Groovin' (45 RPM)

967年にリリースされた元祖ブルーアイド・ソウル名作が45回転2LP仕様でMOBILEより再発!


1970年にローリング・ストーン誌が大胆にも「最も黒い白人グループ」と評したラスカルズ。彼らが残した最高傑作が1967年にリリースされたサード・アルバムである本作です。洗練された和声のハーモニー、そしてシャッフルするビート、ジャズの風味漂うアレンジ、何よりもフェリックス・キャヴァリエをはじめとする彼らの声!エヴァーグリーンという言葉がこれほど似合うアルバムも中々ありません。

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. ~ Bruce Eder