The Standells
The Standells are an American garage rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in the 1960s, who have been referred to as a "punk band of the 1960s", and said to have inspired such groups as the Sex Pistols and Ramones.[1] They are best known for their 1966 cover of Ed Cobb's hit "Dirty Water", now the anthem of several Boston sports teams and is played following every Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins home win.
The Standells | |
|---|---|
 The Standells in 1966. L-R: Larry Tamblyn, Tony Valentino, Dick Dodd and Gary Lane | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Garage rock, proto-punk |
| Years active | 1962–present |
| Associated acts | The Bel-Airs, Little Feat, The Walker Brothers, Love, Buffalo Springfield |
| Members | Larry Tamblyn Martin Blasick Greg Burnham Mark Adrian |
| Past members | Tony Valentino Jody Rich Dick Dodd Benny King (Benny Hernandez) Gary Lane Gary Leeds Dewey Martin Dave Burke Lowell George Paul Downing Adam Marsland John Fleck (John Fleckenstein) Bruce Michael Miller (guitar 1980s) |
History
The original Standells band was formed in 1962 by lead vocalist and keyboard player Larry Tamblyn (born Lawrence A. Tamblyn, February 5, 1943, in Los Angeles),[2] and guitarist Tony Valentino (born May 24, 1941,[3] aka Emilio Bellissimo), bass guitarist Jody Rich,[4] and drummer Benny King (aka Hernandez). Tamblyn had previously been a solo performer, recording several 45 singles in the late 1950s and early 1960s including "Dearest", "Patty Ann", "This Is The Night", "My Bride To Be" and "Destiny" for Faro and Linda Records. He is the brother of actor Russ Tamblyn and the uncle of actor Amber Tamblyn.
The Standells band name was created by Larry Tamblyn and Tony Valentino, [5] derived from standing around booking agents' offices trying to get work.[6] In early 1962, drummer Benny King joined the group, and as "the Standels", their first major performance was in Honolulu at the Oasis Club. After several months, Rich and King departed. Tamblyn then assumed leadership of the group. He and Valentino re-formed the Standels, adding bass guitarist Gary Lane (September 18, 1938 – November 5, 2014)[7] and drummer Gary Leeds, later known as Gary Walker of The Walker Brothers. Later that year, the band lengthened its name to "Larry Tamblyn & the Standels". In 1963 an extra "L" was added, and as "Larry Tamblyn and the Standells" the group made its first recording "You'll Be Mine Someday/Girl In My Heart" for Linda Records (released in 1964).[8] In the latter part of the year, the band permanently shortened its name to "The Standells".[6] After the Standells signed with Liberty in 1964, Leeds left the group, and was replaced by lead vocalist and drummer Dick Dodd.[9] Dodd was a former Mouseketeer[10] who had been the original drummer for The Bel-Airs, known for the surf rock song "Mr. Moto", and eventually became the singer who sang lead on all of the Standells hit songs.
In 1964, Liberty Records released three singles and an album, The Standells in Person at P.J.s. The album was later re-issued as The Standells Live and Out of Sight. The band also appeared on The Munsters TV show, as themselves in the episode "Far Out Munster," performing "Come On and Ringo" and a version of The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand".[11] In late 1964, they signed with Vee Jay and released two singles in 1965. Later in the year they signed with MGM for one single.
The group appeared in several low-budget films of the 1960s, including Get Yourself a College Girl (1964) and cult classic Riot on Sunset Strip (1967). The Standells performed incidental music in the 1963 Connie Francis movie Follow the Boys, which coincidentally co-starred Larry Tamblyn's brother, Russ Tamblyn. The Standells played the part of the fictional rock group the "Love Bugs" on the television sitcom Bing Crosby Show in the January 18, 1965 episode "Bugged by the Love Bugs". In addition to appearing in the aforementioned The Munsters episode as themselves, they also appeared performing an instrumental in the background in the March 29, 1965 Ben Casey series episode, "Three 'Lil Lambs." The band also performed the title song for the 1965 children's movie, Zebra in the Kitchen.
