The Young Rascals - Groovin' (2LP, Mono, Ultra Analog, Half-speed Mastering, 45 RPM)
ORDER LIMITED TO ONE ITEM PER CUSTOMER
Felix Cavaliere – lead vocals (A1, B2, C1-2, C4, D3), keyboards, organ
Eddie Brigati – lead vocals (A2, B3, C2, D1), percussion
Gene Cornish – lead vocals (B1, C3), guitar, bass, harmonica; percussion on "Groovin'"
Dino Danelli – drums, percussion
David Brigati – background vocals
Hubert Laws – flute
Chuck Rainey - bass guitar
Orchestral Arrangements by Arif Mardin (A1)
Written by Eddie Brigati (A1-2, B2-3, C1-2, C4, D2-3), Felix Cavaliere (A1-2, B2-3, C1-2, C4, D2-3), Gene Cornish (B1, C3), Brian Wells (D1), Ronald Miller (D1)
2 LPs, gatefold sleeve
Limited numbered edition
Original analog Master tape : YES
Half-speed Mastering
Gain 2™ Ultra Analog
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 45RPM
Size : 12”
Mono
Studio
Record Press : RTI
Label : MOFI
Original Label : Atlantic
Recorded May 9, 1966 - June 22, 1967
Engineered by Chris Huston, Tom Dowd
Produced by The Young Rascals
Mastered by Krieg Wunderlich by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
Originally released in July 1967
Reissued in May 2022
Tracks:
Side A:
- A Girl Like You
- Find Somebody
Side B:
- I’m So Happy Now
- Sueno
- How Can I Be Sure
Side C:
- Groovin’
- If You Knew
- I Don’t Love You Any More
- You Better Run
Side D:
- A Place in the Sun
- It’s Love
- A Beautiful Morning
Reviews :
“The Rascals move into the era of psychedelia with a vengeance on this album -- the best of their entire history -- which also retains a soulful core and adds a bit of a Latin beat. The original album on Atlantic was a monster seller thanks to the title track, practically the group's signature tune (number one on the pop charts, number three on R&B), but "Groovin'" was only one small strong point on the album of the same name. "Find Somebody" marked a return to the group's garage band sound with a psychedelic twist, including phased fuzztone guitars and some catchy lyrics and choruses. "How Can I Be Sure" is the second best-known song off of this album, but it has a fully successful companion piece, "I'm So Happy Now," that applies similar instrumentation to very different (but pleasing) effect. Gene Cornish's "I Don't Love You Anymore" could be the finest pop song in the band's repertory apart from "How Can I Be Sure," with a delectable guitar part, scrumptious melody, and delicious chorus. "You Better Run" was more than a year old when it turned up on this album, and its garage band sensibilities are a bit more primitive than those of "Find Somebody," but it's a great piece of rock & roll. The band turns in one superb Motown cover, "A Place in the Sun," done in a surprisingly subdued fashion. And for a finale, Cavaliere and Brigati turn in an exultant period piece, "It's Love," whose soaring lyrics are matched by guest artist Hubert Laws' flute -- alas, his presence would point the way toward less effective, more disjointed work in the Rascals' future, as they moved more deeply into psychedelia.” AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder
Ultra Analog™ : The GAIN 2 Ultra Analog™ Series stems from the use of the Gain 2 system, mastered at half speed from the original master tapes where possible, capturing and uncovering as before undiscovered sonic information.
Half-speed mastering. In half-speed mastering, the whole process is slowed down to half of the original speed. A typical 33 1/3 rpm record is cut at 16 2/3 rpm. The source material is also slowed down (reducing the pitch in the process) meaning the final record will still sound normal when played back. Slowing the whole process down allows more time, which means the end result sounds better and is more efficient — allowing engineering to minimize the effects of inherent limitations within the vinyl format. The result is a more accurate and more open high-frequency response in the half speed vinyl when compared with a normal speed recording.
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4.5 / 5 , Discogs : 3.99 / 5