Say I Am (What I Am)/ Lots Of Pretty Girls

This great rocker was the group's followup to "Hanky Panky," which had become their first hit a few months earlier. It rocks harder than most of their later singles, but is blessed with the same preternaturally catchy beat and melody. The flip is just as good and could probably have been a bigger hit on its own — it mines the guitar riff made famous by "Louie Louie", "My Girl Sloopy," and scores of other mid-1960s 45s. Note: This copy comes in a Near Mint picture sleeve, which has a small drillhole. The 45 itself also has a drillhole but otherwise Near Mint labels. Although the vinyl (styrene) surface looks somewhat scuffed up, grading EX, the audio sounds better and grades Near Mint overall.