“Can I Change My Mind” (Tyrone Davis)

Your forgotten late-60s soul song of the day is “Can I Change My Mind” by Tyrone Davis. This one was released in November of 1968 and went to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot R&B Singles list. It’s a stellar example of Chicago soul in an era otherwise dominated by the masters of Motown in Detroit and the soul stars of Stax Records in Memphis.

“Can I Change My Mind” was written by Barry Despenza and Carl Wolfolk. Despenza, who wrote the lyrics, was the Midwest A&R supervisor for ABC Records and Wolfolk was a local jazz guitarist who supplied the song’s melody. ABC artist Tyrone Davis was interested in the tune, but both he and Despenza were subsequently dropped from the label. Davis’ manager paid for his artist to record the song at Tangerine, Ray Charles’ LA studio, but ABC Records declined to release it. Davis then signed with Chicago-based Dakar Records (then distributed by Atlantic Records) and producer Willie Henderson re-recorded it in Chicago with a bunch of local musicians. That’s the version that was the hit, even though it was originally released as the B-side of “A Woman Needs to Be Loved,” which is justifiably forgotten today in favor of the much more memorable “Can I Change Your Mind.”

Chicago soul fit kind of in-between the more pop confections from Motown and Stax’s heavier soul stylings. It kept its southern soul gospel roots but was lighter, more melodic, and somewhat sweeter, with more sophisticated arrangements. Tyrone Davis was one of its most notable and successful proponents, equaled or exceeded in popularity by other Chicago soul artists such as Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, the Impressions, Betty Everett, Dee Clark, Gene Chandler, Billy Stewart, Etta James, Fontella Bass, Major Lance, the Chi-Lites, and the great Jackie Wilson. Record buffs no doubt recognize many of the town’s labels, including Vee-Jay, Mercury Records, ABC-Parliament, Dakar Records, Brunswick, and (of course) Chess Records.

The rhythm section on this track includes Chicago players “Mighty” Joe Young (rhythm guitar), Floyd Morris (piano), Bernard Reed (bass), Quinton Joseph (drums), and the song’s co-writer, Carl Wolfolk (lead guitar). That’s Wolfok’s sinewy triplet-infused guitar line you hear snaking through the verses, floating merrily on top of Reed’s James Jamerson-like bass lines. The mix is embellished by some punchy horn licks, everything fitting together like pieces in an intricate jigsaw puzzle. Tyrone’s sweet, soulful vocals are just the proverbial icing on the cake.

I have always marveled at all the interlocking parts of this arrangement. Every instrument fits into the mix just so, creating a seamless whole that casual listeners don’t realize is constructed from a dozen moving parts. It’s really a brilliant piece of arranging and producing, and that guitar line makes me smile every time it turns around.

Tyrone Davis had another top ten hit with 1970’s “Turn Back the Hands of Time” (#3 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B Singles chart), as well as several other top ten R&B hits that didn’t place near high enough on the whiter and less soulful Hot 100. You may remember some of them: “Is It Something You’ve Got,” “I’ll Be Right There,” “Could I Forget You,” “I Had It All the Time,” “Without You In My Life,” “There It is,” “Turning Point,” “Give It Up (Turn It Loose),” “This I Swear,” “In the Mood,” and “Are You Serious.”

Mr. Davis had a long and fruitful career, performing and recording right up to his death in 2005, after a stroke the year prior. He was 67 years old then—but just 31 when “Can I Change My Mind” became his first big hit. Peoples, let me tell y’all, this is a fine, fine track that deserves prime space in that stack of 45s queued up on your turntable spindle. Give it a spin, peoples!