either a positive or negative way. I don't love Groovin' as a single, but it's also just kinda fine.
Maybe the most 3 of all the 3 albums I've rated. Very, very okay.
Not a bad album and I assume this wasn't too bad back in the day, but it feels a bit outdated nowadays. Overall, it was alright having it in the background.
3 - I've never heard of this band before, but it was pretty good. There were several songs that sounded familiar.
6.5/10
I didn't necessarily love this one. But I think I can see why its on the list. It seems to me it sits between eras, with lots of the more experimental and psychedelic style hippie rock we associate with the late 60s, but it also takes a fair bit from rock and roll, more mainstream 60s pop and even country and western a bit. It helps you see more clearly how such stark differences in genre emerged at exactly this time and how they are more connected than it seems.
Never heard of this album or the artist. Actuall very decent. They sound like a lot of their contemporaries - I hear some Beatles, some Turtles, some Beach Boys. The song Suena, with the Spanish / Mariachi opening feels like this band is trying to cast a very wide net. A very pleasant little surprise.
There’s nothing terribly wrong in this album. Most of the songs are one of these: I’m in love with you, I’m not in love anymore, and I’ve found someone. Nothing is necessary wrong with any of that, but the songs just lack in general.
Some fun 60s rock, but I don't feel like there was a standout track that sets it apart from other 60s rock.
Not bad. Groovin' is groovin'. The rest of it is fairly inoffensive kooky '60s stuff.
A solid sample of 60s rock from a lesser-known band. I don't know why I had to listen, but I'm glad to be assigned some non-Beatles 60s music here and there. It was fine. Forgettable in the grand scheme of this project. 5/10
rockinho meio beatles anos 60 to sempre dentro, apesar desse ser bem generiquinho.
- I liked this more than I thought I would, especially after the first few of songs were over. - Wish it was in Stereo, though. That was some annoying panning. - The lead singer's voice is nice, especially in the lower registers. - The instrumentation was a little expected, but it never felt too background or overbearing. The bass was good, and there were a few moments where the instrumentation gave off a more psychedelic vibe, giving some nice counterpoint to the melodies. - The lyrics are boring - the whole thing is about love. - Also felt a little too long.
good songs good album
Non offensive listening!
Pretty standard 60s rock (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). Favorite track: Groovin'
I liked this but it is incredibly unremarkable. I'm not quite sure why this gets on here. I tend not to use "slop" as a suffix very often but this is peak 60s slop. Chasing after the tides of the Beatles for people who think the Beatles became too adventurous in 1967. Is it bad? No. Groovin' has nice instruments, the singing on If you Knew is pretty good. The mixing isn't great but neither is it terrible. Its just an incredibly run of the mill 60s album that's not really trying anything and I think there are other 60s pop bands. It's like a 3 in how good it is and a 1 in terms of how much this needs to be on the list.
quelques sons bien, quelques sont moins bien 3-/5
I know a few songs from radio play, but never actually heard an album - it's interesting. Some shades of things to come like that droning 12-string the Byrds made good use of and hints of real rock 'n roll coming on. Acceptable pop.
Was dreading this from the year and album cover. It was actually a decent listen. "Blue eyed soul" vibe. Thats being said, wont be revisiting this album.
Fully sixties pop. Pretty blah compared to, say, Pet Sounds; and I'm not enough of a connoisseur to have a warm reaction to the lesser records.
Minder beach boys achtig dan verwacht, prima.
I feel pretty neutral on this album. It wasn’t horrible to listen to but I’m not sure if it stands out.
Some lovely highlights across the spread of late 60s music.
Beatles were doing this 3 years ago, dudes. Sorry. Fine listening but nothing too impressive.
primitive rock, not bad
Beach Boys if they were based in the Midwest..where there are no beaches. 3/5
nice enough
More Beatles wannabes. Whoever compiled this list is obsessed with 60's pop-rock!
This is the kind of 60s album that is usually right up my alley, so I was a little surprised it didn’t click more. It’s pleasant and well made, just very safe. Nothing really jumped out or stuck with me once it was over. It all blended together in a way that made it easy to listen to, but also easy to forget.
Not bad, kind of an old, easy listen.
I didn't think I'd heard The Young Rascals before, but I recognized Groovin' as soon as I heard it. A nice, summery ditty I just never knew the band who recorded it. Overall, it was enjoyable, genre-hopping listen. Nods to The Byrds, The Beach Boys and Love abound. It's not very original and I probably won't go back to it but it was quite charming.
Ei jaksanu kyllä pitää levy mielenkiintoa hirveesti yllä. Taas näitä taustametelilevyjä, mutta ei siitä kummemmin kiinni saanut mistään kohdasta
Tää tuntus olevan tällanen soppa johon on laitettu montaa sorttia juuresta, mikä on toki tälle aikakaudelle varmaan vähän vieraampaa. Eikä siinä, sen verran on pipperiä ja suoloa, että makukin on ihan ues. Ennestään en oo tätä varmaan tietosesti kuunnellut veisuakaan, mutta ihan korvamyöteistä tuntus olevan. Varmaan on rohkassut muita menollaan ettei kaiken tarvi olla niin purkkaa. Ei kuitenkaan parane lähtee intoilun suhteen hulluttelemaan, kun en tiiä tulisko tätä kuunneltua enempiä tän yhen kerran lisukkeeks.
En oikein saanut kiinni tästä. Aikansa tuotos, ja varmaan silloin 1966 kuulostanut ihan hyvältä, mutta ihan ei ollut kyllä mielestäni kestänyt aikaa. Tosi vanhanaikaisen kuulosta, eikä oikein tiennyt että onko tämä iskelmää, poppia vai mitä. Muutamia kivoja melodioita kyllä, eikä missään vaiheessa ärsyttänyt, niin annetaan kolmonen tällekin.
Better than some Beatles albums tbh
Groovin' to this album.
Werd wel steeds beter namate ik het wat vaker luisterde. Niet veel mis mee. Ik weet het niet. Nu een 3 misschien later nog een 4
Klinkt een beetje als een mix van Beatles en Beach boys. In die periode was het voor een band waarschijnlijk ook lastig om echt van dat geluid los te komen, misschien is het een beetje een oneerlijke vergelijking als je het naast zulke giganten legt. Groovin’ de titeltrack sprong er het meest bovenuit en klonk het meest uniek en eigen. De vocale harmonieën vond ik erg leuk, en de opnamekwaliteit uit deze tijd heeft sowieso iets warms en charmants. Leuke albumhoes.
Pretty good, pretty varied
Ihan okei. Ei kuitenkaan juuri erotu monista muista saman aikakauden levyistä mielestäni. Ainakaan yhden kuuntelun perusteella.
love groovin
I was sceptical but it grew on me a bit in the end. Pleasant.
Some good tunes in here. I had a different impression of what the young rascals music would be vs what it is
Title track is the best. Rest is fine.
Had very low hopes for this after seeing the album cover but liked it more than I expected. I guess 60s pop just vibes with me.
54/100. It’s alright overall. The title track Groovin’ is genuinely great and easily the highlight here, but pretty much everything else left me feeling lukewarm.
A bunch of generic stuff and then is this the Pat Benatar song?
I liked this better than a lot of the mediocre white guys from the 60's on this list it would be a 3.5 if we could do halves
Siaip patiko. Gerų tikrai gabalų yra.
Okee
Didn't think I knew this band and the cover art didn't have me looking forward to hitting play. Turns out my fears were unfounded. Definitly know a few of the songs and they're solid. The whole album is solid. Welcome suprise.
I was close to giving this one a four. The title track, although I don’t actually like it that much, is definitely a classic. And I like their version of you better run at least as much as Pat Benatar’s cover of it, which means I like it pretty well. Most of the rest sounds to me like stuff that the Monkees did in a better way, but it’s still pretty good. And I liked reading about the band and finding out that they were the ones who did several songs I knew and liked, especially people got to be free.
3/5 - I can see this being easy to hate on (that album cover, yikes), but I thought it was soulful and had a good variety of 60s sounds. It didn't piss me off unlike so many albums on this list, so for that I'll give it a 3.
Gave it a 3 for the song writing. The album is very obviously mid 60's in sound but that's ok, there's alot of variety in there and it's enjoyable.
