{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Use British English|date=May 2012}} {{Infobox album | name = From Nowhere | type = studio | artist = the Troggs | cover = Troggs From Nowhere (UK version).jpg | alt = | released = 22 July 1966 | recorded = February – May 1966 | venue = | studio = Olympic Sound, London | genre = *Garage rock *R&B | length = 30:33 | label = Fontana | producer = Larry Page | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Trogglodynamite | next_year = 1967 | misc = {{Singles | name = From Nowhere | type = studio | single1 = Wild Thing | single1date = 22 April 1966 }} }} '''''From Nowhere''''' is the debut album by the English band the Troggs, released in 1966. It was released with an alternative track listing as ''Wild Thing'' in the United States. The album reached number six on the UK ''Record Retailer'' Albums Chart and number 52 on the US ''Billboard'' Top LP's chart.
== Background and production == ''From Nowhere'' was preceded by the release of "Wild Thing" on 22 April 1966, with "From Home" on the B-side.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bird |first=Angela |date=4 June 1966 |title=Here's the Story of the Country Boys (the Troggs) and a Wicked City (London) |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/66/Record-Mirror-1966-06-04.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250426063159/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/66/Record-Mirror-1966-06-04.pdf |archive-date=26 April 2025 |access-date=14 January 2026 |magazine=Record Mirror |page=10 |format=PDF |via=WorldRadioHistory}}</ref>{{Sfn|Barnes|1992|p=3}}
According to drummer Ronnie Bond, Reg Presley was writing songs aimed for the album whilst recording it in the studio; this practice irritated manager Larry Page, who repeatedly quipped "'Reg, have you finished it yet?"<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine |last=Harry |first=Bill |date=23 July 1966 |title=The Main Ingredient |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/66/Record-Mirror-1966-07-23.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241221162059/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/66/Record-Mirror-1966-07-23.pdf |archive-date=21 December 2024 |access-date=13 January 2026 |magazine=Record Mirror |page=7 |format=PDF |via=WorldRadioHistory}}</ref> With the exception of "Wild Thing", which had been recorded in February 1966, ''From Nowhere'' was recorded in just "just three and a half hours brief" at Olympic Sound Studios in London.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Sutcliffe |first=Phil |date=July 2011 |title=The Troggs: The Missing Links |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-troggs-the-missing-links |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211115706/https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-troggs-the-missing-links |archive-date=11 February 2023 |access-date=19 January 2026 |magazine=Mojo |via=Rock's Backpages}}</ref> The sessions were held in late May, with sessions on the 30th and 31st.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Anon. |date=21 May 1966 |title=Troggs Chart Jump |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/60s/66/Melody-Maker-1966-05-21.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241221113906/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/60s/66/Melody-Maker-1966-05-21.pdf |archive-date=21 December 2024 |access-date=19 January 2026 |magazine=Melody Maker |page=5 |format=PDF |via=WorldRadioHistory}}</ref> Of the recording process, Pete Staples commented that certain tracks ("With a Girl Like You") took half an hour to record, though others "took as long as two hours" to be taped.<ref name=":6">{{Cite magazine |last=Crofts |first=Mike |date=September 1966 |title=Troggs No Longer Scared |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Beat-Instrumental/6609-Beat-Instrumental-1966-09-OCR.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251113083127/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Beat-Instrumental/6609-Beat-Instrumental-1966-09-OCR.pdf |archive-date=13 November 2025 |access-date=19 January 2026 |magazine=Beat Instrumental |page=15 |format=PDF |via=WorldRadioHistory |issue=9}}</ref> The hastiness was a result of the band having rehearsed the songs before recording them.<ref name=":6" /> As with the rest of their 1966–67 output, the album was produced by Page for his Page One production company.