The Youngbloods (album)

History

"Get Together" was written by Chet Powers (aka Dino Valenti of Quicksilver Messenger Service) and had already appeared in 1966 as a track on the first album by The Jefferson Airplane. Upon first release as a single by The Youngbloods in 1967, it only went to #62 in the pop charts. Two years later, after being featured in radio and television commercials, the track was re-released and climbed to number 5 in charts, selling more than a million records.

The first song on the album, "Grizzly Bear" (spelled "Grizzely Bear" on the album cover), was also released as a single reaching #52 in the pop charts in December 1966. Jerry Corbitt took credit for writing this song, but it had appeared on a 1928 recording by singer/songwriter Jim Jackson. The song featured the "jug band" style popularized by The Lovin' Spoonful, Jim Kweskin Jug Band and other similar groups of the middle 1960s. The title refers to a popular dance style of the 1910s. Corbitt also wrote the second song on the LP, the ballad "All Over the World (La La)". Side one also featured Blind Willie McTell's "Statesboro Blues" and another ballad, "One Note Man" written by fellow Cambridge folk musician Paul Arnoldi (spelled "Arnaldi" on the record label).

Side Two featured two more songs written by fellow folk singer-songwriters, Fred Neil's "The Other Side of This Life" and "Four in the Morning" by George "Robin" Remailly (who became a member of the Holy Modal Rounders in the 1970s).

Jesse Colin Young wrote two ballads on side two, "Tears Are Falling" and "Foolin' Around (The Waltz)" which alternates between 4/4 and 3/4 time signatures. Classical cello was added to "Foolin' Around" by George Ricci. Side two ends with two blues standards, Jimmy Reed's "Ain't That Lovin' You" and Mississippi John Hurt's "C.C. Rider". The last song featured a hard-rocking guitar jam that was common in the late 1960s, especially for San Francisco, which would soon become the Youngbloods' destination both geographically and musically.

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, music critic Richie Unterberger called the album an "engaging debut" and wrote; "...they would have been better off leaving the blues alone, but the rest of the material is good..."

Side one

1. "Grizzly Bear" (Jerry Corbitt) – 2:20
2. "All Over the World (La-La)" (Corbitt) – 3:13
3. "Statesboro Blues" (Blind Willie McTell) – 2:18
4. "Get Together" (Chet Powers) – 4:39
5. "One Note Man" (Paul Arnoldi) – 2:24

Side two

1. "The Other Side of This Life" (Fred Neil) – 2:28
2. "Tears Are Falling" (Jesse Colin Young) – 2:25
3. "Four in the Morning" (George Remailly) – 2:51
4. "Foolin' Around (The Waltz)" (Young) – 2:50
5. "Ain't That Lovin' You" (Jimmy Reed) – 2:39
6. "C.C. Rider" (Mississippi John Hurt) – 2:37

Personnel

Technical personnel

Charts