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.
Love is all around
The Troggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, love is all around me and so the feeling grows
It's written on the wind, it's everywhere I go
So if you really love me, come on and let it show
You know I love you, I always will
My mind's made up by the way that I feel
There's no beginning, there'll be no end
I see your face before me, as I lay on my bed
I kinda get to thinking of all the things you said
You gave your promise to me, and I gave mine to you
I need someone beside me in everything I do
You know I love you, I always will
My mind's made up by the way that I feel
There's no beginning, there'll be no end
'Cause on my love, you can depend
It's written on the wind, it's everywhere I go
So if you really love me, come on and let it show
Come on and let it show
Come on and let it show
Come on and let it show
Come on and let it show
Come on and let it show
The Troggs' "Love Is All Around" is a love song about the overwhelming feeling of love that the singer experiences. The opening lines, "I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes," describe how love is not just an emotion, but something that can be physically felt. The lyrics further express that love is ubiquitous, as it is "written on the wind" and "everywhere I go." The singer implores their love interest to express their love as well, with the lyric "So if you really love me, come on and let it show."
The second verse reinforces the singer's commitment to their love interest, stating that "There's no beginning, there'll be no end" to their love. The verse also hints at vulnerability and the need for support, as the singer expresses that they "need someone beside me in everything I do." Overall, the song is a celebration of love and the importance of expressing one's feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes
Love is being felt all over my body
Well, love is all around me and so the feeling grows
Love is present everywhere and it keeps getting stronger
It's written on the wind, it's everywhere I go
Love is evident in everyplace I look and everything I do
So if you really love me, come on and let it show
If you truly love me, express it to me
You know I love you, I always will
I love you and my love for you will never fade
My mind's made up by the way that I feel
My love for you is strong and unwavering
There's no beginning, there'll be no end
Our love will always persist, with no start or finish
'Cause on my love, you can depend
You can always count on me and my love for you
I see your face before me, as I lay on my bed
I think of you and I can picture your face in my mind as I lie in bed
I kinda get to thinking of all the things you said
I often reminisce about the things you have told me
You gave your promise to me, and I gave mine to you
We both made pledges to each other
I need someone beside me in everything I do
I desire to have someone who is always there for me
Come on and let it show
Re-emphasizing to express love explicitly
Come on and let it show
Re-emphasizing to express love explicitly
Come on and let it show
Re-emphasizing to express love explicitly
Come on and let it show
Re-emphasizing to express love explicitly
Come on and let it show
Re-emphasizing to express love explicitly
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Reg Presley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jesseramirez4560
"Music is probably the nearest we will get to a time machine , it brings back memories good and bad , people and places." So true
@calliebell8047
Love that thought.
@Daniel-ts3uy
From "Wild Thing" to "Love Is All Around" the Troggs have never gotten the credit they sorely deserve.
@Daniel-ts3uy
They were much more than good.
@RalphCramden-tm2gi
They were PUNKS before PUNKS. They had an attitude in their singing style. Sort of like in your face. Put em in the hall.
@jackieguccione94
Ther two song asr ver good this is fantastic and wild thing and maybe one other thre songs dont make them icons
@janicedenisar3008
Well, they most certainly capture the emotional essence & energy of their songs❤
@user-gz5uz5vx5o
I'm Back in 1967 and 14 again
@paulleckner8235
I am 3 years old! I see my grandparents and my aunts and uncles!! Happy times!!
@larrymora1220
I was also 14 in 67...Great time to be a teen