Search - The Rascals :: Once Upon a Dream

Underappreciated gem

bluesboy | st claire shores, michigan | 09/18/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm surprised this album has not been reviewed on this site. It was never an overly popular album when it came out but nonetheless a good, quality sound. It has kind of a dreamy theme to it. Haunting. It sounds like the rascals put this together as a loose themed concept album and I think it worked. To any music fan who enjoys music beyond the hits this album is worth a listen to a couple times through. It is one of my favorite all time albums and I think it has held up well over the years."

Yes, it WAS once upon a dream...

Charles Agee | Tahlequah, Oklahoma United States | 11/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...that there were millions of starry-eyed hippies (and those like me, wannabe hippies) who did believe in love for our fellow human beings and that peace WAS attainble. Yes, we know better now. Why do today's youth laugh and mock us? Being young means being idealistic and trying to realize your dreams.



ONCE UPON A DREAM was The Rascals' venture into the psychedelic world The Beatles explored on SGT. PEPPER. EVERYBODY jumped on the bandwagon; some successfully, some not.



Many would argue that ONCE UPON A DREAM was a failure, but I disagree, because The Rascals also kept their love for blues and R&B (and yes, over-the-top pop) so that this album is a bit more eclectic than some of its contemporaries.



"Intro/Easy Rolln'" starts us off with the R&B/pop for which the band was famous, "Please Love Me" keeps in that vein, though "Rainy Day" is one of Eddie Brigati's excursions into orchestrated lounge music, as is "Silly Girl" and "My Hawaii" (the worst of the lot; I cringed in 1968 and I still do); "Singin' the Blues Too Long," a nice soulful plea to African american people to begin searching for a positive message; "Sattva" ("light") the obligatory excursion into Indian music (though only half of the song does so; the chorus is a nice bit of pop; and "Once Upon a Dream" itself, the title track. Yes, it's a bit big and maybe overdone, but David Brigati (Eddie's brother) sings it beautifully and many of us soared with him.



Yes, I can see this album's failings now, but it still brings a smile to my face; it still moves me. I know there are still people who listened to it "endlessly" (a "Groovin' joke) and who could use a listen again. You don't need to be ashamed of what you were. Peace."

Outstanding Album still sounds good

Daniel E. Cook | Portland, OR | 07/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I must differ with some of the previous reviewers... this is an outstanding album by a great group. The range of songs presented by the Rascals include so many types of music: Blues (Singin' the Blues Too Long), Fun Escapism (Easy Rollin') which the Rascals excelled at with "Groovin" and many other songs... Beautiful Poetry (My Hawaii) and the obligatory Psychedelia (Sattva.) I saw the Young Rascals live back in the '60s and they were an incredibly good group. I have Once Upon A Dream on four-track reel-to-reel and vinyl LP, now delighted to see it available on CD!"