The Troggs

Reg Presley - vocals (born Reginald Ball, June 12th 1943, Andover)

Chris Britton - guitar (born June 21st 1945, Watford)

Pete Staples - bass guitar (born May 3rd 1944, Andover)

Ronnie Bond - drums (born Ronald Bullis, May 4th 1943, Andover, died November 13th 1992)

 

 

The Troggs had a quality which made the rawest R&B groups seem sophisticated. They combined a sort of rustic naivety with sexual power, an unlikely combination, but it worked. "Wild Thing" was a revelation, unsubtle guitar-work, nasal singing occasionally breaking into a whisper, and an ocarina solo.

The Troglodytes were formed in Andover, Hampshire in 1964. They were discovered by the Kinks' manager Larry Page, and it was at his suggestion that the name was shortened to The Troggs when the band won a recording contract.

Although the first release sank without trace, the second, Chip Taylor's "Wild Thing", was a primeval three-chord monster which became a multi-million selling world-wide hit and remains one of the seminal records in the history of rock music.

The follow-up "With A Girl Like You" fared even better - reaching the top spot in August '66. The third hit, !I Can't Control Myself", ran into trouble from some radio stations around the world for its overt sexual content.

Most of their hits were written by Reg Presley, but ultimately, they proved unable to develop musically and fell from favour with the record buying public.

A line-up of The Troggs is still together today, touring and occasionally making albums.

 

Singles

Feb '66

Lost Girl/The Yella In Me

CBS 202038

-

Apr '66

Wild Thing/From Home

Fontana TF 689

UK#2

Jul '66

With A Girl Like You/I Want You

Fontana TF 717

UK#1

Sep '66

I Can't Control Myself/Gonna Make You

Page One POF 001

UK#2

Dec '66

Anyway That You Want Me/66-5-4-3-2-1

Page One POF 010

UK#8

 

E.P.

Sep '66

Trogg Tops - Wild Thing/From Home/With A Girl Like You/I Want You

Page One POE 001

 

L.P.

Aug '66

From Nowhere - Wild Thing/Kitty Cat Song/Ride Your Pony/Hi Hi Hazel/I Just Sing/Evil/Our Love Will Still Be There/Louie, Louie/Jingle Jangle/When I'm With You/From Home/Jaguar And The Thunderbird

Fontana TL 5355

 

Selected re-issues

1994

The Best Of The Troggs - Wild Thing/From Home/With A Girl Like You/I Want You/I Can't Control Myself/Gonna Make You/Anyway That You Want Me/Give It To Me/Night Of The Long Grass/Love Is All Around/You Can Cry If You Want To/Surprise, Surprise (I Need You)

Fontana

 

 1997

The EP Collection - Oh No/You're Lying/The Yella In Me/From Home/With A Girl Like You/I Want You/Jingle Jangle/Our Love Will Still Be There/I Can't Control Myself/Gonna Make You/Anyway That You Want Me/66-5-4-3-2-1/Give It To Me/I Can Only Give You Everything/You Can't Beat It/Night Of The Long Grass/Girl In Black/Love Is All Around/Hi Hi Hazel/Little Girl/Cousin Jane/Wild Thing

See For Miles