96 Tears

"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.[5] and on the RPM 100 in Canada.[6] Billboard ranked the record as the #5 song for 1966.[7] 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.[8]

"96 Tears"
Cover of the 1966 Italy single
Single by ? and the Mysterians
from the album 96 Tears
B-side"Midnight Hour"
ReleasedAugust 1966 (1966)
Recorded1966
Genre
Length2:56
Label
Songwriter(s)Rudy Martinez
Producer(s)Rudy Martinez
? and the Mysterians singles chronology
"96 Tears"
(1966)		 "I Need Somebody"
(1966)
Audio sample
  • file
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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.[9] 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.[10][11]

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.[12]

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.[13]

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.[14]

Chart history

Personnel
  • Rudy Martinez (Question Mark) – vocals[22]
  • Frank Rodriguez – Vox Continental organ
  • Bobby Balderrama – lead guitar
  • Frank Lugo – bass guitar
  • Eddie Serrato – drums

Other versions

See also

References
  1. Bill Dahl (28 February 2011). Motown: The Golden Years: More than 100 rare photographs. Krause Publications. p. 300. ISBN 978-1-4402-2783-7. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  2. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (8 November 1997). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 68. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  3. Gary Hartman (8 March 2008). The History of Texas Music. Texas A&M University Press. p. 207. ISBN 978-1-60344-002-8. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  4. Tom Moon (28 August 2008). 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die. Workman Publishing Company. p. 806. ISBN 978-0-7611-5385-6. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  5. Question Mark & the Mysterians, "96 Tears" US chart position Retrieved July 1, 2015
  6. Question Mark & the Mysterians, "96 Tears" Canadian chart position Archived 2017-12-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 1, 2015
  7. Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966
  8. "RIAA Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – 96 Tears". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  9. "Question Mark Bio". pharaohweb.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-31.
  10. "The Making of 96 Tears". vice.com.
  11. "Question". classicbands.com.
  12. "96 Tears by ? & the Mysterians". songfacts.com.
  13. Fred Bronson (October 1, 2003). Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th ed.). Billboard Books U.S. p. ?. ISBN 978-0823076772.
  14. Question Mark & the Mysterians, chart positions Retrieved July 1, 2015
  15. Question Mark & the Mysterians, "96 Tears" Canadian chart position Archived 2017-12-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 1, 2015
  16. "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). InfoDisc. 1966-09-17. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  17. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  18. Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 22, 1966
  19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – 96 Tears". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  20. Musicoutfitters.com
  21. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 24, 1966". Archived from the original on February 17, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  22. "Question Mark: Library of Congress copyright registrations indicate that his birth name is Rudy Martinez". 96tears.net. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  23. Big Maybelle, "96 Tears" chart positions Retrieved July 1, 2015
  24. https://www.discogs.com/Aretha-Franklin-Aretha-Arrives/release/576339 Retrieved November 3, 2016
  25. Retrieved June 30, 2015
  26. The Music Explosion, Little Bit O' Soul Retrieved June 30, 2015
  27. Thelma Houston, "96 Tears" chart positions Retrieved July 1, 2015
  28. Garland Jeffreys, "96 Tears" chart positions Retrieved July 1, 2015
  29. http://www.allmusic.com/album/escape-artist-mw0000310354 Retrieved November 3, 2016
  30. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 535. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  31. Eddie and the Hot Rods, Teenage Depression Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  32. "Bringing It Home - The Bonne Villes - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
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