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.
From Home
The Troggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I get this feeling it comes on strong
I try to see you youre always gone
from home girl
from home girl
you're always out in fancy clothes
down in clubs and late night shows
from home girl
from home girl
you run a big expensive car
you come and go like a movie star
and with your money you could stray far
from home girl
from home girl
I need your loving I cant wait long
I get this feeling it comes on strong
I try to see you youre always gone
from home girl
from home girl
The Troggs' song "From Home" is about a person who is deeply in love with a woman who is always absent. The song conveys the yearning and desperation of the persona for his woman to come home to him. The persona is in search of his lover, and he cannot wait any longer. He gets a strong feeling of urgency to be with her, but every time he tries to see her, she is not around, leaving him longing for her.
The lyrics suggest that the woman is always out and about in fancy clothes, attending clubs and late-night shows. Her source of income is not known to the persona, which suggests that she may be involved in activities that she is hesitant to reveal. The persona refers to her as a "movie star," emphasizing how popular she is, and how she gets attention wherever she goes. Despite being adored by many people, the persona is the only one who deeply desires to see her come home.
In the last verse, the persona highlights how financially secure the woman is. She drives a big, expensive car and can go wherever she wants with her money. The implication is that the woman could quickly distance herself from the persona which adds to his fear of losing her. The persona is left feeling helpless, as he cannot seem to get her attention or spend time with her. Overall, the song portrays the loneliness and longing that comes with being in love with someone who is always absent.
Line by Line Meaning
I need your loving I can't wait long
I long for your love and attention, and I cannot bear to wait any longer for it.
I get this feeling it comes on strong
My feelings for you are powerful and overpowering, and they rise within me strongly and insistently.
I try to see you your always gone
I always try to find you, but you are never there. You are always away from home, and I cannot reach you.
from home girl
You are never home, and I cannot find you there, which leaves me feeling lost and disconnected from you.
you're always out in fancy clothes
You are always dressed up in expensive and fashionable clothing, which suggests that you are mingling with wealthy and influential people.
down in clubs and late night shows
You are often found in clubs and night shows, partying with the elite and glamorous crowds.
where you get your money no one knows
It is unclear where you obtain your wealth, and nobody seems to know the source of your income.
from home girl
You are not to be found at home, and I cannot reach you there, which emphasizes my sense of estrangement from you.
you run a big expensive car
You drive an expensive and luxurious car that indicates your financial status and social standing.
you come and go like a movie star
You have a busy and high-profile lifestyle, constantly moving in and out of places, just like a movie star.
and with your money you could stray far
Your wealth grants you freedom and flexibility to wander away and explore new horizons, away from home and from me.
from home girl
You are always away from your home, and I cannot find you there, which makes me feel even more disconnected from you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind