Ignored Obscured Restored
In 1966 a band from Cleveland, OH scored a top 5 hit with “Time Won’t Let Me.” That band was The Outsiders.
The song was a simple R&B influenced rocker that sounds of its time, yet also still sounds fresh today. It is enhanced by a horn section. I love the screaming trumpet at the end, played by session musician John Madrid.
“TWLM” was written by the band’s guitarist, Tom King, and his brother-in-law Chet Kelley. It was sung by Sonny Geraci who later hit again as the vocalist on “Precious and Few” by Climax (1972).
Drummer Jimmy Fox, who later played in the James Gang with Joe Walsh, hit the skins for all but two of the songs on their debut album – one was “Time Won’t Let Me.”
I always thought “TWLM” had a Beatlesy sound to it. Maybe that was just because it was released on the same Capitol, yellow and orange swirl label that graced so many Beatles’ hit singles.
It was covered by The Plimsouls (Peter Case), Iggy Pop, and The Smithereens, among others.
Enjoy… until next week.