Released: March 1969
Oh boy, this is a double album. Get ready for some ups and some downs. Well, not downs. But things that are definitely not ups.
At least the Rascals were irrepressibly positive in the wake of America’s late 1960s political upheaval. Like, they weren’t happy. The lyrics on many of these songs were inspired by the bad shape the country was in, but they didn’t turn to notions of self-destruction or escapism.
Their big #1 hit from this album, “People Got To Be Free”, pretty much summed up their assessment of the country. Hell, the album title does too.
This is a Freedom Suite after all. As was customary by this point, they were grabbing strands from across the American musical landscape to put together this sprawling piece of music.
On to the songs!
The Ups
Despite the albums lyrical content and determination to link together so many music styles it is fairly slight on quality. So even these “ups” woulda (mostly) just been decent stuff on previous albums.
“Ray Of Hope” is a gentle R&B song. You get an accurate sense of the lyrics by eyeing that title.
The album’s best song, IMO, is “Love Was So Easy To Give”. It merges Baroque pop with acoustic country-rock vibe.
“Any Dance'll Do” being a highlight is indicative of the slightness of this album. It is fun though as the band comments on Eddie’s penchant for dancing like a mad man with his tambourines during live performances.
As mentioned, “People Got To Be Free” was the big hit. In fact the biggest of the Rascals’ career spending five weeks at #1 in the US. But it’s honestly no better than the previous songs. It just hit the radio waves at the right moment and rode the wave of popular feeling among The Youth in mid-1968 when it was released as a single.
The Steady
“America the Beautiful” combines corny lyrics with ragtime and country-rock. What’s not to be miffed at? “Me and My Friends” be some pleasant if uneventful R&B that also has a fiddle. Same for “Heaven”, but without the fiddle.
“Look Around” is filled with sound clips of gunfire and generals barking orders… and birds chirping and children playing. Yep, one of them kind of hippie lovey dovey songs chastising war.
The great saxophonist King Curtis (no relation) shows up on “Of Course” and “Baby I’m Blue” is perfunctory heavy soul of the Southern variety.
The Jazzy Excursions
All the songs mentioned thus far were stuffed on the first two album sides. On the third and fourth sides, the Rascals decide to fully explore their newfound faux jazzyness on a pretentious/funny second disc called Music Music.
“Adrian’s Birthday” is a combination of rock ‘n soul with jazz. An enjoyable instrumental reminiscent of some of the music put out by Traffic in this period.
Things proceed to then get out of control on “Boom” and “Cute”.
Dino is a fucking awesome drummer, but ain’t nobody here for a 14-minute song where the only instrument is the drum. But that’s what happens on “Boom”. I guess it’s something that coulda worked at a live show in a jazz club, after you listen to it once (IF you listen to it), you’ll never want to again.
Guess I have amend one of my opening statements to this review. The album did have a “down”. Thanks, “Boom”.
“Cute” is another long instrumental (15 minutes) but at least they had the good sense to allow organ and guitars onto this one. The song is actually good for about the first six minutes, but then falls apart and rambles for another nine.
ALBUM GRADE: C+
I’m gonna be nice and completely ignore the long, boring instrumentals and give this a C+. Those two long ass instrumentals aside, the album is solid. Not great, not bad. Solid.
Despite being a sprawling mess, this album would go gold. However, it would be the final Rascals album to do so. Furthermore the single releases after “People Got To Be Free” underperformed at least in the US: “Heaven” (#39 US, #4 Canada); “A Ray of Hope” (#24 US, #10 Canada).
The Rascals would get their artistic mojo back, but never their commercial mojo.
Le sigh.
Song Scores
America the Beautiful: 6/10
Me and My Friends: 6.5/10
Any Dance'll Do: 7/10
Look Around: 6.5/10
Ray Of Hope: 7.5/10
Island Of Love: 6.5/10
Of Course: 6/10
Love Was So Easy To Give: 8/10
People Got To Be Free: 7.5/10
Baby I’m Blue: 6/10
Heaven: 6.5/10
Adrian’s Birthday: 7.5/10
Boom: 2/10
Cute: 4/10