The hilarious true story behind a Motown number one: ‘I Can’t Help Myself’
Of all the musical weapons in Motown’s arsenal, the songwriting trio of Holland-Dozier-Holland was arguably the most effective. During the golden age of the Detroit record label, the songwriters worked tirelessly, created an unparalleled wealth of solid gold hits for Berry Gordy, and helped establish a wealth of now-iconic acts, from The Supremes to The Four Tops.
Although the majority of their output centred on those pop-centric ideals of romance and heartbreak, the team drew upon virtually every aspect of their lives within their writing. When it came to the origins of one of their most beloved tracks, ‘I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)’, though, the trio were a little more light-hearted.
Holland-Dozier-Holland were deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of Detroit, which was an utterly essential aspect of their appeal for Motown; after all, Berry Gordy’s label defined the sounds of the city for decades. So, when writing for The Four Tops, Lamont Dozier stretched all the way back to his childhood in Michigan, back in the 1950s.
The result was ‘I Can’t Help Myself’, a colossal hit which helped to define the Motown sound in the 1960s, topping the pop charts in the US and reaching 23 in the UK. Ultimately, the track is among Holland-Dozier-Holland’s finest efforts, an instantly recognisable, universally beloved anthem which encapsulates the spirit and modern sound of the Motown label. Seemingly, though, the song is rooted in Dozier’s experiences growing up years prior.
In particular, he drew upon the influence of his grandfather for ‘I Can’t Help Myself’, with the songwriter once recalling, “I stayed with my grandmother when I was a kid. She owned her own home beauty shop, and when the women would come up the walkway to get their hair done, my grandfather would be piddling around in the garden.”
While this wholesome image certainly fits with the atmosphere of the song, everything wasn’t quite as it seemed. “He was a bit of a flirt and would say, ‘How you doing, sugar pie? Good morning, honey bunch’. He was one of those types of guys,” the songwriter explained. “My grandmother had a big bay window to the front of the house. She’d say, ‘Look at that old codger. He thinks I don’t see. I know what he’s doing’.”
This sitcom-esque scenario always stuck with Dozier, who used his grandfather’s flirting techniques as the basis for ‘I Can’t Help Myself’ years later. “He was just flirting with his big smile. I’m sitting there on the porch watching this. I’m probably 11 or 12. I was like a sponge, soaking it up,” Dozier continued.
Remembering the writing of The Four Tops’ track, he added, “Years later, at Motown, I’m sitting at the piano. I’d take these mind trips back to my childhood, and I’m trying to see what this piano part is telling me. Sure enough, there my grandfather is, piddling in the garden. That memory comes to my mind’s eye, and I know where the song is supposed to go.”
So, it seems as though we have a flirtatious old “codger” to thank for providing the inspiration for one of the biggest Motown hits to ever grace the airwaves. What’s more, it is often said that the track helped to define the sounds of the northern soul scene during its early days, so its impact even stretches beyond its placement in the pop charts. Not bad for a song pulled out of Dozier’s childhood memory bank.
