I Can't Control Myself
{{Short description|1966 single by the Troggs}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I Can't Control Myself
| cover = The Troggs I Can't Control Myself.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Dutch picture sleeve
| type = single
| artist = the Troggs
| album =
| B-side = Gonna Make You
| released = {{start date|1966|9|30|df=yes}}{{cite magazine|date=23 September 1966|title=Troggs reissue|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/New-Musical-Express/1966/NME-1966-09-23.PDF|magazine=New Musical Express|page=7|access-date=7 October 2022}}
| recorded = 24 August 1966{{cite magazine|date=20 August 1966|title=Troggs to change labels – next disc to be Reg Presley penned|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/66/Record-Mirror-1966-08-20.pdf|magazine=Record Mirror|page=4|access-date=7 October 2022}}
| studio = Olympic, London{{cite magazine|date=9 September 1966|title=The Astonishing Troggs Do It Again|url=|magazine=New Musical Express|page=3|access-date=}}
| venue =
| genre = *Garage rock
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=05}}
| label = Page One
| writer = Reg Presley
| producer = Larry Page
| prev_title = With a Girl Like You
| prev_year = 1966
| next_title = Any Way That You Want Me
| next_year = 1966
}}
"I Can't Control Myself" is a song by the English rock band the Troggs, released as a single in September 1966. It continued their success after "Wild Thing" and "With a Girl Like You", becoming a top-ten hit in a number of countries.
Release and controversy
"I Can't Control Myself" was written by the Troggs lead vocalist Reg Presley and after several days of rehearsing in their home town Andover, the Troggs recorded the song on 24 August 1966 at Olympic Studios in London. It then released a month later as the first single on Page One Records, which had been co-founded by the band's manager and producer Larry Page. A continuing dispute in the US over the distribution of the Troggs' releases meant that "I Can't Control Myself" was simultaneously released by Atco and Fontana in September 1966.{{cite magazine |date=1 October 1966 |title=Troggs' Third|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/66/RW-1966-10-01.pdf|magazine=Record World |page=14 |access-date=8 October 2022}}{{Cite web |title=The Troggs - I Can't Control Myself |url=https://www.45cat.com/record/456444 |website=45cat| access-date=2022-10-08}}
"I Can't Control Myself" is known for its blatantly suggestive lyrics and therefore caused much controversy upon its release. It was banned from being played or performed on radio and TV in the UK, US and Australia.{{cite magazine |date=1 October 1966 |title=Troggs single ban by radio and TV! |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Disc/1966/Disc-&-Music-Echo-1966-10-01.pdf |magazine=Disc and Music Echo |page=6 |access-date=7 October 2022}}{{cite magazine |date=5 November 1966 |title=From The Music Capitals of the World |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1966/Billboard%201966-11-05.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=54 |access-date=7 October 2022}} Whilst this did not impact sales in the UK or Australia, it did impact the song's chart performance in the US as Billboard took airplay into account with its charts.{{Cite web |title=I Can't Control Myself by The Troggs - Songfacts |url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-troggs/i-cant-control-myself |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=www.songfacts.com |language=en}}
The controversy revolved around the line "Your slacks are low and your hips are shown'". In an interview in 2008, Presley maintained that the lyric was him "just writing about hipster trousers", something that guitarist Chris Britton has also backed up. However, in an interview in 2011, Presley revealed that the inspiration for the song was from a girl in East Anglia who "had pillar-box red jeans cut so low you could see her pubic hair". The song was also controversial for its ending in which Presley screams, which some critics thought sounded like an orgasm; although both Presley and Britton have strongly denied that was the intention.{{Cite web |date=2016-09-17 |title=The Troggs' Chris Britton: The 13th Floor Interview |url=https://13thfloor.co.nz/the-troggs-chris-britton-the-13th-floor-interview/ |access-date=2022-10-07 |language=en-NZ}}
Reception
Reviewing for Disc and Music Echo, Penny Valentine wrote that "the Troggs have done it again. Another number one on the way. The Troggs' well-developed signature – the "ba bahs" and the solid Presley sexiness are all apparent. A more mature and hideously evil sound on this song that they've managed before".{{cite magazine |date=1 October 1966 |title=Yes! Troggs have done it again |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Disc/1966/Disc-&-Music-Echo-1966-10-01.pdf |magazine=Disc and Music Echo |page=19 |access-date=8 October 2022}} Billboard described it as a "medium paced rock-ballad from the winning British group [that] should equal the success of "Wild Thing". Pounding beat and teen-slanted lyrics add up to a hit".{{cite magazine |date=1 October 1966 |title=Spotlight Singles |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1966/Billboard%201966-10-01.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=16 |access-date=8 October 2022}} Cash Box described it as "a potent, hard driving, throbbing exciter in the bag that the fans expect the Troggs to be in".{{cite magazine |date=1 October 1966 |title=Record Reviews |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1966/CB-1966-10-01.pdf |magazine=Cash Box |page=28 |access-date=8 October 2022}}
Charts
References
{{reflist}}
{{The Troggs}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Reg Presley