Music history is messy. Usually, when a band hits their stride in the mid-sixties, they stick to a formula that works because, well, the checks are clearing. But the Rascals—or the Young Rascals as they were still known during their transition phase—decided to throw a curveball. They went from the sweat-soaked garage soul of "Good Lovin'" to a sophisticated, melancholic waltz that felt more like a Parisian café than a Jersey Shore club.
Young Rascals How Can I Be Sure represents that exact moment where blue-eyed soul grew up.
It’s 1967. The Summer of Love is peaking. While everyone else is leaning into psychedelic fuzz and sitars, Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati are sitting down to write a song in 3/4 time. That’s a waltz. In a world of 4/4 rock beats, a waltz was a massive risk. It wasn't just a musical shift; it was a psychological one.
Why This Track Felt So Different
Most pop songs of that era were about certainty. I love you. You love me. We’re going to the chapel.
Then comes "How Can I Be Sure."
The lyrics are plagued by the kind of existential dread usually reserved for French philosophy or a mid-life crisis. Brigati sings about being "uncertain" and "confused." It captures that specific human feeling of standing on the edge of a major life choice and realizing you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing. It’s vulnerable. Honestly, it’s a bit terrifying if you listen closely to the lyrics.
Cavaliere’s Hammond B3 organ isn't screaming here. Instead, we get this gorgeous, accordion-like texture that evokes a sense of nostalgia. It’s continental. It feels old-world. But the rhythm section keeps it firmly planted in the American R&B tradition. Dino Danelli’s drumming on this track is a masterclass in restraint. He’s playing a jazz-influenced waltz, but he hits the snare with enough "pop" to keep it on the radio.
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The Production Magic of Tom Dowd
You can't talk about the Rascals without mentioning Atlantic Records and the legendary Tom Dowd. Dowd was the guy who engineered for Coltrane and Ray Charles. He knew how to capture "air."
In "How Can I Be Sure," the production is remarkably dry by 1967 standards. There isn't a mountain of reverb hiding the vocals. Brigati’s voice is right in your ear. When he hits those high notes toward the end—the "I'll be sure with you" climax—you hear the slight strain, the genuine emotion. It’s human.
The song reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100. It proved that the "Young Rascals" weren't just a party band. They were composers. They were thinkers. This was the bridge that led them to "Groovin'" and eventually the more experimental sounds of the Once Upon a Dream album.
The Eddie Brigati Factor
Eddie Brigati often stood in the shadow of Felix Cavaliere’s songwriting and lead vocals on other hits. But this was Eddie’s moment. His delivery is conversational. It starts almost as a whisper.
"How can I be sure / In a world that's constantly changing?"
He isn't singing to a stadium. He’s singing to himself in a mirror. That intimacy is why the song has been covered by everyone from Dusty Springfield to David Cassidy. Everyone wants to inhabit that feeling of beautiful doubt.
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The Compositional Complexity
If you’re a musician, you know that 3/4 time in pop is a "kiss of death" for the dance floor. People don't know what to do with their feet. But the Rascals weren't trying to make you dance this time. They were trying to make you feel.
The chord progression isn't your standard I-IV-V blues riff. It uses major sevenths and shifts that feel more like the Great American Songbook than 1960s Top 40. It’s sophisticated. It’s "grown-up" music produced by guys who were barely in their twenties.
The inclusion of the accordion (or the organ mimicking it so perfectly) was a nod to the group's Italian-American roots in the New York/New Jersey area. It brought a folk-like, communal element to a high-production studio track. It’s that blend of the street and the conservatory that makes the Rascals so enduring.
Lasting Impact and Modern Context
Even now, decades later, the song holds up because the theme is universal. We live in an era of "curated" lives and "perfect" social media feeds. "How Can I Be Sure" is the antidote to that. It’s an admission of being lost.
The Young Rascals eventually dropped the "Young" from their name, signaling their evolution into a more serious, socially conscious act. Songs like "People Got to Be Free" would follow, but the internal, personal revolution happened first with this waltz.
It remains a staple of "Oldies" radio, but calling it an oldie feels reductive. It’s a piece of baroque pop that transcends the era of go-go boots and fringe vests.
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What You Should Listen For Next Time
The next time you pull up "How Can I Be Sure" on a streaming service or drop the needle on a vinyl copy of Groovin', pay attention to the transition between the verses and the chorus.
The way the tension builds—the "Am I sure?"—and then releases into the lush arrangement of the chorus is a textbook example of how to arrange a pop song for maximum emotional impact.
Look for the subtle percussion. Listen to the way the bass provides a counter-melody. It’s a deep track in a shallow era.
How to Appreciate The Rascals Today
If you want to really understand the impact of the Young Rascals and this specific track, you need to go beyond the Greatest Hits collections.
- Listen to the Mono Mix: The stereo mixes of the late 60s often panned instruments weirdly (drums all the way to the left, vocals to the right). The mono mix of "How Can I Be Sure" has a punch and a cohesion that the stereo versions often lack. It sounds more "urgent."
- Compare the Covers: Listen to Dusty Springfield’s version. She brings a feminine soulfulness to it that highlights different lyrical nuances. Then listen to David Cassidy’s 1972 version, which turned it into a teen-idol anthem, proving the song's melody is indestructible regardless of the arrangement.
- Watch the Live Performances: Find the 1967 footage from The Ed Sullivan Show. Seeing the band in their matching outfits—four guys who looked like they should be playing a frat party—delivering such a nuanced, difficult song is a trip.
The Young Rascals didn't just give us a song to hum along to. They gave us a way to talk about our own insecurities through the medium of a perfect three-minute pop song.
Next Steps for the Music Enthusiast
To truly grasp the 1967 transition in pop music, your next step should be listening to the full Groovin' album. It serves as the perfect companion piece to this track. Pay close attention to "A Girl Like You" and the title track "Groovin'" to see how the band balanced their R&B roots with this newfound experimentalism. Additionally, researching the 2013 Broadway production The Rascals: Once Upon a Dream provides excellent historical context on the band's internal dynamics during the recording of their biggest hits.