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Good Lovin': My Life As A Rascal
Gene Cornish is a founding member of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group The Rascals. Hits like "Groovin', "Good Lovin'", "It's A Beautiful Morning" among others launched The rascals into the pantheon of rock and roll legends. Gene has now put his story onto the page. It is a rollercoaster ride of tremendous highs and catastrophic lows. Gene tells his story of fame and stardom that devolved into one of drug addiction, despair and tribulation culminating in a rise from the ashes. Gene tells the story of The Rascals meteoric rise and devastating fall as well as the story of rock and roll's most energetic time, the 1960's. Gene tells his story with 100% honesty, 100% candor and it's 100% rock and roll.
- GenresMusic
534 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2020
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February 8, 2020
The first rock & roll album I ever owned -- a present for my 6th birthday -- was The Best of Herman's Hermits Volume 2. :) The second (a gift to my sister & me from either our grandparents or our uncle, I think) was "Groovin'" by the Young Rascals. We studied the band members' faces & names on the back of the album cover and made up dances to go along with the songs. :)
I hadn't listened to that album in years, or given the Rascals much thought, until late in 2012, or perhaps sometime in early 2013, when I opened the Sunday New York Times and saw a full-page ad for a Broadway show/concert called "Once Upon a Dream," which was reuniting all four original members of the Rascals for the first time in 40 years. The show was the brainchild/obsession of one of their biggest fans, Steve Van Zandt (of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band), who was instrumental in getting the band named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
Seeing the familiar names & faces from the back of my album cover in the ad, after so many years, I felt a wave of nostalgia come over me. I started Googling the band and the show and looking up old clips on YouTube, and when they brought the production to Toronto in August that year, I dragged my husband to the beautiful old Royal Alexandra Theatre to see them.
They were FABULOUS -- absolutely no rust showing on these guys after so many years apart (and all of them pushing 70 at that point). Eddie Brigati, the longest reunion holdout of the four, brought the house down with his signature tune, "How Can I Be Sure?" My husband was agog watching the still-amazing drummer, Dino Danelli. Felix Cavaliere was a commanding presence at the Hammond organ, still with a first-rate voice. And nobody seemed to be enjoying themselves more than the guitarist, Gene Cornish (who was born in Ottawa and grew up just across the lake from Toronto in Rochester, New York).
The Rascals were hugely popular in their time, but unfortunately have never quite achieved the lasting fame of some of their peers. There's not much out there that's been written about them (although various members of the group have been rumoured to be their writing memoirs over the years). Finally, last fall, Gene Cornish published his -- "Good Lovin': My Life as a Rascal" -- with the help of writer Stephen Miller. (It's available from Amazon, both in paperback and on Kindle.)
Like so many kids of his generation, Cornish picked up a guitar after seeing Elvis Presley on television in the late 1950s. His mother took him to see Buddy Holly in 1958. By the time he was in high school, he was a veteran of several bands in the Rochester area. With the support of his parents, he went to New York City where he landed a job with the Starlighters, the house band at Joey Dee's Peppermint Lounge. It wasn't long before he left with several of the other band members to form their own band -- the Young Rascals (eventually shortened to just the Rascals). (Replacing him in the Starlighters was a guy named Jimmy James -- later better known as Jimi Hendrix!) Over the next year (1964-65), the Rascals honed their craft in clubs in New Jersey, Long Island and NYC, got a recording contract and began touring and making television appearances. Hit single after hit single followed -- until, sadly, the band imploded in the early 1970s under the stresses of constant touring, writing and recording, inter-band rivalries, poor management and bad business decisions.
Cornish, an only child, regarded (and still regards) the other three band members as his brothers. They have come through for him at various times and in various ways over the years since the band split up -- but like any family, they have also had some serious disagreements and betrayals. He's honest about how he saw their differences, as well as his own shortcomings. (It would be interesting to hear the others' versions of these same events...!) After he and Danelli left the Rascals, they formed a couple of other bands together, including Bulldog and Fotomaker, as well as their own version of the New Rascals (touring at the same time as a rival version of the band led by Cavaliere). Cornish wound up broke, homeless, living in a small apartment with his mother, and addicted to cocaine. He finally kicked the habit in 2012 with the support of his new girlfriend (now fiancee), Debbee.
