Night Time - The Strangeloves

Night Time - The Strangeloves

3:23

I Want Candy, 1965

Written by Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, and Richard Gottehrer

Here the faux Australian sheep herders deliver a primitive, almost tribal, beat, à la Bo Diddley.  The vocals are more chanted than sung, but there's a bubblegum pop melody underneath the energetic garage rock.  It's catchy, it's hard-driving, it's not exactly symphonic.  But the kids can dance to it.  There have been several cover versions, but I haven't heard any of them.

I Want Candy - The Strangeloves

I Want Candy - The Strangeloves
2:57
single, 1965
Written by Bert Berns, Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer

Some say this song was inspired by dancer Candy Johnson.  I have heard this hit over the years, of course (it's pretty inescapable, even if only in parody form), but I guess I always assumed it was literally about sugary confectionary.  But it's about a girl!  "Got everything that I desire / Sets the summer sun on fire."  Sung in a schoolyard chant Bo Diddley beat, with primitive-sounding percussion (deep toms, few snares) and only a few guitar lines.  No polish, all swagger and big dumb earworm.  The group pretended they were Australian sheep farmers to get publicity.  How odd.