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
Rari
The Standells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
they warned me not to fall for an island girl
cause when they dance they dance for all to see
driving men crazy like you're driving me
Rari you're taunting me with sleepless nights
dreaming of a way to hold you tight yeah
Rari come on and dance with me
dance with me, dance with me
I can remember the night
when I first saw you
your heavenly body
dancing in the spot light yeah
the drum began to play
and every eye dare not stray
cause want man would want
to miss the chance
of watching a beautiful girl
like you
dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance
Oh Rari, they warned me not to fall for an island girl
cause when they dance they dance for all to see
you're driving me, you're driving, driving, you're driving me crazy
now Rari
aw stop it baby
aw don't tease me
Aw Rari
Aw don't do it baby
Aw you got to stop it yeah
Rari, Rari, Rari, Rari
I want you baby
aw stop it baby
I love you baby
I do
Rari
The Standells's song, Rari, talks about a man's infatuation with an island girl named Rari. The lyrics are a representation of the man's internal battle with the warnings he received about falling for an island girl. The song portrays the stereotype that island girls are known to be irresistible and seductive dancers, driving men crazy with their moves. The man is constantly dreaming about holding Rari tightly, and he expresses a desire for her to dance with him. Throughout the song, Rari keeps taunting him with sleepless nights, teasing and driving him wild with desire.
The lyrics of Rari suggest the man's internal struggle with his attraction towards Rari. On one hand, he is aware of the stereotype surrounding island girls and is cautious about falling for her. On the other hand, he can't help but be enchanted by her beauty and her dancing skills. The song further illustrates the idea that the man is powerless against Rari's charm when he says, "Aw don't do it baby/ Aw you got to stop it yeah." The repetition of Rari's name throughout the song emphasizes his intense desire for her.
In summary, Rari is a song that explores the theme of infatuation and the internal struggle that comes with it. It highlights the stereotype of island girls as seductive dancers but also shows how this stereotype can trap a man in his desires.
Line by Line Meaning
they warned me not to fall for an island girl
People told me to be careful about falling in love with someone from the island
cause when they dance they dance for all to see
She dances in public and grabs everyone's attention
driving men crazy like you're driving me
She has a power over men, including me, that is making me crazy
Rari you're taunting me with sleepless nights
I can't sleep because I can't stop thinking about Rari and what I feel for her
dreaming of a way to hold you tight yeah
I am longing to physically embrace Rari
Rari come on and dance with me
I am asking Rari to dance with me
dance with me, dance with me
Specifically requesting Rari to dance with me
dance for your baby yeah
I am her baby, and I want her to dance for me
the drum began to play
The music started
and every eye dare not stray
Everyone was focused on Rari and her dancing
cause want man would want
No man would want
to miss the chance
To not have the opportunity
of watching a beautiful girl
Seeing an attractive woman
like you
Just like Rari
dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance
Repeating the action that Rari was doing
now Rari
Bringing the focus back to Rari
aw stop it baby
I am asking her to stop playing mind games with me and teasing me
aw don't tease me
I am asking her again to not mess with my feelings
Aw Rari
Sighing and hoping for Rari to understand how I feel
Aw don't do it baby
Again asking Rari to not play with my emotions
Aw you got to stop it yeah
Pleading with Rari to stop toying with me
Rari, Rari, Rari, Rari
Continuing to call out to Rari
I want you baby
Expressing my desire for Rari
aw stop it baby
Asking her again to not toy with my emotions
I love you baby
Telling Rari that I am in love with her
I do
Affirming my love for Rari
Rari
Ending the song by simply calling out Rari's name
Writer(s): ED COBB
Contributed by Katherine J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rarilashley2023
So proud to be named after this
@godfreypoon5148
Were you actually named after the song?
That's cool as heck.
@SartorialisticSavage65
Rari Lashley You likely have amazing parents. Listen to their advice. (Generally...)
@paulmorson7402
What a tune this is.
@jjsudlow
Stumbled onto "The Music Aficionado" and the story behind Love's album "Forever Changes," and that brought back high- school memories playing their albums in my room 55 years ago. And then I remembered another of my favourite tracks from the same period, "Rari," the flip side of "Dirty Water." What a bonus, probably played this as much as, or more than, the A side. Love the organ, now the forgotten instrument.
@richardroot5621
The musical tension on this song is fantastic! As the others have said, I bought the single in 1966 and played the flip side! I've loved it ever since.
@littlemikey1954
Great Song! Originally the "b" side of "Dirty Water". Here was a simple rule that worked in the 1960s: If a band released a great hit single, you'd wonder if the album follow-up would be any good. If the band released a great hit single with a great "b" side, you'd know that the album follow-up would be a killer worth saving your allowance money for.
@kirkharrington2821
The Standells are an awesome 60's garage rock band of aall time love Larry's organ is amazing what a song
@daviddonchecz9631
i was a drummer back in the day and this was one of my favorite songs to do. I sang lead on this one as well. it was the flip side of Dirty Water, we did that one too, but i played this one more.
@jakebrake3332
Wish a sound engineer could/would break this into stereo. WHAT a great tune.