When I compiled a listing of my favorite singles of all-time about eight years ago (a kaleidoscopic endeavor that eventually BALLOONED to 800 entries, even though no artist was permitted more than ONE!), this string-fueled, now-rather-obscure, Family Soul smash from Summer 1972 (#2 in BILLBOARD, but #1 in CASH BOX!) came in at #19, just ahead of my 45 rpm faves by even the likes of Elvis, James Brown, and Sly Stone.
Which may seem a bit absurd, even to me, but the heart and ears want what they want, making crazy micro-distinctions at every turn, and in The Purely Singles Realm I tend to adore the thoroughly-unexpected lifelong “crush” even more than my own (much less ROLLING STONE’s) beloved Pantheon greats! At least enough to give rarefied examples of same a teeny extra boost.
Here’s the sublime original recording:
This MIKE DOUGLAS clip is just as effortlessly, movingly low-key as a devotee of their small/choice oeuvre could hope, and the lead singer’s “country” mannerisms (e.g. pronouncing “ten times a day” as “TIN”!) confirm his place in the Deep Sad Southern Soul Sweepstakes alongside the estimable likes of Otis, Percy Sledge, Bobby Bland, O.V. Wright, and so many others from The Golden Age, which was just starting to wind down as The CB & SR (who were from South Florida) hit their brief peak, a couple of years before Funk and Disco mostly took over Black Pop for the rest of the decade.
Regarding the song itself–which had actually stiffed upon its initial, indie label release two years before–I’ve always been deeply impressed by the startling stoicism at the heart of this classic variant on Unrequited Love, the singer perfectly self-aware (“You know, it’s so UN-U-SU-AL for me t’carry on this way….”) and mindful of his mother’s sage advice (“It can break your heart/And put you in misery….”), but seemingly resigned to the likelihood that he’s FATED to end up “In love ALONE/And nothing that I can do….”.
And of course who can ever resist another round of that indelible chorus (“I believe-I believe-I believe/I’m falling in love….”), or the easy like Sunday morning swing provided by the drummer!
As it happens, “Too Late to Turn Back Now” was also the first song I ever performed in a Karaoke setting, and the only one I’ve assayed twice, though it requires that I sing in my lowest register and as carefully as I can manage, given my all-too-faulty Punk Rock vocal equipment!
Since I can still count on one hand the occasions on which I’ve attempted that form of participatory entertainment, I expect it shall retain its place dear to my heart for the duration.
For now, and particularly for those who don’t already know it like the backs of their hands, ENJOY!
– Tom Kipp
