Once Upon a Dream is the fourth studio album by the rock band the Rascals, released February 8, 1968. The album rose to number 9 on the Billboard Top LPs chart, and number 7 on the R&B chart.

History Once Upon a Dream was the band's first album billed as "The Rascals"; they had, for legal reasons, been known as "The Young Rascals" until this time. It was also the last Rascals album to be available in both mono and stereo mixes.

The album was received differently by fans and critics. Many consider this album to be the band's best work, while others insist that it was too different from their traditionally rhythm and blues influenced music. Lead vocals came from both Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere, as well as from Eddie's brother and unofficial band member David Brigati (on "Finale: Once Upon a Dream") and Gene Cornish on his own number, "I'm Gonna Love You."

In an interview with Melody Maker in 1967, Cavaliere stated, "Our new album, and I say this in a humble way, will be Sgt. Pepperish." The album uses frequent sound effects and spoken words between the songs.

A single of "It's Wonderful" (credited to "The Young Rascals," the band's last recording to be so billed) was issued November 27, 1967 and peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single versionAtlantic catalog no. 2463. ends with a 50-second coda of "Mardi Gras"-style special effects and party sounds that were not included in the album version.

The album was reissued on CD August 28, 2007 by Collectors' Choice Music.

Reception

In his review for Allmusic, music critic Thom Jurek, who highly praised the album, noted the influence of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and wrote that the Rascals "put their own spin on it by adding their trademark blue-eyed soul and jazz influences to the mix of psychedelia... All details aside, though, a listen to this platter is startling. Its sophisticated orchestral and vocal arrangements are remarkable even in the 21st century... It's an under-celebrated masterpiece of the psychedelic era and belongs next to Pet Sounds and Sgt. Pepper's on the shelf because it is easily as sophisticated, and once heard in its entirety, can never be forgotten."

Track listing All songs are written by Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati, except "I'm Gonna Love You" written by Gene Cornish. Track lengths adapted from the 2024 box set It's Wonderful: The Complete Atlantic Studio Recordings.

Side One "Intro: Easy Rollin'" – 3:12 "Rainy Day" – 3:39 "Please Love Me" – 2:04 "Sound Effect" – 0:11 "It's Wonderful" – 2:31 "I'm Gonna Love You" – 2:17 "Dave & Eddie" – 0:16 "My Hawaii" – 4:09

Side Two "My World" – 2:52 "Silly Girl" – 2:42 "Singin' the Blues Too Long" – 5:10 "Bells" – 0:09 "Sattva" – 4:16 "Once Upon a Dream" – 4:48

Personnel Personnel adapted from 2024 box set It's Wonderful: The Complete Atlantic Studio Recordings, unless otherwise noted.

The Rascals Felix Cavaliere – lead vocals , co-lead vocals , sitar , organ, piano; production Eddie Brigati – lead vocals , co-lead vocals , tamboura , vocals, conga drums; production Gene Cornish – lead vocals , guitar, bass; production Dino Danelli – drums, tabla ; production, cover design

Additional musicians David Brigati – lead vocals , additional vocals Ron Carter – bass guitar Richard Davis – bass guitar Chuck Rainey – bass guitar Melvin Lastie – trumpet King Curtis – tenor saxophone Steve Marcus – soprano saxophone Buddy Lucas – harmonica Hubert Laws – flute Gene Orloff – strings

Production Arif Mardin – arranger, conductor Tom Dowd – chief engineer Adrian Barber – sound effects engineer Chris Huston – engineer, tape op Bruce Tergesen – engineer, tape op Tunç Erim – tape op Joe Atkinson – dubs, mastering Phil Iehle – mastering Aileen Winter – liner notes Russel Beal – photography Mark Roth – photography Andrew Leo – photography

Charts

+Weekly chart performanceChart (1968)Peak positionUS Billboard Top LP's9US Billboard Best Selling Rhythm & Blues LP's7US Cash Box Top 100 Albums8US Record World 100 Top LP's8

+Year-end chart performanceChart (1968)Peak positionUS Billboard Top LP's77US Billboard Best Selling Rhythm & Blues LP's41US Cash Box Top 100 Albums57

References CitationsSources