I Can't Help Myself

Background

"I Can't Help Myself" is an album track on Centerfield, the third solo LP of John Fogerty who was incognito for eight and a half years before the comeback in mid 80's. Like all the songs on the LP, "I Can't Help Myself" was recorded at The Plant Studios in Sausalito, California, and engineered by Jeffrey Norman and Mark Slagle. The album went #1 in the USA.

Thematically, "I Can't Help Myself" is a follow-up to "Centerfield". Both numbers illustrate the excitement of the artist who's looking forward to his comeback after several silent years. Electronic drums dominate the soundsphere of this lively number perhaps more than on any other songs on Centerfield.  

Recording session

After watching the baseball All-Star game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on the second week of July 1984, Fogerty booked the Plant Studios in Sausalito and recorded "I Can't Help Myself", "The Old Man Down the Road", "Rock And Roll Girls", "Searchlight", "Zanz Kant Danz" and "I Saw It On T.V." by the end of August 1984 (the rest of the tracks for Centerfield were recorded in September same year).  Fogerty played all the instruments by himself. Because he worked from detailed demos (which he recorded at his studio in Albany before heading for The Plant Studios) and notes, recording was straightforward and painless for the most part (Scott Isler, interview with John Fogerty, Time, January 28th, 1985; Scott Isler, interview with John Fogerty, Musician (US), March 1985).

Live versions

"I Can't Help Myself" has been a rare number in concerts. After the 25th Anniversary re-issue of Centerfield was released in summer 2010, Fogerty played the song in four shows later in the autumn:

• MGM Grand At Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, USA, September 9th

• Borgata Spa and Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, on September 11th

• Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, New York, USA, on September 14th

• Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, on September 15th

Collector's notes

A promotional single "I Cant Help Myself" b/w "I Can't Help Myself" (WB PRO-A-2337) was released in the USA on March 1985. It had no photo sleeve (Peter Koers, Green River: An Illustrated Discography, 1999).  

"I Can't Help Myself" was also included in the 1986 UK maxi-single with "Eye of the Zombie" and "I Confess" (WEA W8657 T). 

Critical reception

"For the most part, the background music is very subdued and simple, but you hardly notice because of Fogerty's evocative vocals. One very minor complaint - the drums during the central music break sound far too synthetic and electronic. Still a great song to move to." -Matt Loewen 

"This song features an excellent vocal delivery and a solid backbeat. But John, you need to lose the electronic drums here." -Glenn J. Wiener

"--- a unique and entertaining track with a pure new wave in beat and effect, especially the multitude of electronic percussion effects. Once again, the vocal melodies carry the day, making it a lost gem of a pop song." -Classic Rock Review, July 28th, 2015. 

Fans' views

"Fine melody."

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