SONG OF THE DAY
“How Can I Be Sure” by The Young Rascals (Groovin’, Atlantic Records, 1967). Written by Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati.
INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia)
– “How Can I Be Sure” was originally recorded by The Young Rascals on their 1967 album Groovin’ and became their fourth Top 10 hit in the United States, peaking at #4.
– This was the group’s highest charted record with Eddie Brigati singing lead vocals.
– The song featured the sounds of an accordion in the background, as well as a trumpet, piano, drums, and strings. This gives the feeling of cabaret music.
– The lines of the chorus read:
How can I be sure?
In a world that’s constantly changing,
How can I be sure?
… I’ll be sure with you.
– The song came out of the experience with transcendental meditation that the Rascals were involved in.
– That same year, French singer Nicoletta sold two million copies of the song, as “Je ne pense que t’aimer”, the version which subsequently inspired Dusty Springfield’s version.
– “How Can I Be Sure” was revived in 1972 with a version from David Cassidy, which became a major hit on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending two weeks at #1 on the UK singles chart.
– Besides Dusty Springfield, (a Top 40 UK hit in 1970), the song has been covered by artists including P.F. Sloan, Helen Reddy, Gloria Estefan, Percy Faith, Shelby Lynne, Lesley Gore and Akiko Yano. The Nicoletta version has sold the most copies.
– Groovin’ is the third album by rock band The Young Rascals.
– The album rose to #5 on the Billboard Top LPs chart.
– The front cover design was conceived (but not illustrated) by the Rascals’ drummer Dino Danelli. Affixed to the front cover was one of two stickers indicating: “THIS LP HAS THE BIG HIT”, followed by either “How Can I Be Sure” (as shown in the cover photo on the right) or “A Girl Like You” as both tracks climbed into the Top 10.
– This was the last album on which the band was billed as “The Young Rascals”; their next album, Once Upon a Dream, would be credited to simply “The Rascals.”