“Is there a better record than “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore”?

So asked Bob Leftsetz yesterday. And so melted the hearts of Rascals loving baby boomers born before 1952 (if one was even a year younger, rock’s guitar god cupid, “classic rock,” had already taken hold of emotions).

Of course, I’m one of those aging boomers and the Young Rascals grabbed me in the aftermath of the Beatles revolution that almost demanded that we all start rock bands. Guitar challenged, my accordion lessons came in handy when the Rascals’ co-leader came to front man status with an amazing voice and an equally amazing electric organ voice. 

Anyway, Bob’s at his best writing about mid-century pop and rock, and the exciting changes technology is bestowing on the music business (extremely unusual for observers who are his age) and his emotional piece reminded me of one of the The Rascals’ neglekted masterpiece. 

The track started out quiet and then EXPLODED out of the speakers, whether it be the one in your dashboard or the two of your newly-purchased stereo, a compact that fit together in one big box.

I admit you got the biggest brown eyes
And you know how to part your lips to tantalize…

Kissing, right?

(Read the rest of the Bob Lefsetz essay here. Thanks Michael Altshuler.)