"Midnight Confessions" is a song written by Lou T. Josie and originally performed by the Ever-Green Blues. It was later made famous by American rock band The Grass Roots, who released the song as a single in 1968. Though never released on any of the group's studio albums, it was on their first compilation album, Golden Grass, and has been included on many of their other compilations since. The Grass Roots version became the band's biggest charting hit on the BillboardHot 100, reaching the Top 5 of both the U.S. and Canadian pop singles charts. The lyrics describe a man who is infatuated with a married woman, knows he can never have her, and is relegated to confessing his love for her audibly, but alone.
Background and recording
The original recording of "Midnight Confessions" was a demo by the Evergreen Blues Band, whose manager – Lou Josie – wrote the song. The demo contained a horn section and caught the attention of Record producer/engineer Steve Barri, who was looking to produce a song for the Grass Roots that was a "West Coast" version of a Motown-style production. The Grass Roots version was produced/engineered by Steve Barri with the horn section's arrangement by Jimmie Haskell. The song's instrumentation was recorded by the group of LA studio-musicians known as the Wrecking Crew, as were many hits by The Grass Roots. Rob Grill and Warren Entner shared lead vocals.
Release and reception
"Midnight Confessions" was released as a single by the ABC/Dunhill record label in late June 1968. It was the Grass Roots' first single to feature a horn section and was a departure from the group's previous singles and thus caused worry for the band members as it might not have become a hit. However, the single was well received and became their biggest hit in the United States, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 2, 1968, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, with sales of over one million units, on December 3, 1968. The single also did well in Canada, peaking at #4 on the RPM 100 singles chart.
