See is the sixth studio album by the American rock band the Rascals, released on December 15 1969 by Atlantic Records. The album, produced by the Rascals and Arif Mardin, spans a total length of 42 minutes 18 seconds and is classified within the rock genre.
Background and Release
Following the earlier 1969 release Freedom Suite, See continued the band’s shift toward album‑oriented material primarily written and sung by keyboardist and vocalist Felix Cavaliere. The album arrived as the Rascals’ commercial fortunes were waning; it peaked at number 45 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and reached number 11 on the Canadian charts.
Singles
Three singles were issued from the album:
- “See” / “Away, Away” (1969) – U.S. chart peak #27
- “Carry Me Back” / “Real Thing” (1969) – U.S. chart peak #26
- “I Believe” / “Hold On” (1969) – U.S. chart peak #51 (the A‑side originally appeared on the later album Search and Nearness).
Critical Reception
Contemporary and retrospective reviews were mixed. AllMusic’s Thom Jurek noted that while some tracks were strong, the album overall “was a disappointment.” Village Voice critic Robert Christgau gave the album an A‑minus, praising its honest rock approach. Rolling Stone’s Lenny Kaye commented that the Rascals sometimes seemed better suited to single releases than full‑length albums.
Cover Art
The front cover features René Magritte’s 1947 surrealist painting La Grande Famille (The Large Family), depicting a dove against a sky divided between bright blue and darker tones.
Track Listing
All songs are written by Felix Cavaliere unless otherwise indicated.
Side A
- “See” – 5:04
- “I’d Like to Take You Home” – 2:37
- “Remember Me” (Gene Cornish) – 2:12
- “I’m Blue” (Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati) – 3:51
- “Stop and Think” – 4:10
- “Temptation’s ’Bout to Get Me” (James Leon Diggs) – 3:31
Side B
- “Nubia” – 3:44
- “Carry Me Back” – 2:53
- “Away Away” (Cornish) – 3:26
- “Real Thing” – 2:45
- “Death’s Reply” – 4:19
- “Hold On” – 3:37
Personnel
- Felix Cavaliere – organ, piano, lead and backing vocals
- Eddie Brigati – percussion, lead and backing vocals
- Gene Cornish – guitar, lead and backing vocals
- Dino Danelli – drums
Additional musicians include Joe Bushkin (piano on “Carry Me Back”), Chuck Rainey (bass guitar), Ron Carter (bass on “Nubia” and “Carry Me Back”), Danny Labbate (soprano saxophone), Hubert Laws (flute), and engineers Adrian Barber, Barry Goldberg, and Don Casale.
See represents the final Atlantic Records studio effort by the Rascals before the departure of Eddie Brigati and the group’s eventual dissolution in the early 1970s.
