A Beautiful Morning

The American rock and blue-eyed soul band the Rascals came together in Garfield, NJ. in 1965. The band was originally known as The Young Rascals, but they later dropped “Young” and were commonly referred to simply as The Rascals.  The original lineup consisted of lead vocalist and keyboardist Felix Cavaliere, vocalist and percussionist Eddie Brigati, drummer Dino Danelli, and guitarist and vocalist Gene Cornish. Both Cavaliere and Brigati wrote the majority of their songs. In 2010 the Rascals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and also the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

“A Beautiful Morning” is a song that was written by Cavaliere and Brigati. The Rascals recorded it early in 1968, and it was the first track released after shortening their name from the Young Rascals. The song offered the theme of carefree optimism that had distinguished the song “Groovin’” in the previous year. The song charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles charts. The RIAA certified the song as a million seller. It was featured on their album Time Peace: The Rascals’ Greatest Hits.

“A Girl Like You” is a song that was written by Cavaliere and Brigati and recorded by the band as the Young Rascals. This is a blue-eyed soul song about the joys of falling in love. It had the elements of big band, R&B, and sunshine pop. The Rascals performed the song on the TV show “The Ed Sullivanb Show” in 1967. The song charted on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK it became the band’s second top-40 single. It is the opening track of their album Groovin’”.

“Groovin’” is a song that was written by band members Cavaliere and Brigati. The Racals recorded the song in 1967. The song features Latin American influences, like baiao. The song tells the story of a narrator spending time with his partner on a Sunday afternoon. The song went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became a hit in the UK.

“How Can I Be Sure” is a popular song written by Cavaliere and Brigati. I was recorded by the Rascals and is featured on their 1967 album Groovin’. The song charted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with lead vocals by Brigati. The recording on the B-side was “I’m So Happy” featuring a unique guitar phase-out ending and was the first Gene Cornish-penned song to appear on a single.

“I’ve Been Lonely Too Long” is a song that was written by Cavaliere and Brigati and recorded by the Rascals in 1967. The song charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cashbox charts. It was featured on their album Collections and named on Billboard magazine’s list of Top 100 Singles of 1967.

“It’s Wonderful” is a popular song and the last one noted as recorded by the Young Rascals. The song was written by Cavaliere and Brigati and is featured on their 1968 album Once Upon a Dream. The song charted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. On the B-side, the song “Of Course” was featured on their next album, Freedom Suite.

"People Got to Be Free" is a song that was released in 1968 by the Rascals and written by Cavaliere and Brigati.

In the song's coda, Felix says in a half-sung, half-spoken voice that the "Train of Freedom" is "about to arrive any minute now," that "it has been long, long overdue," and that it's "coming right on through," before the song fades with Felix saying "Chug" repeatedly.

The song became a bit hit in the turbulent summer of 1968 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became their second most successful single on the Billboard Black Singles chart. It was featured on their 1969 album Freedom Suite.

“You Better Run” is a song that was written by Cavaliere and Brigati. It came out as the band’s third single in 1966 and charted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

This song is noted for its repeated roller coaster musical chords in the bass guitar, going from C to B-flat to C to E-flat to B-flat to C.