{{Sfn|Barnes|1992|p=23}} The photo on the sleeve was taken at Cheddar Caves, Somerset, on 22 May 1966.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blandiver |first=Jack |date=27 May 1966 |title=Top Pop Group Visits Caves |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001625/19660527/026/0026 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260113214917/https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001625/19660527/026/0026?__cf_chl_rt_tk=ZOEzLapHmFXOgFMVWe2HSD9ES9kgZ9Cxm6VlmC2TJyw-1768340957-1.0.1.1-JcPEFfKYDuQC.XLvHWelArnaSYzoQRVfrEijuBhu0a8 |archive-date=13 January 2026 |access-date=13 January 2026 |work=Shepton Mallet Journal |page=26 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref>
== Music == {{quote box | quote = They [the Troggs] have experimented with other sounds. The whistling sound on the record ["Wild Thing"] was obtained by the introduction of an ocarina, which is the cross between a whistle and a flute. "We're always on the lookout for different instruments, no matter how strange they may seem", he [Reg Presley] continued. | source = — Reg Presley and Kirwan Barry (1966)<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Barry |first=Kirwan |date=June 1966 |title=Troggs Want Different Sounds... |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Beat-Instrumental/6606-Beat-Instrumental-1966-06-OCR.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241221102815/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Beat-Instrumental/6606-Beat-Instrumental-1966-06-OCR.pdf |archive-date=21 December 2024 |access-date=13 January 2026 |magazine=Beat Instrumental |page=39 |format=PDF |via=WorldRadioHistory |issue=6}}</ref> | align = left | width = 25% | bgcolor = #E0E6F8 | style = padding:8px; }}Lead vocalist Reg Presley wrote five of the tracks on ''From Nowhere'',<ref name=":3" /> with the rest of the album being composed of cover songs.{{Sfn|Welch|2003|pp=9–10}} According to journalist Chris Welch, The Troggs fondness for R&B is reflected in the selection of the covers.{{Sfn|Welch|2003|p=4}} Annie Black of ''Paste Magazine'' described the style: "No two songs on this album are alike. 'The Kitty Cat Song' is a tongue-in-cheek, cautionary metaphor, and 'I Just Sing' serves up a jungle beat matched by a tinkly organ, while 'Hi Hi Hazel' is borderline psychedelic."<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |last=Black |first=Annie |date=29 January 2018 |title=The 50 best garage rock albums of all time |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/garage-rock/the-50-best-garage-rock-albums-of-all-time |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251210061920/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/garage-rock/the-50-best-garage-rock-albums-of-all-time |archive-date=10 December 2025 |access-date=13 January 2026 |magazine=Paste Magazine}}</ref>
''From Nowhere'' differs substantially in the track listing of its US counterpart ''Wild Thing'', with eight of the 12 tracks remaining the same.<ref name="allmusic review">{{cite web |last=Unterberger |first=Richie |author-link=Richie Unterberger |title=From Nowhere Review by Richie Unterberger |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/from-nowhere-mw0001965846 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513005813/https://www.allmusic.com/album/from-nowhere-mw0001965846 |archive-date=13 May 2021 |accessdate=28 August 2017 |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> For the US release, the four cover songs "The Kitty Cat Song", "Ride Your Pony", "Louie Louie", and "Jaguar and Thunderbird" were removed.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Unterberger |first=Richie |author-link=Richie Unterberger |title=From Nowhere/Trogglodynamite Review by Richie Unterberger |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/from-nowhere-trogglodynamite-mw0000459794 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513171455/https://www.allmusic.com/album/from-nowhere-trogglodynamite-mw0000459794 |archive-date=13 May 2022 |access-date=13 January 2026 |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> These were instead replaced by four other songs:<ref name=":2" /> "Lost Girl", which had been released as the Troggs British debut single in February 1966,{{Sfn|Barnes|1992|p=3, 8}} "With a Girl Like You", which had been a top-30 hit single in both the UK and the US,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Unterberger |first=Richie |author-link=Richie Unterberger |title=With a Girl Like You Review by Richie Unterberger |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/with-a-girl-like-you-mt0026646105 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513171447/https://www.allmusic.com/song/with-a-girl-like-you-mt0026646105 |archive-date=13 May 2022 |access-date=13 January 2026 |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> "I Want You", the B-side of "With a Girl Like You" in the UK,{{Sfn|Barnes|1992|p=3}} and "Your Love", which had been composed by Page together with Michael Julien.{{Sfn|Welch|2003|p=2, 9}}
