Hi Hi Hazel

"Hi Hi Hazel" was a minor hit for Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band in 1966. It also was a hit for The Troggs.

"Hi Hi Hazel"
Single by Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band
B-side"Beach Bash"
ReleasedJuly 15, 1966 (1966-07-15)
GenreSoul
LabelPiccadilly 7N 35329
Composer(s)Martin, Coulter
Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band singles chronology
"Water"
(1965)		 "Hi Hi Hazel"
(1966)		 "Que Sera Sera"
(1966)

Background

The song was written by Martin and Coulter. The first act to record the song were the UK soul act Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band. Even though the record didn't quite make the UK Top 40, the charting of the song by Geno & Co. was the first success that Martin & Coulter had as a song writing team.[1] This was the third release for The Ram Jam Band and the second single for them as Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band. It was also the second hit for the group.[2] It was released in the UK on Piccadilly 7N 35329. It was backed with an instrumental "Beach Bash", previously recorded by The Mar-Keys and written by Ben Branch, Al Jackson Jr. and Steve Cropper.[3][4][5] In the US, it was released in the US on the Kapp label.[6]

Chart info

In the UK, the song spent four weeks in the charts and on July 27, 1966, it peaked at #45. In the US, the only group to chart with the song was Gary & the Hornets, in late 1966, on the Smash label.[7]

The Troggs version
"Hi Hi Hazel"
Single by The Troggs
from the album From Nowhere
B-side"As I Ride By"
ReleasedJuly 14, 1967 (1967-07-14)
GenrePop
LabelPage One POF 030
Composer(s)Martin, Coulter
The Troggs singles chronology
"Night of the Long Grass"
(1967)		 "Hi Hi Hazel"
(1967)		 "Love Is All Around"
(1967)

The Troggs had their single released on Page One POF 030. It was backed with a Ronnie Bond composition, "As I Ride By". The release by The Troggs on July 14, 1967 was almost a year to the day from the time Geno Washington & the Jam Jam Band released theirs which was on July 15, 1966.[8][9]

Chart

Similar to Geno & Co., the version by The Troggs also missed out on the UK Top 40. Their version spent three weeks in the chart and peaked at #45 on August 1, 1967.[10][11]

References
  1. An Avid's Guide to Sixties Songwriters, By Peter Dunbavan - 49. Martin/Coulter
  2. The History of British Rock and Roll: The Beat Boom 1963 - 1966, By Robin Bell - Chapter 6
  3. 45Cat - Geno Washington - Discography, UK
  4. 45Cat - The Markeys - Discography, US
  5. Discogs - The Markeys* – Beach Bash
  6. Billboard, August 27, 1966 - Page 46 International News Reports, From the Music Capitals of the World
  7. Official Charts - GENO WASHINGTON AND HIS RAM JAM BAND, SINGLES, HI! HI! HAZEL
  8. 45Cat - The Troggs - Discography, UK
  9. 45Cat - Geno Washington - Discography, UK
  10. Official Charts - TROGGS, Singles, HI HI HAZEL
  11. Official Charts - GENO WASHINGTON AND HIS RAM JAM BAND, SINGLES, HI! HI! HAZEL
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