Groovin'
Encyclopedia
"Groovin'" is a single released in 1967 by The Young Rascals that became a number-one hit and one of the group's signature song
s.
Written by group members Felix Cavaliere
and Eddie Brigati
and with a lead vocal from Cavaliere, it is indeed a slow, relaxed groove, based on Cavaliere's newfound interest in Afro-Cuban music. Instrumentation included a conga
, harmonica, and an effective, Cuban-based bass guitar
line from ace session musician
Chuck Rainey
. The result was fairly different from the Rascals' white soul origins, enough so that Atlantic Records
head Jerry Wexler
did not want to release "Groovin'".
Lyrically, "Groovin'" is themed around a highly romantic portrayal of a couple in love:
The single became an instant hit in May 1967, bounding up the charts and then spending four weeks atop the Billboard pop singles chart
. It was RIAA-certified a gold record on June 13, 1967. Showing it (and the group's) crossover appeal, it also reached number 3 on the Billboard Black Songs chart
chart. "Groovin" was soon recorded by the likes of Booker T. & the M.G.'s
(1967), Petula Clark
(1967), Gladys Knight & the Pips
(1968), Willie Mitchell (1969), and Marvin Gaye
(1969). Finally, "Groovin'" was the only real hit the group ever had in the United Kingdom
, reaching number 8 on the UK Singles Chart
.
Aretha Franklin
recorded the song for her album Lady Soul
(1968), and included a live recording on the album Aretha in Paris
(1968).
"Groovin'" was subsequently included on The Young Rascals' late July 1967 album Groovin'
, but with a different harmonica riff.
"Groovin'" is one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, and is also the recipient of a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.
Victor Raphael goes groovin' at the pool.
Co-writer Eddie Brigati and his brother David
, as the group Brigati, recorded a dance version of "Groovin'" for their 1976 album Lost in the Wilderness after Eddie left the Rascals.
Funk band War
recorded a version in 1984, reaching #43 in the UK chart.
Two decades later, "Groovin'" was recorded by Pato Banton
and it became a top 20 hit in the UK for him in 1996.
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
s.
Written by group members Felix Cavaliere
Felix Cavaliere
Felix Cavaliere is an American songwriter, singer, music producer, and musician.Although he was a member of Joey Dee and His Starlighters best known for their hit "Peppermint Twist", he is best known for his association with The Young Rascals during the 1960s. The other members of The Rascals...
and Eddie Brigati
Eddie Brigati
Eddie Brigati is an American singer and songwriter.Most memorably, Brigati shared vocals, and played tambourine, in the pop group The Young Rascals from 1965 to 1970...
and with a lead vocal from Cavaliere, it is indeed a slow, relaxed groove, based on Cavaliere's newfound interest in Afro-Cuban music. Instrumentation included a conga
Conga
The conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
, harmonica, and an effective, Cuban-based bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
line from ace session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
Chuck Rainey
Chuck Rainey
Chuck Rainey, is an American bass guitar session musician, known for playing with many well-known American musicians and acts, including Donald Byrd, Steely Dan, Quincy Jones, and Aretha Franklin.-Biography:Rainey's youthful pursuits included violin, piano and trumpet...
. The result was fairly different from the Rascals' white soul origins, enough so that Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
head Jerry Wexler
Jerry Wexler
Gerald "Jerry" Wexler was a music journalist turned music producer, and was regarded as one of the major record industry players behind music from the 1950s through the 1980s...
did not want to release "Groovin'".
Lyrically, "Groovin'" is themed around a highly romantic portrayal of a couple in love:
- Life would be ecstasy, you and me endlessly ...
- Groovin' ... on a Sunday afternoon
- Really couldn't get away too soon —
The single became an instant hit in May 1967, bounding up the charts and then spending four weeks atop the Billboard pop singles chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It was RIAA-certified a gold record on June 13, 1967. Showing it (and the group's) crossover appeal, it also reached number 3 on the Billboard Black Songs chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart. "Groovin" was soon recorded by the likes of Booker T. & the M.G.'s
Booker T. & the M.G.'s
Booker T. & the M.G.'s is an instrumental R&B band that was influential in shaping the sound of southern soul and Memphis soul. Original members of the group were Booker T. Jones , Steve Cropper , Lewie Steinberg , and Al Jackson, Jr....
(1967), Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
(1967), Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight...
(1968), Willie Mitchell (1969), and Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
(1969). Finally, "Groovin'" was the only real hit the group ever had in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, reaching number 8 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
recorded the song for her album Lady Soul
Lady Soul
Lady Soul is an album by Aretha Franklin, released in 1968. The album was her second R&B chart-topper, the follow-up to "Aretha Arrives" and included some of her biggest hit singles, "Chain of Fools" , and A Natural Woman , and " Since You've Been Gone"...
(1968), and included a live recording on the album Aretha in Paris
Aretha in Paris
Aretha In Paris is a live album by Aretha Franklin released in 1968. The album was recorded in Paris on May 7, 1968. It reached the Top 20 of Billboards album chart...
(1968).
"Groovin'" was subsequently included on The Young Rascals' late July 1967 album Groovin'
Groovin' (album)
Writing for Allmusic, critic Bruce Eder wrote the album moved into the psychedelic genre while retaining a "soulful core". He called the album "their best of their entire history.....
, but with a different harmonica riff.
"Groovin'" is one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, and is also the recipient of a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.
Victor Raphael goes groovin' at the pool.
Co-writer Eddie Brigati and his brother David
David Brigati
David Brigati is an American singer.-Hi-Fives:David got his musical start as the lead singer of a doo-wop group known as the Hi-Fives. In 1958, the group recorded a number of songs on the Decca label. One of those recordings was entitled "Dorothy" and became a regional hit in the New York...
, as the group Brigati, recorded a dance version of "Groovin'" for their 1976 album Lost in the Wilderness after Eddie left the Rascals.
Funk band War
War (band)
War is an American funk band from California, known for the hit songs "Low Rider", "Spill the Wine", "The Cisco Kid" and "Why Can't We Be Friends?". Formed in 1969, War was a musical crossover band which fused elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin, rhythm and blues, and reggae...
recorded a version in 1984, reaching #43 in the UK chart.
Two decades later, "Groovin'" was recorded by Pato Banton
Pato Banton
Pato Banton is a reggae singer and toaster from Birmingham, England. He received the nickname 'Pato' from his stepfather, and 'Banton' from the disc jockey slang for a "heavyweight DJ".-Biography:Born in Birmingham, Banton first came to public attention in the early 1980s when he worked with The...
and it became a top 20 hit in the UK for him in 1996.