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
Try It
The Standells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Action is my middle name
Come over here, pretty girl, I'll give you satisfaction
But two are needed for this game
I'll give you sweet love you never had before, yeah
You think you've seen it all but you don't know what's in store
C'mon, try it (mmm-mmm)
Try it (mmm-mmm)
You look excited and you figure that it's just a bluff - huh
A-don't you dare walk away
I'll get you, tough little chick, before you fall in love
Come here, girl, what do you say
A-just give the word and my good lovin' will start
I'll serve a feverish pitch that's headed straight for your heart
Girl, once you've made up your mind
You're gonna see that I'm not lyin'
Come on, try it (mmm-mmm)
Try it (mmm-mmm)
Try it
Try it, baby
Try it
Aww, come on, try it
Oh, try it
Oh, try it
Come on, come on, come on
The lyrics to The Standells's song Try It suggest a man trying to seduce a woman by offering her something she's never had before - sweet love. He claims that he can provide her with satisfaction and excitement. The man insists that the woman come closer to him and give him a chance to show her what he can do. He promises her that once she's made up her mind to try it, she'll see that he's not lying.
The song is a classic example of the garage rock genre that emerged in the mid-1960s. The Standells were a Los Angeles-based group that formed in 1962, and Try It was released on their 1967 album, "Try It!" The song is known for its raw, energetic sound and lyrics that reflect the rebellious spirit of the times. The tune features a catchy guitar riff, driving drums, and the distinctive vocals of lead singer Dick Dodd.
Line by Line Meaning
By the way you look I can tell that you want some action
It's apparent from your appearance that you're craving some excitement.
Action is my middle name
I'm all about living life to the fullest and taking risks.
Come over here, pretty girl, I'll give you satisfaction
If you come closer, I promise to provide you with pleasure and contentment.
But two are needed for this game
Both of us have to play along in order for this to work.
I'll give you sweet love you never had before, yeah
I'll offer you a type of affection that you've never experienced before, trust me.
You think you've seen it all but you don't know what's in store
Even if you believe you've encountered everything, you're unaware of the treats coming your way.
C'mon, try it (mmm-mmm)
Try it (mmm-mmm)Try it (mmm-mmm)
Try it (mmm-mmm)
I'm insisting that you experiment with what I'm proposing.
You look excited and you figure that it's just a bluff - huh
Based on your expression, you appear to be thrilled and presume that I'm bluffing.
A-don't you dare walk away
Don't even consider leaving this opportunity behind.
I'll get you, tough little chick, before you fall in love
I'll ensnare you before you realize you've fallen for me.
Come here, girl, what do you say
Come closer and let me know how you feel about what I'm presenting.
A-just give the word and my good lovin' will start
If you consent, I'll immediately begin providing you with excellent love.
I'll serve a feverish pitch that's headed straight for your heart
I'll provide a substantial amount of enthusiasm that is going to impact you emotionally.
Girl, once you've made up your mind
When you've decided what you want,
You're gonna see that I'm not lyin'
you'll realize that I'm telling the truth.
Come on, try it (mmm-mmm)
Try it (mmm-mmm)
Try it
Try it, baby
Try it
Aww, come on, try it
Oh, try it
Oh, try it
Come on, come on, come on
I'm persistently urging you to test it out and trust me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOEY LEVINE, MARC BELLACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind