Wild Thing

Remembered chiefly as proto-punkers who reached the top of the charts with the "caveman rock" of "Wild Thing" (1966), the Troggs were also adept at crafting power pop and ballads. Hearkening back to a somewhat simpler, more basic British Invasion approach as psychedelia began to explode in the late '60s, the group also reached the Top Five with their flower-power ballad "Love Is All Around" in 1968…

The only album ever cut by conga player Armando Peraza - the killer percussionist who worked with Cal Tjader in the 60s! The album's got a very similar feel to Cal's work of the time - blending together jazz, Latin, and groovy 60s rhythms - with lots of percussion on the bottom, and instrumentation that includes electric piano, funky flute, and some nice alto sax. Most tracks have the off-center sound that you'd expect from the Skye label - and arrangements are by Cal and Gary McFarland, so you know the tunes are pretty darn great! Titles include a mix of originals like "Viva Pereza" and "Granny's Samba", plus covers like "Wild Thing" and "Funky Broadway".