Good Feeling (1957)

Album: It Ain't Easy (1970)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The song was written by Alan Brackett and John Merrill of The Peanut Butter Conspiracy in late 1968. They recorded their own version of the song, but it wasn't released until 2014 on the album Barbara. Before that, the song was known by the Three Dog Night version.

    Though Three Dog Night didn't release the song as a single, they played it frequently in live shows, and it was always a crowd favorite. It's a good-feeling tune and not intended to be anything more or less than that.
  • In his interview with Songfacts, Alan Brackett explained, "I just sent that as a fluke. Barbara's singing it. Well, Chuck [Negron] starts singing with Barbara when they heard the demo. They did this whole '50s thing on Midnight Special. It took like 15 minutes, they showed them getting all dressed up. They changed it to 'Good Feeling (1957),' and they did this whole '50s thing, and they did it for years. I made more money off of that song than I did off of everything with Peanut Butter."

    He added: "I wrote that song when we were the house band at the Factory, which was Sinatra and those guys' club. It was the best gig in town. I did it there because they needed something for people to dance to. I needed something with a good feeling, so I wrote that song, 'Good Feelin'.' It was just to have a good dance tune."
  • In his memoir Almost Famous: Journey to the Summer of Love, Brackett explained, "Musically I did what I'd been doing since school days with the Royal Blues and changed from straight time to swing in the song and it was my idea to add a recording trick I'd learned at home at the end."

Comments: 1

  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenMy sister played this song repeatedly on her record player when it came out and since our bedrooms shared a wall, I always heard it (I thought the falsetto solo was a woman singing.).

    Hearing it now always transports me back to those childhood days.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.