This Britsh blues-rock band has been together since 1967. They scored with “Couldn’t Get It Right” in 1976 which peaked at #3 in the Billboard 100, #8 in Canada and #10 in the UK. Their other big hit was “I Love You” released in 1979. A version of this band is still playing today.
From Songfacts.
This song is a great example of the dual vocal technique The Climax Blues Band was known for. Holt explains: “Colin Cooper used to sing the lead – the low vocal, and I used to sing an octave higher. And then, because 4 of us sang in the band, we used to harmonize. The fact that we had the dual singing the same line but with an octave split made the sound very unique, and it’s still very unique today. Whenever people use it I think it’s great. That was one of our trademarks, we just used to sing together in unison.”
Couldn’t Get It Right
Time was drifting
This rocker got to roll
So I hit the road and made my getaway
Restless feeling, really got a hold
I started searching for a better way
But I kept on looking for a sign
In the middle of the night
But I couldn’t see the light
No, I couldn’t see the light
I kept on looking for a way
To take me through the night
I couldn’t get it right
I couldn’t get it right
LA fever made me feel alright
But I must admit it got the best of me
Getting down, so deep I could have drowned
Now, I can’t get back the way I used to be
But I kept on looking for a sign
In the middle of the night
But I couldn’t see the light
No, I couldn’t see the light
I kept on looking for a way
To take me through the night
I couldn’t get it right
I couldn’t get it right
New York City took me with the tide
And I nearly died from hospitality
Left me stranded, took away my pride
Just another no account fatality
I kept on looking for a sign
In the middle of the night
But I couldn’t see the light
No, I couldn’t see the light
I kept on looking for a way
To take me through the night
I couldn’t get it right
I couldn’t get it right
I kept on looking for a sign
In the middle of the night
But I couldn’t see the light
No, I couldn’t see the light
I kept on looking for a way
To take me through the night
I couldn’t get it right
I couldn’t get it right
I kept on looking for a sign
In the middle of the night
But I couldn’t see the light
No, I couldn’t see the light
I kept on looking for a way
To take me through the night
I couldn’t get it right
I couldn’t get it right
Not that familiar with this group- but this was a pretty good one. I will have to look up that I Love You song- the title doesn’t sound a bit familiar. I am sure I have heard it if it reached #12.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I probably have heard “I Love You” more than this one…it is slow but it is catchy. They turned pop/rock during this period.
LikeLiked by 1 person
it only took 5 seconds to recognize it-
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have the album somewhere?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never had this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Superb song, really one of my favorites of the 70s. Great nighttime song. And while I don’t like to categorize music by race (although it is a fact many do), I was very surprised when I first found out that they were both British and white– back in the day, I always figured they were an American, Black R&B group based on the sound of this song!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right…the song has a groove to it. Now their next hit I Love You … it’s more pop
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah,i like that 1 too, not quite as much but good nonetheless. Didn’t sound like same band though
LikeLiked by 1 person
They did a Fleetwood Mac and turned pop…it worked for one song.
LikeLike