Bang Records: Hang On Sloopy

Originally recorded in 1964 by The Vibrations as “My Girl Sloopy,” The McCoys took the song to the number one position and a gold certification for Bang Records in 1965. It was the first record for the label to do either. Co-written by Wes Farrell and Bert Berns (credited as Bert Russell), The McCoys version became an instant classic.

The McCoys consisted of the two Zehringer brothers, Rick and Randy on guitar and drums; bassist Randy Jo Hobbs; Sean Michaels on sax; and keyboardist Bobby Peterson. Rick Zehringer later changed his professional name to Rick Derringer. Both Zehringer brothers and Hobbs would later become members of various bands fronted by Johnny and Edgar Winter. Rick Derringer sang lead on the cut. The single was produced by Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, and Jerry Gottehrer who brought us The Strangeloves.

“Hang on Sloopy” is the official rock song of the State of Ohio and is used often as a fight song for The Ohio State University Buckeyes. While the single and album version were edited, the original full length, unedited version was included on Bang Record’s 1970 sampler, “Bang & Shout Super Hits.”