It’s Wonderful! The Rascals New 7-CD Box Contains ‘The Complete Atlantic Studio Recordings’
The Young Rascals came out fully-formed from Joey Dee & The Starliters in Garfield, Bergen County, to become known as “The American Beatles.” “Blue-Eyed Soul” was a popular description but they were so much more. You can see why when organist-singer Felix Cavaliere appears in the upcoming documentary, The Jersey Sound. For now, though, we’ll just have to content ourselves with this stunning boxed set. It’s Wonderful: The Complete Atlantic Studio Recordings, on the Now Sounds label, makes a strong case for The Rascals, as they came to be known after they dropped the “Young” from their name, as one of the all-time American bands, period. Its 152 tracks from 1965 to 1971 has the first four albums in both mono and stereo versions plus edits for the hit radio singles. Fourteen of these tracks are previously unreleased.
Compiled and newly re-mastered by Alec Palao, the package also includes a 60-page booklet—with a 10,000-word essay by Richie Unterberger—that gives proper historical perspective. Art Director-Designer Steve Stanley chose dozens of rare photos from the archives. Seventeen years in the making, this one’s a keeper.
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