DESCRIPTION:
From '' There's A Time+3 ''
Label: Munster Records -- MR 162
Format: Vinyl, 10", Translucent Clear
Country: Spain
Released: 1999

Tracklist
A1 There's A Time
A2 Revenge Of The Cybermen
B1 I'm Looking For You
B2 96 Tears (Written-By Rudy Martinez)

Vocals, Guitar -- Graham Day
Bass -- Allan Crockford
Drums -- Johnny Symons
Organ -- Jamie Taylor
Written-By -- G. Day (tracks: A1, A2, B1)

A side previously released as SKI 6103 (1983)
B side previously unreleased
Licensed from skydog records

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"96 Tears" is a popular song recorded by ? & the Mysterians in 1966.
It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and on the RPM 100 in Canada and is ranked #210 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

History

The song was originally written by likely Question Mark, Rudy Martinez, around 1962. The recording was done in Bay City, Michigan.
It was first released on the small Pa-Go-Go label and then picked up by Cameo Records for national distribution.
The original issue is quite rare and sought after by record collectors.

Known for its signature organ licks and bare-bones lyrics, "96 Tears" has been widely-recognized as one of the first garage band hits and has even been given credit for starting the punk rock movement. It is generally accepted that writer Dave Marsh used the term "Punk rock" for the first time in a critical setting when referring to this song.

The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. in 1966 and almost simultaneously topped the RPM 100 in Canada and was the band's only major hit single. Follow-up song "I Need Somebody" peaked at number 22 later that year and no other U.S. top-forty singles followed. It appears on the band's album 96 Tears.

Personnel

Lead singer Question Mark (believed to be Rudy Martinez, born in Mexico but raised in Michigan's Saginaw Valley)
Lead guitarist Bobby Balderrama
Keyboardist Frank Rodriquez
Bass player Frank Lugo
Drummer Robert Martinez

Covers

The song has been covered by the following artists:

Big Maybelle, from her 1967 album, America's Queen Mother of Soul: Got a Brand New Bag.
David Byrne
Joe "King" Carrasco
The Cramps
Eddie and the Hot Rods, from their 1976 EP, Live at the Marquee
The Foundations, a live version of "96 Tears" appears on the European EP Baby, Now That I've Found You
Aretha Franklin, from her 1967 album, Aretha Arrives.
Thelma Houston
Inspiral Carpets, on disc 2 (Rare As) of their 2003 compilation album Cool As
Garland Jeffreys, from his 1980 album, Escape Artist
The Modern Lovers
Music Explosion, from their 1967 album Little Bit O' Soul
The Music Machine, from their 1966 album, (Turn On) The Music Machine.
Iggy Pop
Primal Scream, a B-side on their 1997 single, Kowalski
The Residents, a drastically different rearrangement is included on their 1976 album, The Third Reich 'n Roll early in the "Hitler was a Vegetarian" segment.
The Rubinoos
Jimmy Ruffin
Bruce Springsteen, as a "Stump the Band" number during his 2009 Working on a Dream Tour
The Stranglers, from their 1990 album, 10
Suicide, live performance included on some reissues of 1977 album, Suicide
Texas Tornados
Tom Tom Club
Utopia

Parodies

A parody of the song titled "96 Beers" sung to the tune of "96 Tears" was a staple of the morning drive time programming of Detroit rock station WRIF. The vocals were sung in a gravely voice by George Baier, who used the on-air moniker "Dick the Bruiser", the name of a former pro football player and professional wrestler.