Some reports state that early versions of the band had a relatively clean image and performed only cover songs.[11] However, early 1964 photos counter that notion, showing the Standells with long hair, making them one of the first American rock groups to adopt that style. In order to work in conservative nightclubs like P.J.'s, the group members were forced to cut their shaggy locks.[12] Like the Beatles, early rock groups did mostly cover songs in nightclubs.
In 1965 the group – Dodd, Tamblyn, Valentino and Lane – signed with Capitol Records' label Tower, teaming up with producer Ed Cobb. Cobb wrote the group's most popular song, "Dirty Water", which the band recorded in late 1965. The song's references to the city of Boston are owed to Cobb's experiences with a mugger in Boston. The song also makes reference to the Boston Strangler and the dorm curfews for college women in those days.[13]
"Dirty Water" reached No. 11 on the Billboard charts on June 11, 1966, No. 8 on the Cashbox charts on July 9, 1966 and No. 1 on the Record World charts. "Dirty Water" was on the WLS playlist for 17 total weeks, tied only by "California Dreamin'" for most weeks on that playlist during the 1960s. Though the song is credited solely to Cobb, band members Dodd, Valentino and Tamblyn have claimed substantial material-of-fact song composition copyright contributions to it as well as contributing to its arrangement.[14] Tamblyn has stated that Cobb's version was a "standard blues song", adding: "We took the song with the condition that we could arrange in any way we want; we added the guitar riff into it and all of the wonderful vocal asides like, 'I'm gonna tell you a story, It's all about my town, I'm going to tell you a big fat story'...that was all written by us."[14]
According to critic Richie Unterberger,[11]
" 'Dirty Water' [was] an archetypal garage rock hit with its Stones-ish riff, lecherous vocal, and combination of raunchy guitar and organ. While they never again reached the Top 40, they cut a number of strong, similar tunes in the 1966–1967 era that have belatedly been recognized as 1960s punk classics. 'Garage rock' may not have been a really accurate term for them in the first place, as the production on their best material was full and polished, with some imaginative touches of period psychedelia and pop."
"Dirty Water" is listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll."[15]
Dodd briefly left the Standells in early 1966, and was replaced by Dewey Martin, who became a member of Buffalo Springfield. Dodd returned to the group a few months later, as the "Dirty Water" song began to climb the charts.[12] The band recorded additional songs for their first full studio album Dirty Water in April 1966. Another popular track on the album was "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White", which would later be recorded by Washington, D.C. hardcore band Minor Threat, New York City punk band The Cramps, and Swedish garage band The Nomads.
The follow-up studio album, Why Pick on Me — Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White, was released in November 1966 and included the single "Why Pick on Me", which peaked at No. 54 on the Billboard chart. Gary Lane left the Standells in 1966, and was replaced by bass guitarist Dave Burke. John Fleck (born John William Fleckenstein in Los Angeles, August 2, 1946 – October 18, 2017),[16][17] formerly of Love, soon replaced Burke in early 1967. The band's third studio album, Try It, released in October 1967, contained the song "Riot on Sunset Strip", which had been released earlier in 1967 to support the soundtrack for the movie of the same name. The title track "Try It" was later recorded by Ohio Express and Cobra Killer. Picked by Billboard magazine to be the Standells' next hit, "Try It" was banned by Texas radio mogul Gordon McLendon, who deemed the record to have sexually suggestive lyrics.[18] The Standells were asked by Art Linkletter to debate with McLendon on his House Party TV show in 1967. By most accounts, McLendon was handily defeated,[5][19] but, by then, most radio stations had followed McLendon's lead and would not play the record. A third single released from this album, "Can't Help But Love You", would be the Standells last entry into the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 78, while also peaking at No. 9 in the Cashbox charts.
