How Can I Be Sure
Encyclopedia
"How Can I Be Sure" is a popular song. Written by Felix Cavaliere
and Eddie Brigati
, it 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:
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.
That same year Quebec singer Michel Pagliaro (lead singer of the band Les Chanceliers) released a cover of this song in French ("A Paris la Nuit").
The Rascals single's B-side, "I'm So Happy Now" (also included on the Groovin album), was written and sung by Rascals guitarist Gene Cornish
. Featuring a unique guitar phase-out ending, it was the first Cornish-penned song to appear on a Rascals single.
"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.
Felix Cavaliere
Felix Cavaliere is an American songwriter, singer, music producer, and musician.Although he was a member of Joey Dee and His Starlighters best known for their hit "Peppermint Twist", he is best known for his association with The Young Rascals during the 1960s. The other members of The Rascals...
and Eddie Brigati
Eddie Brigati
Eddie Brigati is an American singer and songwriter.Most memorably, Brigati shared vocals, and played tambourine, in the pop group The Young Rascals from 1965 to 1970...
, it was originally recorded by The Young Rascals on their 1967 album Groovin'
Groovin' (album)
Writing for Allmusic, critic Bruce Eder wrote the album moved into the psychedelic genre while retaining a "soulful core". He called the album "their best of their entire history.....
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
Nicoletta
Nicoletta or Nicoleta may refer to:* Nicoleta Alexandru, singer who represented Romania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003* Nicoletta Braschi, Italian actress* Nicoleta Grasu, Romanian discus thrower* Nicoleta Onel, Romanian gymnast...
sold two million copies of the song, as "Je ne pense que t'aimer", the version which subsequently inspired Dusty Springfield's
Dusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
version.
That same year Quebec singer Michel Pagliaro (lead singer of the band Les Chanceliers) released a cover of this song in French ("A Paris la Nuit").
The Rascals single's B-side, "I'm So Happy Now" (also included on the Groovin album), was written and sung by Rascals guitarist Gene Cornish
Gene Cornish
Gene Cornish is an American guitarist and harmonica player. He is an original member of the popular 1960s blue-eyed soul band the Rascals. From 1965–70, the band recorded eight albums and had thirteen singles that reached Billboard's Top 40 chart...
. Featuring a unique guitar phase-out ending, it was the first Cornish-penned song to appear on a Rascals single.
"How Can I Be Sure" was revived in 1972 with a version from David Cassidy
David Cassidy
David Bruce Cassidy is an American actor, singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his role as the character of Keith Partridge in the 1970s musical/sitcom The Partridge Family. He was one of pop culture's most celebrated teen idols, enjoying a successful pop career in the 1970s, and...
, which became a major hit on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching #25 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and spending two weeks at #1 on the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Besides Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
, (a Top 40 UK hit in 1970), the song has been covered by artists including P.F. Sloan, Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy , often referred to as "The Queen of 70s Pop", is an Australian-American singer and actress. In the 1970s, she enjoyed international success, especially in the United States, where she placed fifteen singles in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Six of those 15 songs made the Top 10...
, Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those...
, Percy Faith
Percy Faith
Percy Faith was a Canadian-born American bandleader, orchestrator, composer and conductor, known for his lush arrangements of pop and Christmas standards. He is often credited with creating the "easy listening" or "mood music" format which became staples of American popular music in the 1950s and...
, Shelby Lynne
Shelby Lynne
Shelby Lynne is an American singer, songwriter and actress. The success of the 1999 album I Am Shelby Lynne led to her winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, even though she had been active in the music industry for some time...
, Lesley Gore
Lesley Gore
Lesley Gore is an American singer. She is perhaps best known for her 1963 pop hit "It's My Party", which she recorded at the age of 16. Following the hit, she became one of the most recognized teen pop singers of the 1960s.- Biography :Gore was born in New York City, New York. She was raised in...
and Akiko Yano
Akiko Yano
is a Japanese pop and jazz musician and singer. She was born as Akiko Suzuki in Tokyo and raised in Aomori, Aomori, and later began her singing career in the mid-1970s...
. The Nicoletta version has sold the most copies.