Recorded - May 14, 1968
Released - July 1, 1968
#1 for weeks of August 17, 24 and 31 & September 7 and 14, 1968.
The Rascals music and image had progressed quite a bit between 1967 and 1968. After dropping the "Young" suffix from their name, The Rascals' fourth album, Once Upon A Dream showed the group diving headfirst into psychedelia, while still keeping their classic blue eyed soul sound intact. They also released "It's A Beautiful Morning" as a standalone single, in March of the following year.
However, 1968 also saw The Rascals become a very socially active group. The assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr, of whom the band highly looked up to, led to band members Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati to compose "People Got To Be Free". To add to the band's outrage about losing a powerful activist, Bobby Kennedy, of whom the band also looked up to, was assassinated less than a month after the song had been recorded.
Lyrically, "People Got To Be Free" is very poignant. Some may be tempted to classify the lyrics as dated, seeing how they relate to the events of 1968. Unfortunately, there are still quite a few Americans who are full of ignorance and often quite vocal with their hatred. As a result, "People Got To Be Free" is not only still relevant, but it also remains a rallying call to building a truly United States, and ending all forms of segregation.
Musically, "People Got To Be Free" continues the blue-eyed soul sound that made The Rascals famous, but there is also a major sense of musical maturity present. For one, there is a brass section which adds extra flavor to the music. Second, Felix Cavaliere's lead vocals have become even more emotionally charged, and when Eddie joins in on the chorus, they create a nice blend. I must also give praise to Dino Danelli, who has progressed into quite a funky drummer, (and I mean "Funky" in a good way!) Lastly, guitarist Gene Cornish plays a Stax influenced guitar part that Steve Cropper would be proud of.
To those not in the know, "People Got To Be Free" may come across as just another plea for peace. Well, this couldn't be farther from the truth as it's hard to think of a more honest group of activist musicians. The Rascals made the decision to refuse to play gigs unless both the audience and the support bands were integrated. "People Got To Be Free" was later released on The Rascals' ambitious Freedom Suite double album. Just about every song on this album is a rallying cry for peace, racial equality, and universal spirituality. Since the band lived by every word they sung, this album is quite resonant.
The Rascals would gradually see a diminished chart success. Especially after 1970 when Eddie and Gene left the band. Regardless, there is a bounty of underrated material. From the Sam & Dave-esque "Look Around", to the spiritually soulful "Heaven", to the harmony rich Latin jazz of "Nubia". The Rascals were clearly trying to break away from being a singles band. Incredibly, all four original Rascals reunited in December of 2012, and have been putting on a hybrid show that mixes their music with theater. It's a concert that I truly hope one day to see, before the band retires!
Final Verdict - "People Got To Be Free" is one of the most heartfelt numbers ever recorded. The Rascals meant and believed every word they sung, and the performance overall is full of soul. Not only would I highly recommend giving the song numerous listens, I'd also recommend digging deeper into the band's criminally underrated discography.
Coming Up Next - "Harper Valley PTA" by Jeannie C. Riley.
Until Next Time, I'm Dr. Rock and you can guarantee, that I believe that all people got to be free -
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