In 1968, Dick Dodd left the band to pursue a solo career. The Standells continued to perform with a varying line-up thereafter, briefly including guitarist Lowell George who went on to play with Little Feat.[11]
Later reformations and versions of the band
In the 1980s, Dodd, Tamblyn and Valentino performed at a few shows with the likes of The Fleshtones. In 1984 the Standells played at the Club Lingerie on Sunset in Los Angeles and did some Casino shows in Reno Nevada. In the late 1980s, the Standells, with Tamblyn and Valentino, recorded and released an independent single featuring Tamblyn singing "60's Band"[6] In 1999, the Standells, featuring Dodd, Valentino and Tamblyn, along with bass player Peter Stuart,[20] p. 1001 appeared at the Cavestomp festival in New York, and their performance was subsequently released as an album called Ban THIS!. As the title suggests, the Standells were thumbing their noses at McLendon. In 2000, bassist Gary Lane re-joined the Standells to perform at Las Vegas Grind. Between 2004 and 2007 the band was called upon to reform to make several appearances at major Boston sporting events. In 2006 the band sued Anheuser Busch for over $1 million after the company used "Dirty Water" in sports-related beer commercials without permission.[21]
After a show at the Cannery Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas in May 2009, The Standells reformed with Tamblyn and former bassist John Fleck, along with guitarist Paul Downing and veteran drummer Greg Burnham. The group went on to make appearances at Los Angeles venues Amoeba Records, Echoplex and the Whisky a Go Go. In 2010 they toured in Europe, performing in several countries,including their first ever UK show at 229 The Venue in London on June 19th 2010.In late 2010, Downing was replaced by guitarist Adam Marsland. In 2011, the band decided to record the first new album in over 40 years. Through Kickstarter, the Standells raised money towards the cost of the album.[22] Marsland left the group shortly thereafter. He was replaced by singer/guitarist Mark Adrian, a former member of the rock group Artica. In March 2012, the Standells performed at the SXSW Festival.[23]
In September 2012, Dick Dodd briefly rejoined the group, and they appeared at the Monterey Summer of Love "45 Years On" Festival that month.[24][25][26] On August 9, 2013 they released a new album, Bump, on GRA Records.[27] Dodd did not participate in the album. In June, Dodd again departed from the Standells for personal reasons. The group (without Dodd) headlined at the Satellite Club in Los Angeles, California, August 9,[28] the Adams Ave. St. Fair, San Diego, California on September 28,[28] and at the Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans, Louisiana, October 5, 2013.[29]
Dick Dodd died on November 29, 2013.[30]
The Standells completed an extensive national tour from April 27 through May 21, 2014. It was their first major U.S. tour since the 1960s.[31] The group performed in Parma, Italy, on July 5 for the Festival Beat, and returned to California for the Tiki Oasis on August 17, 2014.[32]
Former band member, Gary Lane (Gary McMillan) died on November 5, 2014, from lung cancer aged 76.[33]
John "Fleck" Fleckenstein died October 18, 2017 of complications of AML Leukemia.[34] He was also a notable cinematographer.[35]
Boston connection
Despite the references to Boston and the Charles River in "Dirty Water," the Standells are not from Massachusetts. Tower Records producer Ed Cobb wrote the song after a visit to Boston, during which he was robbed on a bridge over the Charles River. None of the Standells had been to Boston before the song was released.[36]
In 1997, "Dirty Water" was decreed the "official victory anthem" of the Red Sox, and is played after every home victory won by the Boston Red Sox.[36] Also, in 1997 two Boston area music-related chain stores celebrated their joint 25th anniversary by assembling over 1500 guitarists, plus a handful of singers and drummers, to perform "Dirty Water" for over 76 minutes at the Hatch Shell adjacent to the Charles River.[37] At short notice, at the invitation of the Red Sox, The Standells played "Dirty Water" before the second game of the 2004 World Series at Fenway Park.[38] The band played at Fenway Park again in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, the Standells performed the National Anthem at the first game of the 2007 American League Division Series, also at Fenway Park.[39]
In 2007, "Dirty Water, as sung by the Standells" was honored by official decree of The Massachusetts General Court. The song is now played not only at Red Sox games, but also those of the Boston Celtics, the Boston Bruins, and the Northeastern Huskies' hockey games. A book Love That Dirty Water: The Standells and the Improbable Red Sox Victory Anthem was published.[40]
In April 2019, Liverpool F.C., a club in the English Premier League, began playing "Dirty Water" after home matches, due to the fact that the club is owned by Fenway Sports Group, the same owners as the Boston Red Sox.[41]
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Billboard Pop Albums | Cashbox Pop Albums |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Dirty Water
|
52 | 39 |
Why Pick on Me — Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White
|
— | — | |
| 1967 | The Hot Ones!
