Music Monday: The Grass Roots and their hit “Sooner or Later”
Posted By RichC on November 20, 2023
The Grass Roots was an American rock band that achieved significant success between 1965 and 1975. The band’s origins trace back to the collaboration of songwriter duo P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri, along with the involvement of Lou Adler.
For Music Monday, here is their 1971 hit “Sooner of Later” from “Their 16 Greatest Hits” album in that same year.
| The Grass Roots – “Sooner of Later” | 1971 |
Formation and Early Years:
- The name “Grass Roots” (originally spelled as one word, “Grassroots”) emerged in mid-1965 as part of a band project by Sloan and Barri.
- Their record company, Dunhill Records, aimed to capitalize on the folk rock movement, and one of the songs they wrote was “Where Were You When I Needed You.”
- The initial version of The Grass Roots featured Sloan on lead vocals and guitar, along with Larry Knechtel (keyboards), Joe Osborn (bass), and Bones Howe (drums).
- The band gained airplay on Southern California radio stations with their cover of Bob Dylan’s song “Mr. Jones (Ballad of a Thin Man).”
It did remind me of a 
Costco filling station
