The Youngbloods could not be considered a major '60s band, but they were capable of offering some mighty pleasurable
folk-rock in the late '60s, and produced a few great tunes along the way. One of the better groups to emerge from the East Coast in the mid-'60s, they would temper their
blues and
jug band influences with gentle California psychedelia, particularly after they moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. For most listeners, they're identified almost exclusively with their Top Ten hit "Get Together," but they managed several respectable albums as well, all under the leadership of
singer/songwriter Jesse Colin Young.
Young got his start on the
folk circuits of Boston and New York, and had already cut a couple of solo albums before forming
the Youngbloods.
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The Youngbloods could not be considered a major '60s band, but they were capable of offering some mighty pleasurable
folk-rock in the late '60s, and produced a few great tunes along the way. One of the better groups to emerge from the East Coast in the mid-'60s, they would temper their
blues and
jug band influences with gentle California psychedelia, particularly after they moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. For most listeners, they're identified almost exclusively with their Top Ten hit "Get Together," but they managed several respectable albums as well, all under the leadership of
singer/songwriter Jesse Colin Young.
While
Young was always the focal point of the band, their first two albums also had songwriting contributions from guitarist Jerry Corbitt. Produced by Felix Pappalardi (who also worked with
Cream), these records (The Youngbloods and Earth Music) were engaging and mature, if inconsistent,
folk-rock. Corbitt's "Grizzly Bear" was a small hit, as was "Get Together," a Dino Valenti song that had previously been recorded by
Jefferson Airplane.
The Youngbloods' slow, soulful interpretation of "Get Together" was definitive, but it wouldn't reach the Top Ten until it was re-released in 1969, after the song had been used in a television public service ad.
By that time, Corbitt had left, and
the Youngbloods, reduced to a trio, were living in Marin County, CA. 1969's Elephant Mountain was produced by, of all people, Charlie Daniels. Reflecting the mellowing influence of San Francisco psychedelia, it was their best effort, featuring some of
Young's best songs. They released a few more albums in the early '70s (some live), but on these the mellow California
rock sound that had served them well on Elephant Mountain had begun to turn limpid and wimpy. The group broke up in 1972, and
Jesse Colin Young had a long and moderately successful career as a solo
singer/songwriter. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
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