|
— | — |
Try It
|
— | — | |
| 2013 | Bump
Global Recording Artists (GRA13234)
|
— | — |
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. | |||
Live Albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1964 | The Standells in Person at P.J.s.
|
| 1966 | "Live" and Out of Sight
|
| 2000 | Ban This!
|
| 2001 | The Live Ones
|
| 2015 | Live on Tour - 1966
|
Compilation albums
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1983 | The Best of the Standells
|
| 1984 | Rarities
|
| 1998 | The Very Best of The Standells
|
| 2002 | Hot Hits & Hot Ones - Is This The Way You Get Your High?
|
Singles
| Release date | Title (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated | Label | U.S. Hot 100[42] | Cashbox | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 5, 1963 | "You'll Be Mine Someday" (Larry Tamblyn and the Standels) b/w "The Girl In My Heart" | Linda (112) | - | - | Non-album tracks |
| March 1964 | "The Shake" b/w "Peppermint Beatle | Liberty (55680) | - | - | "Live" and Out of Sight |
| August 1964 | "Help Yourself" b/w "I'll Go Crazy" | Liberty (55722) | - | - | In Person at P.J.s |
| October 1964 | "Linda Lou" b/w "So Fine | Liberty (55743) | - | - | |
| January 1965 | "The Boy Next Door" b/w "B.J. Quetzal | Vee-Jay (VJ 643) | 102 | - | Non-album tracks |
| April 1965 | "Don't Say Goodbye" b/w "Big Boss Man" | Vee-Jay (VJ 679) | - | - | |
| June 1965 | "Zebra In The Kitchen" b/w "Someday You'll Cry" | MGM Records (K 13350) | - | - | |
| November 1965 | "Dirty Water" b/w "Rari" | Tower (185) | 11 | 8 | Dirty Water |
| July 1966 | "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White" b/w "Why Did You Hurt Me" | Tower (257) | 43 | 59 | |
| September 1966 | "Ooh Poo Pah Doo" b/w "Help Yourself" | Sunset (61000) | - | - | In Person at P.J.s |
| October 1966 | "Why Pick On Me" b/w 'Mr. Nobody | Tower (282) | 54 | 68 | Why Pick On Me – Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White |
| January 1967 | "Don't Tell Me What To Do" (as "The Sllednats") b/w "When I Was A Cowboy" | Tower (312) | - | - | Non-album tracks |
| February 1967 | "Riot On Sunset Strip" b/w "Black Hearted Woman" (from Why Pick On Me) | Tower (314) | 133 | - | Riot on Sunset Strip soundtrack / Try It |
| April 1967 | "Try It" b/w "Poor Shell Of A Man" | Tower (310) | - | - | Try It |
| October 1967 | "Can't Help But Love You" b/w "Ninety-Nine and A Half" | Tower (348) | 78 | 9 | |
| February 1968 | "Animal Girl" b/w "Soul Drippin'" | Tower (398) | - | - | Non-album tracks |
| 1984 | "60's Band" b/w "Try It II" | Telco (101) | - | - | |
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. | |||||
References
- "The Standells @ pHinnWeb". Phinnweb.org. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- "Larry Tamblyn". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- "Tony Valentino". NNDb.com. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- Hans Kesteloo. "Beyond The Beat Generation – The Standells Interview". Home.uni-one.nl. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- Pore-Lee-Dunn Productions. "The Standells". Classicbands.com. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
- Burgess, Chuck (2007). Love That Dirty Water! The Standells and an Improbable Red Sox Victory Anthem. Rounder Books. ISBN 978-1-57940-146-7.
