LO'S PICK OF THE DAY - "Groovin'" by The Young Rascals

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Originally featured on Inside MusiCast as my Pick of The Day

Since today is my birthday, I wanted to revisit the first record I ever obtained.

Early 1967 - 5 years old and back then I was really into EVERYONE from Motown, The Beatles, The 5th Dimension, Neil Diamond, The Monkees, Paul Revere & The Raiders and The Young Rascals.

Although my parents had their share of records, I felt that I should have my own, so with my birthday coming up, I asked my mom to give me "Groovin" as a present. Not a doll. I wanted music.

The song has been described as a slow, relaxed groove. And it is. . . but. . . I hear a slow relaxed doo wop in the piano and vocals. That could be because Felix Cavaliere who was once part of Joey Dee and the Starliters, known for their Doo Wop dance hit "Peppermint Twist," found that slowing down those chords and vocals to this Afro-Cuban influenced tune, was a good combination. And then add to that, at the interlude, the piano parts that remind me of something that Liberace would play. It all works!!

I still have that 45 to this day. I love it. Even with it's scratches, hisses and pops. I do listen to the clean version online or CD, but listening to it from my 45 takes me back to that time of innocence and misheard lyrics as children often sing what they hear. And to this day, I STILL sing. . . the chorus as; "Life would be ecstasy, you and Leslie. . . Groovin'." And of course, I would hope that I would have a friend named Leslie to play with. 

A most treasured birthday memory. I'm glad I got to share with you all.

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