60 Years Ago, The Troggs Recorded Their Biggest Hit in Just One Take—a Garage Rock Anthem Written in 15 Minutes

The Troggs are arguably one of the most influential British Invasion bands not named the Beatles or the Stones. In May 1964, childhood friends Reg Presley (vocals) and drummer Ronnie Bond formed the band in their hometown of Andover, United Kingdom. Bassist Pete Staples and guitarist Chris Britton later joined. On this day (April 1) in 1966, the Troggs recorded their most famous song, “Wild Thing”, at Regent Sound Studio in London.

Videos by American Songwriter

“The Troggs Did It the Way It Should’ve Been Done”

In 1965, Songwriter Chip Taylor—who recently passed at age 86—wrote “Wild Thing” in 15 minutes for American rock band The Wild Ones. After their version failed to chart, the song landed with the Troggs. The proto-punk quartet “did it the way it should’ve been done”, Wild Ones singer Chuck Alden later said.

Band manager Larry Page found the song “so weird and unusual that we just had to record it,” Britton recalled. So members of the Troggs made their way to London from Andover in a dilapidated J4 van. The vehicle apparently required two people to drive, with the passenger helping turn the steering wheel.

Arriving at Regent Sound Studio, they recorded both “Wild Thing” and “With A Girl Like You”. With the former requiring just one complete take, they were out of the studio in 20 minutes, Britton said.

@therealmusicoftheday

Wild Thing ~ The Troggs #wildthing #thetroggs #foryoupage #foryou #fyp #blackandwhite #tophits #oldmusic #liveperformance #musicvideo #1960smusic #1960s

♬ Wild Thing – The Troggs

“When you hear that they went in and did it in one take… we had rehearsed the boys so we knew exactly what we had,” Page said.

[RELATED: The Primal Meaning Behind the Band Name The Troggs]

“Wild Thing” Became a Hit

At the time of “Wild Thing’s” release, the Troggs lead singer Reg Presley hadn’t yet given up his day job as a bricklayer. In fact, that’s where he was when he first heard the song on transistor radio.

There was a painter, and he was working on the scaffolding behind me, and when “Wild Thing” came on his transistor radio, he shouted over to me, not knowing who I was,” Presley recalled. “He said, “If that ain’t No 1 next week I’ll eat my brush.”

When the song ended, the DJ announced “Wild Thing” had already jumped from No. 44 to No. 8.

“I thought: ‘That bastard could be right,’” said Presley, who died in 2013 at age 71.”I threw my trowel down, and I looked round the shed and said: “Share out me tools, I’m off.”

Selling more than 1 million copies, “Wild Thing” topped the U.S. charts and peaked at No. 2 in the UK.

Featured image by Chris Walter/WireImage