Hi Hi Hazel

"Hi Hi Hazel" was a minor hit for Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band in 1966. It also was a hit for The Troggs.

Background[]

The song was written by Martin and Coulter. The first act to record the song were the UK soul act Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band. Even though the record didn't quite make the UK Top 40, the charting of the song by Geno & Co. was the first success that Martin & Coulter had as a song writing team.^[1] This was the third release for The Ram Jam Band and the second single for them as Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band. It was also the second hit for the group.^[2] It was released in the UK on Piccadilly 7N 35329. It was backed with an instrumental "Beach Bash", previously recorded by The Mar-Keys and written by Ben Branch, Al Jackson Jr. and Steve Cropper.^[3][4][5] In the US, it was released in the US on the Kapp label.^[6]

Chart info[]

In the UK, the song spent four weeks in the charts and on July 27, 1966, it peaked at #45. In the US, the only group to chart with the song was Gary & the Hornets, in late 1966, on the Smash label.^[7]

The Troggs version[]

The Troggs had their single released on Page One POF 030. It was backed with a Ronnie Bond composition, "As I Ride By". The release by The Troggs on July 14, 1967 was almost a year to the day from the time Geno Washington & the Jam Jam Band released theirs which was on July 15, 1966.^[8][9]

Chart[]

Similar to Geno & Co., the version by The Troggs also missed out on the UK Top 40. Their version spent three weeks in the chart and peaked at #45 on August 1, 1967.^[10][11]

References[]