Blue Eyed Soul Music
The song “People Got to Be Free” was an anthem for freedom and tolerance during 1968, a very turbulent and violent year. There were the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy. The song was written by Rascals group members Felix Cavaliere (lyrics) and Eddie Brigati (music). The incident that inspired the song was a bad encounter between The Rascals and a group of people in Fort Pierce, Florida. The Rascals’ tour vehicle broke down, and the people were not helpful, to say the least. While the song is of its time, the message, as music critic Dave Marsh says, is “Dated, but NEVER out of date.” The song rose to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, Cash Box Chart, and in Canada. It went to #11 in Australia. It sold more than one million copies (actually, now more than four million) and earned an RIAA gold record. There have been covers by Dionne Warwick and The 5th Dimension.
The Rascals formed in Garfield New Jersey in 1965, and then were known as The Young Rascals. They were Eddie Brigati (vocals), Felix Cavaliere (keyboard, vocals), Gene Cornish (guitar), and Dino Danelli (drums). Eddie and his brother David had been with Joey Dee and the Starliters, as had Cavaliere and Cornish. The group had plenty of commercial success, including the songs “A Beautiful Morning, “Groovin’,” “A Girl Like You,” and “Good Lovin’.” They had seven U.S. Top 30 hits before they became The Rascals in 1968. They then had five more Top 30 hits before they disbanded in 1972.
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[…] another song by The Rascals: “People Got to be Free.” For songs for when they were The Young Rascals: “How Can I Be Sure,” […]