Then came "Once Upon a Dream," which was supposed to put the Rascals back in what Van Zandt saw as their rightful place as elder statesmen of rock and roll history. Unfortunately, while it was a great show that got rave reviews, it was extremely expensive to produce and take on the road, and Van Zandt pulled the plug in late 2013.
Since then, Cornish has teamed up with Cavaliere (and Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice) in yet another version of the Rascals. While on tour in Billings, Montana, in September 2018, he suffered a major heart attack while onstage. (He previously went through a quadruple bypass and colon cancer.) I am glad he's doing better, and that he finally got this book done. He will be 76 years old in May.
The book was self-published, and I'm afraid it could have used a good editor/proofreader -- there are numerous typos, misspelled names and redundancies. It rambles at times -- at more than 500 (!) pages, the copy could have used some tightening up. (I used to do this for a living, so I couldn't help but notice!) And it's funny/sad how so many rock and roll memoirs resemble each other to the point of cliche -- the drugs, the infighting, the rise and fall and rise again...
Nevertheless, I enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at a great '60s band that was part of my childhood musical memories. Some of the Rascals story was familiar to me through my online reading, but a lot of it was not, and there are lots of cameo appearances/anecdotes about other famous names (musical and otherwise) of the time. If you are a Rascals fan, this is (obviously) a must-read. You will also likely enjoy it if you're a fan of 1960s music or musical memoirs generally.
3 stars on Goodreads -- 3.5 if half-stars were do-able.
I hadn't listened to that album in years, or given the Rascals much thought, until late in 2012, or perhaps sometime in early 2013, when I opened the Sunday New York Times and saw a full-page ad for a Broadway show/concert called "Once Upon a Dream," which was reuniting all four original members of the Rascals for the first time in 40 years. The show was the brainchild/obsession of one of their biggest fans, Steve Van Zandt (of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band), who was instrumental in getting the band named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
Seeing the familiar names & faces from the back of my album cover in the ad, after so many years, I felt a wave of nostalgia come over me. I started Googling the band and the show and looking up old clips on YouTube, and when they brought the production to Toronto in August that year, I dragged my husband to the beautiful old Royal Alexandra Theatre to see them.
They were FABULOUS -- absolutely no rust showing on these guys after so many years apart (and all of them pushing 70 at that point). Eddie Brigati, the longest reunion holdout of the four, brought the house down with his signature tune, "How Can I Be Sure?" My husband was agog watching the still-amazing drummer, Dino Danelli. Felix Cavaliere was a commanding presence at the Hammond organ, still with a first-rate voice. And nobody seemed to be enjoying themselves more than the guitarist, Gene Cornish (who was born in Ottawa and grew up just across the lake from Toronto in Rochester, New York).
The Rascals were hugely popular in their time, but unfortunately have never quite achieved the lasting fame of some of their peers. There's not much out there that's been written about them (although various members of the group have been rumoured to be their writing memoirs over the years). Finally, last fall, Gene Cornish published his -- "Good Lovin': My Life as a Rascal" -- with the help of writer Stephen Miller. (It's available from Amazon, both in paperback and on Kindle.)
Like so many kids of his generation, Cornish picked up a guitar after seeing Elvis Presley on television in the late 1950s. His mother took him to see Buddy Holly in 1958. By the time he was in high school, he was a veteran of several bands in the Rochester area. With the support of his parents, he went to New York City where he landed a job with the Starlighters, the house band at Joey Dee's Peppermint Lounge. It wasn't long before he left with several of the other band members to form their own band -- the Young Rascals (eventually shortened to just the Rascals). (Replacing him in the Starlighters was a guy named Jimmy James -- later better known as Jimi Hendrix!) Over the next year (1964-65), the Rascals honed their craft in clubs in New Jersey, Long Island and NYC, got a recording contract and began touring and making television appearances. Hit single after hit single followed -- until, sadly, the band imploded in the early 1970s under the stresses of constant touring, writing and recording, inter-band rivalries, poor management and bad business decisions.
Cornish, an only child, regarded (and still regards) the other three band members as his brothers. They have come through for him at various times and in various ways over the years since the band split up -- but like any family, they have also had some serious disagreements and betrayals. He's honest about how he saw their differences, as well as his own shortcomings. (It would be interesting to hear the others' versions of these same events...!) After he and Danelli left the Rascals, they formed a couple of other bands together, including Bulldog and Fotomaker, as well as their own version of the New Rascals (touring at the same time as a rival version of the band led by Cavaliere). Cornish wound up broke, homeless, living in a small apartment with his mother, and addicted to cocaine. He finally kicked the habit in 2012 with the support of his new girlfriend (now fiancee), Debbee.
