Youngbloods

Working the early '60s folk circuit, Jessie Colin Young would play sets with Jerry Corbitt whenever he was in Corbitt's homebase of Cambridge, MA. Liking how their voices sounded together, they began touring as a duo, taking the name "The Youngbloods" from a title of Young's second solo LP, Youngblood. Corbitt introduced Young to multi-instrumentalist Lowell "Banana" Levinger who joined the duo. Levinger, in turn, recruited drummer Joe Bauer for the band and the Youngbloods full line-up was complete. Their combination of folk, rock and jug band elements drew comparisons to the Lovin' Spoonful and indeed, the two bands played many of the same venues.

After establishing a successful residency at Cafe Au Go Go in NYC, the band was signed to RCA and recorded their self-titled debut LP, released in 1967. The album contained a mid-charting single, "Grizzly Bear," as well as what would become their signature song, "Get Together." Written by Dino Valente under the pen name Chet Powers, the song made it up to #62 before stalling on the charts. The album also contained well-chosen blues covers as well as original songs written by Young.

Two years after its release, "Get Together" was used in a public service campaign, sparking renewed interest. This interest translated into airplay and this time, the song climbed all the way to #2. During this period, Corbitt left the band to pursue a solo career and the remaining members carried on as a trio. Relocating to Marin County, California, the band cultivated a loyal following through their dynamic live shows, featuring inspired instrumental interplay. They carried on until 1972, leaving a rich catalog in their wake. Sundazed is thrilled to explore this catalog through these reissues, sourced from the original analog tapes for a superior listening experience.