96 Tears

Background

The song was written by Question Mark (Rudy Martinez) in 1962 in his manager's living room, and was recorded in Bay City, Michigan. Initially, Question Mark had to insist that "96 Tears" be the A-side over "Midnight Hour". Once the issue was settled, the band recorded the single for the small Pa-Go-Go label, owned by Lilly Gonzalez. She backed the band financially, and allowed access to her personal studio in her basement. When it began doing well locally, the band took a recording to Bob Dell, the radio director in Flint, Michigan. The song became the most requested, and wider radio play spread into Canada, where it was picked up by Cameo Records for national distribution.

Various reports have suggested that Question Mark first wrote the song under the title "Too Many Teardrops" and then "69 Tears", but then changed the title, fearing that radio stations would not play the song. However, Question Mark denied this in an interview, stating that the number 96 has a deep philosophical meaning for him.

Known for its signature organ riffs and bare-bones lyrics, "96 Tears" is recognized as one of the first garage band hits, and has even been given credit for starting the punk rock movement. In Vice Media, Legs McNeil said "96 Tears" is "a safe candidate for first punk rock song ever."

The song appeared on the band's album 96 Tears. The follow-up song, "I Need Somebody", peaked at #22 later that year, but no other U.S. Top 40 singles followed.

Chart history

Weekly charts

;? and the Mysterians

;The Stranglers

Year-end charts

Personnel

• Rudy Martinez (Question Mark) – vocals
• Frank Rodriguez – Vox Continental organ
• Bobby Balderrama – lead guitar
• Frank Lugo – bass guitar
• Eddie Serrato – drums

Other versions

• A Spanish version of the song was also recorded by ? and the Mysterians.
• Big Maybelle released a version of the song as a single in 1967 that reached #23 on the US R&B chart and #96 on the US pop chart.
• Aretha Franklin released a version of the song on her second Atlantic studio album Aretha Arrives in 1967.
• Thelma Houston released a version of the song as a single in 1981 that reached #22 on the US dance chart and #76 on the US R&B chart.
• Garland Jeffreys released a version of the song as a single and track from his album "Escape Artist" in 1981 that reached #5 on the US rock chart, #66 on the US pop chart, and #75 on the US dance chart.
• Inspiral Carpets released a version on “Plane Crash EP” in 1988.
• The Stranglers released a version that reached #17 in the UK Singles Chart in 1990.{{cite book

Cultural references

In addition to its impact on music, "96 Tears" has influenced pop culture, including the naming of a bar in New York City’s East Village. The bar, also called "96 Tears", is inspired by the song and its iconic place in garage rock history.

The song is also mentioned on the B-52s song “Deadbeat Club.”

Andrew Eldtritch, lead singer / song-writer in the Sisters of Mercy, references 96 Tears in the line '96 below the waves' in his band's 1983 release, Temple of Love.

References

References

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5. Billboard Staff. (October 19, 2023). "The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List".
6. Tom Moon. (28 August 2008). "1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die". Workman Publishing Company.
7. [http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=96+Tears+by+Question+Mark+%26+the+Mysterians&id=33829 Question Mark & the Mysterians, "96 Tears" US chart position] Retrieved July 1, 2015
8. link. (2017-12-27 . Retrieved July 1, 2015)
9. [[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966]]
10. "RIAA Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – 96 Tears". [[Recording Industry Association of America]].
11. "Question Mark Bio". pharaohweb.com.
12. (26 February 2014). "The Making of 96 Tears". vice.com.
13. "Question". classicbands.com.
14. Best Classic Bands Staff. "Question Mark + the Mysterians’ 96 Tears: The Riff". Best Classic Bands.
15. "96 Tears by ? & the Mysterians". songfacts.com.
16. Fred Bronson. (October 1, 2003). "Billboard Book of Number One Hits". Billboard Books U.S..
17. [http://musicvf.com/Question+Mark+%2526+the+Mysterians.art Question Mark & the Mysterians, chart positions] Retrieved July 1, 2015
18. "Billboard Hits Of The World".
19. link. (2017-12-27 . Retrieved July 1, 2015)
20. (1966-09-17). "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70". InfoDisc.
21. [http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19661022.html Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 22, 1966]
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25. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 24, 1966".
26. "Question Mark: Library of Congress copyright registrations indicate that his birth name is Rudy Martinez". 96tears.net.
27. [http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=96+Tears+by+Big+Maybelle&id=4644 Big Maybelle, "96 Tears" chart positions] Retrieved July 1, 2015
28. (4 August 1967). "Aretha Franklin - Aretha Arrives".
29. [http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=96+Tears+by+Thelma+Houston&id=45849 Thelma Houston, "96 Tears" chart positions] Retrieved July 1, 2015
30. [http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=96+Tears+by+Garland+Jeffreys&id=16876 Garland Jeffreys, "96 Tears" chart positions] Retrieved July 1, 2015
31. "Escape Artist - Garland Jeffreys | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".
32. Bob Krasner. (November 30, 2022). "New East Village bar 96 Tears full of rock-and-roll spirit". amNewYork.
33. Andrewspublished, Mark. (2023-05-11). "The Sisters of Mercy’s Andrew Eldritch thinks ‘Fear of the Dark’ by Iron Maiden is like a Sisters cover version".