The Grass Roots were a band whose success spanned two decades—the end of the ’60s and the beginning of the ’70s. Today’s classic song of the day comes from later in the group’s recording career. It’s “Sooner or Later” and it was released in May of 1971. The track peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #12 on the Cash Box Top 100.
It took five people to write this one— Mitchell Bottler, Edward McNamara, Adeniyi Paris, Ekundayo Paris, and Gary Zekley. (Zekley and Bottler had previously written “(I’d) Wait a Million Years” for the group.) Steve Barri produced the recording for ABC/Dunhill Records.
As with most Grass Roots recordings, backing instrumentals were provided by members of the Wrecking crew, with the exception of group member Dennis Provisor’s prominent organ part. Provisor shared vocal duties with Rob Grill on this one.
For today’s daily bonus video of the day, here are the Grass Roots singing live to a prerecorded backing track. The clip is from the February 19, 1972, episode of the syndicated musical/variety program Rollin’ on the River, hosted by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. The woman in the black-and-white dress singing backup and playing tambourine is Peggy Mahon, a member of the show’s cast.
I’m from Southern California and I believe the Grass roots for also from Southern California. Every year we have a grape harvest celebration in Rancho Cucamonga. A friend of mine. He always procured the band that would play every year so he brought in the grass roots. They sounded fabulous. I remember Rob said we have time for one more. Does anybody have a suggestion and I said Rob play sooner or later. It’s too bad that Robert had an accident that cost him his life I believe it was 2011. They were such a good group. I do not believe they got the press they should’ve gotten Dick Clark he really liked the grass roots.