"Wild Thing" may be the dumbest song in rock, but it inspired legions of snotty teenagers and launched Jimi Hendrix's triumphant return to America. Here's how it all went down.
I turned sixteen about a week before this timeless little tune dropped in the US, and already a Stones fan, this seemed like the tame response to their pissed-off, entitled plea in "Satisfaction." There wasn't much waffling or whining in Wild Thing, but more a statement of uncomplicated attraction. And to my sixteen-year-old ears, it sounded pretty tame, and kind of silly. (I mean, who used "groovy" unironically?) That was, until Hendrix turned up the heat under it, and made it a predatory declaration. It was great fun to read its history here, Seth, and to dip back into the lighthearted stretch just moments before the Summer of Love and all the other forces at play flipped our youthful world on its head.
Oh man, had no idea Wild Thing, which was on the British Invasion cassette responsible for slowly weaning me away from country and into rock, had its origins in the hand flute. Just never know where hand flute is gonna pop up:
In the spring of 1986 we started a tradition at Yale called the Wild Thing Jam. Everyone would bring their instruments to Cross Campus — electric guitars, basses, drums, tubas, oboes, violas, trombones…
And jam on Wild Thing for hours. The perfect collective catharsis.
I turned sixteen about a week before this timeless little tune dropped in the US, and already a Stones fan, this seemed like the tame response to their pissed-off, entitled plea in "Satisfaction." There wasn't much waffling or whining in Wild Thing, but more a statement of uncomplicated attraction. And to my sixteen-year-old ears, it sounded pretty tame, and kind of silly. (I mean, who used "groovy" unironically?) That was, until Hendrix turned up the heat under it, and made it a predatory declaration. It was great fun to read its history here, Seth, and to dip back into the lighthearted stretch just moments before the Summer of Love and all the other forces at play flipped our youthful world on its head.
Appreciate this framing so much! Though for what it's worth, at least Jimi had a smidgeon of ironic distance....
True, though it still did not dampen the heat of his version.
Oh man, had no idea Wild Thing, which was on the British Invasion cassette responsible for slowly weaning me away from country and into rock, had its origins in the hand flute. Just never know where hand flute is gonna pop up:
http://www.lastwater.net/blog/2020/1/28/j06v6se0qi1v9nv9y6wlwuoimaow6k
This is true: It is, indeed, never known. Beautiful artwork, as ever!
In the spring of 1986 we started a tradition at Yale called the Wild Thing Jam. Everyone would bring their instruments to Cross Campus — electric guitars, basses, drums, tubas, oboes, violas, trombones…
And jam on Wild Thing for hours. The perfect collective catharsis.
Thank you David! I LOVE little snippets like this that bring the story to life. Also tickled by the notion of "Wild Thing" on tuba....
Fascinating! I learned a lot here, Seth, including the fact that Chip Taylor is Jon Voight’s brother. I had no idea.
Appreciate this Chris! Yeah, there's so much here. The "A Story of Rock in 500 Songs" podcast is great for drawing these micro-connections as well....
This is awesome.