Groovin'
| "Groovin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by The Young Rascals | ||||
| from the album Groovin' | ||||
| B-side | "Sueño" | |||
| Released | April 10, 1967 | |||
| Format | 7" single | |||
| Recorded | March 27, 1967 | |||
| Genre | R&B, Blue-Eyed Soul | |||
| Length | 2:30 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Writer(s) | Felix Cavaliere Eddie Brigati |
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| Producer | The Rascals | |||
| The Young Rascals singles chronology | ||||
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| "Groovin'" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Booker T & the M.G.s | |
| from the album Hip Hug-Her | |
| Released | 1967 |
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Length | 2:40 |
| Label | 224 |
"Groovin'" is a single released in 1967 by The Young Rascals that became a number-one hit and one of the group's signature songs.
Written by group members Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati and with a lead vocal from Cavaliere, it is indeed a slow, relaxed groove, based on Cavaliere's newfound interest in Afro-Cuban music. Instrumentation included a conga, harmonica, and an effective, Cuban-based bass guitar line from ace session musician Chuck Rainey. The result was fairly different from the Rascals' white soul origins, enough so that Atlantic Records head Jerry Wexler did not want to release "Groovin'". Cavaliere credits disc jockey Murray the K with intervening to encourage Atlantic to release the song. “To tell you the truth, they didn’t originally like the record because it had no drum on it,” admits Cavaliere. “We had just cut it, and he came in the studio to say hello. After he heard the song, he said, ‘Man, this is a smash.’ So, when he (later) heard that Atlantic didn’t want to put it out, he went to see (Atlantic executive) Jerry Wexler and said, ‘Are you crazy? This is a friggin’ #1 record.’ He was right, because it eventually became #1 for five straight weeks.”[1]
Lyrically, "Groovin'" is themed around a highly romantic portrayal of a couple in love:
- Life would be ecstasy, you and me endlessly ...
- Groovin' ... on a Sunday afternoon
- Really couldn't get away too soon —
The single became an instant hit in May 1967, bounding up the charts and then spending four weeks atop the Billboard pop singles chart. It was RIAA-certified a gold record on June 13, 1967. Showing it (and the group's) crossover appeal, it also reached number 3 on the Billboard Black Songs chart chart.[2] "Groovin" was soon recorded by the likes of Booker T. & the M.G.'s (1967), Petula Clark (1967), Gladys Knight & the Pips (1968), Willie Mitchell (1969), and Marvin Gaye (1969). Finally, "Groovin'" was the only real hit the group ever had in the United Kingdom, reaching number 8 on the UK Singles Chart.
Aretha Franklin recorded the song for her album Lady Soul (1968), and included a live recording on the album Aretha in Paris (1968).
"Groovin'" was subsequently included on The Young Rascals' late July 1967 album Groovin', but with a different harmonica riff.
"Groovin'" is one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, and is also the recipient of a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.
Co-writer Eddie Brigati and his brother David, as the group Brigati, recorded a dance version of "Groovin'" for their 1976 album Lost in the Wilderness after Eddie left the Rascals.
Funk band War recorded a version in 1984, reaching #43 in the UK chart.
Two decades later, "Groovin'" was recorded by Pato Banton and it became a top 20 hit in the UK for him in 1996. In 1997, the song was used in a Doritos commercial featuring then-New York Jets head coach Bill Parcells.
[edit] References
- ^ Cohen, Elliot Stephen. "Felix Cavaliere traces the tumultuous history of The Rascals > Review". Goldmine. http://www.goldminemag.com/article/feature-story-felix-cavaliere-traces-the-tumultuous-history-of-the-rascals-2. Retrieved December 21, 2011.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 482.
| Preceded by "The Happening" by The Supremes |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 20-June 2, 1967 (two weeks) June 17-30 , 1967 (two weeks) |
Succeeded by "Respect" by Aretha Franklin |
