Time Won't Let Me

"Time Won't Let Me" is a garage rock song that was recorded by the Outsiders, from Cleveland, Ohio, in September 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.[2] It is ranked as the 42nd biggest American hit of 1966.[3][4] In Canada, the song also reached #5 in the weekly charts.[5]

"Time Won't Let Me"
Single by The Outsiders
B-side"Was It Really Real"
ReleasedJanuary 1966
RecordedSeptember 1965
GenreGarage rock[1]
Length3:00
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Tom King and Chet Kelley
Producer(s)Tom King

The song was composed by the band's guitarist Tom King along with Chet Kelley. Its basic arrangement was augmented by a horn section, applied in an unobtrusive manner so as not to detract from the band's fundamental sound, which on this occasion features a signature riff from a twelve string electric guitar. The song also features an electric organ with a vibratto, heard in the verses. The song also features a complex counterpoint melody in the other vocals in the coda section, where the scream trumpet is heard before the song's fade.

Lead vocals were provided by Sonny Geraci, who also sang lead on the 1972 hit, "Precious and Few" by his later band, Climax.

History

Background
The Outsiders in 1967

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.[6][7][8] They were founded that year by guitarist and saxophonist Tom King who at the time was only fifteen.[6][7][8][9][10]

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 the James Gang) on drums.[6][7][8] Later that year, Fox departed for college and was replaced by Ronnie Harkai, who would play on "Time Won't Let Me."[6][7][8] Also in 1965 they brought in Sonny Gerachi, later in Climax, to handle the lead vocals.[6][7][8][9][10]

The group was under contract with Pama Records, which was owned by King's uncle, Patrick Connelly, and in late 1965 they recorded "Time Won't Let Me" for the label.[6][11] As they recorded it, the song is a simple, catchy, and danceable tune.[6] Its basic arrangement was augmented by a horn section, applied in an unobtrusive manner as not to not detract from the band's fundamental sound, which on this occasion features a signature riff from a twelve string electric guitar.[6]

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.[6][7][8][10][11] One account of the change was that King and Kelley had become "outsiders" within the family as a result of the label switch.[6][12]

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.[8][13] King produced the record and, along with Tommy Baker, was instrumental in the horn arrangements.[6][11] 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.[8][2][14] It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc—a feat the band would never again be able to match.[6][7][12]

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.[6][7][15] It contained five original songs written by King and Kelley.[11][15] They proved to be a formidable songwriting team, and the band was also adept at handling covers of R&B songs.[11][15] 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.[6][7][10] Following the recording of the album, Bennie Benson became the group's drummer, later to be replaced by Ricky Baker.[6][7]

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.[2] The band first toured with Paul Revere and the Raiders and then with Chad and Jeremy, and 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.[6] 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.[6][16] They also made a national television appearance on Hullabaloo.[6]

Personnel

The Outsiders
  • Sonny Geraci - lead vocals
  • Tom King - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Bill Bruno - guitar
  • Mert Madsen - bass, harmonica
  • Ronnie Harkai - drums on "Time Won't Let Me" and "Was it Really Real"

There is also an uncredited electric organist.

Additional session musicians
  • Al Austin - lead guitar on "Time Won't Let Me" and "Was it Really Real"
  • Mike Geraci - baritone saxophone on "Time Won't Let Me"
  • Tommy Baker - horns and strings arrangements
  • John Madrid - scream trumpet
  • Hank Geer - saxophone

Discography

Single
  • "Time Won't Let Me" b/w "Was it Really Real" (Capitol 5573, January 1966)

Album

Cover versions

References
  1. Fontenot, Robert. "Garage Rock's 10 Biggest Hits of All Time". About.com. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  2. "The Outsiders: Chart History". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  3. "Top 100 Hits of 1966/Top 100 Songs of 1966". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  4. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1966". Tropicalglen.com. 1966-12-24. Archived from the original on 2017-02-17. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  5. "RPM Top 100 Singles - April 25, 1966" (PDF).
  6. Eder, Bruce. "The Outsiders". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  7. Eder, Bruce. "The Outsiders: Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  8. Stax, Mike. Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965–1968 1998 CD reissue liner notes. pg. 52
  9. "Time Won't Let Me". Songfacts. Songfacts®, LLC. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  10. "The Outsiders". Classic Bands.com. www.classicbands.com. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  11. "The Outsiders--Sonny Gerachi--Climax". The Music Muse Interview. The Music Muse. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  12. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 209. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  13. Markesich, Mike (2012). Teen Beat Mayhem (First ed.). Branford, Connecticut: Priceless Info Press. p. 183. ISBN 978-0-9856482-5-1.
  14. "The Hot 100 (April 16, 1966)". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  15. Eder, Bruce. "The Outsiders -Time Won't Let Me: Album Review". Allmusic. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  16. "The Outsiders: "Time Won't Let Me" - Epinions.com". Epinions.com. 18 October 2001. Archived from the original on 15 May 2004. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  17. https://www.discogs.com/es/The-Plimsouls-One-Night-In-America/release/2595580
  18. Eddie and the Hot Rods, Fish 'n' Chips Retrieved June 23, 2016.
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