The band was formed in 1962 by lead singer/organist Larry Tamblyn and guitarist Tony Valentino. The Standells' first hit single was Dirty Water, which reached #11 on the Billboard charts on June 11, 1966.
Other hits included Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White, Why Pick On Me, Riot On Sunset Strip (about the 1966 riots resulting from police attacks on hippies), and Try It.
Singer/drummer Dick Dodd, founding drummer of The Bel Airs, who joined the group in 1964 and sang the lead on "Dirty Water", was a former Mouseketeer, and singer/keyboardist Larry Tamblyn, who sang the lead on many of the other Standells songs, is the brother of actor Russ Tamblyn and uncle of Amber Tamblyn, star of Joan of Arcadia. Dodd replaced original drummer Gary Leeds, who went on to fame as Gary Walker of The Walker Brothers. In 1967 John Fleckenstein (formerly of the group Love), joined the Standells. The group appeared in several low budget films of the 1960s, including "Get Yourself a College Girl" and cult classic "Riot on Sunset Strip", in which they performed the movie's title song. Lowell George, who would go on to play with Little Feat, briefly played guitar in the Standells prior to their breakup in 1969.
The Standells also made an appearance on the 1964-1966 television sitcom The Munsters in the episode "Far Out Munster". The band was an integral part of the show, and performed the songs "Come On and Ringo" and The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand." Furthermore, the group appeared on the television 1964-1965 sitcom The Bing Crosby Show, in the episode "Bugged by the Love Bugs", portraying the fictional rock group of the same name. They performed the songs "Someday You'll Cry" and "Come Here".
Despite the lyrics of "Dirty Water", which states, "Boston, you're my home." The Standells are not from Massachusetts. However, in 2007 the Massachusetts General Court officially decreed "Dirty Water" to be the "Official Victory Song of the Boston Red Sox" . Since 2004, the Standells have attended most every World Series at Fenway Park, including the final winning game in 2013. "Dirty Water" was written by their producer Ed Cobb. It is played after every home victory by the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins.
Dodd and Valentino left the Standells in 2009. Dick Dodd passed away in 2013.
The Standells still are actively performing today, and have been receiving 'rave reviews' from music critics. They recently headlined in 2013 at the Adams Ave. St. Fair, San Diego, CA, and the Ponderosa Stomp, New Orleans, Lousiana. Original Members Larry Tamblyn and John Fleck are still in the group, along with co-lead singer Mark Adrian and drummer Greg Burnham. The group has recently released a new album Bump on GRA Records. They been booked on an extensive East Coast tour from April - May, 2014. Learn more about the Standells by visiting http://www.standells-official.com and http://www.facebook.com/Standells
My Little Red Book
The Standells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The minute that you said good-bye
I thumbed right through my little red book
I wasn't gonna sit and cry
And I went from A to Z
I took out every pretty girl in town
They danced with me
And while I held them
Hear your name and I'd start to cry
There is just no getting over you
No girl who's in my little red book
Just ever could replace your love
And each girl in my little red book
Knows you're the one I'm thinking of
Won't you please come back to me?
Without your precious love I can't go on
Where can you be?
I need you so much
All I do is to talk about you
Hear your name and I start to cry
There is just no getting over you, no, no, no
Won't you please come back to me?
Without your precious love I can't go on
Where can you be?
I need you so much
All I do is to talk about you
Hear your name and I start to cry
There is just no getting over you, no, no
All I do is to talk, talk about you
Hear your name and I start to cry
Well, there is just no getting over you, no, no
All I do is to talk, talk, talk
Hear your name and I start to cry
There is just no getting over you
The Standells' song "My Little Red Book" is a classic example of the pop-rock genre that was prevalent in the 1960s. The song's lyrics depict a man who is heartbroken and trying to move on after his love interest has left him. The singer goes through his little red book, a metaphor for his rolodex of past relationships, searching for someone to replace his lost love. However, he realizes that none of them can match up to the one he truly loves. He spends his nights talking about her, and even her name is enough to bring tears to his eyes. He is desperate for her to come back as he cannot imagine a life without her.
The song is a reflection of the post-breakup blues that often occur after a relationship ends. The singer is trying to fill the void left by his love interest but finds that no one can match up to her. The song's melancholic tone is enhanced by the use of minor chords, which add to the emotional depth of the lyrics. The repetition of the line "there is just no getting over you" reinforces the message that the singer cannot move on and is still holding out hope for his love to return.
Line by Line Meaning
I just got out my little red book
I retrieved my little red book
The minute that you said good-bye
Immediately after your departure
I thumbed right through my little red book
I flipped through my little red book with my thumb
I wasn't gonna sit and cry
I refused to weep excessively
And I went from A to Z
I went to every girl in alphabetical order
I took out every pretty girl in town
I took out every attractive girl in the area
They danced with me
They partnered with me in dancing
And while I held them
As I embraced them
All I did was to talk about you
All I did was to speak about you
Hear your name and I'd start to cry
Hearing your name caused me to tear up
There is just no getting over you
It's impossible to move on from you
No girl who's in my little red book
No girl in my little red book
Just ever could replace your love
Could ever substitute for your love
And each girl in my little red book
Every girl in my little red book
Knows you're the one I'm thinking of
Knows that you're the one I'm pondering on
Won't you please come back to me?
Could you please return to me?
Without your precious love I can't go on
My life cannot proceed without your valuable love
Where can you be?
Where are you located?
I need you so much
I have a strong yearning for you
All I do is to talk about you
All I do is speak of you
Hear your name and I start to cry
Hearing your name causes me to begin crying
There is just no getting over you, no, no, no
I'm incapable of moving on from you
All I do is to talk, talk about you
All I do is speak of you
Hear your name and I start to cry
Hearing your name causes me to begin crying
Well, there is just no getting over you, no, no
I'm incapable of moving on from you
All I do is to talk, talk, talk
All I do is speak excessively
Hear your name and I start to cry
Hearing your name causes me to begin crying
There is just no getting over you
I'm incapable of moving on from you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hal David, Burt Bacharach
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind