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
Ninety Nine and a Half
The Standells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the shelter of the flock,
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off in the darks and cold;
Away on the mountains wild and bare,
Away from the tender Shepherd's care.
Away from the tender Shepherd's care.
Are they not enough for Thee?"
But the Shepherd made answer: "This of Mine
Has wandered away from Me;
And although the hills may be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep."
I go to the desert to find My sheep."
But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Loud in the Desert He heard its cry—
Sick and helpless, and ready to die.
Sick and helpless, and ready to die.
"Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way
That mark out the mountain's track?"
"They were shed for one who had gone astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back."
"Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?"
"They're pierced tonight by many a thorn."
And all through the mountains, thunder-riven,
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a cry to the gate of heaven,
"Rejoice! I have found My sheep!"
And the angels echoed around the throne,
"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!"
"Rejoice, rejoice"
"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!".
The Standells's song "Ninety Nine and a Half" draws from the biblical parable of the lost sheep found in the book of Matthew. The song talks about a flock of ninety-nine sheep safely under the care of the shepherd, but one missing and lost out on the hills. The song follows the shepherd's journey to find the lost sheep, where he traverses across the rough hills and desert to find it. The song highlights the shepherd's dedication and love for his flock, as he puts himself in danger to find the one missing sheep. The lines "Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine; Are they not enough for Thee? But the Shepherd made answer: 'This of Mine Has wandered away from Me'" show the shepherd's determination to find the lost sheep, even though he has most of his flock under his care. The song ends in triumph as the shepherd finds the lost sheep and brings it back to safety, with the angels rejoicing for the recovery of the lost sheep.
Line by Line Meaning
There were ninety and nine that safely lay
There were 99 sheep that were kept safe and secure in the flock
In the shelter of the flock,
These 99 sheep were protected and taken care of by the Shepherd
But one was out on the hills away,
One of the sheep wandered away from the flock onto the hills
Far off in the darks and cold;
The sheep was in a distant and dark area that was also cold and harsh
Away on the mountains wild and bare,
The sheep was on the wild and desolate mountains that had no vegetation, natural cover or hiding places
Away from the tender Shepherd's care.
The sheep was away from the gentle and loving care of the Shepherd
Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
The singer addresses the Lord acknowledging the 99 sheep that are already in His care
Are they not enough for Thee?
The artist questions if the 99 sheep were not enough for the Lord
But the Shepherd made answer: "This of Mine
The Shepherd responds saying that the lost sheep is one of His own
Has wandered away from Me;
The lost sheep has strayed away from the Shepherd
And although the hills may be rough and steep,
The Shepherd knows that the terrain to find the sheep is difficult and dangerous
I go to the desert to find My sheep.
The Shepherd is determined to find the lost sheep even if it means searching through the harsh and barren desert area
But none of the ransomed ever knew
The other sheep were oblivious to what happened next
How deep were the waters crossed;
The Shepherd had to cross deep and dangerous waters to reach the lost sheep
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through
The Shepherd had to look for the sheep during a dark and dangerous night
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
The Shepherd found the lost sheep
Loud in the desert He heard its cry—
The Shepherd heard the lost sheep crying out for help even in the vast, desert wilderness
Sick and helpless, and ready to die.
The lost sheep was sick, helpless and about to die
Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way
The singer asks the Lord where the blood droplets came from on His way back
That mark out the mountain's track?"
The blood drops indicated the path that the Shepherd took to find the lost sheep in the mountains
"They were shed for one who had gone astray
The Lord responds saying that the blood was shed for the lost sheep that had strayed away
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back."
The Shepherd had to find the lost sheep before bringing it back to the flock
"Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?"
The singer asks the Lord why His hands are injured
"They're pierced tonight by many a thorn."
The Lord answers that His hands were pierced by thorns while searching for the lost sheep
And all through the mountains, thunder-riven,
The entire mountain range echoed with loud sounds of thunder and lightning marks this remarkable event
And up from the rocky steep,
Even from the rocky and difficult places, the cry of celebration of the Shepherd's miraculous rescue was heard
There arose a cry to the gate of heaven,
The heavenly gates of rejoicing were opened
"Rejoice! I have found My sheep!"
The Shepherd and all in the kingdom rejoiced that the lost sheep was found
And the angels echoed around the throne,
All angels around the throne echoed and sang the great news
"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!"
All of the kingdom rejoiced together with the angels that the Lord brought back His own
"Rejoice, rejoice"
Rejoice for the Lord's miraculous and successful rescue of the lost sheep
"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!".
The lost sheep was found and brought back to the flock finally by the loving Shepherd.
Writer(s): STEVE CROPPER, WILSON PICKETT, EDDIE FLOYD
Contributed by Alexander W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.