Released: March 1966
On their debut for Atlantic Records, the Young Rascals (mostly) play hard, fast, and furious.
The groovy people of 1966 enjoyed that fury as the band’s debut rose to #15 on the Billboard album charts and was certified gold. They had a super duper smash hit with “Good Lovin’” (#1 US, #1 Canada) that at the end of ‘66 was deemed by Billboard the 11th most played song of the year. A lesser single preceded that mega hit. “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore” made an alright impact in the US (#52) while selling better in Canada (#23).
Did the album as a whole stack up to the expectations produced by “Good Lovin’”?
The Hard, Fast, and Furious
“Slow Down”—a song whose title is at odds with the music cuz this bad boy is the epitome of “hard, fast, and furious” as the singer (Felix Cavaliere) demands his baby stop being so loose. The instruments follow the vocal’s lead. Gene Cornish’s guitar whips, Felix’s B3 hammond organ hammers away, and Dino Danelli’s drums sound like piston fire.
You’re gonna love Dino, if you’re a fan of drumming. This motherfucker was always looking so aloof, but in the most affable and passionate way possible. He’d be twirling and tossing drum sticks left and right as the pounded away at his kit.
The album’s high point is the double dynamite of “Do You Feel It” and “Good Lovin’”. The former is by no means a slow song, but its groove is somewhat subdued as it prepares you for the absolute frenetic onslaught of “Good Lovin’”. THAT song is a beautifully monstrous display of Dino’s fiery drumming and Felix’s incendiary organ playing. Gene has a simple but ear-catching guitar riff. And Eddie is shaking away on the tambourine and maracas.
Also, Felix handles the lead here (sings himself hoarse), but can’t discount the accentuation put on “good luuuv” by Eddie on the chorus. Harmonies matter, people.
Best song of the band’s career? Perhaps. Perhaps…
FUN FACT: “Good Lovin’” was a cover song. The original was by the Olympics, a Black doo-wop group. The original ain’t bad, but the Rascals snatch this from the Olympics and they didn’t even really do much to change the song. The Rascals just performed it better.
Perfect example of how their furious sound was not to be underestimated.
The Soft, Slow, and Subdued
The Young Rascals ain’t as successful on the ballads as they are on the jams, but “Baby Let’s Wait” is a good soul song helmed Eddie on lead vocals. “Just A Little” veers more into the rock than soul, but it’s also respectable.
Sadly, “I Believe” zaps all energy from the album as it moves along at a snails pace. The cover of “Like A Rolling Stone” also ain’t doing anybody any favors. Gene got the lead vocal on that one.
ALBUM GRADE: C
So, this LP didn’t maintain the greatness of “Good Lovin’”. It’s a mixed bag.
On the fast ones, they sound completely at home. On the slow ones, they mostly sound confused. On the songs that are technically ballads, but not of the crooning variety (“In the Midnight Hour”, “Mustang Sally”) the band struggles to find a way to productively channel their exuberance. Those songs ain’t bad, I still like them. But they are flawed.
Essentially the Rascals at this point were definitely more of a garage rockin’ band that loved to play fast loose R&B. They’d chill out soon enough. But not quite yet.
Song Scores
Slow Down: 7/10
Baby Let’s Wait: 7.5/10
Just A Little: 6.5/10
I Believe: 4/10
Do You Feel It: 8.5/10
Good Lovin’: 10/10
Like A Rolling Stone: 4/10
Mustang Sally: 5/10
I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore: 6/10
In the Midnight Hour: 6.5/10