Althouse: "Adding the sound of birds was my idea. I had heard the Beatles' 'Yellow Submarine' and flipped."

April 5, 2013

"Adding the sound of birds was my idea. I had heard the Beatles' 'Yellow Submarine' and flipped."

"These guys had created a sound environment for their single. Ringo sang about a sub—and there were sub sounds. Eddie and his brother David were experts at effects and they whistled the bird sounds. When we were just about finished, Arif suggested adding a harmonica — to drive home the carefree, Sunday feel. But I can't remember who played it."

Groovin'... on a Sunday afternoon....

35 comments:

Unknown said...: One of my favorites! I was 16 when this came out. Perfect age for it.; 4/5/13, 8:33 PM
Ann Althouse said...: I too was 16!; 4/5/13, 8:43 PM
Rabel said...: Hard not to feel happy when that plays.; 4/5/13, 8:45 PM
edutcher said...: Still doesn't beat "Summertime Blues" or "Sweet Little Sixteen".

Or even "Fun, Fun, Fun".; 4/5/13, 9:10 PM
chickelit said...: Paywall barrier to WSJ story. Cool song though.; 4/5/13, 9:13 PM
Unknown said...: It was a perfect summer after answer to Summer in the City, which I also loved, and still do.; 4/5/13, 9:53 PM
Saint Croix said...: holy shit the Rascals are white!; 4/5/13, 10:00 PM
Robt C said...: Couldn't get past the paywall. Assuming you're talking about the Rascals tune, which is one of my faves. Would have liked to read the backstory!; 4/5/13, 10:01 PM
Robt C said...: Couldn't get past the paywall. Assuming you're talking about the Rascals tune, which is one of my faves. Would have liked to read the backstory!; 4/5/13, 10:02 PM
Robt C said...: Couldn't get past the paywall. Assuming you're talking about the Rascals tune, which is one of my faves. Would have liked to read the backstory!; 4/5/13, 10:02 PM
Robt C said...: Couldn't get past the paywall. Assuming you're talking about the Rascals tune, which is one of my faves. Would have liked to read the backstory!; 4/5/13, 10:02 PM
Robt C said...: Couldn't get past the paywall. Assuming you're talking about the Rascals tune, which is one of my faves. Would have liked to read the backstory!; 4/5/13, 10:02 PM
Saint Croix said...: Now I know what the Apollo felt like when they met Buddy Holly.; 4/5/13, 10:02 PM
Saint Croix said...: google "the day they grooved to groovin"; 4/5/13, 10:04 PM
Bob_R said...: I'm too lazy to get around the pay wall, so I can't comment on the article. Had not listened to that in years - though I do have a lot of Atlantic recordings from that era. Maybe I'm being picky, but the tambourine turned me off. Seemed sloppy and lazy. Probably intentional, but it didn't work for me.; 4/5/13, 10:08 PM
Saint Croix said...: The WSJ always has a paywall if you click on a link. But if you go through google it takes you in.; 4/5/13, 10:10 PM
Anonymous said...: holy shit the Rascals are white!

That was my reaction to Dusty Springfield until embarrassingly late in life.

I had friends with Rascal albums so I knew back then, but I always pictured them in my head as black and still do unless I force myself not to.; 4/5/13, 10:21 PM
Anonymous said...: The Rascals were underrated. It ain't not easy turning out perfect boppin' hits like "Groovin'" and "People Got to be Free." And how many people can do truly happy music?

The Rascals also had more range than people credit them. A real sleeper that I love and barely anyone knows is "Peaceful World" -- a double album of fusion jazz they did with some real name jazz players.; 4/5/13, 10:30 PM
Anonymous said...: It ain't easy turning out perfect boppin' hits like "Groovin'" and "People Got to be Free."

That was bad.; 4/5/13, 10:33 PM
I Have Misplaced My Pants said...: I've always loved that song, even though I was T-13 when it came out. So mellow and pleasant.; 4/5/13, 11:04 PM
sakredkow said...: Inat funny they can't remember who did the harmonica on that song.; 4/5/13, 11:50 PM
Lipperman said...: ‪chickelit‬ said...
Paywall barrier to WSJ story. Cool song though.

Paywall barrier?
We don't need no stinkin' paywall barrier!; 4/5/13, 11:55 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: I'm hearing bird sounds. House wren bird sounds. Now that I know what those little red and brown birds are that land on my balcony and whose kids tear up the place. I learned they're so successful because they do two nests a year and that's pretty good for birds, but it reminded me maybe I better get the balcony ready with hummingbird feeders for their northerly migration. I read where global warming disrupted European birds who were faked out, began their migration and turned back. And that made me think nanner nanner nanner, I meant to say, too bad Europe doesn't have hummingbirds.; 4/6/13, 12:28 AM
Chip Ahoy said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/6/13, 12:28 AM
Steve Koch said...: Favorite line:
"After the ecstasy, you and me endlessly."

This song really captures the mood of the time, that was the summer of love. I graduated from high school that year and went away to college in the fall.; 4/6/13, 2:33 AM
Steve Koch said...: Favorite line:
"After the ecstasy, you and me endlessly."

This song really captures the mood of the time, that was the summer of love. I graduated from high school that year and went away to college in the fall.; 4/6/13, 2:34 AM
George M. Spencer said...: Let's not forget "Good Lovin.'"

"I said, "'Now, doctor, Mr. MD.
Tell me. What's ailin' me?'

All you need, really need
is love, good love!

Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme some love!"; 4/6/13, 6:13 AM
Anonymous said...: Is there any fun, happy music today comparable to The Rascals?

Most of what I notice is dance, sexy, arty, ironic, serious, angry or violent, which I don't object to per se, but those aren't the only
colors in the rainbow.; 4/6/13, 7:59 AM
SomeoneHasToSayIt said...: Fail. Paywall.; 4/6/13, 8:24 AM
Mr. D said...: The Rascals were pretty great. Sort of a cross between Dion and a garage band.; 4/6/13, 8:37 AM
who-knew said...: One of the all-time great bands, too bad they are almost forgotten today. And as long as we're remembering great old Rascals songs, there's always "How can I Be Sure" and "It's A Beautiful Morning" Think I'll go outside and just smile!; 4/6/13, 11:27 AM
who-knew said...: One of the all-time great bands, too bad they are almost forgotten today. And as long as we're remembering great old Rascals songs, there's always "How can I Be Sure" and "It's A Beautiful Morning" Think I'll go outside and just smile!; 4/6/13, 11:31 AM
jr565 said...: I just saw on tv an ad for a new broadway show about the Rascals that's in production and the spokesman is the guy who played Big Pussy on The Sopranos.
Probably along the lines of the broadway play about Frankie Vallie, or the one about the beatles.; 4/6/13, 12:36 PM
jr565 said...: didn't know this until checking You Tube but Good Lovin was actually not written by The Rasals.

They strike me as a good one hit band that actually had more than one hit. Not in the top echelon of rock bands for sure, but one of those bands where almost everyone who was around at the time or who heard the songs later in a commercial say how much they like that song by The Rascals.; 4/6/13, 12:39 PM
Known Unknown said...: Creeley-

It Ain't Easy; 4/7/13, 1:35 AM