Although
Rhino
issued a deluxe two-CD set covering
the Rascals
a few years previously, this single-disc set contains enough essential songs for you to get the point.
The Rascals
, along with
the Righteous Brothers
, defined
blue-eyed soul
singing, making records that were as churchy, earthy, and convincing as anything that came out of the South or
Motown
in the '60s, backed by tight, anthemic arrangements and excellent combo playing. The 16 cuts include their first hit,
"I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore,"
and continue on into their flirtation with
psychedelia
in 1970. The only quibble is their failure to include
"Look Around,"
a sociopolitical cut from the
Freedom Suite
album that's just a cut below
"People Got to Be Free"
or
"A Ray of Hope."
[
reissued this same set, artwork and all, in 2007, adding a slide-off slip cover adorned with the title
Greatest Hits
.] ~ Ron Wynn