96 Tears

2025-09-29T18:32:35Z

82.69.78.42: Added a pop culture reference

{{short description|1966 single by ? and the Mysterians}}
{{Infobox song
| name = 96 Tears
| image = 96 Tears by (Question mark) and the Mysterians US vinyl.png
| alt =
| border = yes
| caption = One of side-A labels of US single release
| type = single
| artist = [[? and the Mysterians]]
| album = [[96 Tears (album)|96 Tears]]
| B-side = Midnight Hour
| released = August {{Start date|1966}}
| recorded = 1966 in Bay City, Michigan
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|[[Garage rock]]<ref>{{cite book|author=Bill Dahl|title=Motown: The Golden Years: More than 100 rare photographs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8JRHnCMUVb8C&pg=PA300|access-date=16 October 2015|date=28 February 2011|publisher=Krause Publications|isbn=978-1-4402-2783-7|page=300}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Chris Morris|title=Billboard|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_7QkEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=16 October 2015|date=8 November 1997|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_7QkEAAAAMBAJ/page/n67 68]|issn=0006-2510}}</ref><ref name= "RS 2004">{{cite book |chapter= Nuggets|last= Seward|first= Scott|title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]] |year=2004 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages = 918–919}}</ref>|[[pop rock]]<ref>{{cite book|author=Gary Hartman|title=The History of Texas Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d3vlqWvTDfgC&pg=PA207|access-date=16 October 2015|date=8 March 2008|publisher=Texas A&M University Press|isbn=978-1-60344-002-8|page=207}}</ref><ref name= "Billboard Pop 500">{{cite magazine|last= Billboard Staff|title= The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List|magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url= https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-pop-songs-all-time-hits/|date= October 19, 2023|accessdate= February 16, 2024|quote= One of the most perfect one-off smashes in pop-rock history...}}</ref>|[[psychedelic rock]]<ref>{{cite book|author=Tom Moon|title=1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die|url=https://archive.org/details/1000recordingsto00moon_0|url-access=registration|access-date=16 October 2015|date=28 August 2008|publisher=Workman Publishing Company|isbn=978-0-7611-5385-6|page=[https://archive.org/details/1000recordingsto00moon_0/page/806 806]}}</ref>}}
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=56}}
| label = {{hlist|Pa-Go-Go|[[Cameo-Parkway Records|Cameo-Parkway]]}}
| writer = [[Rudy Martinez]]
| producer = Rudy Martinez
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = I Need Somebody
| next_year = 1966
| misc = {{Audio sample
| type = single
| file =
}}
}}

"'''96 Tears'''" is a song recorded by the American [[garage rock]] band [[? and the Mysterians]] in 1966 (''see'' [[1966 in music]]). In October of that year, it was #1 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in the U.S.<ref>[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</ref> and on the [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'' 100]] in Canada.<ref>[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5766&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=98q6tcgku7546lsrfi3gr83pp7 Question Mark & the Mysterians, "96 Tears" Canadian chart position] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227122754/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5766&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=98q6tcgku7546lsrfi3gr83pp7 |date=2017-12-27 }}. Retrieved July 1, 2015</ref> ''Billboard'' ranked the record as the #5 song for 1966.<ref>[[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966]]</ref> It was ranked #213 on the ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' list of the [[500 Greatest Songs of All Time]] in 2010. On November 11, 1966, the single was certified as gold by the RIAA.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%2296+Tears%22|title= RIAA Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – 96 Tears|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=October 16, 2015}}</ref>

==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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pharaohweb.com/Qmark/bio.html|title=Question Mark Bio|work=pharaohweb.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031040228/http://www.pharaohweb.com/Qmark/bio.html|archive-date=2012-10-31|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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-Parkway Records|Cameo Records]] for national distribution.<ref name=vice>{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/question-mark--the-mysterians---the-making-of-96-tears/|title=The Making of 96 Tears|work=vice.com|date=26 February 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.classicbands.com/question.html|title=Question|work=classicbands.com}}</ref>

Various reports have suggested that Question Mark first wrote the song under the title "Too Many Teardrops" and then "[[69 (sex position)|69]] Tears", but then changed the title, fearing that radio stations would not play the song.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bestclassicbands.com/question-mark-mysterians-96-tears-8-21-16 | title=Question Mark + the Mysterians’ 96 Tears: The Riff |author=Best Classic Bands Staff|accessdate=2025-02-11|publisher=Best Classic Bands}}</ref> However, Question Mark denied this in an interview, stating that the number 96 has a deep philosophical meaning for him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1796|title=96 Tears by ? & the Mysterians|work=songfacts.com}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Billboard Book of Number One Hits|author=Fred Bronson|publisher=Billboard Books U.S.|page=?|edition=5th|date=October 1, 2003|isbn=978-0823076772}}</ref> In [[Vice Media]], [[Legs McNeil]] said "96 Tears" is "a safe candidate for first punk rock song ever."<ref name=vice/>

The song appeared on the band's album ''[[96 Tears (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.<ref>[http://musicvf.com/Question+Mark+%2526+the+Mysterians.art Question Mark & the Mysterians, chart positions] Retrieved July 1, 2015</ref>

==Chart history==
{{col-begin|width=67%}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
;? and the Mysterians
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1966)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|{{single chart|Austria|11|artist=? (QUESTION MARK) & THE MYSTERIANS|song=96 Tears}}
|-
|{{single chart|Wallonia|20|artist=? (Question Mark) & The Mysterians|song=96 Tears}}
|-
|Brazil (''[[O Globo]]'')<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Billboard Hits Of The World |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1967/Billboard%201967-01-21.pdf |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |issue=January 21, 1967 |page=66}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|3
|-
|Canada ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles<ref>[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5766&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=98q6tcgku7546lsrfi3gr83pp7 Question Mark & the Mysterians, "96 Tears" Canadian chart position] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227122754/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5766&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=98q6tcgku7546lsrfi3gr83pp7 |date=2017-12-27 }}. Retrieved July 1, 2015</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|France ([[Institut français d'opinion publique|IFOP]])<ref>{{cite web|title= Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70 |publisher= InfoDisc |date=1966-09-17 |access-date=22 December 2019 |url=http://infodisc.fr/Tubes_Artistes_Q.php/Tubes_Artiste_Choisi.php |language= fr}}</ref>
|align="center"|7
|-
{{single chart|UK|37|artist=? (Question Mark) & The Mysterians|song=96 Tears|date=19661207}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Question Mark The Mysterians}}
|-
|US [[Cash Box (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top 100<ref>[http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19661022.html Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 22, 1966]</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|US ''[[Record World]]'' 100 Top Pops<ref>{{Cite journal|title=100 Top Pops|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/66/RW-1966-10-22-Chart.pdf|journal=[[Record World]]|issue=October 22, 1966}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|West Germany ([[Media Control]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-18256|access-date=2022-08-18|website=www.offiziellecharts.de}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" |27
|-
|}
;The Stranglers
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (1990)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|{{singlechart|Ireland2|9|song=96 Tears|access-date=December 23, 2019}}
|-
|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]
| style="text-align:center;"|17
|-
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (1966)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>[http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1966.htm Musicoutfitters.com]</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
|U.S. ''Cash Box'' <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1966YESP.html |title=Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 24, 1966 |access-date=December 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217030153/http://www.tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1966YESP.html |archive-date=February 17, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|19
|-
|}
{{col-end}}

==Personnel==
*Rudy Martinez (Question Mark) – vocals<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.96tears.net/q|title=Question Mark: Library of Congress copyright registrations indicate that his birth name is Rudy Martinez|publisher=96tears.net|access-date=2014-04-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408214515/http://www.96tears.net/q|archive-date=2014-04-08|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
*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 [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US R&B chart]] and #96 on the US pop chart.<ref>[http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=96+Tears+by+Big+Maybelle&id=4644 Big Maybelle, "96 Tears" chart positions] Retrieved July 1, 2015</ref>
*[[Aretha Franklin]] released a version of the song on her second Atlantic studio album ''[[Aretha Arrives]]'' in 1967.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/Aretha-Franklin-Aretha-Arrives/release/576339 |title=Aretha Franklin - Aretha Arrives |website=www.discogs.com |date=4 August 1967 |access-date=November 3, 2016}}</ref>
*[[Thelma Houston]] released a version of the song as a single in 1981 that reached #22 on the [[Hot Dance Club Songs|US dance chart]] and #76 on the US R&B chart.<ref>[http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=96+Tears+by+Thelma+Houston&id=45849 Thelma Houston, "96 Tears" chart positions] Retrieved July 1, 2015</ref>
*[[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 [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|US rock chart]], #66 on the US pop chart, and #75 on the US dance chart.<ref>[http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=96+Tears+by+Garland+Jeffreys&id=16876 Garland Jeffreys, "96 Tears" chart positions] Retrieved July 1, 2015</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/escape-artist-mw0000310354 |title=Escape Artist - Garland Jeffreys | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic |website=www.allmusic.com |access-date=November 3, 2016}}</ref>
*[[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.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= [[British Hit Singles & Albums]]
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 535}}</ref>

== 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, Manhattan|East Village]]. The bar, also called "96 Tears", is inspired by the song and its iconic place in garage rock history.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.amny.com/new-york/manhattan/the-villager/east-village-bar-96-tears | title=New East Village bar 96 Tears full of rock-and-roll spirit |author=Bob Krasner|date=November 30, 2022|publisher=amNewYork}}</ref>

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

==See also==
* [[List of one-hit wonders in the United States#1960s|List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://genius.com/And-the-mysterians-96-tears-lyrics Lyrics of this song]
* {{YouTube|sjCMLU3Zil0|? and the Mysterians - 96 Tears}}
* {{YouTube|O7B-HBqmasg|The Stranglers - 96 Tears}}
* [https://96tearsnyc.com Official website of 96 Tears bar]

{{Thelma Houston}}
{{The Stranglers}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1966 songs]]
[[Category:1966 debut singles]]
[[Category:1966 singles]]
[[Category:1981 singles]]
[[Category:1990 singles]]
[[Category:? and the Mysterians songs]]
[[Category:The Stranglers songs]]
[[Category:Eddie and the Hot Rods songs]]
[[Category:Thelma Houston songs]]
[[Category:American pop rock songs]]
[[Category:American psychedelic rock songs]]
[[Category:American punk rock songs]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Cashbox number-one singles]]
[[Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:Cameo-Parkway Records singles]]
[[Category:RCA Records singles]]
[[Category:Epic Records singles]]

wiki143 - User contributions [en]

96 Tears