The Good Rats: CD Collection (1968-2000)

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The Good Rats: CD Collection (1968-2000)

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While countless rockers started their careers in the New York suburb of Long Island before going on to worldwide success (Billy Joel, Twisted Sister, Steve Vai, Brian Setzer, Blue Öyster Cult, etc.), there have been countless acts that appeared poised for a breakthrough, but for whatever reason, fell short. Many longtime followers of Long Island-based rock would probably agree that tops on the "woulda/coulda/shoulda" list were the Good Rats, a group who played at some of the East Coast's best-known/biggest venues (Madison Square Garden, Nassau Coliseum, the Philadelphia Spectrum) during the '70s, while opening for such big names as Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, the Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen, Kiss, Journey, Heart, Styx, Meat Loaf, and Rush, among others. Specializing in a tough form of bar band/hard rock (comparable to Led Zeppelin early on, before getting more commercial), quite a few bandmembers waltzed through the Good Rats' ranks after their formation during the late '60s, but through it all, lead vocalist Peppi Marchello was present.

Originally consisting of Marchello, drummer Joe Franco (later briefly a member of Twisted Sister), bassist/vocalist Lenny Kotke, plus a pair of guitarists/singers, John "The Cat" Gatto and Mickey Marchello, the band debuted in 1969 with The Good Rats. A frustrating trend would soon follow for the group – their albums would be well received by their large, local fan base and regional radio, but would fail to connect to other parts of the continent. It was the group's sophomore effort, 1974's Tasty, that would spawn one of the Good Rats' best-known songs: the jazzy title track, which remains a staple on Long Island-based classic rock radio. It was also around this time that the Good Rats caught the attention of guitarist Tommy Bolin (through a mutual friend), who was earning raves at the time due to his flashy guitar work for the likes of Billy Cobham and Deep Purple. Bolin was so impressed with the group that he had the management of one of his favorite clubs, Denver's Ebbets Field, hire the group, which resulted in a jam session with Bolin and drummer Carmine Appice on a rousing cover of Cobham's "Stratus," which would appear years later on the Bolin compilation Bottom Shelf (Bolin sadly died from a heroin overdose two years later).

Although some groups would have quickly given up because of all the turbulence the Good Rats experienced, Marchello and company admirably continued to soldier ahead – continuing to issue strong yet overlooked albums (1978's Rats to Riches and Birth Comes to Us All, 1979's Rat City in Blue, and 1981's Great American Music, the latter of which featured future Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick). After laying low for a few years, Peppi put together a whole new version of the Good Rats in the early '90s, featuring his son, guitarist Gene Marchello, who was a member of the short-lived-'80s pop-metal outfit Marchello. After their rebirth, the Good Rats began issuing all-new studio albums, including 1996's Tasty Seconds and 2002's Play Dum. The original lineup of the Good Rats was also known to sporadically reunite for gigs, such as a pair of shows in Rochester, New York, in October of 1998, which saw the "new" Good Rats open for the original Good Rats. However, after experiencing heart problems, Peppi Marchello underwent open-heart surgery in June 2013, and although the singer appeared to be recovering, he died from cardiac arrest the following month at the age of 68.

by Greg Prato, AMG

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The Good Rats: CD Collection (1968-2000)

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It is back end of 1969 in Reims, France, just before the Christmas vacations that Christian, the owner of La Redition a bar mostly squattered by students playing the french Baby Foot at the rate of 20 centimes a game, did introduce the single Gotta get back in his Juke Box in a time when the crowds were listening to Lady Madonna and Johnny Halyday. From the very first seconds the Good Rats blew my brains. A couple of months later Christian sold me the single together with I'm down of the Beatles and Race with the devil of the Gun since nobody would listen to these too high speed songs. Although there were good records shops in town, the Good Rats album never made it to the shelves and I almost forgot about them. Through the years, I have built myself a rather large vinyl-cd collection, several thousands pieces altogether. The Good Rats were still there in their single outfit, as good as in 1969 and I used to place them on the B&O from time to time. Then I went to abandon my record supplier who went bust and decided to buy on internet. I received a couple of weeks ago the punchy Good Rats' cds I have ordered via Amazon and I am tonight still dreaming I could still be 18 y.o, hairy and full of energy. This record is by far not the best sound of East Coast rock music, however it is with Tasty the direction of the great ones to follow such as the Grand Funk Railroad and Bruce Springsteen. Really.

By 60andso, amazon

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The Good Rats: CD Collection (1968-2000)

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"Tasty" is by far the greatest accomplishment by "America's Favorite Unknown Band": The Good Rats. I was first aquainted with the "Tasty" album at a young age when my father, who was a Good Rats fan in his youth, passed his taste in music down to me. I first became familiar with the popular title track, "Tasty", the upbeat lead-off track, "Back To My Music", and the eeire but lyrically ingenius and funny "300 Boys". Later on, I came to recognize the musical brilliance in "Klash Ka Bob", "Poppa Papa", "Phil Fliesh", the vocal magnificance in "Songwriter", "Injun Joe", and "Fireball Express", and the nostalgic ingenius in "Fred Upstairs and Ginger Snappers". And then it hit me. There is not a single song on this album that isn't worth listening to. Peppi Marchello posseses the rock and roll voice that most bands dream of having, John Gatto's guitar playing is flawless (check out "Klash Ka Bob" to hear Gatto at his best!), Lenny Kotke's fingers fly on the bass, Micky Marchello's guitar and vocal harmonies are always dead on, and Joe Franco's drumming is admirable. Essentially, The Good Rats are the model band for 70's rock. Why then did not make it big is beyond mystery to me. The "Tasty" album is a must-have for rock fans of all ages.

By The 5th Beatle, amazon

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The Good Rats: CD Collection (1968-2000)

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My journey to become the HUGE Good Rats fan that I am today was by chance and was challenging to cultivate, due to hard to find nature of their material.
Back as a kid in 1974, I absconded a double album Warner Bros record '74 sampler/ promotional LP of the label's current releases called "Deep Ear" from my father, due to 2 very weird tracks that caught the attention of my childish silly side, "Boogie" and "Alpha Centari" (neither Good Rats songs). At first I played those two novelty tracks over and over, but eventually wanted to dig deeper into this 2 record set. The double LP opened with a kick ass rock n rock track that immediately caught my attention, The Good Rats: "Back to My Music". Wow, how could my father not played this track repeatedly, it was fantastic! Instead, he had focused on the MOR tracks by Bonnie Raitt, America, and James Taylor contained within, to name a few (not that they were bad, but)….nothing compared to this booming voiced song that should have been a rock anthem, in my eyes.
For years I wore out " Back to My Music" on this compilation, I saw on the Promo LP that this track came from the "Tasty" album. I searched for a good ten years for this album, but in those days, I couldn't go on the internet to find it, one had to rely on the local department store (with a record section) "Caldor", in my case, and that was my only access to new LPs. I never found it! In middle of high school (10 whole years after first being blown away by the Good Rats, well that one track), a used record store opened down the street and I still never found "Tasty", but came across "From Rats To Riches" for the poultry price of $2.99!!!
Wow, my journey had finally yielded results! Oh the wait and search of 10 years was excruciating, but now it was all worthwhile! What a great album! This group could indeed rock, like "Back to My Music", but they could do more sensitive tracks like "Let Me", the album featured beautiful harmonies throughout, both by the band and album producers Mark Volman & Howard Kaylan (of the Turtles and Frank Zappa fame, aka: Flo & Eddie). Soulful, rocking, swinging- all of these are words could describe the versatility of the Good Rats. "Coo Coo Coo Blues" & "Don't Hate the Ones Who Bring You Rock n Rock" alone were stuck in my head for nearly my whole junior year in high school!, while my friends listened to Iron Maiden and radio played Wham! and A-Ha!!!
Still, however, I couldn't find any other Good Rats' LPs, CDs eventually were invented, but even working at a music store, Good Rats' CDs were no where to be found.
20 years on, I had found many other band to love, but decided one day to go through all my 700 LPs to decide which to keep and which to give away and there it was: "From Rats To Riches", I put it on the turntable and the magic came right back, WOW! The Good Rats were fantastic, how had I forgotten about this record?! Now, it was the modern era and I hopped on Amazon and found "Tasty", at long last, but while I was at it, I was so excited that I purchased their debut, " Good Rats", and "Ratcity In Blue", and used my new turntable to make mp3s from my "From Rats To Riches" copy, so I wouldn't wear down the LP any more than it already was. I ordered all three from Amazon and in the last 3 weeks those 4 Good Rats albums are literally ALL that I have listened to at home and on my iPod in my car!!

Wow, while I know that was a long convoluted story, it illustrates how hard to find, unknown, yet fantastic the Good Rats were!
All the 4 Rat's albums I own are all great, maybe the debut album is of ( a slightly) lower quality, but really good nonetheless!! Buy them all, this band is so great, it is amazing that I grew up in Massachusetts, so geographically close to Long Island & Jersey (the Rat's regular stomping ground for live shows) and yet I never saw them live and couldn't even find their albums!
All are great, "From Rats to Riches" does remain my favorite, probably for sentimental reasons, the only album I had for my first 40 years as a Rats fan and my love of Howard Kaylan/Mark Volman helps, too, but all 4 are a must listen to anyone who loves harmonies, versatility, great lead singers, and rock n rock all around! Now that I finally have "Tasty", it really is an amazing record, even if it took 40 years to find, it was well worth the money to buy at full price on Amazon.

Please, if a fan: introduce others to the Rats and spread the joy!
FABULOUS!!!!! Peppi Marchello was such a great songwriter and singer! RIP to the best, underappreciated singer songwriter in rock!

By Mr Musical Snob, amazon

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now, i could go on and on about how the rats are the worlds greatest bar band. how theyve opened for aerosmith, stevie wonder, the rolling stones, kiss, anyone who was REALLY big and came anywhere near new england, they played with them. but this album is a special one. it is THE FIRST RECORDING IN HISTORY to use the aphex aural exciter system. which is now a staple in recording studios worldwide. theyve even made guitar and bass stompboxes out of em (and i have one). cherry river is my favorite on this album. the power in the notes peppi hits is amazing. the cat's guitar work was never better, lenny was flexed his jazz-style rock chops, mickey was dead on in those harmonies on both guitar and vocals. it doesnt get much better.

By dm, amazon

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The Good Rats: CD Collection (1968-2000)

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It starts with an hard rock riff and immediately this melodic guitar hit me : this is Joshua or what ! And voice of the singer is pretty same as Rod Stewart ! "Cover Of Night" remember me the best "melodic" song of Journey or Joshua (Surrender). The kind of song that makes you feel good. Second track is more groovy, "à la" Motley Crüe (Smokin' In The Boy's Room). Third track (different piano effects ; western, some organ, 30's) is really strange, especially with this type of voice : welcome to Chicago Rock. "Crazy, Wild and Angry" (4th track) is more traditional … and this guitar sound reminds me again the US Hard Rock, very groovy, with an impressive guitar solo. And so one, till the end of this "good" record. Typical 80's hard rock. Nothing new here, but songs are good.
The production is crystal clear, sound is cool. Well done "Rats".

~ metalreviews