Originally called The Troglodytes, the Troggs formed in 1964 and were signed by the manager of The Kinks, Larry Page in 1965. They recorded on Page's Page One Records, and Page also leased them to CBS for debut single "Lost Girl". Their most famous hit was the single "Wild Thing" (written by Chip Taylor), which with the help of television exposure on Thank Your Lucky Stars reached number 2 in the UK and number 1 in the United States in June 1966. Its combination of a simple heavy guitar riff and flirtatious lyrics helped it to quickly become a garage rock standard. It was recorded in one complete take (take two) at Olympic Studios in London, with Keith Grant engineering. Because of a dispute over US distribution rights, "Wild Thing" was released (along with the first album of the same name) on two labels: Fontana and Atco. The band's success in the US was also limited by not touring there until 1968.
They also had a number of other hits, including "With a Girl Like You" (a UK number 1 in July 1966, US number 29), "I Can't Control Myself" (a UK number 2 in September 1966 -- this was also their second and final dual-label release in the US, with Fontana retaining the rights to all subsequent releases), "Anyway That You Want Me" (UK number 10 in December 1966), all at Olympic Studios, "Night of the Long Grass" (UK number 17 in May 1967), and "Love Is All Around" (UK number 5 in October 1967 and US number 7 in February 1968). With chart success eluding the band, they split up in March 1969. Ronnie Bond was the first to release a solo record, with the "Anything For You" single in March 1969, followed in April by Reg Presley with "Lucinda Lee". Chris Britton released a solo album, As I Am, the same year. The band reformed later that year, with former Plastic Penny bassist Tony Murray replacing Staples, and in 1974, after a spell on Pye Records, in an attempt to re-create their 1960s successes, the Troggs re-united with Larry Page, now running Penny Farthing Records. The resulting cover version of the Beach Boys hit "Good Vibrations" did not capture the public's imagination. A reggae version of "Wild Thing" also failed to chart. The band found a sympathetic ear at French label New Rose in the 1980s, the label releasing 1982's Black Bottom LP and 1990's AU.
In 1991, the Troggs recorded Athens Andover, an eleven-song collaboration between themselves and three members of R.E.M. It was recorded in the American band's hometown of Athens, Georgia, and was released in March 1992.
The band attempted to capitalize on this new exposure with a couple of bizarre collaborations on new versions of "Wild Thing". In 1992 they teamed up with notorious drinkers Oliver Reed and Alex Higgins, with another version the following year featuring Wolf from the TV show Gladiators, which actually reached number 69 in the UK Singles Chart.
The band's original drummer, Ronnie Bond, died in 1992. Dave Wright, another founding member, died on 10 October 2008.
Legacy and influence
The Troggs are widely seen as a highly influential band whose sound was one inspiration for garage rock and punk rock. For example, Iggy Pop of the Stooges has cited[citation needed] the Troggs as influential to their sound, and the early version of British pop-punk pioneers Buzzcocks featured I Can't Control Myself in their live repertoire. The Ramones are also amongst punk bands who cited the Troggs as an influence. The MC5 covered "I Want You" at their live shows and recorded the song for the album "Kick out the Jams", although they renamed it "I Want You Right Now".
The Jimi Hendrix Experience famously covered "Wild Thing" during their appearance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, introducing it as the British/American joint "national anthem", and climaxing with Hendrix burning his guitar.[2]
In 1990, the first hit for the band Spiritualized was a cover of "Anyway That You Want Me". This cover was later used in the movie Me and You and Everyone We Know.
"With a Girl Like You" is featured uncut in a school dance scene from the 1991 Nicole Kidman/Noah Taylor movie Flirting.
In 1991, "Love Is All Around" was covered by R.E.M. during live performances and was released later that year as a B-side on their "Radio Song" single. They also performed an acoustic version of the song on MTV Unplugged.
In 1994, Scottish band Wet Wet Wet's version of the song spent fifteen weeks at number one in the UK after its inclusion in Four Weddings and a Funeral.
A modified version of "Love Is All Around" was featured in the film Love Actually (2003), performed by actor Bill Nighy.
An in-studio tape of Reg Presley's running commentary on a recording session, filled with in-fighting and swearing (known as "The Troggs Tapes") was widely circulated in the music underground, and was included in the Archaeology box set. The in-group infighting is believed to be the inspiration for a scene in the comedy film This Is Spinal Tap where the band members are arguing. Some of this dialogue was sampled by the California punk band The Dwarves on their recording of a cover version of the Troggs song "Strange Movies".
In January 2012, after over 40 years of touring, Reg Presley retired due to lung cancer, apparently ending the Troggs. However, the remaining members, Chris Britton (guitar), Pete Lucas (bass) and Dave Maggs (drums) are continuing the Troggs. They are joined by special guest Chris Allen on lead vocals, who has been in the Denny Laine Band, the Commitments and part time with the Animals.
Reg Presley died on 4 February 2013.
