The Turtles were a very popular band in the 1960s but not all their singles became big hits. Case in point is today’s classic song of the day, “Can I Get to Know You Better.” Released as a standalone single in 1966, this one peaked at just #89 on the Billboard Hot 100. It deserved better than that.
“Can I Get to Know You Better” was written by the team of Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan, who co-wrote and produced numerous hits for the Turtles and other groups, including 1966’s “You Baby.” They wrote “Can I Get to Know You Better” in 1964 and it was initially recorded by singer Betty Everett, who’d had previous hits with “You’re No Good” and “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss).” When the Turtles were in need to a follow-up to “You Baby,” Barri and Sloan dusted off “Can I Get to Know You Better” and took the group into the studio.
For whatever reason, “Can I Get to Know You Better” never took off nationally in the U.S., although it was popular in some cities, including Bakersfield, Columbus, and Boston. (There was a lot of regional variation in radio airplay and record sales back then.) It was also popular in Vancouver and some other Canadian markets, although it also failed to chart on the Canadian national charts. The only place the single seemed to do well was New Zealand, where it peaked at #19 on that country’s charts. That’s a shame; it’s a catchy tune with some wonderful vocal harmonies by Howard Kaylan, Mark Volman, and the rest of the boys.
The Turtles had better luck with their next single release. That tune, “Happy Together,” went all the way to number-one and became their biggest hit.
For today’s daily bonus video of the day, we return to 1966. It’s the Turtles lip-synching “Can I Get to Know You Better” on the December 10, 1966, episode of The Hollywood Palace, introduced by the great Jimmy Durante. As Mr. Durante said, “The Turtles ain’t turtles”—even though they’re all wearing turtlenecks.
