by Robert Wilkinson
Today is the 70th birthday of another musical legend, one of rock's most accomplished organists and blue eyed Soul Brother, Felix Cavaliere. Great videos of one of the greatest dance bands of the 60s!
Though you may not have heard of this musical phenomenon, Felix Cavaliere (November 29, 1942) was the driving force behind the Rascals, one of the top "blue eyed Soul" bands of the 60s. As I don't have time to do a full tribute this year, I'll include just a few of his major compositions.
Their first big hit. From Shindig in 1965 with Alan King doing a schtick, here are the Young Rascals on tv doing their breakthrough tune "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore."
From early in their career, a live 1965 performance on Hullabaloo of their first monster hit, "Good Lovin'." Here’s another great live performance of “Good Lovin’"
From Hullabaloo in 1966, the Young Rascals in a live performance of Larry Williams’ “Slow Down.”
(To note, the Beatles also did a version of this well-known rock and roll standard in 1964. For your enjoyment, here’s the Beatles' studio version of “Slow Down,” and from their 1963 “Live At the BBC” sessions, here’s “Slow Down.” And, for a rare treat set to a strange video montage, here’s the original Larry Williams version of “Slow Down”)
Back to Felix and the Rascals!
The original studio version of the beautiful "What is the Reason"
The original studio cut of the infinitely danceable "Come On Up."
A great live performance from 1967 by the Young Rascals of "Groovin'"
Also from 1967 on the Mike Douglas Show, a live b/w performance of “Good Lovin’,” “Lonely Too Long,” and “Come On Up”
Another live performance from 1967 by the Young Rascals of “Since I Fell”
Last year I had a live performance of this tune, but it’s disappeared, so here’s the original studio version of the beautiful “How Can I Be Sure."
Punk attitude with a wailing Hammond B-3! The original studio cut of "You Better Run."
A live lip-synched performance of "Lonely Too Long." Here’s another great live performance (which may be from the Mike Douglas show linked earlier) of "Lonely Too Long."
From "Time/Peace," one of their obscure gems! Here's the studio version of an archetypal 1967 vibe, "It's Wonderful."
Here are the Rascals in 1967 on Ed Sullivan doing a live performance of "A Girl Like You."
Here they are live in 1969, doing their huge hit, "People Got To Be Free." Here’s the original studio version of "People Got To Be Free"
Last year I had a 1969 live performance of “Carry Me Back,” but it’s disappeared, so here’s the audio only studio version of "Carry Me Back”
We'll close this brief birthday tribute with a clip from 1988, The Rascals on Regis.
For our encore, a few versions of a tune that is guaranteed to get you up and dancing! Last year I found a live performance by the Rascals of this Smokey Robinson hit, but it’s nowhere to be found this year. So we’ll begin this encore with the Young Rascals’ version of “Mickey’s Monkey” and “Turn On Your Love Light”
Here’s Smokey Robinson and the Miracles on Shindig in 1964 doing a great live performance of “Mickey’s Monkey”
For our second encore, I found a 2006 clip of Felix live doing a medley of his hits! “Good Lovin’,” “Groovin’,” “Lonely Too Long,” “It’s A Beautiful Morning,” “A Girl Like You,” “People Got to be Free”
Here’s The Rascals’ Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, part 1
Rascals’ Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live Performance, part 2
You can find out more about what this rock legend is doing these days by checking out the Felix Cavaliere website at www.felixcavaliere.com
Happy 70th Birthday, Felix! You made my teen years a true joy!
© Copyright 2012 Robert Wilkinson
ps - Today is also the birthday of one of the funniest men ever to open his mouth, Firesign Theater founding member Peter Bergman. Unfortunately, he left the stage earlier this year. If you don't know who he was, well, the Firesign Theater were an amazing group that did some of the craziest "radio programs" ever recorded! Here's something I found on youtube:
A short tribute to Peter Bergman
This was their first, and it's funny from the very beginning! This is serious satire!!!
From 1968, the entire 1st Firesign Theater Album "Waiting For The Electrician or Someone Like Him" - Check it out, since it really is funny!
Speaking of funny, here's the entire 2nd Firesign Theater album! "How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All?"
Comments