Article published in Beat Instrumental, September, 1966
“From Nowhere” (Fontana TL 5355) released 07/66
The Troggs | From Nowhere | (Fontana) 1966 | IT was a sudden, startling whirlwind that first spun four unknown Hampshire-ites up to the top of the charts. It startled them too, but now that the first over-whelming wave of success has died away, they’ve found time to get their bearings and look back on the havoc their own personal hurricane caused.
Because for the four-month-old Troggs “Wild Thing” was a hurricane, and it gave them a lot more than they expected a lot sooner than they ever thought it could come.
Now they’re getting used to it they’ve developed the self-assurance which lets them cope with almost any situation.
“We feel more complete and more confident now”, explained bass-player Pete Staples. “Hal Carter, our road manager, has been in the business about seven years and he gives us a lot of tips which we really appreciate.
“Everything that we do on stage is ad-libbed—nothing is planned—and if it doesn’t look right Hal will tell us and we’ll drop it. He’s taught us a lot about professionalism.”
Reg Presley, still looking the most worried member of the outfit, feels the same way. “When we started we were scared stiff”, he confessed. “Now we’re much more relaxed and our act has got a lot livelier.”
Few dislikes
The Troggs haven’t been around very long, but in their short route to the top they’ve learned a lot, formed several opinions and made as many plans. There isn’t very much they don’t like about the scene; just a few isolated things.
“The things we like least of all”, Pete said quite definitely, “are dressing rooms without proper washing facilities. They’re specially bad when it comes to washing your hair.
“After a long trip you feel grubby, and if you can’t get a decent wash you feel terrible.”
This is a grouse shared by many groups, and it’s been so bad that on one occasion they’ve had to change in a toilet. Pete also has strong personal feelings about using session men.
“I don’t like session men for singles”, he told me. “I’m dead against it with any group. Our numbers are simple and that’s how they should be.
“I don’t think people are cheated with this sort of thing on LP’s, because there, anything goes. But on a single I don’t like dubbing or anything like that.”
The Troggs | From Nowhere | (Fontana) 1966
This attitude is reflected in the group’s playing.
Reg explained : “We like to keep an earthy type of beat. We do the same sort of songs as ‘Wild Thing’ and ‘With A Girl Like You’, but each one is very different.
“Our stuff has primarily got to be beaty, and that’s one of the reasons I’ve bought a bass. I think it will fit in and bring about a heavier under-lying beat to Pete’s playing.
“I’ll do a simple basic riff, and he will overlay this with a more involved chunky sound.”
As yet they haven’t been able to find time to practice with this changed line-up, but it will come. As it is there’s quite a bit of collaboration between song-writer Reg and bass-man Pete.
“When we go to the studio”, said Pete, “we already know basically what we want. From then on it’s a matter of changing it round until we get it exactly right.
Going abroad
“The time this takes can vary. For ‘With A Girl Like You’ it took half an hour. But for some tunes on the LP it took as long as two hours.”
At one time Pete was rhythm-guitarist when he and Chris Britton played with another group. This experience may provide some interesting effects when the new two-bass set-up gets under way. We’ll just have to wait and see, because right now the Troggs are making plans for going abroad.
“We’ve never been anywhere outside Britain”, said Reg, sadly. “Not even the Isle of Wight.
“Now we’re lining up an American tour. We should be going over there later this month for about two weeks. That trip will be mainly a promotional visit, but we’ll go back again for an actual tour a little bit later.
“That’s not just an ambition, it’s a dream.” But he added dubiously: “We hear that in America they really make you move around!”
The Troggs | From Nowhere | (Fontana) 1966
So much has happened to the Troggs, and it’s my guess that a lot more will. They’ve become accustomed to full bookings in all parts of the country and got used to snatching a few hours sleep whenever possible.
They’ve even got used to recording studios. They’re almost used to the adulation, too, that is part of success. Almost, but not quite . . .
“It was bewildering, and it still is”, concluded Reg. “It’s such a different life you can’t think, but it’s nice.
“It’s specially nice when people recognise us. It makes us feel happy.”
Four pleasant people, the Troggs, and it shouldn’t be long before they’re four very famous people, too. (Beat Instrumental)
Wild sounds on powerful new LP by the Troggs
THE first thing that strikes you about the Troggs LP is that there are plenty of good tracks on it. It’s called “From Nowhere The Troggs” and is on (Fontana TL 5355).
All of the tracks have that nasal, harsh lead vocal of Reg Presley, who incidentally penned five of the 12 tracks. The backings are a bit thin, but the variety of different kinds of songs makes up for this.
They do a very good, cool version of “Hi Hi Hazel”, currently hitting the charts for Geno Washington, and they plough through a few rock standards like Chuck Berry‘s “Jaguar and Thunderbird” and the Kingsmen‘s Richard Berry penned “Louie Louie”.
Lee Dorsey‘s influence shines through on “Ride Your Pony” and “The Kitty Cat Song”, both done quite well, and there’s a powerful dance beat throughout.
Altogether, a ponderous and powerful LP and a very good debut album.
Track listing — Wild Thing; The 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 & Thunderbird. (Record Mirror, August 1966)
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