Then came "Once Upon a Dream," which was supposed to put the Rascals back in what Van Zandt saw as their rightful place as elder statesmen of rock and roll history. Unfortunately, while it was a great show that got rave reviews, it was extremely expensive to produce and take on the road, and Van Zandt pulled the plug in late 2013.
Since then, Cornish has teamed up with Cavaliere (and Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice) in yet another version of the Rascals. While on tour in Billings, Montana, in September 2018, he suffered a major heart attack while onstage. (He previously went through a quadruple bypass and colon cancer.) I am glad he's doing better, and that he finally got this book done. He will be 76 years old in May.
The book was self-published, and I'm afraid it could have used a good editor/proofreader -- there are numerous typos, misspelled names and redundancies. It rambles at times -- at more than 500 (!) pages, the copy could have used some tightening up. (I used to do this for a living, so I couldn't help but notice!) And it's funny/sad how so many rock and roll memoirs resemble each other to the point of cliche -- the drugs, the infighting, the rise and fall and rise again...
Nevertheless, I enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at a great '60s band that was part of my childhood musical memories. Some of the Rascals story was familiar to me through my online reading, but a lot of it was not, and there are lots of cameo appearances/anecdotes about other famous names (musical and otherwise) of the time. If you are a Rascals fan, this is (obviously) a must-read. You will also likely enjoy it if you're a fan of 1960s music or musical memoirs generally.
3 stars on Goodreads -- 3.5 if half-stars were do-able.
March 5, 2020
Rock and Roll memoirs are always a fun read. I really liked The Rascals back in the day so I was looking forward to reading the book. My apologies to the author. But I remember Felix Cavaliere and Dino Danielli from all of the teen magazines back then. And of course Felix was the lead singer and main song writer so he was better known. But in all honesty I did not really know who Gene Cornish was until I read the book. Reading the book I could sense his frustration with being the lesser known member of the group. So it was interesting reading about the group from his perspective. It's a quick read. If you were a kid from the 60's you will enjoy reading this. Lots of memories about the music and the times.
August 22, 2022
An interesting history of the Rascals. I very much enjoyed their music way back then and their hits have held up well over the decades.
The details of the band's genesis and history, in this work, are the thoughts and memories of Mr. Cornish, a founding member. The vocal and songwriting talents of Eddie and Felix cannot be denied and one would enjoy reading more of their creative process. The other three Rascals' inputs are limited and likely colored by Gene's personal feelings or otherwise distorted by the mists of time.
To read of the band's breakup, post-Rascals fits and starts, Gene's drug use, and the members' personal animosities is sad. While the work is interesting, as I said, the history would be more complete and enlightening with input from all, free from the potential taint of a one-sided perspective. Note that this is not to say that Mr. Cornish has deliberately altered any facts. Quite the contrary - he seems to be brutally honest from beginning to end.
There are included many interesting incidents and sidebars involving famous musicians and industry insiders that are real treats.
The book is an easy read. There are some pictures - way too few and of poor quality. Editing is sloppy in parts.
The details of the band's genesis and history, in this work, are the thoughts and memories of Mr. Cornish, a founding member. The vocal and songwriting talents of Eddie and Felix cannot be denied and one would enjoy reading more of their creative process. The other three Rascals' inputs are limited and likely colored by Gene's personal feelings or otherwise distorted by the mists of time.
To read of the band's breakup, post-Rascals fits and starts, Gene's drug use, and the members' personal animosities is sad. While the work is interesting, as I said, the history would be more complete and enlightening with input from all, free from the potential taint of a one-sided perspective. Note that this is not to say that Mr. Cornish has deliberately altered any facts. Quite the contrary - he seems to be brutally honest from beginning to end.
There are included many interesting incidents and sidebars involving famous musicians and industry insiders that are real treats.
The book is an easy read. There are some pictures - way too few and of poor quality. Editing is sloppy in parts.
January 16, 2022
Very interesting read but..
I really enjoyed the beginning of Gene’s early life. The meteoric rise of the Rascals is a great story.
It appeared to be each member of the Rascals had a very selfish streak.
Gene writes about how much he appreciated his mother and his father. It’s a crime he forgot about their devotion to him as he descended into drug abuse.
