‘Good Lovin'’ is a song written by Rudy Clark and Arthur Resnick that was a #1 hit single for the Young Rascals in 1966. The song was first recorded by Lemme B. Good (stage name of singer Limmie Snell) in March 1965 and written by Rudy Clark. The following month it was recorded with different lyrics by R&B artists The Olympics, produced by Jerry Ragovoy; this version reached #81 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.
Felix Cavaliere of The Young Rascals was listening to a New York soul station when he heard The Olympics' version. The Rascals liked it and played a sped-up version at their live performances with Cavaliere on lead vocals. Co-producer Tom Dowd captured this live feel on their 1966 recording, even though the group did not think the performance held together well. "Good Lovin'" rose to the top of the Billboard Pop Singles chart in April 1966 and became the Young Rascals' first real hit.
The Young Rascals added the famous "One! Two! Three!" count-in, with a different member saying each number. Felix Cavaliere has said that the order was: Eddie Brigati, Gene Cornish, then Felix.
‘Good Lovin'’ is one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, and was ranked #333 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. Writer Dave Marsh placed it at #108 in his 1989 book The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made, saying it is "the greatest example ever of a remake surpassing the quality of an original without changing a thing about the arrangement."
This was The Young Rascals first hit. They went on to achieve seven US Top 30 hits before becoming The Rascals in 1968. They disbanded in 1972 after recording five more American Top 30 songs.
Label – Atlantic
Songwriters – Rudy Clark, Arthur Resnick
Producers – Arif Mardin, Tom Dowd
SONG LYRICS
[Intro]One, two, three!
Good lovin', good lovin'
Good lovin', good lovin'
[Verse 1]
I was feelin' so bad
I asked my family doctor just what I had
I said "Doctor (Doctor), Mr. M.D. (Doctor)
Now can you tell me what's ailin' me?" (Doctor)
[Pre-Chorus]
He said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah"
Yes indeed, all I, I really need
[Chorus]
Good lovin', now gimme that good, good lovin'
Good lovin', all I need is lovin'
Good lovin', good, good lovin', baby
Good lovin'
[Verse 2]
Honey, please squeeze me tight (squeeze me tight)
Don't you want your baby to be all right? (be all right)
I said baby (baby), "Now it's for sure (it's for sure)
I got the fever, yeah, and you got the cure"
[Pre-Chorus]
Everybody, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yes indeed, all I really need
[Chorus]
Good lovin', come on, now gimme that lovin'
Good lovin', all I need is lovin'
Good lovin', good, good lovin', baby
Good lovin'
[Outro]
Good lovin', good lovin'
Good lovin', all I need is lovin'
Good lovin', all I want is lovin'
Good lovin', lovin' early in the morning
Good lovin', lovin' late at night
Good lovin', love is love
Good lovin', love, love, love, love, love