After signing with the Karen record label, owned by McLaughlin, the group went on to record and release their first single in 1963, "Dog and Cat/The Kick." The record displayed the upbeat energy of their later work, however the juvenile nature and lyrics of the song couldn't find a substantial audience. In light of the disappointing performance of their debut single, the group dissolved and pursued other ventures.
The mid-60s saw many dance crazes; one of the most popular ones was a dance called "the jerk." It consisted of holding the arms out in different positions and making thrusting motions with the hips. Though controversial for lewdness at the time, a particularly sexual version of the dance had become popular in Detroit clubs, called the "pimp jerk."
Seeking to capitalize on the popularity of the dance, and dance songs in general, Storball wrote a song about the pimp jerk, renaming it to "cool jerk" in order to prevent possible banning by radio stations. Realizing that the song was a hit, the group re-formed and contacted McLaughlin in order to secure studio time to record the song.
The song was recorded at Golden World Studios in Detroit on March 14, 1966 with the legendary Motown house band The Funk Brothers. Though the song was meant to include a horn accompaniment, the contracted musicians failed to arrive to the recording, and the horns were omitted from the track. It was released on July 2, 1966 and was a smash hit, reaching as high as #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Billboard R&B charts.
Attempting to exploit the success of their hit single, the Capitols released two albums in 1966, "Dance the Cool Jerk" and "We Got a Thing," both featuring mostly covers of popular Motown and soul songs. Both albums were somewhat of a commercial and critical failure, though "Dance the Cool Jerk" did spend one week in the Billboard Top 200 Albums at #95 in July 1966. The group released eight additional singles after "Cool Jerk", none of which made any of the Billboard charts, relegating the group to a One-Hit Wonder. In late 1969, the group broke up for the final time.
"We Got a Thing That's in the Groove" was the basis of the French yé-yé song "Les filles s'est fait pour faire l'amour," which was recorded by Charlotte Leslie and Mareva Galanter.
Storball went on to have a career in the Detroit Police Department, and still lives in Detroit to this day. Richard McDougall died on February 19, 1984 of unknown causes. Samuel George died March 17, 1982 of stabbing wounds.
In the Midnight Hour
The Capitols Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's when my love comes tumblin' down
I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
When there's no one else around
I'm gonna take you girl and hold you
And do all the things I told you
In the midnight hour
Yes I am, oh, yes, I am
I'm gonna wait 'til the stars come out
And see that twinkle in your eyes
I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
That's when my love begins to shine
You're the only girl I know
That really loves me so
In the midnight hour
Oh, yeah, in the midnight hour
(Yeah! All right - play it for me one time now)
I'm gonna wait til the midnight hour
That's when my love comes tumblin' down
I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
When there's no one else around
Just you and I oh, baby, hah!
Just you and I nobody around, baby, just you and I
All right
You know what?
I'm gonna hold you in my arms
The Capitols' "In the Midnight Hour" is a love song that speaks to the singer's desperate longing for his significant other. The lyrics are simple yet poignant, as the singer reveals his plan to wait until the midnight hour to hold his lover close when no one else is around. He promises to do all the things he's told her, suggesting that they've been separated for some time and that the singer is hoping for a reunion that is long overdue. The second verse adds to the intensity of the song, as the singer waits for the stars to come out so he can see the twinkle in his lover's eyes. He reiterates that she is the only girl who truly loves him in the way that he needs.
Overall, the song captures the thrill of a long-awaited reunion after a period of separation. The midnight hour symbolizes a time of closeness and intimacy, and the singer's promise to hold his lover in his arms is a testament to the depth of his affection.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna wait til the midnight hour
I'm going to hold off on expressing my love until the perfect moment.
That's when my love comes tumblin' down
When I do express my love, it will be all-consuming and intense.
I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
I won't settle for anything less than the perfect timing to make my move.
When there's no one else around
I want our love to exist in a bubble, with no outside distractions or interference.
I'm gonna take you girl and hold you
When the moment is right, I will embrace you with all my strength and passion.
And do all the things I told you
I have a vision for how this moment will go, and I will follow through on everything I've promised you.
In the midnight hour
This is the only time and place where our love can truly flourish.
Yes I am, oh, yes, I am
I am confident in my ability to make this moment perfect for us.
(One more thing I want to say right here)
I have one final thought to express before we make this happen.
I'm gonna wait 'til the stars come out
I will wait for the perfect signs that the time is right to reveal my love.
And see that twinkle in your eyes
I want to gaze upon you in wonder and see the same passion I feel reflected in your eyes.
That's when my love begins to shine
At that moment, all of my love and affection will be revealed and put on display.
You're the only girl I know
Out of all the people I've met, you are the only one I feel this way about.
That really loves me so
And I know that you reciprocate these intense emotions.
In the midnight hour
Once again, our love can only truly happen in this specific moment and setting.
Oh, yeah, in the midnight hour
I am so excited and passionate about this moment that I can't help but sing out my joy.
(Yeah! All right - play it for me one time now)
I am so caught up in my emotions that I need music to express them properly.
Just you and I oh, baby, hah!
In this moment, it will just be the two of us, experiencing our love to the fullest.
Just you and I nobody around, baby, just you and I
There will be no distractions, no one else in the world but us.
All right
I am so ready for this moment to happen.
You know what?
One final thought before we dive into this experience together.
I'm gonna hold you in my arms
I am going to take you into my embrace and never let you go.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Wilson Pickett, Steve Cropper
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind