SIMON: But the original demo - that fluty sound - came from a man's bare hands, Ron Johnson's hands. (SOUNDBITE OF THE TROGGS SONG, 'WILD THING') SIMON: The Troggs version of 'Wild Thing' features what is undoubtedly the most famous ocarina solo in rock history. TAYLOR: After I say, come on, hold me tight. THE TROGGS: (Singing) Come on, hold me tight. TAYLOR: Now this is where I think the magic of the song is. THE TROGGS: (Singing) Wild thing, I think I love you. And so he did, and I sang whatever came to me, and there it was, 'Wild Thing.' And as soon as I sit down, have the microphone ready. The deadline was near, so he called his engineer Ron Johnson. SIMON: At the time, he was best known for country songs, but he got a call from a record producer who wanted some rock 'n' roll. Back in 1964, somewhere around there, I wrote a song called 'Wild Thing.'

THE TROGGS: (Singing) You make everything groovy.ĬHIP TAYLOR: My name is Chip Taylor, originally James Wesley Voight.

SIMON: Although most people these days consider the classic version to be the 1966 recording by The Troggs. UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As Kermit the Frog, singing) Wild thing, bum, bow, bom.

HANK WILLIAMS, JR.: (Singing) You make my heart sing. Originally performed by a New York band called The Wild Ones, the song's publisher has issued 7,500 licenses for recordings. 'Wild Thing' was released 50 years ago this month. SIMON: You were expecting another anniversary of the Magna Carta? We now observe an important historical milestone.

Wild thing... you make my heart sing