Who knew "Groovin'" was a bunch of flower children. Other than the title track, happy to hear the Tribe Sample on "Sueno".
Känns rätt generiskt, men vissa låtar var ändå rätt nice!
Trevligt, men lite bakgrundsmusiksvarning
Låter bra och snarlikt andra, många bättre, band från samma tid.
Groovy
Walking the line from R 'n' B over to something a little let looser. You can almost hear the sound of the trousers widening at the hem as the album progresses. The title track stands out. It's almost pop perfection. Some of the more serious workouts sounded laboured. The soulful elements are a delight, the muscle bound muso riffs not so.
Fun early rock album with a few really good songs. Not really something I would seek out to listen to but fun nonetheless.
Decent album. Groovin is a banger
Groovin' is a heck of a song. Good sound, good skill. Bit of a chase to The Beatles but not in a crazy way. Nice album. Wouldn't go out of my way to put it on but don't regret the time listening.
I rolled my eyes seeing this pop up and it's weak wikipedia article. I don't have much to complain about. This is a solid little album. Good production, good energy, doesn't over stay it's welcome. It just doesn't have anything to really hook the listener and make them spread the word.
Mid
A 50s pop base, but with some early psychedelic elements and a splash of pet sounds. More complex than I expected.
Late 60s prog rock. Variety of this list leaves a lot to be desired. Hints of R&B, soul. Quite pleasant, all things considered.
I figure they have the appeal of a boy band, but it's so early in the music game that it's not this over saturated syrup of production techniques and data analysis. In fact, this is a (probably relatively) self produced album, which makes the commercial appeal of the record extremely interesting. These are artists how we imagine they work when we're children, before you realize how complicated the processes can be. On that note, Beatles level of commercial melodies, but the Beatles DID have the big bad producers to fine tune the effort. You can tell, but over the course of decades, the production team really makes a difference. I probably would've appreciated this more in the '70s than today. 2.7/5
"How Can I be Sure" has been lodged in head since giving this a listen . It really is something else. A mix of a lot of the styles of the 60's, Pop, rock, chamber music, blue-eyed soul. It becomes something greater than the sum of it's parts. A true classic. Then the next song is "Groovin'" which is such a standard that I am not sure when the last time I heard the original version of it was. But you can guarantee I've heard it played by countless Sounds of the 60's covers bands at countless local festivals and fairs. It's an oldie for sure. The rest of it pretty standard 60's rock n roll.
Didn't pay super close attention to this one, seemed like book-standard psychedelic rock from the era.
Low 3. Not very special compared to what a much more nuanced and creative band like The Beach Boys were doing around this time.
3/5
This was alright. Not really captivating, but it's varied enough to not be a total snoozefest. Everything from the 60s has a kind of blandness to it to my ear, but this is one of the less egregious examples of that phenomenon for me
3/5 it is fun
Another old one where I can appreciate the hits, but all in all it just doesn't float my musical boat.
Melko geneeriseksi jäävää 60-luvun hippirockia.
60s pop at its height.
Fun.
2.5, rounded up because I do like the song Groovin’. However the rest of the album was so corny 60’s it was a bit much
It's an OK album with a few good songs, but I found nothing to get excited about.
Warm harmonies, a laid-back sunny hippy vibe, at times a bit rockier (like in "You Better Run"), and occasionally drifting into psychedelia. Mostly it's just easy, feel-good, hippy vibes spread across a bunch of catchy tunes. A perfect soundtrack for groovin' on a Sunday afternoon dog walk.
3/5
TIL "Blue Eyed Soul" is an actual musical genre and that perfectly describes this group/ album. Beatles with soul so more entertaining than I thought it would be.
Probably a 3.5 stars from me. Some really nice groovy 60s pop melodies and lyrics
Groovy and chill, typical 60s style, easy listening.
3.0 This was an extremely average album. Once good thing about this list drawing to a close that I've come to peace with the number of 60s bands that I had never previously heard. The sheer number on this list and the sheer amount of mediocrity has been slightly surprising. These guys, just extremely bland early experimental psychadelic pop. You Better Run was a brief moment of genius, for 3 minutes they transcended the pop constraints and sounded like they had a purpose, decades ahead of the rest of the album. And then it was over before it began.