Years active 1964–1967 Genre Dance/electronic | Labels United Artists Record label United Artists Records | |
Past members Jordan Christopher
Chuck Alden
Jimmy Zack
Eddie Wright
Tommy Trick
Tom Graves Origin New York City, New York, United States Albums Electronic Dance Hits, Heirs of Rock & Roll Similar Jordan Christopher, Chip Taylor, Reg Presley, Bill Minkin, Gerry Granahan | ||
The Wild Ones were an American rock band from New York City, initially led by singer Jordan Christopher. They are perhaps best known for recording the first version of Chip Taylor's song "Wild Thing", which would later be a smash hit for The Troggs.
Contents
History
The band formed in Manhattan in 1964. The original members were:
They began playing at the Peppermint Lounge, soon becoming the house band there, but left in April 1965 to become the house band at Sybil Burton's nightclub, Arthur. Within a week of meeting, Sybil Burton and Jordan Christopher married. The band recorded an album, The Arthur Sound, which hit #149 on the US Billboard 200. The album was produced by Daniel Secunda (the brother of Tony Secunda), with a sleeve photograph by Richard Avedon. Alden and Trick were dissatisfied with the production of the record, and Jordan Christopher left the group soon afterwards to pursue an acting career, with Alden then taking over as lead singer. With Christopher, the band appeared in the 1966 "Z movie", The Fat Spy, starring Phyllis Diller and Jayne Mansfield and also featuring Johnny Tillotson; the film featured in the 2004 documentary The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made.
The group continued to perform nightly at Arthur after their album was released. With Alden on lead vocals, and production by Gerry Granahan, they released their first single, "Wild Thing," on November 1st, 1965, but it failed to reach the charts. In summer 1966, the band were sponsored by Sears, Roebuck, as a marketing ploy, to tour nationally. However, after Arthur closed in early 1967, the band soon split up.
Songs
At the Jenka Show1993
Wild Thing1965
Purple Pill Eater1992