==Release and reception== ''From Nowhere'' was rush-released in the UK on 22 July 1966 to tie in with the group's sudden popularity.<ref>{{Cite news |last=London |first=Sue |date=22 July 1966 |title=Pop News by Sue London |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001922/19660722/039/0002 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260113194347/https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/web/20260113194347/https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001922/19660722/039/0002 |archive-date=13 January 2026 |access-date=13 January 2026 |work=Bognor Regis Observer |page=2 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> The album was re-released in 2003 with an altered track list and five bonus tracks by Repertoire Records.{{Sfn|Welch|2003|loc=Back cover}}
Writing for ''Record Mirror'', Peter Jones found the album to have a "powerful dance beat" throughout.<ref name=":3">{{Cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Jones (journalist) |date=30 July 1966 |title=Wild Sounds on Powerful New LP by the Troggs |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/66/Record-Mirror-1966-07-30.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251113153948/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/66/Record-Mirror-1966-07-30.pdf |archive-date=13 November 2025 |access-date=13 January 2026 |magazine=Record Mirror |page=6 |format=PDF |via=WorldRadioHistory}}</ref> Jones criticizes both Presley's vocal performance as "nasal" and "harsh", and puts additional critique towards the instrumental backing, which he finds thin.<ref name=":3" /> Despite this, he felt that the musical variety on the album makes up for these blunders, and noted Lee Dorsey's influence on it.<ref name=":3" /> He ended his review by stating the album to be a "ponderous and powerful LP" and a "very good debut album".<ref name=":3" /> Although Penny Valentine of ''Disc and Music Echo'' felt the album was good, she believed Presley's tracks to be superior to the covers.<ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine |last=Valentine |first=Penny |author-link=Penny Valentine |date=30 July 1966 |title=Troggs – From Nowhere |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Disc/1966/Disc-1966-07-30-S-OCR.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241221101247/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Disc/1966/Disc-1966-07-30-S-OCR.pdf |archive-date=21 December 2024 |access-date=13 January 2026 |magazine=Disc and Music Echo |page=11 |format=PDF |via=WorldRadioHistory}}</ref> Valentine felt that material such as "Ride Your Pony" and "Louie Louie" had "been done and done" and were still a "bore" despite arrangements.<ref name=":4" /> Nonetheless, she praises Presley's vocal performance as "funny, precise hip-swinging" and singles out "Our Love Will Still Be There" as her favorite track, before closing by stating that ''From Nowhere'' is an interesting LP, "although perhaps not quite as shattering as" she would have hoped.<ref name=":4" />
Annie Black of ''Paste Magazine'' said: "You’ve sung along emphatically to 'Wild Thing' at least once in your life, right? Of course you have. We can give many thanks to The Troggs for that. [...] You can’t help yourself from toe-tapping throughout a full listen. No two songs on this album are alike. [...] Despite the disparities, ''From Nowhere'' flows with miraculous ease, making it simple to see why The Troggs influenced so many great artists, including Ramones."<ref name=":0"/> In Colin Larkin's ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'', he scores this release four out of five stars.<ref name="encyc">{{Cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2011-05-27 |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=9780857125958 |page=1919}}</ref> Randall Roberts of the ''Los Angeles Times'' described the album as an "underappreciated gem".<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Roberts |first=Randalls |date=6 February 2013 |title=Remembering Reg Presley of the Troggs: Unsung hero of rock & roll |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2013-feb-06-la-et-ms-remembering-reg-presley-the-troggs-unsung-hero-rock-roll-20130205-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260114005128/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2013-feb-06-la-et-ms-remembering-reg-presley-the-troggs-unsung-hero-rock-roll-20130205-story.html |archive-date=14 January 2026 |access-date=14 January 2026 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
