Song Clearance Sheet
4 sources cited96 Tears
Garage Rock1960s123BPM
G majKey
More around 120 BPM → · More in G major →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →, Deezer →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriter of record (Rudy Martinez). The real Allen Klein rights complication — the band reportedly could not access their own Cameo-Parkway masters for decades and re-recorded their catalogue in 1997 — is presented factually as an access issue, not a litigated dispute. The keyboard-model mystery is a documented, still-conflicting trivia point.
Quick Facts
Released1966
Album96 Tears
GenreGarage Rock, Rock
LabelPa-Go-Go / Cameo-Parkway Records
ProducerRudy Martinez
Recorded atBay City, Michigan
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of record — Rudy Martinez (“Question Mark”)
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Reportedly tied to Allen Klein’s estate/successors — not independently confirmed
Encyclopedia → · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
A foundational garage-rock/proto-punk #1, ranked among Rolling Stone’s top one-hit wonders; part of this catalogue’s garage-rock thread.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriter(s) of record.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
A garage-rock contemporary in this catalogue (this batch)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Rudy Martinez (“Question Mark”)
A significant rights complication (Allen Klein)The Cameo-Parkway masters and rights eventually passed to music-industry figure Allen Klein — as a result, the band reportedly could not access their own original masters or officially re-release their earlier material for decades, leading them to re-record their catalogue from scratch as a 1997 album simply to have material they could control. The original single has reportedly been blocked from official reissue (notably absent from the “Nuggets” box set). Presented factually as an access issue, not a litigated dispute.
The recording (current administrator)Likely still connected to Allen Klein’s estate/successor entities
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A 13-year-old on the iconic organ
Recorded in a small Bay City, Michigan studio — keyboardist Frank Rodriguez, who created the iconic organ riff, was reportedly only 13–14 years old at the time, having just joined the band that year. No lyrics reproduced.
Goldmine · read it →
A still-debated keyboard mystery
Sources conflict over which keyboard produced the signature riff — a cheap Farfisa, a Vox Continental, or (per Rodriguez himself) a Hammond A1 with the Leslie speaker disengaged. A documented, still-open point of rock trivia.
Yahoo Entertainment · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
A garage-rock #1 and proto-punk touchstone
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
96
Rudy Martinez (Cameo-Parkway lineage)
The confirmed songwriter of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
Don't Want the Hassle?
Sample something pre-cleared insteadCheck Tracklib →
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References
Every source cited on this page — 4 in total
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 19/20)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass