The Young Rascals: "A Girl Like You"

September 2, 1967 (1 week)

I've been complaining a lot about the rapid turnover of number ones on the RPM chart — believe me, we're just about done with it — but one thing in its favour is that it's provided me with a good chance to explore songs that I otherwise would never have heard. I had been ignorant of exemplary Four Seasons' hits like "Rag Doll" and "Save It for Me" prior to establishing this blog. The same goes for Jay and the Americans with "Let's Lock the Door (and Throw Away the Key)" and The Turtles' with "She'd Rather Be with Me". All received rave reviews and scores that were just short of perfect 10s yet a lifetime of being raised on sixties radio stations failed to edify me on their existence.

The corollary to this, however, is that I haven't been similarly grateful towards all Canadian number ones that I had previously been unaware of. All those Herman's Hermits and Peter and Gordon chart toppers that aren't "Mrs Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" and "A World Without Love" or the abomination that is The Four Seasons' alter-ego The Wonder Who? with "Don't Think Twice" (I would happily never have to think of it again). That there have been many shitty RPM number ones goes without saying but it's important to consider all the ordinary singles that have topped the charts as well. Reasonably good songs but which simply didn't deserve the honour. Entries like The Hollies' "Stop! Stop! Stop!" and The Mamas and the Papas' "I Saw Her Again" — and, indeed, The Young Rascals' "A Girl Like You".

The Rascals had been on quite a high over the past year with at least two major hits which are beloved today, "Good Lovin'" and "Groovin'". Wait, did I say "at least two major hits which are beloved today"? Sorry, I meant "at most two major hits". Nothing against the rest of their material but there's a reason you never hear any of it today. "A Girl Like You" is a coattail riding hit and nothing more. Its position of number ten on Billboard's Hot 100 is also overly generous to a mediocre piece but at least it tracks with the momentum they had been on. A number one smash that displaced "All You Need Is Love" for a week? I don't think so.

Nothing about it sticks out at all. "A Girl Like You" isn't so much a grower than an 'exposer': the sort of song that sounds all right the first time you play it and, indeed, maintains some interest  with subsequent listens. However, flaws subtly start to expose themselves over time. I'm usually a sucker for R&B horn sections of the era but not so much in this instance; they strike me as hackneyed. The backing vocals seem strained. Plus, it's such a thoroughly unremarkable song that I couldn't begin to even hum the tune after over a week of steady listening. You'll never forget their two major hits to date but you'd struggle to remember this sad little turd.

The amazing thing is, we've only just begun. Another Young Rascals' single would go on to top the RPM hit parade before 1967 was out with two more the following year after they finally got their way and rebranded to simply 'The Rascals'. Six number ones from a group I hardly know beyond the two songs everyone knows...oh, this is going to be something. Hey, I'm prepared to judge their trio of upcoming singles fairly but I can't say I'm thrilled to be doing it. That said, finger's crossed they'll give me a pleasant surprise. Failing that, I wouldn't be opposed to their music dropping off a cliff. It's this fence-sitting ordinariness that irks me.

Score: 4