96 Tears

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"96 Tears"
One of side-A labels of US single release
Single by ? and the Mysterians
from the album 96 Tears
B-side"Midnight Hour"
ReleasedAugust 1966 (1966)
Recorded1966 in Bay City, Michigan
Genre
Length2:56
Label
SongwriterRudy Martinez
ProducerRudy Martinez
? and the Mysterians singles chronology
"96 Tears"
(1966) 		"I Need Somebody"
(1966)

"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.[7] and on the RPM 100 in Canada.[8] Billboard ranked the record as the #5 song for 1966.[9] It was ranked #213 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2010. On November 11, 1966, the single was certified as gold by the RIAA.[10]

Background

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The song was written by Question Mark (Rudy Martinez) in 1962 in his manager's living room, and was recorded in Bay City, Michigan.[11] Initially, 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.[12][13]

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 would not play the song.[14] However, Question Mark denied this in an interview, stating that the number 96 has a deep philosophical meaning for him.[15]

Known for its signature organ riffs 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.[16] In Vice Media, Legs McNeil said "96 Tears" is "a safe candidate for first punk rock song ever."[12]

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.[17]

Chart history

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Personnel

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  • Rudy Martinez (Question Mark) – vocals[31]
  • Frank Rodriguez – Vox Continental organ
  • Bobby Balderrama – lead guitar
  • Frank Lugo – bass guitar
  • Eddie Serrato – drums

Other versions

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Cultural references

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In addition to its impact on music, "96 Tears" has influenced pop culture, including the naming of a bar in New York City’s East Village. The bar, also called "96 Tears", is inspired by the song and its iconic place in garage rock history.[38]

The song is also mentioned on the B-52s song “Deadbeat Club.”

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ Question Mark & the Mysterians, "96 Tears" US chart position Retrieved July 1, 2015
  8. ^ Question Mark & the Mysterians, "96 Tears" Canadian chart position Archived 2017-12-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 1, 2015
  9. ^ Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966
  10. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  17. ^ Question Mark & the Mysterians, chart positions Retrieved July 1, 2015
  18. ^ "? (QUESTION MARK) & THE MYSTERIANS – 96 Tears" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  19. ^ "? (Question Mark) & The Mysterians – 96 Tears" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  20. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  21. ^ Question Mark & the Mysterians, "96 Tears" Canadian chart position Archived 2017-12-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 1, 2015
  22. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  23. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  24. ^ "Question Mark The Mysterians Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  25. ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 22, 1966
  26. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  27. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  28. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – 96 Tears". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  29. ^ Musicoutfitters.com
  30. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  32. ^ Big Maybelle, "96 Tears" chart positions Retrieved July 1, 2015
  33. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  34. ^ Thelma Houston, "96 Tears" chart positions Retrieved July 1, 2015
  35. ^ Garland Jeffreys, "96 Tears" chart positions Retrieved July 1, 2015
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