I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)
"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" | ||||
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Single by Four Tops | ||||
from the album Four Tops Second Album | ||||
B-side | "Sad Souvenirs" | |||
Released | April 23, 1965 | |||
Recorded | 1965 | |||
Studio | Hitsville U.S.A. (Studio A), Detroit, Michigan | |||
Genre | Soul, pop | |||
Length | 2:46 | |||
Label | Motown | |||
Songwriter(s) | Holland–Dozier–Holland | |||
Producer(s) | ||||
Four Tops singles chronology | ||||
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"I Can't Help Myself" is a 1965 song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label.
Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, "I Can't Help Myself" is one of the most well-known Motown recordings of the 1960s and among the decade's biggest hits. The single topped the Billboard's R&B chart for nine weeks (being named the biggest R&B single of the year by Billboard) and also peaked at number one on the Hot 100 for two non-consecutive weeks,[1] from June 12 to June 19 and from June 26 to July 3 in 1965. It replaced "Back in My Arms Again" by labelmates the Supremes. It was first unseated at number one by "Mr. Tambourine Man" by the Byrds, then regained the top spot before being replaced by the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction". Billboard ranked the record as the second biggest single of 1965. "I Can't Help Myself" was the Four Tops' first top 40 single in the UK, peaking at No. 23 at the end of 1965, then reaching No. 10 in its early 1970 re-release.[2]
Composition
The song finds lead singer Levi Stubbs, assisted by the other three Tops and the Andantes, pleadingly professing his love to a woman: "Sugar pie, honey bunch/I'm weaker than a man should be!/Can't help myself/I'm a fool in love, you see." The melodic and chordal progressions are very similar to the Supremes' 1964 hit "Where Did Our Love Go", also written by Holland-Dozier-Holland. According to AllMusic critic Ed Hogan, the title "I Can't Help Myself" is an oblique acknowledgment by Dozier that he could not resist recycling his previous hit.[3] The bracketed title "Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch" appears only on certain oldie reissues of the single.
Reception
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Levi Stubbs
- Background vocals by Lawrence Payton, and the Andantes: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps
- Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra(strings)
- Bass by James Jamerson[8]
- Drums by Benny Benjamin[9]
- Baritone saxophone by Mike Terry[10]
- Written by Edward Holland, Jr.
- Produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier
Charts
Chart (1965) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada CHUM Chart[11] | 4 |
UK Singles Chart[2] | 23 |
US Billboard Hot 100[1] | 1 |
US Billboard R&B[1] | 1 |
Chart (1970) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles Chart[2] | 10 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[12] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Bonnie Pointer version
In 1980, Bonnie Pointer had a disco crossover hit in the United States, with the song peaking at number 40 on the pop singles chart, number 42 on the soul singles chart,[13] and number four on the dance chart.[14][15] In Canada, it reached number 43 on the RPM Top 100 Singles chart.[16] The song also peaked at number 52 in Australia.[17]
La Toya Jackson version
"I Can't Help Myself" | ||||
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Koch International | ||||
Composer(s) | Holland–Dozier–Holland | |||
Lyricist(s) | Holland–Dozier–Holland | |||
Producer(s) | Peter Holm | |||
La Toya Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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"I Can't Help Myself" was recorded by American singer
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "I Can't Help Myself" | Holland–Dozier–Holland | 3:30 |
2. | "Baby Love" | Holland–Dozier–Holland | 3:19 |
Other versions
The Supremes recorded a cover of this song between 1965 and 1966, released on their number-one album, The Supremes A' Go-Go. Their backing band, the Funk Brothers, was also the Four Tops' backing band at the time and comprising most, if not all, of the same musicians as on the original number-one single.[citation needed] In 1967, the Four Tops themselves recorded a special Italian language version, entitled "Piangono gli uomini" ("The Men Cry").[19]
In the winter of 1969, Johnny Rivers covered the song. His rendition became a number-two hit in South Africa.[20]
Donnie Elbert hit number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 with his cover of this song,[21] which was a follow-up to his cover of the Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go". In Canada, it reached number 37.[22]
A cover by American country music group Billy Hill peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1989.[23]
The "Motorcity All-Stars" released a rerecorded version of song in 1989 on
In 1992, Australian
American musician Kid Rock has performed the song in concert on his 2013 tour. He later included a cover of the song on his 2017 album Sweet Southern Sugar.[26] On the album it was titled "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch".
References
- ^ a b c Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 212.
- ^ Official Charts. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
- ^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. May 8, 1965. p. 37. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 8, 1965. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
- ^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Record World. May 8, 1965. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
- ^ Applebee's $12.99 All You Can Eat TV Spot, 'Can't Help Myself' Song by The Four Tops, retrieved 2023-01-19
- ^ Liner notes. The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 5: 1965, Hip-O Select – B0006775-02, USA, 04 Aug 2006
- ^ [1]
- ^ Williams, Richard (December 1, 2008). "Obituary: Mike Terry". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - July 19, 1965".
- ^ "British single certifications – Four Tops – I Can't Help Myself". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 464.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 205.
- ^ "Bonnie Pointer – I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)". Discogs.com. 1979. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - April 19, 1980" (PDF).
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "La Toya Jackson - I Can't Help Myself". Discogs. 1996.
- ^ "Four Tops – Piangono Gli Uomini / Bernadette (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1967. Retrieved 2014-11-28.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2010). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. Billboard Books. p. 212.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - March 25, 1972" (PDF).
- ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.
- ^ "The Motorcity All-Stars* - I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1989. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
- ^ "Australian-charts.com – Teen Queens – I Can't Help Myself". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ "Kid Rock Covers Motown Favorite On New Album". November 2017.