Don't You Know
The Troggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was looking down on you, looking up at me
There’s no place tonight I know that I’d rather be
Cause that love look in your eyes
Makes me stop and realise
That a love like ours never dies
That’s how it will be.
I would say that you and I were falling in love
Cause you seem to know every move I’m thinking of
And no matter what they say
No one else could feel this way
Cause it gets even better each day
That’s how it will be.
Don’t you know ? Don’t you know ?
I can’t live without you
And don’t you know ? Don’t you know ?
I’m falling in love
Don’t you know there’s something about you
That makes me ready, ready for love ?
I think to live my life with you would be like a dream
Heaven can’t be better than this, least that’s how it seems
So no matter what you say or do
I’ll just live my life for you
And you know that I’ll always be true
That’s how it will be.
Don’t you know ? Don’t you know ?
I can’t live without you
And don’t you know ? Don’t you know ?
I’m falling in love
Don’t you know there’s something about you
That makes me ready, ready for love ?
I was looking down on you, looking up at me
There’s no place tonight I know that I’d rather be
Cause that love look in your eyes
Makes me stop and realise
That a love like ours never dies
That’s how it will be
That’s how it will be
That’s how it will be
That’s how it will be
That’s how it will be ...
The Troggs' song "Don't You Know" is a classic love song that expresses the deep feelings of a lover for their significant other. The song talks about the deep love between two people and how it makes the singer feel complete, wanting to spend the rest of his life with the one he loves. Throughout the lyrics, the singer expresses how he feels so content and at ease, knowing he is with the right person.
The song entenses with the first line: "I was looking down on you, looking up at me," which suggests that the singer is on a higher ground or position, while the other person is below him. This line symbolizes how the singer views his significant other as someone he admires and looks up to. The next lines, "there’s no place tonight I know that I’d rather be cause that love look in your eyes makes me stop and realize that a love like ours never dies," expresses the idea that the two lovers' bond will never be broken.
The lyrics continue to express admiration for the significant other with lines like "I would say that you and I were falling in love,' 'cause you seem to know every move I'm thinking of," suggesting the level of understanding between them. As the song progresses, the singer expresses how he wants to spend the rest of his life with his lover because "to live my life with you would be like a dream." The chorus of "Don’t you know? Don’t you know? I can’t live without you, and don’t you know? Don’t you know? I’m falling in love" emphasizes how deeply in love the singer is with his lover and how he cannot imagine life without them.
Overall, the lyrics of "Don’t You Know" by The Troggs portray a deep and loving relationship between two people and highlights the importance of true love in one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I was looking down on you, looking up at me
I was admiring you, you were admiring me
There’s no place tonight I know that I’d rather be
There's nowhere I'd rather be than with you tonight
Cause that love look in your eyes
Because of the way you look at me with love
Makes me stop and realise
It makes me realize
That a love like ours never dies
Our love will never die
That’s how it will be.
That's how our love will be
I would say that you and I were falling in love
I believe you and I are falling in love
Cause you seem to know every move I’m thinking of
You seem to know my every thought and move
And no matter what they say
No matter what anyone says
No one else could feel this way
No one else could feel what we feel
Cause it gets even better each day
Our love grows stronger every day
That’s how it will be.
That's how our love will be
Don’t you know ? Don’t you know ?
Don't you realize?
I can’t live without you
I can't imagine life without you
And don’t you know ? Don’t you know ?
Don't you understand?
I’m falling in love
I'm falling in love with you
Don’t you know there’s something about you
There's something special about you
That makes me ready, ready for love ?
That makes me feel ready for love
I think to live my life with you would be like a dream
I believe living my life with you would be a dream come true
Heaven can’t be better than this, least that’s how it seems
This feels like heaven, or as close as it can get
So no matter what you say or do
No matter what happens
I’ll just live my life for you
I'll live my life for you
And you know that I’ll always be true
And you know that I'll always be faithful and loyal
That’s how it will be.
That's how our love will be
That’s how it will be
That's how our love will be
That’s how it will be
That's how our love will be
That’s how it will be
That's how our love will be
That’s how it will be ...
That's how our love will be... forever
Contributed by Penelope J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@josephwelzenbach7154
A great song, R.I.P. Reg.
@yupeeter9411
So many great songs The Troggs wrote. Also really great video accompanying this song.
@p.t.2825
Yes
@ferdinanddiemer9794
Ich war ein Junge von 12 Jahren und mein Vater schmiss das Radio aus dem Fenster, und jetzt überlebe Ich Alle!
@frizzlefrap
enjoying these new (to my ears) trogg songs. never get over how good this stuff is. amazing i've never heard before!
@shemanic1
I grew up with the Troggs gritty sound in my home town
@ritawebber7975
Great song!
@jarirusi
Lovable song. Troggs recorded this in 1990 came out single when they made Athens - Andover album.
@barbeserge66
RIP Reg !!
@Antelope6
RIP Reg Presley.