Songs That Were Covers: Wild Thing

Welcome all of you time travelers to Rock and Roll Flashback!  I'm Jumpin' John, and in this episode of Songs That Were Covers I will discuss the song "Wild Thing".  Please note that I am referring to the song first popularized by the Troggs in 1966, and not Tone Loc's song from 1989.

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Transcript

Thank you for that introduction, and welcome all of you time travelers to Rock and Roll Flashback!  I'm Jumpin' John, and in this episode of Songs That Were Covers I will discuss the song "Wild Thing".  Please note that I am referring to the song first popularized by the Troggs in 1966, and not Tone Loc's song from 1989.

A New York City band called the Wild Ones had contacted composer Chip Taylor, asking him to write a song for them to release as a single.  Taylor composed the song very quickly, calling it "Wild Thing".  Taylor recorded a demo version where he banged on a tambourine while producer Ron Johnson added a sound using his hands.  Producer Gerry Granahan approved the song and then produced the Wild Ones' recording, with vocals by Chuck Alden.  The solo in the middle of the song was performed by the recording engineer using his hands as a whistle.  On its release in November 1965, the record failed to sell.  Alden later said that he regretted not performing the song in the same way as Taylor's demo.  

In 1966 Larry Page was the manager of the English rock band called the Troggs.  The Troggs first single had failed to chart.  Page had heard the Wild One's version of "Wild Thing" and recommended that the Troggs record it as their second single.  Page had booked studio time at London's Olympic Studio for an orchestra session.  When that session ended 45 minutes early, the Troggs quickly set up and recorded two songs:  "Wild Thing" and "With a Girl Like You".  For the solo in the middle of the song the Troggs used a vessel flute wind instrument called an ocarina.  After recording a practice track, the song was then recorded and mixed live in one complete take.  A music video for "Wild Thing" was later shot at the Odenplan Metro station in Stockholm, Sweden.   The Trogg's "Wild Thing" was released on Fontana Records in the UK on April 22nd, 1966, and in 1967 it peaked at #2 on the UK singles chart.  

Here is the Trogg's version of "Wild Thing":

In the US, on June 25th, 1966, the Trogg's "Wild Thing" single entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart and on July 30th, 1966, it reached #1, where it remained for two weeks.  It also reached #1 in Australia and #1 in New Zealand.  In Canada, it peaked at #2 on August 8th, 1966.  Due to a distribution dispute, the Troggs' single was available on two competing labels in the United States:  Fontana and Atco Records.  Because both pressings were taken from the same master recording, Billboard combined the sales for both releases.  Consequently, the Trogg's "Wild Thing" is the only single to simultaneously reach #1 for two companies in the US.  A settlement was reached later in 1966 which gave Fontana exclusive rights to future Troggs releases.  Their version of "Wild Thing" was ranked at #257 on the Rolling Stone magazine's 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.  In 2019 the Troggs version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.  

"Wild Thing" would end up being covered by hundreds of artists over the years, thereby making songwriter Chip Taylor very wealthy.  Unfortunately, he has admitted that those royalty earnings also fueled his gambling addiction.  Here are a few of the most prominent covers of "Wild Thing".

Perhaps the most famous cover of the song was done by Jimi Hendrix.  On the final night of the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, The Jimi Hendrix Experience gave a dramatic performance of "Wild Thing".   Jimi Hendrix, using a can of lighter fluid, famously set his guitar on fire at the song's conclusion.  It was all captured in filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker's documentary movie titled Monterey Pop.  Live recordings of "Wild Thing" by Hendrix are found on several albums, including 2001's Voodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix Collection and 2007's Live at Monterey.

Here is an excerpt from Jimi Hendrix's live version of "Wild Thing", as performed at 1967's Monterey Pop festival:

Also in 1967, Parkway Records released a parody recording of "Wild Thing".  Under the comedy troupe name of The Hardly Worthit Players, comedian Bill Minkin sang the song in the verbal style of Democratic Senator Robert Kennedy, while a recording engineer is heard giving instructions.  The single reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100.  On the 45's flip side, Minkin performed "Wild Thing" in an impression of Republican Senator Everett Dirksen.

On August 13th, 1977 the all-girl band The Runaways released their Live in Japan album.  The band, whose lineup at the time included Joan Jett and Lita Ford, performed a hard rock rendition of "Wild Thing", with various alterations in lyrics.  In 1981, Siouxsie Sioux also added new lyrics and recorded "Wild Thing" with her second band the Creatures.  In 1984, the band X released a version as a non-album single.  Five years later X's version of "Wild Thing" was included on the soundtrack of the feature film Major League.  In the movie, X's "Wild Thing" was the entrance theme to Charlie Sheen's character, relief pitcher Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn.

In 1985 Jeff Beck recorded a cover of "Wild Thing" during the recording sessions for the album Flash.  It was released only as a promo single and never appeared on the album, but would later be featured on Beck's 1991 compilation album Beckology.  

In 1988, comedian Sam Kinison recorded a version of "Wild Thing" to close out his stand-up album Have You Seen Me Lately?  The accompanying music video got heavy airplay on MTV at the time.  Others appearing in Kinison's video were Playboy model Jessica Hahn and several rock stars from popular '80's rock bands, including Slash, Steve Stevens, Billy Idol, Tommy Lee, and many more.  Kinison's version of "Wild Thing" was nominated for a Grammy Award for best comedy recording.

Here is an excerpt from Sam Kinison's version of "Wild Thing":

Thank you for listening to another episode in the Songs That Were Covers series here on Rock and Roll Flashback!  I will conclude this podcast episode with Jeff Beck's version of "Wild Thing".  So, fellow time travelers, may your path be smooth and your music always be rockin'!  And until next time...Rock On!