I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)

"I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)", also known as "I Can't Stand It", is a song written and recorded by James Brown in 1967. It is the most successful of the handful of recordings he made with The Dapps, a band of white musicians led by Beau Dollar. The single release of the song, which was sped up shifting the pitch up a half step/key,[1] rose to #4 on the Billboard R&B chart and #28 on the Pop chart.[2] The single's B-side, "There Was a Time", also charted.

"I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)"
Single by James Brown
from the album I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me
A-side"Pt. 1"
B-side"There Was a Time"
ReleasedDecember 1967 (1967-12)
RecordedOctober 30, 1967 (1967-10-30), King Studios, Cincinnati, OH
GenreSoul, funk
Length3:25 7:20 (Long Version)
LabelKing
6144
Songwriter(s)James Brown
Producer(s)James Brown
James Brown charting singles chronology
"Get It Together (Part 1)"
(1967)
"I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)"
(1967)
""There Was a Time" (B-side of "I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)")"
(1967)
Audio video
"I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)" on YouTube

"I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)" was included on the 1968 album I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me, where it was labeled "Pt. 1". A "Pt. 2", which appeared later in the album, never received a single release.

Musicians

edit
  • James Brown - lead vocal

and the Dapps:

Chart performance

edit
Chart (1967-68) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 28
US Best Selling R&B Singles (Billboard) 4

Other versions

edit

Brown re-recorded "I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)" 4 times: in 1971 for Hot Pants under the title Can't Stand It, 1974 for album Hell under the title "I Can't Stand It '76'" 1976 for Get Up Offa That Thing under the title This Feeling ,[3] and with synthesizers in 1998 for the album I'm Back.[4] A live version of the song is included on the 1998 album Say It Live and Loud: Live in Dallas 08.26.68.[5]

James Chance and the Contortions covered the song on the 1978 No Wave compilation album No New York.[6]

References

edit
  1. ^ Leeds, Alan, and Harry Weinger (1991). "Star Time: Song by Song". In Star Time (pp. 46–53) [CD booklet]. London: Polydor Records.
  2. ^ White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. London: Polydor Records.
  3. ^ "CG: James Brown". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  4. ^ Jason Elias (1998-11-17). "I'm Back - James Brown | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  5. ^ Alex Henderson. "Say It Live & Loud: Live in Dallas - James Brown | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  6. ^ Todd Kristel. "No New York - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-01.