The song “Good Lovin'” was written by Rudy Clark (“God My Mind Set on You,” “It’s In His Kiss) and Arthur “Artie” Resnick (“Under the Boardwalk,” “Yummy Yummy Yummy) . R&B singer Limmie Snell as “Lemme B. Good” recorded it in 1965. The Olympics (“Hully Gully,” “Western Movies”) then redid the song, especially the lyrics, and released it in 1965. It went to #81 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart. Felix Cavaliere, of the The Young Rascals, heard it on the radio and added it to their concert repertoire. “Good Lovin'” was on their 1966 debut album The Young Rascals and also released as a single with “Mustang Sally” on the B-Side. In 1966, their version went to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Charts. It was #1 in Canada also. It went to #43 in Australia. “Good Lovin'” by The Young Rascals is on The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.” It also made the list of Rolling Stone’s “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” It is categorized as blue-eyed soul, R&B, and just good Sixties rock and roll.
The Young Rascals formed in Garfield New Jersey in 1965. 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 “People Got to be Free.” 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.