==Track listing==
=== Original UK release === All tracks written by Reg Presley, unless otherwise noted.{{Sfn|Welch|2003|pp=9–10}} Track lengths adapted from the 2003 re-issue of ''From Nowhere''.{{Sfn|Welch|2003|pp=9–10}}
'''Side one''' #"Wild Thing" (Chip Taylor){{snd}}2:34 #"The Kitty Cat Song" (Jimmy Roach, Joe Spendel){{snd}}2:11 #"Ride Your Pony" (Naomi Neville){{snd}}2:24 #"Hi Hi Hazel" (Bill Martin, Phil Coulter){{snd}}2:43 #"I Just Sing"{{snd}}2:09 #"Evil" (Shelby Singleton Jr.){{snd}}3:13
'''Side two''' #"Our Love Will Still Be There"{{snd}}3:08 #"Louie Louie" (Richard Berry){{snd}}3:01 #"Jingle Jangle"{{snd}}2:26 #"When I'm with You"{{snd}}2:23 #"From Home"{{snd}}2:20 #"Jaguar and Thunderbird" (Chuck Berry){{snd}}2:01
=== Original US release === All tracks written by Reg Presley, unless otherwise noted.{{Sfn|Welch|2003|pp=9–10}} Track lengths adapted from the 2003 re-issue of ''From Nowhere''.{{Sfn|Welch|2003|pp=9–10}}
'''Side one''' #"Wild Thing" (Chip Taylor){{snd}}2:34 #"From Home"{{snd}}2:20 #"I Just Sing"{{snd}}2:09 #"Hi Hi Hazel" (Bill Martin, Phil Coulter) – 2:43 #"Lost Girl"{{snd}}2:31 #"Evil" (Shelby Singleton Jr.){{snd}}3:12
'''Side two''' #"With a Girl Like You"{{snd}}2:05 #"Our Love Will Still Be There"{{snd}}3:08 #"Jingle Jangle"{{snd}}2:26 #"When I'm With You"{{snd}}2:23 #"Your Love" (Larry Page, Michael Julien){{snd}}1:52 #"I Want You" (Larry Page, Colin Frechter){{snd}}2:13
==Personnel== Personnel according to the 2003 re-issue of ''From Nowhere'', unless noted.{{Sfn|Welch|2003|pp=4, 6–7}}
'''The Troggs''' *Reg Presley{{snd}}lead vocals {{small|(all except "Ride Your Pony" and "Jaguar and Thunderbird")}}, ocarina {{small|("Wild Thing")}},<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moore |first=Tony |date=19 November 2015 |title=The mystery behind Wild Thing - one of rock's classic songs |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/the-mystery-behind-wild-thing--one-of-rocks-classic-songs-20151119-gl2v10.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303153229/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/the-mystery-behind-wild-thing--one-of-rocks-classic-songs-20151119-gl2v10.html |archive-date=3 March 2021 |access-date=14 January 2026 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> melodica {{small|("Hi Hi Hazel")}}<ref name=":7">{{Cite magazine |last=Altham |first=Keith |date=1 July 1966 |title=The Troggs: From Nowhere The Troggs |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-troggs-ifrom-nowhere-the-troggsi-fontana |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817134502/https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-troggs-ifrom-nowhere-the-troggsi-fontana |archive-date=17 August 2022 |access-date=19 January 2025 |magazine=New Musical Express |page=10 |via=Rock's Backpages}}</ref> *Chris Britton{{snd}}guitar, lead vocals {{small|("Ride Your Pony")}} *Pete Staples{{snd}}bass *Ronnie Bond{{snd}}drums, lead vocals {{small|("Jaguar and Thunderbird")}} '''Other personnel'''
* Larry Page{{snd}}producer{{Sfn|Barnes|1992|p=23}} * Colin Fretcher{{snd}}ocarina {{small|("Wild Thing")}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Anon. |date=5 February 2013 |orig-date=April 2009 |title=The Making Of… The Troggs' 'Wild Thing' |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/the-making-of-the-troggs-wild-thing-26099/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250803180240/https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/the-making-of-the-troggs-wild-thing-26099/ |archive-date=3 August 2025 |access-date=14 January 2026 |magazine=Uncut}}</ref> * Unknown{{snd}}harpsichord {{small|("I Just Sing" and "Jingle Jangle")}},<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Anon. |date=1 December 2003 |title=The Troggs – From Nowhere |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/the-troggs-from-nowhere-19410/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919182625/https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/the-troggs-from-nowhere-19410/ |archive-date=19 September 2024 |access-date=14 January 2026 |magazine=Uncut}}</ref> piano {{small|("When I'm With You")}}<ref name=":7" />
