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.
Hot Stuff
The Troggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see you walk, I hear you talk
I’ve really got to have you
I touch your skin, please let me in
Nobody feels like you do.
You fill me full of wild desire
I’m going down but take me higher
Cause the gates of love are opening for me.
Hot stuff, can’t get enough
You never know if you never made love
Hot stuff, never enough
You really drive me, you really drive me wild.
Don’t walk away, please let me stay
I know the time is suitable
It took so long, been holding on
I only want what’s overdue.
I’ve waited so long for her
Seen her hanging out on the corner
I can’t wait too much longer
Cause the feeling I’ve got is coming on stronger.
Hot stuff, can’t get enough
You never know if you never made love
Hot stuff, never enough
You really drive me, you really drive me wild.
Hot stuff, can’t get enough
You never know if you never made love
Hot stuff, never enough
You really drive me, you really drive me wild.
Wild yeah.
Hot stuff, can’t get enough
You make me sweat
Hot stuff, that’s really tough
Ooh ooh touch me
Hot stuff, more than enough
Hold it, hold it
Hot stuff, that’s really rough
Ah feel it, feel it
Hot stuf, ooooooooh.
The Troggs’s song “Hot Stuff” is an upbeat and energetic love song. The singer expresses his desire for his love interest, saying “I see you walk, I hear you talk, I’ve really got to have you”. He longs to be with her and expresses his feelings through the lyrics such as “You fill me full of wild desire” and “Nobody feels like you do”. The song’s repetition and strong beat add to the urgency of the singer wanting to be with his love interest.
The chorus of the song, “Hot stuff, can’t get enough, You never know if you never made love” reinforces the singer’s strong feelings for his love interest. He believes that being with her will be an incredible experience, which he cannot get enough of. The lyrics show how much the singer is willing to do to be with his love interest, pleading with her to not walk away and let him stay.
Overall, “Hot Stuff” is a fast-paced and exciting song that conveys the strong feelings of the singer for his love interest. The Troggs have managed to create a high-energy song about the struggles of love and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I see you walk, I hear you talk
I am watching you walk and listening to you speak
I’ve really got to have you
I desire to be with you
I touch your skin, please let me in
I physically make contact with your skin and request to be intimate with you
Nobody feels like you do.
No one else can make me feel the way you do.
You fill me full of wild desire
You make me feel an intense sexual attraction.
You’ve got the power to light my fire
You have an ability to ignite a passion in me.
I’m going down but take me higher
I am willing to succumb to my desires for you and let them take me to new heights.
Cause the gates of love are opening for me.
I feel as though the opportunity for love with you is available to me.
Hot stuff, can’t get enough
Referring to the woman, suggesting that she is incredibly desirable.
You never know if you never made love
You can't know how good it is until you experience it yourself.
You really drive me, you really drive me wild.
You make me feel an intense desire for you.
Don’t walk away, please let me stay
I am pleading with the woman not to leave me and to let me continue to be with her.
I know the time is suitable
I am aware that this is the perfect moment for us.
It took so long, been holding on
I have waited a long time for this opportunity and have been patient for it.
I only want what’s overdue.
I only want what I deserve and have been waiting for.
I’ve waited so long for her
I have been waiting for this particular woman for a significant amount of time.
Seen her hanging out on the corner
I have observed her being in a particular location.
I can’t wait too much longer
I am unable to wait for much longer and need to act now.
Cause the feeling I’ve got is coming on stronger.
My desire for her is becoming more intense.
Hot stuff, can’t get enough
Repeating the earlier sentiment, emphasizing her desirability.
You make me sweat
You are causing me to perspire with sexual desire.
Hot stuff, that’s really tough
The attraction to her is proving to be a challenge to resist.
Ooh ooh touch me
I am requesting physical contact with the woman.
Hot stuff, more than enough
She is more than I could ever want or need.
Hold it, hold it
As though controlling myself from acting impulsively.
Hot stuff, that’s really rough
I am struggling to resist my attraction to her.
Ah feel it, feel it
I am experiencing a strong physical sensation of desire.
Hot stuf, ooooooooh.
The heat of our passion is intense and powerful.
Contributed by Annabelle Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nygelmiller5293
Didn't realise this was written for The Troggs by DANIEL BOONE. I'm going to contact JOAN JETT to see if SHE will play it - this would just be up her street!
@jakcd6-45rpm7
I could see Joan Jett playing that song.
@nygelmiller5293
@@jakcd6-45rpm7My favourite person! For agreeing with me - that Joan Nett should play the TROGGS Hot Stuff!