Genre: pop
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: Groovin'
Company: Atlantic
Catalog: SD-8148
Year: 1967
Country/State: Long Island, New York
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: --
Available: 2
GEMM Catalog ID: not yet listed
Price: $8.00
From the easy-going title track to the haunting opening track "A Girl Like You" 1967's self-produced "Groovin'" is simply one of the band's most impressive endeavors. Moving away from their mix of originals and cover tunes (Ronald Miller's "A Place In the Sun" standing as the lone exception), the collection showcased the group's skills as first rate writers, musicians, singers and producers. While Cavaliere and Brigati provided the bulk of material (8 out of 11 tracks), Cornish's two contributions ("I'm So Happy Now" and "I Don't Love You Anymore") were equally impressive. Effortlessly plowing through pop ("You Better Run"), blue-eyed soul (It's Love") and quasi-psychedelia ("I'm So Happy Now"), '60s rock didn't get much better than this. Propelled by the three top-10 hits ("A Girl Like You," the chart topping title track and "How Can I Be Sure"), the album hit #4, scoring their third consecutive gold album and making them one of the country's hottest acts. With it's release the band also attracted considerable attention as one of the era's leading proponents of racial integration. Unlike many of their contemporaries, the band refused to play dates unless at least one black act was featured on the bill.
"Groovin'" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) A Girl Like (Felix Cavaliere - Eddie Brigati) - 2:46
2.) Find Somebody (Felix Cavaliere - Eddie Brigati) - 3:40
3.) I'm So Happy (Gene Cornish) - 2:46
4.) Sueno (Felix Cavaliere - Eddie Brigati) - 2:45
5.) How Can I Be Sure (Felix Cavaliere - Eddie Brigati) - 2:50
(side 2)
1.) Groovin' (Felix Cavaliere - Eddie Brigati) - 2:25
2.) If You Knew (Felix Cavaliere - Eddie Brigati) - 3:01
3.) I Don't Love You Anymore (Gene Cornish) - 3:04
4.) You Better Run (Felix Cavaliere - Eddie Brigati) - 2:25
5.) A Place In the Sun (Ronald Miller - Brian Mills) - 4:50
11.) It's Love (Felix Cavaliere - Eddie Brigati) - 3:10