Wild Thing (Chip Taylor song)

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"Wild Thing" is a hit song written by New York-born songwriter Chip Taylor and originally recorded by The Wild Ones in 1965 (United Artists 947) (see external link below).

The song is in the Key of A Major, and is based around the Chord Progression (I - IV - V - IV), which is the basis for the main riff, and the instrumental parts during the Chorus. The middle eight was originally someone whistling, but in the Troggs' version this was replaced by Reg Presley playing an ocarina.

[edit] Troggs single

The song is probably best known for its 1966 cover by the English band The Troggs, which reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1966. The song charted one position lower in Britain, reaching #2.

Because of a distribution dispute, the Troggs single was available on two competing labels: Atco and Fontana. Because both pressings were taken from the identical master recording, Billboard combined the sales for both releases, making it the only single to simultaneously reach #1 for two companies.^[1]

[edit] Other cover versions

The song has remained popular ever since The Troggs' hit single, and has been covered again many times — perhaps most notably by Jimi Hendrix, whose stage performance of the song was featured in the 1967 documentary Monterey Pop. However, Hendrix never recorded the song in the studio.

In 1967, the novelty team of Senator Bobby released a version of "Wild Thing." Sung by comedian Bill Minkin in the verbal style of Bobby Kennedy while a recording engineer is heard giving instructions, the stammering single charted at #20 in the United States. The flip side of the Senator Bobby 45 featured "Senator Everett McKinley" (an impression of Republican Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen) doing the same song.

The British group Fancy recorded a version of the song in 1974, which reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. The British comedy troupe The Goodies recorded a version of the song, and performed it during a 1976 episode of their television series". In 1983 the song was covered by the psychobilly band The Meteors for their Wreckin' Crew album, and was also performed by the Australian pub band Cold Chisel during their Last Stand concert. Sister Carol did a reggae version in 1987.

Sam Kinison recorded a hit novelty version in 1988. A cover by the Los Angeles-based punk band X was used in the 1989 film Major League. The 1990 cartoon version of the comic book character Swamp Thing had a theme song that parodied the song, with the lyrics "Swamp Thing! You are amazing!" Cheap Trick recorded the song for the soundtrack to Encino Man in 1992, possibly as a tribute to Kinison who had died that year. The Troggs recorded a new version in 1993, which charted in thelower reaches of the British charts. A cover version was recorded by Hank Williams, Jr. in 1995.

[edit] Use in sports

The 1989 baseball film "Major League" used "Wild Thing" as the theme song for Rick Vaughn, the team's erratic relief pitcher. Life soon imitated art, when the Philadelphia Phillies closer Mitch Williams adopted the song for his entrances from the bullpen, including in the 1993 World Series. Currently, the song is played at Fenway Park whenever Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon comes in from the bullpen.

In 1992, the Troggs' version was used in the film "D2: The Mighty Ducks." In 2003, Aerosmith recorded a version of the song with a video, which was used for commercials and teasers advertising ABC's coverage of the NFL Wild Card playoffs.

[edit] References

1. ^ Mojo Magazine #173 (April 2008), pg. 39

[edit] External links

• The Screamin Sam Show Tribute to Sam Kinison
• Cover history at Second Hand Songs
• Song trivia
• Tablature and chords

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