wild thing

These garage troglodytes made everything groovy with this caveman rock classic that was recorded in less than twenty minutes. 'Wild Thing' was written by Chip Taylor (AKA James Wesley Voight, the brother of actor Jon Voight). "I was on the floor laughing when I was through," Taylor says. "'Wild Thing' came out in a matter of minutes. The pauses and the hesitations are a result of not knowing what I was going to do next."

The Troggs recorded their version at London's Regent Sound studio, using time left over from a session booked for another group. Lead singer Reg Presley recalls, "We recorded 'Wild Thing' and 'With A Girl Like You' at the same session. We had about three quarters of an hour to get our gear set up for them to get a balance, then record and get out. It was at the end of a session Larry Page and his orchestra had booked. Larry was our manager and said we could have any time left over. So we recorded very fast-and for rawness, you can't whack it."

The single was released on two labels, Atco and Fontana Records. Initially, their British label Fontana was hesitant to put it out in the US; so their manager signed a distribution deal with Atco. The execs at Fontana changed their minds and released it as well. It is the only single to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 while being offered on two different labels simultaneously.

Wild thing

You make my heart sing

You make everything...groovy

Wild thing

Wild thing, I...think I love you

But I wanna know for sure

So come on, and hold me tight

I love you

Wild thing

You make my heart sing

You make everything...groovy

Wild thing

Wild thing, I...think you move me

But I wanna know for sure

So come on, and hold me tight

You move me

Wild thing

You make my heart sing

You make everything...groovy

Wild thing

Wild thing

Come on, come on, wild thing

Shake it, shake it, wild thing