Going for Gold: The Rascals, THE YOUNG RASCALS / TIME PEACE

51 years ago today, The Rascals – or The Young Rascals, as they were previously known – received not one but two gold albums: one for their self-titled studio album, the other for a best-of collection.

THE YOUNG RASCALS:

Released on March 28, 1966, THE YOUNG RASCALS reveals the work on a band who was still finding their own identity, as evidenced by the fact that there are more songs on the album written by other composers than by the band members themselves. That said, despite fine covers of classics like “Like a Rolling Stone,” “Mustang Sally,” and “In the Midnight Hour,” the band makes the biggest mark via two lesser-known compositions: “Good Lovin’” and “I Ain’t Gonna Eat My  Heart Out Anymore.” As you might imagine, it’s these two songs that were the biggest reason for the album’s big sales, as they should’ve been.

SIDE ONE
Slow Down (3:15)
Baby Let's Wait (3:19)
Just a Little (3:00)
I Believe (3:59)
Do You Feel It (3:16)

SIDE TWO
Good Lovin' (2:30)
Like a Rolling Stone (6:07)
Mustang Sally (3:59)
I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore (2:43)
In the Midnight Hour (4:03)

TIME PEACE: THE RASCALS’ GREATEST HITS:

There’s not much to say about this album’s success except that, well, it’s their greatest hits, so of course people are going to buy it. That’s not to say that there haven’t been other solid compilations of the band’s work over the course of the last half-century, but this remains the gold standard.

SIDE ONE
I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore (2:43)
Good Lovin' (2:30)
You Better Run (2:27)
Come On Up (2:46)
Mustang Sally (3:59)
Love is a Beatiful Thing (2:32)
In the Midnight Hour (4:00)

SIDE TWO
Lonely Too Long (3:01)
Groovin' (3:01)
  A Girl Like You (2:30)
How Can I Be Sure (2:49)
It's Wonderful (2:16)
Easy Rollin' (2:54)
A Beautiful Morning (2:34)