In case you haven't guessed, I'm a huge fan of the early version of that "band," despite the fact that they were basically a manufactured construct rather than an organic musical entity. The song in question, of course, was written by the genius Sloan (as in P.F.) and Barri team, who were responsible for more great singles than you've had hot meals, but the aforementioned Grass Roots incarnation were wonderful second-tier pioneers of the immediate post-Byrdsian esthetic that made our AM radios sound so good back in the just pre-psychedelic/San Francisco band days.
Later, of course, with slightly different personnel, they had a run of hits -- like "Midnight Confessions" -- which made them a lot of money but didn't do much for their critical reputation. In any case, the above is just fucking fabulous.
Tomorrow: one of the coolest new songs to have crossed my desk in ages. And from Philadelphia, of all places. 😎
11 comments:
thanks!
HUGE Sloan-Barri fan (though my gut tells me Barri wasn't that involved, a silent partner or an "in" with the industry; I'd love to be proven differently).
The Grass Roots' early 70's output (Temptation Eyes, Glory Bound, I'd Wait a Million Years etc) meshes with my AM radio listening days. Their records sounded great on AM.
Odd that three bands on ABC/Dunhill straddled the "not quite cool enough for FM" dichotomy. These guys, 3 Dog Night, and Steppenwolf.
Bob in IL
Steppenwolf was one of the best live bands I ever saw. Saw 'em circa the first album and they made it look so easy it was ridiculous. Wotta sound!!!! 😎
I still have my copy of Golden Grass, which had all their hits except Temptation Eyes. They were certainly considered uncool, but my brother and I liked them. I always thought of Steppenwolf as an FM band, and they certainly got more FM play than AM play in Cleveland.
Steve, Let's Live For Today was after the personnel change, and featured Rob Grill, who wrote it. Sloan and Barri only played on the debut, Where Were You When I Needed You. They produced Let's Live For Today, and Sloan played some additional instruments. Unless Wikipedia is wrong, which is always possible. Barri continued as their producer at least through 1972.
Uh, yeah, Steppenwolf always struck me as an FM entity, too.
'Never My Love' is a perfect song, so if that's all The Association was responsible for, it'd be enough. But, no, they released a slew of killer hits.
C in California
The stereo mix is so different from the mono single mix.
The Grassroots “Feelings” album is quite good.
Agreeable Captain Al
It sounds a lot like "I Count the Tears" by the Drifters.
Live for today their best imo. wonder if there r tribute grass Roots bands, maybe a whole bunch of bands that kind of never really were a live thing, oh wait maybe a theme for future. entry or u may already of done. anyway keep up the good work :)
Here's a great version I have from my misspent you. I love the Italian language chorus, and, of course Martha Hull's vocals (she wasn't in the Slickee Boys much longer).
https://theslickeeboys.bandcamp.com/track/lets-live-for-today
Bought the single, Live for Today, back @ '68 at our local Ben Franklin store. Why a 45 ? I was a 15 year old kid with pocket chang.I seem to recall the San Francisco alternative culture disregarding later as they might have had one of the first recording contracts and they didn't sound like Volunteers, Sugar Magnolia. One of the things that blew me away was that a band member was a cast member of the Office
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