96 Tears

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"96 Tears" is the name of a popular song recorded by ? & the Mysterians in 1966, in Bay City, Michigan. It appears on the band's album 96 Tears. The song was originally named "69 Tears" but the band's record label made them rename it out of fear that it would spark controversy because of 69 being not only a number but also a sex position. It was first released on the small Pa-Go-Go label and then picked up by Cameo Records for national distibution. The original issue is quite rare and sought after by record collectors. The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966 and was the band's only major hit single. Follow-up song "I Need Somebody" peaked at number twenty-two later that year and no other U.S. top-forty singles followed. The song has been covered by Aretha Franklin, The Modern Lovers, Suicide, The Stranglers, Eddie And The Hot Rods, Primal Scream, Inspiral Carpets, Texas Tornados, Garland Jeffreys, Joe "King" Carrasco, and Inky.

The original version is ranked #210 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Preceded by "Reach Out I'll Be There" by The Four Tops

Billboard Hot 100 number one single October 29, 1966

Succeeded by "Last Train to Clarksville" by The Monkees