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.
Girl In Black
The Troggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dancing with another
Why not me or someone else
Must it be my brother
I watch your every move
They're so long and fine
Eye's flashing tenderly
Girl in black, move closer now
I see you dance before me
I walk across and steer your way
But you still ignore me
What must I do for you
To make you leave him there
He plays around, he teases you
I know he doesn't care
Girl in black, you come to me
Now we dance together
Girl in black, I hope and pray
We can dance forever
Girl in black, come to me
Girl in black, come to me
Girl in black
The Troggs’ song “Girl in Black” explores the frustration, uncertainty, and hopelessness of unreciprocated romantic feelings. The singer admires a girl, in black, who is dancing with another man who happens to be his brother. He watches her every move and desires her deeply, but she does not acknowledge him. He wonders why it can’t be him or someone else who is dancing with her instead of his brother. He recognizes her beauty and grace and hopes to dance with her forever.
He describes her features as "long and fine," with "eyes flashing tenderly." The singer's intense emotions are contrasted with the indifferent and cold response of the girl in black, who still ignores him even though he walks across and tries to steer her way. He acknowledges his brother's lack of attention and genuine care towards the girl, claiming that he knows that his brother teases her and plays around.
In the end, he gets his wish fulfilled as the girl in black comes to him and they dance together. The repeated chorus of "Girl in Black, come to me" highlights the singer's desperation for obtaining the affection that he desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl in black, I see you there
The singer sees a girl dressed in black.
Dancing with another
The girl is currently dancing with someone else.
Why not me or someone else
The singer wonders why the girl is dancing with someone else.
Must it be my brother
The girl is dancing with the singer's brother.
I watch your every move
The singer is closely observing the girl.
They're so long and fine
The girl's movements are graceful and elegant.
Eye's flashing tenderly
The girl's eyes express affection.
But not in line with mine
But the girl's affection is not directed towards the singer.
Girl in black, move closer now
The singer invites the girl to dance with him.
I see you dance before me
The singer watches the girl dance in front of him.
I walk across and steer your way
The singer walks towards the girl to join her in dancing.
But you still ignore me
But the girl continues to ignore the singer.
What must I do for you
The singer wonders how he can get the girl's attention.
To make you leave him there
The singer wants the girl to stop dancing with his brother.
He plays around, he teases you
The singer thinks his brother is not interested in a serious relationship with the girl.
I know he doesn't care
The singer is convinced that his brother doesn't care about the girl.
Girl in black, you come to me
The girl finally comes to dance with the singer.
Now we dance together
The singer and the girl are dancing together.
Girl in black, I hope and pray
The singer expresses his desire to have a lasting relationship with the girl.
We can dance forever
The singer hopes to be with the girl for a long time.
Girl in black, come to me
The singer invites the girl to dance with him once again.
Girl in black, come to me
The singer repeats his invitation to the girl.
Girl in black
The song ends with a repetition of the title.
Contributed by Hunter V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.