Because both pressings were taken from the same master recording, Billboard combined the sales for both releases, making it the only single to simultaneously reach number one for two companies. Owing to a distribution dispute, the Troggs' single was available on two competing labels: Atco Records and Fontana Records. The Troggs version Įnglish rock band the Troggs recorded the song after their manager Larry Page recommended it, recalling later that it was 'so weird and unusual that we just had to record it'. This sound was subsequently imitated by the Troggs in their version using an ocarina. The solo in the middle of the song was performed by the recording engineer using his hands as a whistle. On its release in November 1965, the record failed to sell, and Alden later said that he regretted not performing the song in the same way as Taylor's demo. Producer Gerry Granahan approved the song and then produced the Wild Ones' recording, with vocals by Chuck Alden. On his demo version, Taylor banged on a tambourine while producer Ron Johnsen 'was doing this little thing with his hands', as Taylor related it. Taylor composed it very quickly: within a couple of minutes, he had the chorus and a 'sexual-kind-of-feeling song' emerged. They had contacted composer Chip Taylor to ask him to write a song for them to release as a single.

The first studio version was recorded by the Wild Ones, a band based in New York and set up by socialite Sybil Christopher.

It has also been performed by many other musicians. Their version of 'Wild Thing' was ranked at number 257 on the Rolling Stone magazine's 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The Troggs' single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart in 1966. It was originally recorded and released by the American rock band the Wild Ones in 1965, but it did not chart. ' Wild Thing' is a song written by American songwriter Chip Taylor and popularized by the English rock band the Troggs.

Wild thing, you make my heart sing