Taken from Billboard's "Rock's Movers and Shakers"
The (Young) Rascals
Career Timeline
Felix Cavaliere (vocals and keyboards)
Eddie Brigati (vocals and percussion)
Gene Cornish (guitar)
Dino Danelli (drums)
1965
February
The group forms as a trio, comprising ex-Joey Dee asnd The
Starlighters' Cavaliere (born November 29th, 1944, Pelham, New York),
Brigati (born October 22nd, 1945 Garfield, New Jersey), and Cornish
(born May 14, 1945, Rochester, New York) in Garfield, and first gigs
as a rock/R&B trio are at local Choo Choo club. Shortly after,
Danelli (born July 23, 1945, New York, New York) an old friend of
Cavaliere's who has played jazz with Lionel Hampton and in various
New York and Las Vegas club house bands, joins on drums. The quartet
becomes The Rascals.
July
The Rascals become the resident band at The Barge, a floating,
fashionable nightclub off Southampton, Long Island. A forty-five
minute act of familiar and self-penned rhythm and blues, interpersed
with rock oldies, is honed, with the group wearing choirboy shirts
and knickerbockers.
August
New York promoter Sid Bernstein becomes interested in the group, and
takes over as its manager. He turns down offers from Red Bird and
Phil Spector's Phillies Records, and signs them (now as The Young
Rascals and minus the uniforms) to Atlantic for a $10,000 advance.
1966
January
Debut single "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore", written by
Paul Sawyer and Lori Burton, and heavily supported (due to the
group's overtly black sound) by R&B radio stations, reaches US #52.
April
Good Lovin' (a Rudy Clark/Artie Resnick song, originally an R&B hit
for the Olympics in 1965) tops the US chart for a week, and is the
group's first million seller.
July
You Better Run, first self-penned A-side (by Cavaliere and Brigati),
reaches US #20. Debut LP The Young Rascals, heavy on R&B cover
versions from the group's stage act, makes US #15. (It will earn a
gold disk in an 84 week chart stay.)
October
Cavaliere's composition "Come On Up" peaks at US #43.
1967
March
"I've Been Lonely Too Long", another Cavlaiere/Brigati collaboration
with a Motown dance feel (which aids it considerably on the R&B
chart), reaches US #16. LP Collections makes US #14, and is the
group's second gold LP.
May
"Groovin", the first self-produced by the group (with the assitance
of Arif Mardin), signals a move towards a more uniquely Young Rascals
sound than their R&B, fusing Latin influences and a cool jazz
sensitivity. Written by Cavaliere and Brigati (and a euphemism for
Sunday afternoon sex, according to the former), it tops the US charts
for 4 weeks, selling 2 million copies.
July
Groovin' is the group's UK chart debut, hitting #8.
August
"A Girl Like You" hits US #10 and makes UK #37
(the group's UK chart swan song).
September
LP "Groovin", featuring the previous two singles and the forthcoming
release, hits US #4 and earns the group's third gold LP.
October
"How Can I Be Sure" is another change of pace, inspired by
Cavaliere's life (he will marry shortly), wrapped in a loping
arrangement with French accordian and strings. It hits US #4.
1968
January
Psychedelia-inflected "It's Wonderful" peaks at US #20. The group
has become absorbed in the "Summer of Love" philosophy, and Cavaliere
adopts Indian philosopher Swami Satchidananda as his guru, with the
whole group becoming involved in the latter's Integral Yoga Institute.
March
On tour in Florida, the group's trailer breaks down outside Fort
Pierce and The Young Rascals encounter heavy anti-rock and racist
harassment from rednecks. In response to this incident, they
announce that they will play on no further live bills which do not
include at least one black act.
April
LP Once Upon A Dream, an effects-laden concept LP in It's Wonderful-
style, hits US #9.
May
The group persuades Atlantic to drop the "Young" from its name and A
Beautiful Morning appears as by The Rascals. Their third million-
selling single, it hits US #3.
August
People Got To Be Free tops the US chart for 5 weeks, becoming their
fourth and lat million-selling single. Written by Cavaliere and
Brigati, the song is the former's reaction to the assassinations of
Martin Luther king and Robert Kennedy earlier in the year.
September
Complilation LP Time Peace/The Rascals' Greatest Hits tops the US
chart for a week. It earns a gold disk for a half million sales and
will stay on chart for 58 weeks.
December
A Ray of Hope, the last Rascals A-side co-written by Brigati and
Cavaliere, is a deliberate sequel to People Got To Be Free, and is
dedciated to Senator Edward Kennedy (who responds with an
appreciative letter to the group). It peaks at US #24.
1969
March
Heaven, penned by Cavaliere (as are the remainder of the group's
chart hits) in waltz time, makes US#39.
May
Double LP "Freedom Suite" reaches US #17. Included is wholly
instrumental Music Music, a new departure for the group.
June
"See" climbs to US #27.
On the 20th, The Rascals play the 3-day Newport '69 Rock Festival at
Northridge, California, alongside Jimi Hendrix, Jethro Tull,
Creedence Clearwater Revivial, and many others.
October
Carry Me Back reaches US #26.
1970
January
On the 28th, the group takes part in a 7-hour benefit concert at New
York's Madison Square Garden, along with Judy Collins', Peter, Paul,
and Mary, and others, foir the Vietnam Moratorium Committee.
February
LP See reaches US #45 while, from it, Hold On makes US #51. The LP
is the last to feature Brigati, who leaves following a lengthy period
of dissension within the group.
August
Gospel-flavored Glory Glory, with vocal backing from the Sweet
Inspirations, makes US #58.
1988
June
Without Brigati, the group reforms for a "Good Lovin' 88" US
tour. "Good lovin" has recently been featured in a highly-rated
episode of US TV series, "Moonlighting."
1997
May
The Rascals are inducted into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame in
Cleveland, Ohio. The induction comes thirty-two years and three
months after their first gig at Garfield's Choo Choo club.
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