The Young Rascals/Rascals had nine songs make the top 20, and three reached number 1 - Good Lovin', Groovin', and People Got to be Free. Uploaded by filetraffic.eu.
Depending on when you first started listening to this band, you may either consider them a frenetic blue-eyed-soul group, or a mellow, almost jazz-influenced pop band. During their eight years together (1965-72), they were both. They even had two names that roughly correspond with their two eras. Initially, the band was The Young Rascals, then became just The Rascals in 1968.
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It was their soulful sound that first caught my attention when I heard “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore,” the band’s first single. Though it only made it to number 53 on the Billboard singles chart, it featured a distinctive sound and the promise of good things to come. Here’s a list of the band’s Top 20 singles, and the highest chart position for each:
- “Good Lovin'” (1 – 1966)
- “You Better Run” (20 – 1966)
- “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long” (16 – 1967)
- “Groovin'” (1 – 1967)
- “A Girl Like You” (10 – 1967)
- “How Can I Be Sure” (4 – 1967)
- “It’s Wonderful” (20 -1967)
- “A Beautiful Morning” (3 -1968)
- “People Got to be Free” (1 – 1968)
The Rascals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. To give you a feel for the group’s blues and mellow periods, here are a couple of videos. The first is a medley of “Mickey’s Monkey” and “Turn on Your Love Light.” Notice the great drumming by Dino Danelli. The second is the huge hit, “People Got to be Free.”
Great American Things 