== Charts == {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+Weekly chart performance for ''From Nowhere / Wild Thing'' ! scope="col" |Chart (1966–67) ! scope="col" |Peak position |- | align="left" |UK ''Disc and Music Echo'' Top Ten LPs<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Anon. |date=3 September 1966 |title=Top Ten LPs |magazine=Disc and Music Echo |page=2}}</ref> | align="center" |5 |- | align="left" |UK ''Melody Maker'' Top Ten LPs<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Anon. |date=3 September 1966 |title=Top Ten LPs |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/60s/66/Melody-Maker-1966-0903-OCR.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250802032450/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/60s/66/Melody-Maker-1966-0903-OCR.pdf |archive-date=2 August 2025 |access-date=13 January 2026 |magazine=Melody Maker |page=2 |format=PDF |via=WorldRadioHistory}}</ref> | align="center" |4 |- | align="left" |UK ''New Musical Express'' Best Selling LPs in Britain<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Anon. |date=26 August 1966 |title=Best Selling LPs in Britain |magazine=New Musical Express |page=5}}</ref> |5 |- | align="left" |UK ''Record Retailer'' LPs Chart<ref>{{Cite web |title=From Nowhere... The Troggs by the Troggs |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/troggs-from-nowherethe-troggs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727041109/https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/troggs-from-nowherethe-troggs/ |archive-date=27 July 2024 |access-date=13 January 2026 |publisher=Official Charts Company}}</ref> |6 |- | align="left" |US ''Billboard'' Top LP's<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Anon. |date=5 November 1966 |title=Top LP's |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1966/Billboard%201966-11-05.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251025020515/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1966/Billboard%201966-11-05.pdf |archive-date=25 October 2025 |access-date=13 January 2026 |magazine=Billboard |page=50 |format=PDF |via=WorldRadioHistory}}</ref> | align="center" |52 |- | align="left" |US ''Cash Box'' Top 100 Albums<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Anon. |date=24 September 1966 |title=Top 100 Albums |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1966/CB-1966-09-24.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220105407/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1966/CB-1966-09-24.pdf |archive-date=20 December 2024 |access-date=13 January 2026 |magazine=Cash Box |page=37 |format=PDF |via=WorldRadioHistory}}</ref> |30 |- | align="left" |US ''Record World'' Top 100 LP's<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Anon. |date=8 October 1966 |title=Top 100 LP's |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/66/RW-1966-10-08.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251108104633/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/66/RW-1966-10-08.pdf |archive-date=8 November 2025 |access-date=13 January 2026 |magazine=Record World |page=20 |format=PDF |via=WorldRadioHistory}}</ref> |37 |- | align="left" |West German Media Control Albums Chart<ref>{{Cite web |title=From Nowhere |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-details-56344 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260113202244/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-details-70002 |archive-date=13 January 2026 |access-date=13 January 2026 |publisher=Offizielle Deutsche Charts |language=de}}</ref> |4 |}
==References== '''Citations'''<references />'''Sources'''
* {{Cite AV media |url= |title=Archeology (1966-1976) |date=1992 |last=Barnes |first=Ken |type=CD |publisher=Fontana |place=United States |id=314 512 936-2}} * {{Cite AV media |url= |title=From Nowhere |date=2003 |last=Welch |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Welch |type=CD |publisher=Repertoire |place=Europe |id=REPUK 1010}} {{The Troggs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:From Nowhere}} Category:1966 debut albums Category:The Troggs albums Category:Fontana Records albums Category:Atco Records albums Category:Repertoire Records albums