Hi Hi Hazel

"Hi Hi Hazel" is a song first released by soul band Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band as a single in July 1966. A version by rock band the Troggs was released as a single in July 1967, and both were minor hits in the UK.[2][3]

"Hi! Hi! Hazel"
Single by Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band
B-side"Beach Bash"
Released15 July 1966 (1966-07-15)[1]
Recorded1966
StudioPye Studios, London
GenreSoul
Length3:21
LabelPiccadilly
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)John Schroeder
Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band singles chronology
"Water"
(1966)		 "Hi! Hi! Hazel"
(1966)		 "Que Sera Sera"
(1966)

Background and release

"Hi Hi Hazel" was written by songwriting duo Bill Martin and Phil Coulter. After joining publishing company KPM Music, the two managed to get a number of their songs recorded as album tracks for a range of artists like Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, Los Bravos and Ken Dodd. However, prior to "Hi Hi Hazel", they had yet to write a hit single.[1] Whilst the song became their first success, it became Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band's second hit, following the top-40 single "Water".[4][5] Their version was released as "Hi! Hi! Hazel" and was backed with an instrumental, "Beach Bash", previously recorded by the Mar-Keys and written by Ben Branch, Al Jackson Jr. and Steve Cropper.[6][7]

"Hi! Hi! Hazel" spent four weeks on the Record Retailer chart, peaking at number 45.[2] It charted higher at number 38 on the Melody Maker chart and number 40 on the Disc and Music Echo chart.[8][9] An edited version of the song was also released as a single in the US, though failed to chart.[10] In February 1967, an EP by the band entitled Hi!, which included the song, peaked at number 7 on the Record Retailer EP chart.[11]

Record Mirror wrote that "Hi! Hi! Hazel" has a "slow organ intro, then Geno starts in on singing almost Louis-style, in bluesy phrases and punching home just about every word. Very simple backing and a sort of joyous air about it all".[12] Melody Maker wrote that the band "take a trip through a slow sexy rocker that will insinuate into a lot of hip ears. Listening to Geno's highly impressive vocal style one is reminded of Zoot Money with touches of Steve Marriott. But basically it's all Geno and all good".[13]

Charts
Chart (1966) Peak
position
UK Disc and Music Echo Top 50[9] 40
UK Melody Maker Top 50[8] 38
UK Record Retailer Top 50[2] 45

The Troggs version
"Hi Hi Hazel"
Norwegian picture sleeve
Single by the Troggs
from the album From Nowhere
B-side"As I Ride By"
Released14 July 1967 (1967-07-14)[14]
Recorded1966
StudioOlympic, London
GenrePop rock
Length2:47
LabelPage One
Songwriter(s)
  • Bill Martin
  • Phil Coulter
Producer(s)Larry Page
The Troggs singles chronology
"Night of the Long Grass"
(1967)		 "Hi Hi Hazel"
(1967)		 "Love Is All Around"
(1967)

Background and release

Prior to Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band's version, the Troggs had supposedly considered releasing their version as a single.[15] In the end, it was included on their album From Nowhere, released in July 1966.

In 1967, the Troggs decided to split from manager Larry Page, although in the end they stayed on his record label Page One.[16] During the uncertainty of the band's future at the label, Page, unbeknownst to the Troggs, decided to release their version of "Hi Hi Hazel" as a single, backed with a previously unreleased song, "As I Ride By", written by drummer Ronnie Bond. In an interview in August 1967, guitarist Chris Britton said that they were made aware that it had been released as a single after hearing it on the radio.[17][18]

Prior to the release of "Hi Hi Hazel", the Troggs had had a run of six top-20 hits; however, the single only managed three weeks on the Record Retailer chart, peaking at number 42.[3] This was down to a lack of promotion of the single, with Britton saying that they "presume[d] that anyone who liked the song already had it on our LP or had bought the Geno Washington single".[17] The band were not particularly concerned by the lack of success of "Hi Hi Hazel" and they would go on to recapture their previous success with the follow-up top-ten hit "Love Is All Around".[18][3]

Charts
Chart (1967) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[19] 81
Germany (Official German Charts)[20] 36
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 39
UK Record Retailer Top 50[3] 42

Other cover versions
  • In October 1966, American band Gary and the Hornets released a cover of the song as a single which peaked at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100.[22]
  • In December 1966, Australian band Grandma's Tonic released a cover of the song as a single which peaked at number 95 on the retrospective Kent Music Report chart.[19]

References
  1. Coulter, Phil (11 October 2019). Bruised, Never Broken. Gill & Macmillan Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7171-8415-6.
  2. "GENO WASHINGTON AND HIS RAM JAM BAND | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  3. "TROGGS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  4. Dunbavan, Peter (28 February 2017). An Avid's Guide to Sixties Songwriters. AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-5246-3345-5.
  5. Bell, Robin (13 February 2016). The History of British Rock and Roll: The Beat Boom 1963 - 1966. Lulu Press, Inc. ISBN 978-91-981916-6-0.
  6. "Geno Washington And The Ram Jam Band - Hi! Hi! Hazel". 45cat. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  7. "The Mar-Keys -". 45cat. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  8. "Pop 50" (PDF). Melody Maker. 20 August 1966. p. 2. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  9. "Top 50" (PDF). Disc and Music Echo. 27 August 1966. p. 3. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  10. "Geno Washington And The Ram Jam Band - Hi! Hi! Hazel". 45cat. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  11. "everyHit.com - UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts". www.everyhit.com. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  12. "New Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror. 16 July 1966. p. 9. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  13. "New records" (PDF). Melody Maker. 16 July 1966. p. 13. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  14. "New Troggs disc" (PDF). Record Mirror. 1 July 1967. p. 6. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  15. "Geno Washington" (PDF). Disc and Music Echo. 16 July 1966. p. 15. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  16. "No Troggs change" (PDF). Melody Maker. 16 September 1967. p. 3. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  17. "Character studies of the 4 Troggs…" (PDF). Record Mirror. 19 August 1967. p. 12. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  18. "New Troggs Attack On Charts" (PDF). Beat Instrumental. November 1967. p. 12. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  19. Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
  20. "The Troggs – Hi Hi Hazel" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Troggs" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  22. Whitburn, Joel (2009). Top Pop Singles 1955–2008. Record Research. p. 383. ISBN 9780898201802.
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