Comments on: They’re An American Band Part 4 New York New York

By: David G.

David G. — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:48:11 +0000

I played w/Gene Cornish last June…he was guesting w/Barnaby Bye. It was a blast. I could’nt wipe the “idiot grin” off of my face as I was playing Good Lovin’ w/him. I’ve always been a huge Rascals fan. I like their later stuff from Freedom Suite on to Island of Real even more so…great underrated stuff. One of the bands that I work w/now does a cover of Jungle Walk….& I’m STILL waiting for someone to recognize it !!

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 26 May 2011 21:47:35 +0000

>I played bass for the Rascals in late 1989 and it was a fun experience

I’m sure it was! Did you tour with them? Not sure of the date/year, but I saw them here in South Florida playing outdoors at a racetrack (not even sure which one, maybe Gulfstream?) Still blew me away with their musicality and the quality and familiarity of the ‘old songs’.

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 26 May 2011 21:33:02 +0000

ha! Reading my post over again, I don’t think I explained this very well…
“Although I was crazy about the British bands I also loved the sounds of Motown. And here was a local band–a kind-of New York moptop incarnation, whose sound touched me deeply.”
What I was trying to say was that the Rascals mixed elements of soul and blues and even jazz into their sound, and I was like a sponge absorbing many different styles of music that were being produced at the time. Went through phases of R&B, American folk music, Motown, British folk music, 50′s R&R, blues, acid rock, Southern rock, West Coast, East Coast, (and later) glam rock, punk rock….you name it and at some point I was immersed in it.

Yeah, I love music….and I’m a Gemini…..
Next…..

By: David Gross

David Gross — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:51:14 +0000

Your welcome Beth

I played bass for the Rascals in late 1989 and it was a fun experience. Nothing better than playing with the great Dino Danelli!

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:14:29 +0000

Like I said in another post, musicians of the time played for 1) the love of playing, 2) to get their music heard. One of the strangest venues I ever heard live music in was at the opening of a clothing store in Queens, where Vanilla Fudge played a set. I think I heard a disc jockey mention that they would be there, and jumped on the subway within 15 minutes. I’m not sure if they were doing a favor for a friend (store owner) or what…but can you visualize the band with a few small amplifiers set up in a clothing store with a few dozen people grooving out? Not sure of the date but think it was late ’66 or sometime in ’67. Blows my mind when I think back to the freedom I had at an early age (13-14).
After hearing the Young Rascals music (in ’65/’66) I was in LOVE. Although I was crazy about the British bands I also loved the sounds of Motown. And here was a local band–a kind-of New York moptop incarnation, whose sound touched me deeply. The guys all lived within 20 blocks of each other (Felix and Eddie actually shared a place) in midtown Manhattan, and I spent a lot of time cutting classes to hang out outside their homes, hoping for a sighting or maybe a chat. The highlight of my young life back then was bringing Eddie (my fave) and Felix a pizza pie that I begged my local pizza parlour to create in the shape of a heart! It didn’t quite come out that way, and Eddie remarked that “It looked like someone took a big bite out of it!”….but it got me invited into their townhouse! LOL

Golly, I’m lovin’ this site! Thanks for your memories, information, and the opportunity to share OUR memories to anyone who loved the era….:-)

By: David Gross

David Gross — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:12:32 +0000

Thanks John! This is great stuff. Look forward to the “followup!”

By: John

John — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:44:48 +0000

David,little story on “get together”the song was written by Dino Valente, later with Quicksilver Messenger Service,i had the slightly dubious pleasure of becoming friends with Dino.we met a a girls place in the East Village inthe Fall 1968.a friend of mine and classmate from Quintano’s went into a back bedroom and we heard(there were 3 of us there)angry words we went back and there was my friend David facing Dino(who we didn’t know)both with Knives drawn.it was crazy.Dino while small was powerfully built,probably from jail,and David was 90 ponds soaking wet.anyway the situation was rectified and a wonderful nite was had by all.Dino took a liking to us and invited us out to Sausalito to stay with him on his houseboat in Gate5.we accepted and visited him that summer in 1969.more on that for another time.the thing is we always cracked up because Dino was a pretty violent guy with a very short fuse,possibly because he sold the rights to that song while in prison for i think dealing pot,so the fact that he wrote a song about “smile on your brother everybody get together and love one another”we found hilarious