Wednesday, August 18, 2010

But the Original is Still the Greatest. NOT!!!!

From 1965, please enjoy (if that is the precise word) the perhaps inaptly monikered The Wild Ones and the very first commercially released version of the since often covered rock classic "Wild Thing."




As you can hear, the Wild Ones version is pretty much standard mid-65 folk rock in the style that was all the rage immediately post-"Like a Rolling Stone," and in the immortal words of Nick Tosches, even though it was a bad record it failed to sell. By comparison, of course, The Troggs' eventual 1966 hit reading, which seemed borderline moronic in its primitive minimalism back in the day, now seems a veritable work of genius.

The Wild Ones, for those who missed the decade, were a reasonably successful NYC club band fronted by extremely good looking former hair dresser Jordan Christopher, a guy who made headlines when he married much older actress turned discotheque impresario Sybil Burton, the ex-wife of Richard Burton. Although not particularly gifted in either the musical or thespic areas, Christopher nonetheless managed to parlay said looks and notoriety into a reasonable two decade career as a film and TV performer.

I should also add that "Wild Thing" composer Chip Taylor's original demo (Taylor wrote the song as a favor to the Wild Ones management) provided the basis for the Troggs' version as well. Apparently -- I haven't heard it, although it's probably on the intertubes somewhere -- it's similarly basic and unadorned, which perhaps proves, again, that the Troggs weren't quite as dumb as their reputation suggests.

14 comments:

FD13NYC said...

Wow Steve, good find and post. You stumped and surprised me with this one, never heard it, thanks!

dave™© said...

Sounds like Sonny Bono!

Rinjo Njori! said...

This is truly horrible.

steve simels said...

Yup.
:-)

TMink said...

Dave and Rinjo are correct. But I am strangely happ to have heard this monstrosity!

TMink said...

So happy I could not type a y.

Noam Sane said...

Yes, a Sonny and Cher prototype if ever there was one.

Maybe this is why Pamie's on a bummer.

Anonymous said...

Actually brings lame to new museum quality heights.

You wrote these guys were a reasonably successful NYC club band. Did they play anywhere other than Sybil's club??? What if this single, rather than Like A Rolling Stone, had been the club favorite? I shudder to think.

AP

Bob S. said...

When I was a kid I used to have a Wild Thing 45 by "Senator Bobby", with an Everett Dirkson imitator doing it on the flip side.

it had Teddy on the occarina instead of the guitar solo.

Anonymous said...

I remember hearing that. RFS's posting led led me to YouTube, where it's posted:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOt2htKMzD4

AP

Kid Charlemagne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kid Charlemagne said...

guess I listen to too many sub-Nuggets 60s garage comps, so this doesn't sound too bad to me.

Having said that, I never thought I would miss an ocarina solo.

Edward said...

Oh yeah, the Senator Bobby guy. I can't remember his name, but he was for years, a host on CSPAN. Died some time ago

Anonymous said...

DUMB?!! THE TROGGS!!!! fuckin' genius they were. Still are.. Even though "Wild Thing" wasn't one of their best songs.