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96 Tears

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = 96 Tears

| image = 96 Tears by (Question mark) and the Mysterians US vinyl.png

| alt =

| border = yes

| caption = One of side-A labels of US single release

| type = single

| artist = ? and the Mysterians

| album = 96 Tears

| B-side = Midnight Hour

| released = August

| recorded = 1966

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length =

| label =

| writer = Rudy Martinez

| producer = Rudy Martinez

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = I Need Somebody

| next_year = 1966

| misc =

}}

"'96 Tears'" is a song recorded by the American garage rock band ? and the Mysterians in 1966 ('see' 1966 in music). In October of that year, it was #1 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 in the U.S.[http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=96+Tears+by+Question+Mark+%26+the+Mysterians&id=33829 Question Mark & the Mysterians, "96 Tears" US chart position] Retrieved July 1, 2015 and on the 'RPM' 100 in Canada.[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5766&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=98q6tcgku7546lsrfi3gr83pp7 Question Mark & the Mysterians, "96 Tears" Canadian chart position] . Retrieved July 1, 2015 'Billboard' ranked the record as the #5 song for 1966.Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966 It is ranked #213 on the 'Rolling Stone' list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. On November 11, 1966, the single was certified as gold by the RIAA.

Background



The song was written by Question Mark (Rudy Martinez) in 1962 in his manager's living room, and was recorded in Bay City, Michigan. At first, Question Mark had to insist that "96 Tears" be the A-side over "Midnight Hour". Once the issue was settled, the band recorded the single for the small Pa-Go-Go label, owned by Lilly Gonzalez. She backed the band financially, and allowed access to her personal studio in her basement. When it began doing well locally, the band took a recording to Bob Dell, the radio director in Flint, Michigan. The song became the most requested, and wider radio play spread into Canada, where it was picked up by Cameo Records for national distribution.

Various reports have suggested that Question Mark first wrote the song under the title "Too Many Teardrops" and then "69 Tears", but then changed the title, fearing that radio stations wouldn't play the song. However, Question Mark denied this in an interview, stating that the number 96 has a deep philosophical meaning for him.

Known for its signature organ licks and bare-bones lyrics, "96 Tears" is recognized as one of the first garage band hits, and has even been given credit for starting the punk rock movement.

The song appeared on the band's album '96 Tears'. The follow-up song, "I Need Somebody", peaked at #22 later that year, but no other U.S. Top 40 singles followed.[http://musicvf.com/Question+Mark+%2526+the+Mysterians.art Question Mark & the Mysterians, chart positions] Retrieved July 1, 2015

Chart history



Weekly charts

;? and the Mysterians

;The Stranglers

Year-end charts



Personnel



*Rudy Martinez (Question Mark) – vocals

*Frank Rodriguez – Vox Continental organ

*Bobby Balderrama – lead guitar

*Frank Lugo – bass guitar

*Eddie Serrato – drums

Other versions



*A Spanish version of the song was also recorded by ? And the Mysterians

*Big Maybelle released a version of the song as a single in 1967 that reached #23 on the US R&B chart and #96 on the US pop chart.[http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=96+Tears+by+Big+Maybelle&id=4644 Big Maybelle, "96 Tears" chart positions] Retrieved July 1, 2015

*Aretha Franklin released a version of the song on her second Atlantic studio album "Aretha Arrives" in 1967.

*Thelma Houston released a version of the song as a single in 1981 that reached #22 on the US dance chart and #76 on the US R&B chart.[http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=96+Tears+by+Thelma+Houston&id=45849 Thelma Houston, "96 Tears" chart positions] Retrieved July 1, 2015

*Garland Jeffreys released a version of the song as a single and track from his album "Escape Artist" in 1981 that reached #5 on the US rock chart, #66 on the US pop chart, and #75 on the US dance chart.[http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=96+Tears+by+Garland+Jeffreys&id=16876 Garland Jeffreys, "96 Tears" chart positions] Retrieved July 1, 2015

*The Stranglers released a version that reached #17 in the UK Singles Chart in 1990.

See also



* List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States

References




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