Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Jango Song Of The Day-The Rationals

Artist:The Rationals
Song:I Need You
Album:Think Rational!





The Rationals were a regional favourite in Michigan in the mid-60s but if a record company got behind them and really pushed them, they had potential to be much bigger. But by the time they released their only album in 1970, they had split up. You can get all their singles on this 2CD comp from Big Beat UK. The Rationals were from Ann Arbor, MI which later brought us MC5 and The Stooges. Scott Morgan was the lead singer and guitarist along with Steve Correll on guitar, Terry Trabandt on bass and Bill Figg on drums. They played local clubs in 1964 and were spotted by Jeep Holland and he became their manager and started A2 Records to record them. Their cover of Otis Redding's Respect was a big enough hit regionally that Cameo-Parkway picked it up for distribution. Several more singles followed including this cover of The Kinks song I Need You. But The Rationals never could seem to break nationally. I Need You has become a big favourite because it was on Rhino's Nuggets box set. The Rationals moved to Capitol but nothing really changed. Things started to go sour when Morgan was offered the lead singer gig with Blood, Sweat & Tears. The band squabbled and split up in 1969 and then their only album was released in 1970. Morgan started Guardian Angel with his brother David on drums. Then he formed Sonic's Rendezvous Band with Fred "Sonic" Smith of MC5 and Scott Asheton of The Stooges. He's had several other bands over the years and has also reformed The Rationals occasionally. Their music is good enough that The Rationals probably deserved a better fate than regional obscurity. Here's a video for I Need You by The Rationals.

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