Unfortunately, before I started this book, I attempted to read, “Miss Mercy.” But I couldn’t get past 30 pages. Then to read the beautiful beginning of Gene’s story and have it turn dark was disturbing.
The crash of the Rascals is a common story. You have one or two strongly talented individuals in a band and it’s inevitable that their importance becomes apparent. Gene acknowledges several times how other guitarist had much better chops than he. I never considered him a ‘guitarist.’ And his singing was ok.
When Eddie left and Felix exercised his muscle, Gene’s livelihood was bound to be threatened.
Live right Gene, for your mom, dad, Debbie and you!
I really enjoyed the beginning of Gene’s early life. The meteoric rise of the Rascals is a great story.
It appeared to be each member of the Rascals had a very selfish streak.
Gene writes about how much he appreciated his mother and his father. It’s a crime he forgot about their devotion to him as he descended into drug abuse.
Unfortunately, before I started this book, I attempted to read, “Miss Mercy.” But I couldn’t get past 30 pages. Then to read the beautiful beginning of Gene’s story and have it turn dark was disturbing.
The crash of the Rascals is a common story. You have one or two strongly talented individuals in a band and it’s inevitable that their importance becomes apparent. Gene acknowledges several times how other guitarist had much better chops than he. I never considered him a ‘guitarist.’ And his singing was ok.
When Eddie left and Felix exercised his muscle, Gene’s livelihood was bound to be threatened.
Live right Gene, for your mom, dad, Debbie and you!
March 22, 2020
Gene Cornish was one of the original members of the Rascals (or the Young Rascals as they started out), a New-York based group whose blue-eyed soul mixed with rock electrified the music world in the mid-to-late-'60's to the point where they eventually wound up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This is the story of guitarist Gene Cornish and you have to admit, he's led an interesting life. Cornish pulls no punches in assigning and accepting blame for the demise of the group after a few short years.
No one was faultless. Had the group stayed together and egos not gotten in the way, there's no telling what the group might have accomplished.
If you're a fan of 1960's rock and roll, or a fan of the Rascals, you'll enjoy this trip down memory lane with Cornish. Or, if you're just looking for something different to help you get through these days of quarantining during the Covid-19 pandemic, pick this one up. It's an enjoyable read.
No one was faultless. Had the group stayed together and egos not gotten in the way, there's no telling what the group might have accomplished.
If you're a fan of 1960's rock and roll, or a fan of the Rascals, you'll enjoy this trip down memory lane with Cornish. Or, if you're just looking for something different to help you get through these days of quarantining during the Covid-19 pandemic, pick this one up. It's an enjoyable read.
July 9, 2020
There are good rock autobiographies and disappointing ones as well. Both Greg Allman and Eric Clapton's were let downs, as they discussed more about shagging chicks than what made them the legends they were/are. Gene Cornish was the guitarist of one of America's finest rock bands on the charts in the mid sixties, leaving a great deal of hits that were popular on both rock as well as soul. Cornish reflects on the history and fan mania without dishing and juicy gossip although the inevitable drug abuse that plagued his life and the results that followed after the Rascals is detailed, a period of time the common fan in those days was exposed to. Loved the book. Highly recommend it. Self-published and well worth the time.
March 24, 2021
Fantastic !!
Well being a fan is an understatement . I just had purchased their greatest hits CD , yes I paid, What a great read about one long forgotten band. I lived on Long Island most of my life playing in bands like thousands of us did there. Even meeting our idols at times. I even purchased PA from The Illusions mentioned in the book, but to finally know what happened to The Rascals makes this chapter complete. We all followed them till they seemed to just disappear. Thanks Gene and Good Luck in your future. Wish They could have hammer with them at very least.
Well being a fan is an understatement . I just had purchased their greatest hits CD , yes I paid, What a great read about one long forgotten band. I lived on Long Island most of my life playing in bands like thousands of us did there. Even meeting our idols at times. I even purchased PA from The Illusions mentioned in the book, but to finally know what happened to The Rascals makes this chapter complete. We all followed them till they seemed to just disappear. Thanks Gene and Good Luck in your future. Wish They could have hammer with them at very least.
August 30, 2022
I'm a big Rascals fan. I read this simultaneously with Felix's book. Both books covered very similar ground from their heyday beginning with their first performances at the Choo Choo Club and ending with their first breakup in the early 70's. Both books were also in need of a capable editor. Much of the rest of the book deals with failed attempts to reunite and, in Gene's case, a long period of drug use during which he was often destitute. You'd do yourself a favor by just putting on their greatest hits and skipping the book.
