"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" is a 1965 hit song recorded by The Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, the song is one of the most well-known Motown tunes of the 1960s. It was the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 for two non-consecutive weeks, from June 12, 1965 to June 19 and from June 26 to July 3. It replaced "Back in My Arms Again" by labelmates The Supremes, was first replaced by "Mr. Tambourine Man" by The Byrds, then regained the top spot before being permanently replaced by "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones. 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ... The Four Tops circa 1966. ... Motown Records, Inc. ... Holland-Dozier-Holland was a songwriting and production team consisting of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Edward Holland, Jr. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... June 12 is the 163rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (164th in leap years), with 202 days remaining. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ... June 19 is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 195 days remaining. ... June 26 is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 188 days remaining. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... Back in My Arms Again is a 1965 hit song recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label. ... The Supremes were a very successful Motown all-female singing group active from 1959 until 1977, performing at various times doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway showtunes, psychedelia, and disco. ... Mr. ... The Byrds (formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964) were an American rock group. ... Listen to this article (info) This audio file was created from the revision dated 2005-04-20, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... The Rolling Stones are a British rock group who rose to prominence during the 1960s. ...

The song finds lead singer Levi Stubbs, assisted by the other three Tops and The Andantes, pleadingly professing his love to a woman: "Sugar pie, honey bunch/I'm weaker than a man should be!/Can't help myself/I'm a fool in love, you see." Like most of his lead parts, Stubbs' vocals have a fervor similar to that of a Black Baptist preacher. Many of the lines in the song are delivered in a tone that straddles the line between singing and shouting, highlighting the pain inherent if Stubbs' lover does not accept him. Levi Stubbs (born Levi Stubbles, June 6, 1936 in Detroit, Michigan) is famous as the lead singer from Motown band The Four Tops. ... The Andantes were a prolific female session singing group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or black), is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... A Baptist is a member of a Baptist church. ... Preacher is a colloquial term for a clergyman, in particular a local priest, pastor or Minister; one who preaches. ...

Credits

• Lead vocals by Levi Stubbs
• Background Vocals by Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Lawrence Payton, and The Andantes: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

• Written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Edward Holland, Jr.
• Produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier