Saturday January 1, 2022 “It’s a Beautiful Morning” The Rascals
It’s the first day of a new year, that moment that optimistically promises the possibility for new beginnings, shaking off the past, becoming a better, thinner person who stays in touch with friends and loves their families unapologetically and regardless of what the weather might be, as the Rascals tell us, “It’s a Beautiful Morning”!
We met this New Jersey group as the Young Rascals before they would evolve into just The Rascals with the 1968 tune “It’s a Beautiful Morning”rhat would introduce them to us with their new name and new sound. Originally the Young Rascals captured our attention with R&B tunes like “Mustang Sally” and “In the Midnight Hour” but the ‘new’ Rascals would now focus on songs written by the band, primarily Felix Caviliere and Eddie Brigati who both get credit for today’s song.
Fact is we really first heard from the Rascals when they were members of Joey Dee and the Starliters playing the “Peppermint Twist” at New York City's Peppermint Lounge, the home in the early 1960s to celebrities all twisting the night away. Some of us were even lucky enough to accidentally run across the pre-stardom Young Rascals when they had a summer residency on the floating Long Island club The Barge.
According to band leader Felix Caviliere the Rascals were named by their favorite 1964 TV star, Soupy Sales who heard the band, asked their name and when the said they had none gave them a few suggestions some of which Caviliere said were unprintable, but the one that stuck was the Young Rascals.
Like most rock outfits they had their moment in the sun with a handful of memorable top ten hits but would eventually split up and go their separate ways. Caviliere has remained somewhat active with several solo efforts which if you are a Rascals fan I would recommend giving them a listen.
Stay safe and well…and let this new year be everything that you dream it will be.