Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
*****
When spinning Thelma Houston's well done 1981 disco remake of the ? and the Mysterians #1 song 96 TEARS you'll notice it was written by R. Martinez ...
.... but this is not our own Ray Martinez of TK fame... it was written by Rudy Martinez ..... or " ? " as he is legally referred ...
96 Tears
by Question Mark and the Mysterians
Date: 1966
U.S. Chart: 1
U.K. Chart: 37
Songfacts:
"?" was Rudy Martinez, the composer of the song who wanted to be anonymous. At one point he referred to the individual band members only by three-letter names. The mystery helped market the group, who wore dark glasses to add to the intrigue.
All five members of the group were from families who migrated from Mexico to work in the Saginaw Valley in Michigan. The song was originally called "Too Many Teardrops." The group wanted a more commercial-sounding name and changed it to "69 Tears." Concerns about a possible lack of airplay resulted in one more name change, to "96 Tears." The record was taped in a converted living room in Bay City, Michigan. 8)
The band then had the Texas-based Pa-Go-Go Records press 500 copies so they could distribute them to the DJ's in southern Michigan. The song became the most requested record on WTAC Flint, and KCLW Detroit. Cameo Records, having solvency problems, picked up the record after one of its staffers heard it on CKLW radio.
from songfacts.com
*****
Last edited by remicks; August 26th, 2006 at 06:40 AM.
you'd still be waiting for me at the airport
while my ship was coming in
Underground Hit [Level 5]
I have a soul version of "96 Tears" by Big Maybelle. It came out in the U.K. in 67' on C.B.S. on Rojack in the U.S.The big track off that album is a Northern Soul favourite "Quittin' Time".
Gold Record [Level 7]
It was time someone mentioned Thelma's wonderful version! Which was the first I heard when I was a teenager. Thelma's vocal infuse drama and tension, and the arrangement makes it very funky and danceable (listen to that bass).
Some years ago I found the original by ? and The Mysterians (one of Lester Bangs favorite bands), it's mostly a Sixties ditty but amiable anyway. The interesting fact is that the ? moniker was created to disguise that these were actual Mexicans trying pop tunes for the WASP market.
It don't mean a thing (if ain't got that swing)
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
*****
THELMA HOUSTON 96 TEARS
*****
you'd still be waiting for me at the airport
while my ship was coming in
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Love Thelma's version.
In the UK the 12" issue was her shorter LP version, I was soooooo happy when I discovered the US 12" which is the longer remix above about 2-3 years after it first came out.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
On the lp (Never Gonna be Another One) Thelma Houston covered «Don't make me over». It's a nice version even if Tobin/Piccirillo production is not very good. Of course the highlight of this album is the excellent «If You Feel It» (disco #6 in April 1981)
Underground Hit [Level 5]
The highlight for me was always - Too many teardrops, love it.:icon_smile:
Triple Platinum Record [Level 10]
I'd rank Thelma's version of "96 Tears" as my second fave recording by her, after her classic "Don't Leave Me This Way" at #1 and before the lovely "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning" @ #3. :icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin:
Trocadero played "96 Tears" [I know that's where I heard it] and to me it defines what I thought of as "SLEAZE" back in the day.... that dirty beat, that sexy bassline and the hooky, insistent rutting keyboard chords... plus her great vocal = dancefloor delight for me!!!:icon_exclaim:
I wish it had done better on the charts--peaked @ #22 in late 1981....but it's never on any cd compilations!
:icon_evil::icon_evil::icon_evil:
"Lost inside adorable illusion...."
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
Originally Written by markydefad
None of Thelma's 80s stuff ever gets onto compilations.:icon_evil: At least 'Qualifying Heat' is on CD at last.
...ya gotta beat the street......
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
96 Tears was also done by UK group The Stranglers & it was quite a big hit here.
...ya gotta beat the street......
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Thanks Remicks for introducing me to Thelma's cover! I didn't know it existed and really like it.
The interesting thing to me is that it was released in 1981 which seemed to be the year where the majority of dance releases were soul and funk-based or new wavish but this can't be categorized either way. I'm thinking it would have mixed nicely with Lipps Inc's How Long and maybe in early '82 with Sinnamon's Thanks To You...was it early or late '81? I remember that 1981 was the year where I was desperate to find anything disco!
Dancin' helps relieve the pain, soothes your mind, makes you happy again
Triple Platinum Record [Level 10]
DK....it entered the chart in October, 1981......
I used it on a tape with the likes of Sylvia Striplin's "Give Me Your Love," Denise LaSalle's "I'm So Hot", Geraldine Hunt's "Can't Fake The Feeling" and --specifically for the "cry/tears" motif-- with Precious Wilson's cover of the old Solomon Burke classic "Cry To Me"
Oh and Brandi Wells' "Watch Out."
"Lost inside adorable illusion...."
Chart Hit [Level 6]
That's interesting....for some reason I would have thought early '81 but it's cool to know there still was an interest in making straightforward disco/dance releases at the end of that year.
Can't Fake The Feeling was so hot and I believe the #1 Billboard Disco hit of '81 but it definitely epitomizes the funkier sound predominating in that year. Perhaps that's the reason why Thelma couldn't get much higher than #22. I'm also thinking it would have fit nicely in and around 1984 - '85....thinking Dan Hartman's I Can Dream About You. Timing is everything!
Dancin' helps relieve the pain, soothes your mind, makes you happy again
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Hey Marky et al:
There was a budget 3 disc 30 track compilation that BMG put out in 2004 called Real 80's R&B. It featured Thelma Houston's "96 Tears" but only in its abridged 3:29 form. There were companion sets BMG released for the 70's and 60's and most focused on Arista/RCA material. It was hit or miss yet diverse in style but there were hard to find tracks on each.
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
. 
. 
My pleasure DK !discokicks:
Thanks Remicks for introducing me to Thelma's cover! I didn't know it existed and really like it.
I agree with your #1 , #2 , #3 rankings . While SATURDAY NIGHT SUNDAY MORNING did really well at The Troc too ... great story line .... there's something about it ( haven't tried to really dissect it though) so that I can't get as fully behind it . Sort of a sloppily arranged song I think ....I'd rank Thelma's version of "96 Tears" as my second fave recording by her, after her classic "Don't Leave Me This Way" at #1 and before the lovely "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning" @ #3. :icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin:
Trocadero played "96 Tears" [I know that's where I heard it] and to me it defines what I thought of as "SLEAZE" back in the day.... that dirty beat, that sexy bassline and the hooky, insistent rutting keyboard chords... plus her great vocal = dancefloor delight for me!!!
I wish it had done better on the charts--peaked @ #22 in late 1981....but it's never on any cd compilations!
:icon_evil::icon_evil::icon_evil:
96 TEARS was one of those amiable songs that kept the night flowing ...not one that would make you run to the dance floor .... but it didn't chase people away either ....
________________________
these days I'm much more forgiving of this song's similarities to that "other one" ... and play it because of its familiar sound . That piano at the end ...at the six minute point ... should've featured that throughout the song so as to help give it a prevailing special flavor ........
I'M HERE AGAIN
_______________________
and since we're now entering an ongoing love fest with Thelma on Marky's charts ......might as well check out this other charting song of hers from the DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY period....
This one NYC likes :
DON'T KNOW WHY I LOVE YOU
sounds like something one might respond well to in an "at a bar during an afternoon" kind of way .....
*****
Last edited by remicks; July 26th, 2008 at 03:42 AM.
you'd still be waiting for me at the airport
while my ship was coming in
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