September 3, 2022
As a long time fan of the Rascals, I was excited to see that the original guitarist had finally written his version of the story behind the band. Told with revealing honesty, including both the beauty and the warts of a band that is still playing today in some configuration (I just saw an advertisement for the Felix Cavaliere and Gene Cornish's Rascals tour for fall of 2022). Highly recommended for any Rascals fans, or any fans of 60's rock'n'roll.
April 7, 2023
....it's a Beautiful morning!!!!!!
One of the all time greats........The Rascals!!!!! Gene did a fantastic job relaying his experience perfectly. As a fellow Upstate New Yorker, his story hit home. One of rocks greatest guitar players, and a member of the rock and roll hall of fame, along with Dino, Felix and Eddie, there music is as relevant today as it was when it was released!!!!!!
One of the all time greats........The Rascals!!!!! Gene did a fantastic job relaying his experience perfectly. As a fellow Upstate New Yorker, his story hit home. One of rocks greatest guitar players, and a member of the rock and roll hall of fame, along with Dino, Felix and Eddie, there music is as relevant today as it was when it was released!!!!!!
February 3, 2022
One of the best.
I have been a fan of The Rascals since 1967, but I knew very little about them until now. Gene takes the reader through the ups and downs of one of the greatest American rock bands of all time. It’s touching, poignant and a little rough at times, but you’ll be glad you made the journey.
I have been a fan of The Rascals since 1967, but I knew very little about them until now. Gene takes the reader through the ups and downs of one of the greatest American rock bands of all time. It’s touching, poignant and a little rough at times, but you’ll be glad you made the journey.
May 14, 2020
The Rascals were one of the best bands of the 1960s.
This is Gene Cornish's look at all the highs and lows of the band and his life. He's a great storyteller and this is a great read. Definitely for anybody who is a fan of the Rascals
This is Gene Cornish's look at all the highs and lows of the band and his life. He's a great storyteller and this is a great read. Definitely for anybody who is a fan of the Rascals
September 3, 2021
Great guy honest look back
Just a honest raw scabs off journey back into the past without the bombastic self absorbed rock star rantings of so many others Here's a guy you would love to go out and talk about the music with and never be bored Thanks Gene
Just a honest raw scabs off journey back into the past without the bombastic self absorbed rock star rantings of so many others Here's a guy you would love to go out and talk about the music with and never be bored Thanks Gene
October 15, 2021
Very enjoyable journey back in time , I owned the first three albums and played them over and over . Nice job by Gene Cornish telling the Rascal story , the good and the bad . Seemed like an honest account , and a very pleasant read .
June 2, 2022
Finished Good Lovin': My Life As A Rascal by Gene Cornish, the guitarist for this 60’s band. This was a trip down memory lane, revisiting a number of iconic hits. There is an element of tragedy. The book opens and closes with Steven Van Zant’s (E Street Band) advocacy for the Rascals to enter the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and help them regain their fame as a touring band but the story doesn’t end well, as so many episodes of creative differences and personality squabbles do.
March 28, 2020
Great read for any Rascals fan!!!
Thanks, Gene, for sharing your story. Great book....
The Rascals will always be # 1 for me, and I'm sure many other fans!
Thanks, Gene, for sharing your story. Great book....
The Rascals will always be # 1 for me, and I'm sure many other fans!
September 16, 2021
This book has a lot in common with the Joey Dee autobiography and I feel pretty much the same about this book. Gene is more than candid. I enjoyed every page.
March 27, 2022
Loved Gene’s book.
Loved reading about The Rascals through Mr. Cornish’s eyes. A great story about a great band. Thank you Gene for all the great music.
Loved reading about The Rascals through Mr. Cornish’s eyes. A great story about a great band. Thank you Gene for all the great music.
January 23, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyable and honest
Well written. An easy read and seems to be truthful and honest. An authentic no holds barred take on the life of a Rascal
Well written. An easy read and seems to be truthful and honest. An authentic no holds barred take on the life of a Rascal
June 4, 2021
Interesting insight
Decent read. Great insightful information on the drama behind the scenes. Sorry ending In that these guys are trapped in an ancient persona
Decent read. Great insightful information on the drama behind the scenes. Sorry ending In that these guys are trapped in an ancient persona
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews