All I Really Need: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, 1965-1971

• Artist: The Rascals
• Rating:
• Release Date: October 17, 2001
• Type: Compilation (best of), Box set
• Genre: Rock

Review

If ever an American band went through a more startling transformation than the Rascals did during the six years the original band recorded for Atlantic, let them show their colors. Here was a young east group who from the jump had complete creative control over their recordings, publishing, production, and packaging -- something unheard of then -- and issued over 15 Top 40 singles, three Top Ten albums, and two more that cracked the Top 40, most of which were issued without critical acclaim at the time. This six-CD retrospective of the band's entire tenure on Atlantic (there were two more recordings afterwards, issued on Columbia with a splintered version of the band), documents their complete studio output of eight albums over four and a half discs, and devotes a disc and a half to singles, A- and B-sides, alternates, and different versions of hits. For those familiar with the hits, it's difficult to imagine that the Rascals ever rocked as hard as they did on their first two albums, The Young Rascals and Collections. On the debut, tracks like "Slow Down" and "Baby Let's Wait" have an urgency to put the needle in the red right from the jump. On their sophomore effort, with the singles "Come on Up," "Lonely Too Long," and "Love Is a Beautiful Thing," the Rascals were entrenched in the soul and R&B groove, but not enough to leave out screaming rockers such as "Land of a Thousand Dances" and "Mickey's Monkey." With Once Upon a Dream, the textured, layered psychedelic pop and soul continued with "Rainy Day," "Please Love Me," "My Hawaii," and "It's Wonderful," all intercut with random sound effects à la the Beach Boys, but more organic and less removed from the context of the music itself. The band's center of gravity began to shift with Freedom Suite, with its stunning single, "People Got to Be Free," which captured the spirit of the late '60s as well as -- if not better than -- any rock song. Here, placing it at the last half of disc three, after Time Peace, reveals the album as a narrative of hope and innocence without a shred of naïveté. Here was a band striving to integrate its music and politics (right about this time the band refused to perform on bills where there wasn't a perfect division of black and white acts) on songs such as "People Got to Be Free," "A Ray of Hope," "Any Dance'll Do," "Look Around," and others. While the pop hooks were plentiful, so was the experimentation and risk-taking with the mixes and instrumentation, with more making it into the mix -- from accordions to pipe organs to brass bands and Indian instruments. With the issue of See in 1970 and Search and Nearness in 1971, the band was being pulled apart at the seams creatively, financially, and historically. Nonetheless, despite excesses on both albums, their fine, tight rock and pop songs still dominated the proceedings, especially on See, where the band tried to capture their rock & roll roots. The longer tracks on Search and Nearness revealed that at the very end the band was traveling in a direction that took the R&B edge to groove jazz extremes, with circular moves and dense textures running through the middle of repetitive grooves and riffs. This is a long-overdue retrospective for a band who is enshrined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and whose perfect marriage of rock, soul, and R&B has influenced more acts than anybody would ever care to admit. This set is a necessity to be sure for anyone obsessed with the history of rock & roll. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Slow Down	Larry Williams	The Rascals	(3:15)
Baby Let's Wait	Lori Burton, Pam Sawyer	The Rascals	(3:19)
Just a Little	Ron Elliott, Ruth Durand	The Rascals	(3:00)
I Believe	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:59)
Do You Feel It	Felix Cavaliere, Gene Cornish	The Rascals	(3:16)
Good Lovin'	Rudy Clark, Arthur Resnick	The Rascals	(2:30)
Like a Rolling Stone	Bob Dylan	The Rascals	(6:07)
Mustang Sally	Sir Mack Rice	The Rascals	(3:59)
I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore	Lori Burton, Pam Sawyer	The Rascals	(2:43)
In the Midnight Hour	Steve Cropper, Wilson Pickett	The Rascals	(4:03)
What Is the Reason	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:23)
Since I Fell for You	Buddy Johnson	The Rascals	(3:29)
Lonely Too Long	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:02)
No Love to Give	Gene Cornish	The Rascals	(2:48)
Mickey's Monkey/Love Nights	Eddie Holland	The Rascals	(4:50)
Come on Up	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:47)
Too Many Fish in the Sea	Eddie Holland, Norman Whitfield	The Rascals	(2:24)
More	Norman Newell, Riz Ortolani, Marcello Ciorciolini	The Rascals	(4:23)
Nineteen Fifty-Six	Gene Cornish, Dino Danelli	The Rascals	(2:31)
Love Is a Beautiful Thing	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:31)
Land of 1000 Dances	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(1:59)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
A Girl Like You	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:51)
Find Somebody	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:48)
I'm So Happy Now	Gene Cornish	The Rascals	(2:50)
Sueno	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:48)
How Can I Be Sure	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:56)
Groovin'	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:33)
If You Knew	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:04)
I Don't Love You Anymore	Gene Cornish	The Rascals	(3:09)
You Better Run	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:28)
A Place in the Sun	Bryan Wells, Ron Miller	The Rascals	(4:52)
It's Love	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:15)
Into/Easy Rollin'	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:14)
Rainy Day	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:39)
Please Love Me	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:03)
Sound Effect/It's Wonderful	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:40)
I'm Gonna Love You/Dave and Eddie	Gene Cornish	The Rascals	(2:33)
My Hawaii	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(4:13)
My World	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:54)
Silly Girl	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:42)
Singin' the Blues Too Long	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(5:10)
Bells/Sattva	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(4:23)
Finale: Once Upon a Dream	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:53)
[Untitled Track]		The Rascals	(2:21)

CD 3

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore	Lori Burton, Pam Sawyer	The Rascals	(2:43)
Good Lovin'	Rudy Clark, Arthur Resnick	The Rascals	(2:30)
You Better Run	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:27)
Come on Up	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:46)
Mustang Sally	Sir Mack Rice	The Rascals	(3:59)
Love Is a Beautiful Thing	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:32)
In the Midnight Hour	Steve Cropper, Wilson Pickett	The Rascals	(4:00)
I've Been Lonely Too Long	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:01)
Groovin'	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:30)
A Girl Like You	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:49)
How Can I Be Sure	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:53)
It's Wonderful	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:16)
Easy Rollin'	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:54)
A Beautiful Morning	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:34)
America the Beautiful	Samuel A. Ward, Katherine Lee Bates	The Rascals	(2:52)
Me and My Friends	Gene Cornish	The Rascals	(2:44)
Any Dance'll Do!	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:22)
Look Around	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:04)
A Ray of Hope	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:46)
Island of Love	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:24)
Of Course	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:43)
Love Was So Easy to Give	Gene Cornish	The Rascals	(2:45)
People Got to Be Free	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:01)
Baby I'm Blue	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:50)
Heaven	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:22)

CD 4

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Adrian's Birthday	Felix Cavaliere, Gene Cornish, Dino Danelli	The Rascals	(4:50)
Boom	Dino Danelli	The Rascals	(13:47)
Cute	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere, Gene Cornish, Dino Danelli	The Rascals	(15:18)
See	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(5:03)
I'd Like to Take You Home	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:37)
Remember Me	Gene Cornish	The Rascals	(2:12)
I'm Blue	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:52)
Stop and Think	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(4:10)
Temptation's 'Bout to Get Me	James Diggs	The Rascals	(3:31)
Nubia	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:43)
Carry Me Back	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:53)
Away Away	Gene Cornish	The Rascals	(3:26)
Real Thing	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:45)
Death's Reply	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(4:19)
Hold On	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:35)

CD 5

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Right On	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:49)
I Believe	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:58)
Thank You Baby	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:12)
You Don't Know	Gene Cornish	The Rascals	(4:14)
Nama	Dino Danelli	The Rascals	(5:38)
Almost Home	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:51)
The Letter	Wayne Carson Thompson	The Rascals	(4:10)
Ready for Love	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:09)
Fortunes	Dino Danelli	The Rascals	(3:13)
Glory Glory	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:29)
I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore	Lori Burton, Pam Sawyer	The Rascals	(2:46)
Slow Down	Larry Williams	The Rascals	(3:14)
Good Lovin'	Rudy Clark, Arthur Resnick	The Rascals	(2:31)
Mustang Sally	Sir Mack Rice	The Rascals	(3:25)
You Better Run	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:28)
Love Is a Beautiful Thing	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:34)
Come on Up	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:44)
What Is the Reason	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:26)
I've Been Lonely Too Long	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:06)
If You Knew	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:05)
Groovin'	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:30)
Sueno	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:49)
A Girl Like You	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:48)
It's Love	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:11)

CD 6

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Groovin'	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals
Groovin' [Spanish Version]	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:35)
How Can I Be Sure	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:55)
I'm So Happy Now	Gene Cornish	The Rascals	(2:50)
It's Wonderful	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:24)
Of Course	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:44)
A Beautiful Morning	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:35)
Rainy Day	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:27)
People Got to Be Free	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:01)
My World	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:54)
A Ray of Hope	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:43)
Any Dance'll Do!	Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:21)
Heaven	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:24)
Baby I'm Blue	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:51)
See	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(4:42)
Away Away	Gene Cornish	The Rascals	(3:27)
Carry Me Back	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:52)
Real Thing	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(2:45)
I Believe	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:57)
Hold On	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:37)
Glory Glory	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:29)
You Don't Know	Gene Cornish	The Rascals	(4:13)
Right On	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:47)
Almost Home	Felix Cavaliere	The Rascals	(3:48)

Credits

Charles Morrow (Horn Arrangements), Flipper (Cover Art), The Rascals (Producer), The Rascals (Main Performer), Ron Carter (Bass), King Curtis (Sax (Tenor)), Richard Davis (Bass), Hubert Laws (Flute), Joe Newman (Trumpet), Joe Bushkin (Piano), Steve Marcus (Sax (Soprano)), Seldon Powell (Saxophone), Chuck Rainey (Bass), Barry Goldberg (Engineer), The Sweet Inspirations (Vocals (Background)), Jack Adams (Engineer), Ron Albert (Engineer), Adrian Barber (Engineer), Adrian Barber (Sound Effects Engineer), Eddie Brigati (Percussion), Eddie Brigati (Conga), Eddie Brigati (Tambourine), Eddie Brigati (Vocals), Eddie Brigati (Drawing), Don Casale (Engineer), Felix Cavaliere (Organ), Felix Cavaliere (Guitar), Felix Cavaliere (Piano), Felix Cavaliere (Arranger), Felix Cavaliere (Keyboards), Felix Cavaliere (Vocals), Felix Cavaliere (Producer), Roy Cicala (Engineer), Cissy Houston (Vocals (Background)), Gene Cornish (Bass), Gene Cornish (Guitar), Gene Cornish (Vocals), Gene Cornish (Drawing), Dino Danelli (Drums), Dino Danelli (?), Dino Danelli (Art Direction), Dino Danelli (Design), Dino Danelli (Cover Sculpture), Jimmy Douglass (Engineer), Tom Dowd (Engineer), Tom Dowd (Supervisor), Joe Farrell (Saxophone), Chuck Kirkpatrick (Engineer), Bob Gallo (Engineer), Chris Huston (Engineer), Gerald Jemmott (Bass), Buddy Lucas (Harmonica), Arif Mardin (Arranger), Arif Mardin (Conductor), Arif Mardin (Producer), Arif Mardin (Orchestral Arrangements), Arif Mardin (Supervisor), David "Fathead" Newman (Sax (Tenor)), Gene Orloff (?), Bob Rolontz (Liner Notes), Mark Roth (Photography), Lynn Rubin (Cover Illustration), Bruce Tergesen (Engineer), Tosha Thomas (Vocals (Background)), Bobby Wright (?), The Young Rascals (Arranger), The Young Rascals (Producer), Ron Blanco (Bass), Tunc Erim (Archivist), William Thomas, Jr. (Archival Assistant), Harold Cowart (Bass), McFarland/George (Archival Assistant), Patrick Pending (Art Direction), Patrick Pending (Design), Stanislaw Zagorski (Design), Bryan Thomas (Editing), Bryan Lasley (Art Direction), Bryan Lasley (Design), Loring Eutemey (Design), Loring Eutemey (Cover Design), James J. Kreigsmann (Liner Notes), Jerry Schatzberg (Liner Notes), Jerry Schatzberg (Photography), George Rodriguez (Photography), Joe Atkinson (Mastering), Joe Atkinson (Dubs), Mel Lastie (Trumpet), Rene Magritte (Cover Painting), Leo Andrew (Photography), D.K. Baker (Archive Research), Roland Worthington Hand (Compilation Producer), Rectangle Van Elk (Assistant), Michael "Mike Dee" Johnson (A&R), Bob Fisher (Remastering), Ira Mazer (Photography)