{{Short description|1966 single by Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Use British English|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox song | name = Hi! Hi! Hazel | cover = Geno Washington Hi Hi Hazel.jpg | alt = | caption = | type = single | artist = Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band | album = | B-side = Beach Bash | released = {{start date|1966|7|15|df=yes}}<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Coulter |first=Phil |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jZexDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT91 |title=Bruised, Never Broken |date=2019-10-11 |publisher=Gill & Macmillan Ltd |isbn=978-0-7171-8415-6 |pages= |language=en}}</ref> | recorded = 1966 | studio = Pye Studios, London | venue = | genre = Soul | length = {{duration|m=3|s=21}} | label = Piccadilly | writer = *Bill Martin *Phil Coulter | producer = John Schroeder | prev_title = Water | prev_year = 1966 | next_title = Que Sera Sera | next_year = 1966 }}
"'''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.<ref name="ukrrgeno"/><ref name="ukrrtroggs"/>
==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.<ref name=":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".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dunbavan |first=Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PZjFDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT404 |title=An Avid's Guide to Sixties Songwriters |date=2017-02-28 |publisher=AuthorHouse |isbn=978-1-5246-3345-5 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bell |first=Robin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=trymCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT197 |title=The History of British Rock and Roll: The Beat Boom 1963 - 1966 |date=2016-02-13 |publisher=Lulu Press, Inc |isbn=978-91-981916-6-0 |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geno Washington And The Ram Jam Band - Hi! Hi! Hazel |url=https://www.45cat.com/record/7n35329 |website=45cat|access-date=2022-10-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mar-Keys - |url=https://www.45cat.com/record/s156 |website=45cat|access-date=2022-10-10}}</ref>
"Hi! Hi! Hazel" spent four weeks on the ''Record Retailer'' chart, peaking at number 45.<ref name="ukrrgeno" /> It charted higher at number 38 on the ''Melody Maker'' chart and number 40 on the ''Disc and Music Echo'' chart.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":0" /> An edited version of the song was also released as a single in the US, though failed to chart.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geno Washington And The Ram Jam Band - Hi! Hi! Hazel |url=https://www.45cat.com/record/cg273 |website=45cat|access-date=2022-10-10}}</ref> In February 1967, an EP by the band entitled ''Hi!'', which included the song, peaked at number 7 on the ''Record Retailer'' EP chart.<ref>{{Cite web |title=everyHit.com - UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts |url=https://www.everyhit.com/ |access-date=2022-10-10 |website=www.everyhit.com}}</ref>
''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".<ref>{{cite magazine |date=16 July 1966 |title=New Singles |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/66/Record-Mirror-1966-07-16.pdf |magazine=Record Mirror |page=9 |access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref> ''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".<ref>{{cite magazine |date=16 July 1966 |title=New records |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/60s/66/Melody-Maker-1966-07-16.pdf |magazine=Melody Maker |page=13 |access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref>
==Charts== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1966) !Peak<br/>position |- !scope="row" |UK ''Disc and Music Echo'' Top 50<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine|date=27 August 1966|title=Top 50|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Disc/1966/DISC-Music-Echo-1966-08-27.pdf|magazine=Disc and Music Echo|page=3|access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref> |40 |- !scope="row" |UK ''Melody Maker'' Top 50<ref name=":4">{{cite magazine|date=20 August 1966|title=Pop 50|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/60s/66/Melody-Maker-1966-0820.pdf|magazine=Melody Maker|page=2|access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref> |38 |- !scope="row" |UK ''Record Retailer'' Top 50<ref name="ukrrgeno">{{Cite web |title=GENO WASHINGTON AND HIS RAM JAM BAND {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/12522/geno-washington-and-his-ram-jam-band/ |access-date=2022-10-10 |website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref> |45 |}
==The Troggs version== {{Infobox song | name = Hi Hi Hazel | cover = The Troggs Hi Hi Hazel.jpg | alt = | caption = Norwegian picture sleeve | type = single | artist = the Troggs | album = From Nowhere | B-side = As I Ride By | released = {{start date|1967|7|14|df=yes}}<ref>{{cite magazine|date=1 July 1967|title=New Troggs disc|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Disc/1967/DISC-&-Music-Echo-1967-07-01.pdf|magazine=Record Mirror|page=6|access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref> | recorded = May 1966 | studio = Olympic, London | venue = | genre = Pop rock | length = {{Duration|m=2|s=47}} | label = Page One | writer = *Bill Martin *Phil Coulter | producer = Larry Page | prev_title = Night of the Long Grass | prev_year = 1967 | next_title = Love Is All Around | next_year = 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.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=16 July 1966 |title=Geno Washington |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Disc/1966/Disc-1966-07-16-S-OCR.pdf |magazine=Disc and Music Echo |page=15 |access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref> The Troggs rendition features lead vocalist Reg Presley on the melodica,<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> and was recorded in May 1966 at Olympic Studios in London.<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><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> 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.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=16 September 1967 |title=No Troggs change |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/60s/67/Melody-Maker-1967-0916.pdf |magazine=Melody Maker |page=3 |access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":2">{{cite magazine |date=19 August 1967 |title=Character studies of the 4 Troggs… |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/67/record-mirror-1967-08-19-s-ocr.pdf |magazine=Record Mirror |page=12 |access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite magazine |date=November 1967 |title=New Troggs Attack On Charts |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Beat-Instrumental/6711-Beat-Instrumental-1967-11-OCR.pdf |magazine=Beat Instrumental |page=12 |access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref>
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.<ref name="ukrrtroggs"/> 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".<ref name=":2" /> 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".<ref name=":3" /><ref name="ukrrtroggs"/>
===Charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1967) !Peak<br />position |- !scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name=":5">{{cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1940–1969|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. |year=2005|isbn=0-646-44439-5|title-link=Kent Music Report}}</ref> |81 |- {{singlechart|Germany|36|artist=The Troggs|song=Hi Hi Hazel|songid=216756|rowheader=true}} |- {{singlechart|Dutch40|39|artist=The Troggs|song=Hi Hi Hazel|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row" |UK ''Record Retailer'' Top 50<ref name="ukrrtroggs">{{Cite web |title=TROGGS {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/12473/troggs/ |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref> |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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |title=Top Pop Singles 1955–2008 |publisher=Record Research |year=2009 |isbn=9780898201802 |page=383 |author-link=Joel Whitburn}}</ref> * 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.<ref name=":5" />
==References== {{reflist}}
{{The Troggs}} {{authority control}}
Category:1966 singles Category:1967 singles Category:1966 songs Category:Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band songs Category:The Troggs songs Category:Piccadilly Records singles Category:Songs written by Phil Coulter Category:Songs written by Bill Martin (songwriter) Category:Song recordings produced by John Schroeder (musician)