- "Passings: Gary (Lane) McMillan, Bass Player for the Standells (1938 - 2014)". VVN Music. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- Joyson, Vernon (1998). Fuzz Acid & Flowers. Borderline Productions. ISBN 978-1899855063.
- Dick Dodd at Charlie Gillett.com. Some sources give a date of October 25, and/or a birth year of 1943.
- "Dickie Dodd (Oct 27, 1945)". The Original Mickey Mouse Club Show. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- "The Standells | Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- Nick Warburton (2010-09-05). "The Standells". Garage Hangover. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- O'Nan, Stewart, and Stephen King. Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle the Historic 2004 Season. (Note that this book incorrectly refers to The Standells as a Boston proto-punk group, rather than a California garage band.)
- "Gary James' Interview With Larry Tamblyn Of The Standells". classicbands.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
- "Experience The Music: One Hit Wonders and The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum". Rockhall.com. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
- "John Fleckenstein". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- "Daniel Coston". Facebook.com.
- Archived April 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- "Standells". garage hangover. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
- Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock – Google Books. ISBN 9781843531050. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- Andrew Ryan (June 12, 2006). "Standells rock group says Budweiser plays 'Dirty'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- "Garage/Punk Legends, The Standells, to Record New Album by The Standells – Kickstarter". Kickstarter.com. Retrieved 2012-03-25.
- "Standells". Schedule.sxsw.com. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
- "The Standells – index". Summer67.com. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
- "Dick Dodd Joins The Standells". Standells.wix.com. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
- "Standells". Facebook. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
- "Standells Record Release Party & Concert". Last.fm. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
- "The Satellite-live music venue in Los Angeles » The Blackeyed Soul Club presents a rare performance with The Standells with special guest Johnny Echols of Love – Tickets – The Satellite – Los Angeles, CA – August 9th, 2013". Thesatellitela.com. 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- "Ponderosa Stomp announces lineup for 2013 concert, at Rock n'Bowl Oct. 3-5". NOLA.com. 2013-03-11. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- "Dick Dodd dies at 68; Mouseketeer and musician". LA Times. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- "Standells USA Tour". Standells.wix.com. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- "The Standells EPK". Standells-official.com. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- "The Dead Rock Stars Club : 2014 July To December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2014-11-09.
- Larry Tamblyn Facebook page Retrieved 2017-10-23
- IMDB page for John Fleckenstein Retrieved 2017-10-23
- "Red Sox Fans Love Their Dirty Water". Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- Larry Katz (September 10, 1997). "Mass. entrepreneurs banking on world record down by the River Charles; Love that 'Dirty Water'". Boston Herald. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- Bill Plaschke (2004-10-31). "Coming Through With the Big Hit at Fenway – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- Dan Shaughnessy (October 3, 2007). "Beckett pumps up Boston – Sparkling shutout gives Sox a big first step in playoffs". The Boston Globe.
- Burgess, Chuck; Nowlin, Bill (2007). Love That Dirty Water: The Standells and the Improbable Red Sox Victory Anthem. Rounder Books. ISBN 9781579401467.
- Henry, Linda Pizzuti (2014-04-13). "Thanks for playing "Dirty Water" by the Standells after the win today! Fun touch!pic.twitter.com/Uhedda0fPa". @linda_pizzuti. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
- Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955–2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 671. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
External links
- The Standells at Garage Hangover
- The Standells at Classic Bands
- The Standells at Sonicbids
- Standells-official.com
- Audio interview with Standells founder Larry Tamblyn
- The Standells at All Music Guide
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