Wild Thing -

The Troggs recorded their version in roughly at Olympic Studios in London. Their take added a gritty, unpolished edge and an iconic ocarina solo (imitating a hand-whistle from Taylor's original demo) that gave the song its signature primitive charm.

The Troggs • “Wild Thing” • 1966 [Reelin' In The Years Archive] YouTube · ReelinInTheYears66 Wild Thing

Beyond the charts, "Wild Thing" has been covered by an eclectic range of performers, from to Liz Phair , Cheap Trick , and Hank Williams Jr. . Its enduring appeal lies in its "raw, primal energy"—a simple two-chord riff that continues to symbolize the untamed spirit of rock 'n' roll. The Troggs recorded their version in roughly at

Songwriter Chip Taylor composed "Wild Thing" in late 1965 after being asked by a band called the to write a single. Taylor ad-libbed the lyrics and demoed the song with a raw, stream-of-consciousness feel, even using a tambourine and hand-claps to create a "sexual-kind-of-feeling". Taylor ad-libbed the lyrics and demoed the song

It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 30, 1966.

A recently restored 1982 performance was released as a new music video in 2025 to accompany the expanded edition of their album Long After Dark .