In its Summer of Love commemorative issue a few weeks ago, Rolling Stone magazine published its "40 Essential Albums of 1967." The feature included obvious choices by The Beatles, Hendrix, Doors, Byrds et al, cult faves like Velvet Underground & Nico and a few obscurities. The most glaring omission was Groovin'
by The Young Rascals, a New York outfit that forged the template for blue-eyed soul. With this album, the Rascals refined their songwriting chops and moved beyond a reliance on R&B covers. The disc begins with the luminous, horn-laced "A Girl Like You," and includes such timeless tunes as "How Can I Be Sure," "You Better Run," the swooning title track and others. The album was recently reissued; the CD includes a stereo and mono mix.
This article appears in Sep 5-11, 2007.