Any fans of the [[Young) Rascals?

[floyjoy678]

I've been a fan of these guys and have been listening to their albums a lot lately. Did anyone read Felix or Gene's autobiographies they put out a few years ago? I was thinking of getting them.

I'm so glad I saw these guys in 2013 when they were doing their Once Upon A Dream tour. I even got to meet them backstage which was fun for me but I could tell there was some tension going on between the guys. Eddie Brigata was so down to earth and talked to me on the side as if he was trying to get away from the other 3. Gene and Dino were funny guys and kept cracking jokes with each other. Felix seemed like he was in his head although I do remember him asking me where I got the shirt I was wearing because he really liked it. Little did I know this would be the last tour they'd do together.

One of their songs I can play over and over again is Groovin.

[Motown Eddie]

I'm a Big Fan of The Rascals! They were a great band and group members Felix Cavaliere & Eddie Brigati became fine songwriters with songs like "Groovin", "A Girl Like You", "People Got To Free" and others that I feel was some of the Best Music of their era. I didn't read either of the autobiographies by Felix or Gene Cornish though. Here's a 3 part Band History feature that the Pop Goes the '60s channel on YouTube did about the group.

[RTA6226]

Yes. I LOVE The Rascals! They and the 5th Dimension are my favorite singing groups! I understand that Felix and Gene are touring. The tour is called "The Rascals - People Got to Be Free." I hope to go to at least ONE concert. You Rascal fans may recall that drummer Dino Danelli passed away almost two years ago on December 15, 2022.

[RTA6226]

I've been a fan of these guys and have been listening to their albums a lot lately. Did anyone read Felix or Gene's autobiographies they put out a few years ago? I was thinking of getting them.

I'm so glad I saw these guys in 2013 when they were doing their Once Upon A Dream tour. I even got to meet them backstage which was fun for me but I could tell there was some tension going on between the guys. Eddie Brigata was so down to earth and talked to me on the side as if he was trying to get away from the other 3. Gene and Dino were funny guys and kept cracking jokes with each other. Felix seemed like he was in his head although I do remember him asking me where I got the shirt I was wearing because he really liked it. Little did I know this would be the last tour they'd do together.

One of their songs I can play over and over again is Groovin.

I was fortunate to see four of those Once Upon a Dream shows. I'm so glad you were able to see all four of them back stage! I'm not surprised to hear that Gene and Dino were cracking jokes with each other, as they were very close. In what city did you see them? I was able to see Eddie Brigati and Felix back stage after the show in Philadelphia. That was the last show I saw of the four of them. I was a doctoral student then at Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware about 50 minutes from where the guys were playing in Philly. I had to be in class the next day, so I went up a day early when I found out the guys would be playing Philly. As you said FloyJoy678, little did I know this would be the last tour they'd do together. Also, little did I know that we'd lose Dino on December 15, 2022. So we'll never see the four of them together again. It would be great to see three of them perform again, but that is highly unlikely. Yes, I bought both Gene and Felix's memoir's. They are both good reads. You find out a lot of stuff that we didn't know before!

[Stax_of_Motown]

Remember "Groovin'" being released in the UK when I was 14. Loved the way the music made you imagine you were in a hot, sunny day [[not just from the lyrics).

I also remember "Too Many Fish In The Sea" also on the radio. This was released as a single in the UK but cannot find any evidence of a US single release. Does anyone know of a reason?

[floyjoy678]

I was fortunate to see four of those Once Upon a Dream shows. I'm so glad you were able to see all four of them back stage! I'm not surprised to hear that Gene and Dino were cracking jokes with each other, as they were very close. In what city did you see them? I was able to see Eddie Brigati and Felix back stage after the show in Philadelphia. That was the last show I saw of the four of them. I was a doctoral student then at Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware about 50 minutes from where the guys were playing in Philly. I had to be in class the next day, so I went up a day early when I found out the guys would be playing Philly. As you said FloyJoy678, little did I know this would be the last tour they'd do together. Also, little did I know that we'd lose Dino on December 15, 2022. So we'll never see the four of them together again. It would be great to see three of them perform again, but that is highly unlikely. Yes, I bought both Gene and Felix's memoir's. They are both good reads. You find out a lot of stuff that we didn't know before!

I saw them in Philly too! I can't remember the exact date but it was in June of 2013 and I remember it was storming outside that day. How were Felix and Eddie when you met them? I actually met them before the show rather than after. It was me and my sister and two others. I have a picture of us with all 4 of the guys I'm gonna try and look for it and figure out how to upload it. Yeah it's sad, I remember shortly after this tour they were back to being at each other's throats again. It explained why I could feel things were tense among them when I met them. Eddie in particular seemed like he didn't really care for the rest of them.

But man what a show it was that night. I remember how much I loved their performance of A Girl Like You that night. Felix and Eddie's vocals sounded great and loved how they played the songs in the style of the recordings.

Also now that I remembering it, it was a weeknight because my sister was complaining that it was getting too late and she had to be in work the next day but I wanted to stay for the whole show lol.

Also just remembered when Eddie shook my hand he said "Hi I'm Eddie Brigati". Then Gene came up to me and was like "He's lying. I'm the real Eddie Brigati!". That gave me a huge laugh.

[floyjoy678]

Remember "Groovin'" being released in the UK when I was 14. Loved the way the music made you imagine you were in a hot, sunny day [[not just from the lyrics).

I also remember "Too Many Fish In The Sea" also on the radio. This was released as a single in the UK but cannot find any evidence of a US single release. Does anyone know of a reason?

I feel the same way about Groovin too, it's not so much the vocals that makes it feel like a summer day but the instruments and I'd even say the backing vocals too.

[lockhartgary]

I, too, like "Groovin" very much. As stated, the arrangement really sets the atmosphere. And that harmonica, a nice touch indeed!!

I feel the same way about "A Beautiful Morning".

[RTA6226]

Remember "Groovin'" being released in the UK when I was 14. Loved the way the music made you imagine you were in a hot, sunny day [[not just from the lyrics).

I also remember "Too Many Fish In The Sea" also on the radio. This was released as a single in the UK but cannot find any evidence of a US single release. Does anyone know of a reason?

I was 13 when "Groovin'" came out. By then, my entire family was indoctrinated to the Rascals. That is very interesting that "Too Many Fish in the Sea" was released as a single in the UK. I have no idea why it wasn't released here as a single. The songs from the "Collections" album that were released as singles here in the United States included, "Come On Up"/"What Is the Reason", "Lonely Too Long"/"If You Knew" and "Love is a Beautiful Thing"/"You Better Run". I recall the "Collections" album was released after "Lonely Too Long" did it's run up the charts and before "You Better Run"/"Love Is...". Also, "If You Knew" and "You Better Run" were written after the "Collections" album was released and before the "Groovin'" album was released. Do you recall how "Too Many Fish in the Sea" did as a single in the UK chart wise?

[RTA6226]

I saw them in Philly too! I can't remember the exact date but it was in June of 2013 and I remember it was storming outside that day. How were Felix and Eddie when you met them? I actually met them before the show rather than after. It was me and my sister and two others. I have a picture of us with all 4 of the guys I'm gonna try and look for it and figure out how to upload it. Yeah it's sad, I remember shortly after this tour they were back to being at each other's throats again. It explained why I could feel things were tense among them when I met them. Eddie in particular seemed like he didn't really care for the rest of them.

But man what a show it was that night. I remember how much I loved their performance of A Girl Like You that night. Felix and Eddie's vocals sounded great and loved how they played the songs in the style of the recordings.

Also now that I remembering it, it was a weeknight because my sister was complaining that it was getting too late and she had to be in work the next day but I wanted to stay for the whole show lol.

Also just remembered when Eddie shook my hand he said "Hi I'm Eddie Brigati". Then Gene came up to me and was like "He's lying. I'm the real Eddie Brigati!". That gave me a huge laugh.

You were at the Philly show? Wow! How many shows did you go to? I recall it was a Thursday June 6, 2013 at the Academy of Music. They did a three-day run in Philly. Were you able to stay for the entire show? I had a front row seat at that show. I recall at the end of one of their songs Gene threw his guitar pick and it landed right in front of my hand! I still have it! Speaking of Gene, in his memoir he starts off by saying what you said, that after the tour they were back to being at each other's throats. From my observation it appears to me that Gene is a peacemaker and just doesn't want to be getting into hassles with them anymore. He and Dino were very close. He was devastated at Dino's passing. He was on a radio show with Cousin Brucie [remember him?] and he started to break down near the end of the interview. From what I observed I think Eddie got along with Dino. His relationship with Gene seemed so-so and he and Felix don't get along at all from what I understand. YES! That was one hell of a show. People were tapping me near the end of the concert saying they could tell how into it I was. I explained that the Rascals are my favorite group. I'm sure Eddie was very friendly when he introduced himself to you. It sounds just like Gene to joke and say he was the real Eddie Brigati. As I've gotten to know them, I see that Eddie is the heart of the Rascals, Gene is the jokester, [though Gene and Eddie like to make people laugh], Dino was shy and reserved, but the very nice one and Felix is the perceptive, intellectual businessman. I heard they all had pretty good relationships with each other until after the "Freedom Suite" album ran its course. Then things started to go south quickly. It's too bad because they are SO awesome together.

[mr_june]

I have Gene's book. It was OK but I remember it not having enough info on the songs to me. I wanted to hear more about the songs coming together and recording stories. Otherwise it was a good read. I saw them on their tour in the early 2000's.

[Stax_of_Motown]

I was 13 when "Groovin'" came out. By then, my entire family was indoctrinated to the Rascals. That is very interesting that "Too Many Fish in the Sea" was released as a single in the UK. I have no idea why it wasn't released here as a single. The songs from the "Collections" album that were released as singles here in the United States included, "Come On Up"/"What Is the Reason", "Lonely Too Long"/"If You Knew" and "Love is a Beautiful Thing"/"You Better Run". I recall the "Collections" album was released after "Lonely Too Long" did it's run up the charts and before "You Better Run"/"Love Is...". Also, "If You Knew" and "You Better Run" were written after the "Collections" album was released and before the "Groovin'" album was released. Do you recall how "Too Many Fish in the Sea" did as a single in the UK chart wise?

All I remember was still at school, about 67, 68, cannot remember radio station, probably Radio Luxembourg.
Found some info searching internet and it reached 55 pop charts, 12 Jan 1967.