Perhaps no other band personified "blue-eyed soul" in the 60's more than the Rascals.
Formed in 1964 when vocalist/organist Felix Cavaliere, guitarist Gene Cornish and vocalist Eddie Brigati left Joey Dee and the Starliters and recruited drummer Dino Danelli, the Rascals, along with artists such as Joe Cocker, the Righteous Brothers and Van Morrison, helped bring traditionally black soul music to a mainstream white audience.
The band was signed to Atlantic Records in 1965 as the Rascals, but their first releases were as the Young Rascals, due to another band's similar name. In 1968 the band was able to drop the "Young" from its name.
Their first single, "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore," did well on the charts, but it was their second single, an uptempo remake of the Olympics' "Good Lovin'" that broke the band. The song went to No. 1 in 1966. The band continued to pump out hits in the following years, including "You Better Run," "I've Been Lonely Too Long" and their next No. 1 hit, "Groovin'."
"Groovin'," released in 1967, marked a change in the Rascals' style, with more of the mellow, psychedelic-era influence coming through. The Rascals' biggest hit was in a similar vein. 1968's "People Got to Be Free" was an impassioned response to the assassinations of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy. The single topped the charts for five weeks. After the success of "People Got to Be Free," the Rascals began to experiment with jazz and instrumentals. The result was not successful, and in 1970, Brigati, the band's primary lyricist, left the band, followed by Cornish in 1971. Cavaliere and Danelli kept the Rascals going a little longer with other musicians but gave up in 1972.
In 1996 the Rascals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At the induction ceremony the band reunited on stage to play "Good Lovin'," "Groovin'," "How Can I Be Sure" and "People Got To Be Free." - Rolling Stone
Selections: What Is The Reason, Since I Fell For You, Ive Been Lonely Too Long, No Love To Give, Medley: Mickey's Monkey-Love Lights, Come On Up, Too Many Fish In The Sea, More, Nineteen Fifty-Six, Love Is A Beautiful Thing, Land Of 1000 Dances.
Formed in 1964 when vocalist/organist Felix Cavaliere, guitarist Gene Cornish and vocalist Eddie Brigati left Joey Dee and the Starliters and recruited drummer Dino Danelli, the Rascals, along with artists such as Joe Cocker, the Righteous Brothers and Van Morrison, helped bring traditionally black soul music to a mainstream white audience.
The band was signed to Atlantic Records in 1965 as the Rascals, but their first releases were as the Young Rascals, due to another band's similar name. In 1968 the band was able to drop the "Young" from its name.
Their first single, "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore," did well on the charts, but it was their second single, an uptempo remake of the Olympics' "Good Lovin'" that broke the band. The song went to No. 1 in 1966. The band continued to pump out hits in the following years, including "You Better Run," "I've Been Lonely Too Long" and their next No. 1 hit, "Groovin'."
"Groovin'," released in 1967, marked a change in the Rascals' style, with more of the mellow, psychedelic-era influence coming through. The Rascals' biggest hit was in a similar vein. 1968's "People Got to Be Free" was an impassioned response to the assassinations of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy. The single topped the charts for five weeks. After the success of "People Got to Be Free," the Rascals began to experiment with jazz and instrumentals. The result was not successful, and in 1970, Brigati, the band's primary lyricist, left the band, followed by Cornish in 1971. Cavaliere and Danelli kept the Rascals going a little longer with other musicians but gave up in 1972.
In 1996 the Rascals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At the induction ceremony the band reunited on stage to play "Good Lovin'," "Groovin'," "How Can I Be Sure" and "People Got To Be Free." - Rolling Stone
Selections: What Is The Reason, Since I Fell For You, Ive Been Lonely Too Long, No Love To Give, Medley: Mickey's Monkey-Love Lights, Come On Up, Too Many Fish In The Sea, More, Nineteen Fifty-Six, Love Is A Beautiful Thing, Land Of 1000 Dances.
