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
St. James Infirmary
The Standells Lyrics
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They were serving drinks as usual, and the usual crowd was there
On my left stood Big Joe McKennedy, and his eyes were bloodshot red
And he turned his face to the people, these were the very words he said
I was down to St. James infirmary, I saw my baby there
She was stretched out on a long white table,
So sweet, cool and so fair
Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this whole wide world over
Never find a sweeter man as me
When I die please bury me in my high top Stetson hat
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain
The gang'll know I died standing pat
Let her go, let her go God bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this wide world over
Never find a sweeter man as me
I want six crapshooters to be my pallbearers
Three pretty women to sing a song
Stick a jazz band on my hearse wagon
Raise hell as I stroll along
Let her go Let her go
God bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this whole wide
World over
She'll never find a sweeter
Man as me
The Standells's song St. James Infirmary is a blues-based folk song, which speaks to the universal themes of love, loss, and mortality. The song is told from the perspective of a man who has lost his lover and has come to see her laid out in the infirmary. He mourns her passing but takes solace in the fact that no one could love her as much as he did.
The imagery in the song is powerful, with the man vividly describing seeing his lover "stretched out on a long white table." He also requests a fitting send-off for himself when he eventually passes, asking for his high top Stetson hat and a gold piece on his watch chain. The music, including the jazz band on his hearse wagon, contributes to the funereal atmosphere of the song.
Some interpret the song as a commentary on the dangers of alcohol and gambling, as the singer is drinking in a bar and references six crapshooters. Still, the overriding message of the song is one of lost love and the mourning that follows.
Line by Line Meaning
It was down by old Joe's barroom, on the corner of the square
The story begins at Joe's bar on the corner of the square.
They were serving drinks as usual, and the usual crowd was there
The bar was serving drinks to its usual customers.
On my left stood Big Joe McKennedy, and his eyes were bloodshot red
The singer sees a man named Big Joe McKennedy, who appeared to be drunk.
And he turned his face to the people, these were the very words he said
Big Joe began to speak to the people around him.
I was down to St. James infirmary, I saw my baby there
Big Joe claims to have gone to St. James Infirmary and saw his lover lying dead there.
She was stretched out on a long white table, So sweet, cool and so fair
His lover's body was laid out on a table and looked peaceful.
Let her go, let her go, God bless her Wherever she may be
Big Joe wishes his lover to rest in peace, wherever she may be.
She may search this whole wide world over Never find a sweeter man as me
Big Joe believes he was the best lover his woman ever had.
When I die please bury me in my high top Stetson hat Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain The gang'll know I died standing pat
Big Joe requests to be buried with his Stetson hat and a gold piece on his watch chain, as a sign of how he lived his life.
I want six crapshooters to be my pallbearers Three pretty women to sing a song Stick a jazz band on my hearse wagon Raise hell as I stroll along
Big Joe has specific requests for his funeral procession, including gambling friends as pallbearers, three beautiful singers to perform, and a jazz band to accompany his hearse.
Let her go Let her go God bless her Wherever she may be She may search this whole wide World over She'll never find a sweeter Man as me
The song ends with Big Joe once again letting his lover go, with the belief that she will never find a better lover than him.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOE PRIMROSE, IRVING MILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind