96 Tears

"96 Tears"
Cover of the 1966 Italy single
Single by ? & the Mysterians
from the album 96 Tears
B-side	"Midnight Hour"
Released	August 1966 (1966)
Format	7"
Genre	Garage rock[1][2] pop rock[3] psychedelic rock[4]
Length	2:56
Label	Pa-Go-Go Cameo-Parkway
Writer(s)	Rudy Martinez
Producer(s)	Rudy Martinez
Certification	Gold (RIAA)
? & the Mysterians singles chronology
"96 Tears" (1966) "I Need Somebody" (1966)

"96 Tears" is a song recorded by the American garage rock band, Question Mark & the Mysterians (also known as "? and the Mysterians"), in 1966. In October of that year, it was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.^[5] and on the RPM 100 in Canada.^[6] Billboard ranked the record as the number five song for the year 1966.^[7] It is ranked number 213 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. On November 11, 1966 the single was certified as gold by the RIAA.^[8]

The song was written by Question Mark (Rudy Martinez) in 1962 in his manager's living room, under the name "Too Many Teardrops" and then "69 Tears". Upon changing the name, in fear of loss of radio play, it was recorded in Bay City, Michigan.^[9] At first, Question Mark had to insist that "96 Tears" be the A-side over "Midnight Hour". Once the issue was settled, the band recorded the single for the small Pa-Go-Go label, owned by Lilly Gonzalez. She backed the band financially, and allowed access to her personal studio in her basement. When it began doing well locally, the band took a recording to Bob Dell, the radio director in Flint, Michigan. The song became the most requested, and wider radio play spread into Canada where it was picked up by Cameo Records for national distribution.^[10][11]

Known for its signature organ licks and bare-bones lyrics, "96 Tears" is recognized as one of the first garage band hits, and has even been given credit for starting the punk rock movement.^[12]

The song appeared on the band's album, 96 Tears. The follow-up song, "I Need Somebody", peaked at number 22 later that year, but no other U.S. Top 40 singles followed.^[13]

Personnel

• ? – lead vocals^[14]
• Bobby Balderrama – lead guitar
• Frank Rodriguez – Vox Continental organ
• Frank Lugo – bass guitar
• Eddie Serrato – drums

Covers

• Big Maybelle released a version of the song as a single in 1967 that reached #23 on the US R&B chart and #96 on the US pop chart.^[15]
• Shane Martin released a version of the song along with Black is Black on his 1968 45 on Columbia Records.^[16]
• The Music Explosion released a version of the song on their 1967 debut album, Little Bit O'Soul.^[17]
• Shane Martin released a version of the song along with Black is Black on his 1968 45 on Columbia Records.^[18]
• Thelma Houston released a version of the song as a single in 1981 that reached #22 on the US dance chart and #76 on the US R&B chart.^[19]
• Garland Jeffreys released a version of the song as a single in 1981 that reached #5 on the US rock chart, #66 on the US pop chart, and #75 on the US dance chart.^[20]
• The Stranglers released a cover version that reached No. 17 in the UK Singles Chart in 1990.^[21]

References