B-side "Was It Really Real" Format 45 rpm 7" single Genre Garage rock | Released January 1966 Recorded 1965 Length 3:00 | |
"Time Won't Let Me" is a garage rock song that was recorded by The Outsiders, from Cleveland, Ohio, in 1965, and which became a major hit in the United States in 1966, reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week of April 16 of that year. It is ranked as the 42nd biggest American hit of 1966.
Contents
The song was composed by the band's guitarist Tom King along with Chet Kelly. Its basic arrangement was augmented by a horn section, yet was applied in an unobtrusive manner as not to not detract from the band's fundamental sound, which on this occasion featured a signature riff from a twelve string electric guitar.
Lead vocals were provided by Sonny Geraci, who also sang lead on the 1972 hit, "Precious and Few" by his later band, Climax.
Background
Leading up to the success of "Time Won't Let Me," the Outsiders had an advantage over the numerous American bands that formed in the wake of the British Invasion in that they had been active in the Cleveland scene for years, starting in 1958 as a rhythm & blues combo called the Starfires. They were founded that year by guitarist and saxophonist Tom King who at the time was only fifteen. By early 1965 the band's membership consisted of King on rhythm guitar, Bill Bruno on lead guitar, Mert Madsen on bass, and Jim Fox, later of James Gang, on drums. Later that year, Fox departed for college and was replaced by Ronnie Harkai, who would play on "Time Won't Let Me." Also in 1965 they brought in Sonny Gerachi, later in Climax, to handle the lead vocals. The group was under contract with Parma Records, which was owned by King's uncle, Patrick Connelly, and in late 1965 that they recorded "Time Won't Let Me" for the label. As they recorded it, the song is a simple, catchy and danceable tune. Its basic arrangement was augmented by a horn section, yet was applied in an unobtrusive manner as not to not detract from the band's fundamental sound, which on this occasion featured a signature riff from a twelve string electric guitar. Sufficiently impressed upon hearing it, Capitol Records signed the band on the strength of the song, and shortly thereafter King changed the band's name from the Starfires to the Outsiders, possibly at the urging of the new label. One account of the change was that King and Kelley had become "outsiders" within the family as a result of the label switch.
Release
"Time Won't Let Me" was released as a single on Capitol Records in January 1966 and was backed with "Was it Really Real" on the flipside. King produced the record and, along with Tommy Baker, was instrumental in the horn arrangements. The song went on to become a huge nationwide hit for the group, going to # 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the week of April 16. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc—a feat the band would never again be able to match.
In 1966 the Outsiders recorded their debut album for Capitol, which was produced by Tom King, Time Won't Let Me and named for the hit song. It contained five original songs written by King and Kelley. They proved to be a formidable songwriting team, and the band was also adept at handling covers of R&B songs. Drummer Ronnie Harkai departed shortly after the recording of "Time Won't Let Me" to join the Air Force, and Jim Fox returned briefly to fill in, playing on most of the remaining cuts recorded for the Time Won't Let Me album. Following the recording of the album, Bennie Benson became the group's drummer, later to be replaced by Ricky Baker.
The Outsiders promoted their hit single with almost a year of nationwide touring, as "Time Won't Let Me" stayed on the national charts for 15 weeks. The band first toured with Paul Revere and the Raiders and then with Chad and Jeremy, then later were part of a six-week tour of one-night stands headed by Gene Pitney, and which included seven or eight other acts, among them Len Barry, B.J. Thomas and Bobby Goldsboro. Afterwards, the Outsiders joined a four-week tour with several garage rock and psychedelic rock bands, such as the Seeds and the Shadows of Knight. They also made a national television appearance on Hullabaloo.