It’s time for another legendary song that became a sign-post in the road and help to shape the world of music as well as my own personal taste in Toby’s Trailblazers…
This week, we’re back home in Blighty visiting the beautiful county of Hampshire circa 1964. The term ‘garage rock’ probably had its origins in the town of Andover – no, really – although I doubt the band that have been recognised widely as the first to inhabit that rather low-rent identity knew that their second single would have such an impact.
Originally written by song writer Chip Taylor, WILD THING was recorded by, of course, THE TROGGS in 1966 and it went onto be number 1 in the US and number 2 here in the UK. It wasn’t actually the original recording which was In fact made and released by US band THE WILD ONES from New York in 1965. It is said by Taylor to have taken him two minutes to write, and he demo’d the song himself before letting the band hear it.
Sadly, upon release, it flopped and it wasn’t until Troggs manager Larry page – who also managed the Kinks – found and introduced it to the group because it was ‘weird and unusual’ that it had its golden moment. Now, I’ve long thought that simplicity is the key to longevity in many cases, and this track succeeds because of this fact. What aspiring guitar player doesn’t know the riff? Within a couple of weeks of learning, WILD THING can be mastered and that is its genius – I should know as it one of the first thing I ever learnt.
It’s interesting to note that the classic recording was captured totally live, in fact it is ‘TAKE TWO’ that we hear and combines many of the hallmarks that went onto be desired by emerging talent of that era. It was rough and ready, sexy, fun, dangerous and was ladened with catchy hooks. It has been covered by a multitude of artists fro Hendrix to Souixie and the banshees and lets not forget Oliver Reeds infamous rendition on Wogan…never a more fitting choice…
