Three Strong Singles and Excellent Album Tracks
Craig A. Buxton | Midlothian, Virginia | 11/05/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The title track, "Carry Me Back," and "Hold On" were all released as singles and charted, even if not in the Top 10. The Rascals had already started moving away from being "a singles group" and exploring new directions with their "Once Upon a Dream" and "Freedom" albums, so "See" doesn't sound like a major departure. I've always loved their harmonies: check out the instrumental and last 30 seconds of "I'd Like to Take You Home." Their lyrics remain positive and life-affirming, something for which the Rascals don't receive enough credit. (Although the liner notes on "See" say "Special Thanks to the Divine Inspiration of Paramahansa Yogananda"--but what the hey, those were the times: the Beatles had the Maharishi, Pete Townsend was into Meher Baba, etc.)
Dino Danelli was always a visually stunning drummer (any televised recording of "Good Lovin'" will blow you away). He holds his own through some of the less structured tracks ("Stop and Think," "Away Away," and "Death's Reply"), but his pile-driving locomotive pounding on the title track may be alone worth the cost of the album. I think the Rascals' musical meanderings were more apparent on the subsequent "Search and Nearness," "Island of Real," and "Peaceful World" releases. If "See" doesn't belong in your collection (I waited for years for it to come out on CD), it certainly deserves a second listen.
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