The Strangeloves

The Strangeloves

Company type	Musical group
Industry	Music
Founded	1964
Founder	Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, Richard Gottehrer
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Products	Music recordings, singles, albums

The Strangeloves emerged in 1964 as a musical group devised by the American songwriting and production trio from New York: Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, and Richard Gottehrer. Initially, they portrayed themselves as Australians. Their most notable hits featured "I Want Candy", "Cara-Lin," and "Night Time."

History

Prior to establishing the Strangeloves, Feldman and Goldstein had worked together as songwriters since 1959 and released singles under the name Bob & Jerry during 1961–62, though these failed to chart. In 1962, they partnered with Gottehrer to create FGG Productions, which was responsible for producing hits like 1963’s "My Boyfriend's Back" performed by the Angels. By 1964, with the British Invasion diminishing the popularity of girl groups, FGG devised a fictional foreign beat band to better suit prevailing market preferences.

Since they could not convincingly imitate British accents, they opted for an Australian identity. The Strangeloves were promoted as three siblings—Giles, Miles, and Niles Strange—who had grown up on a sheep farm in Australia and were financially secure due to an invented sheep crossbreeding patent. This distinctive marketing strategy attracted some attention but did not entirely captivate audiences; nonetheless, their singles achieved moderate success within the U.S.

Their debut single under the Strange Loves name, "Love, Love (That's All I Want from You)," reached No. 122 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Later releases appeared under the official name The Strangeloves.

Their major breakthrough arrived with "I Want Candy," co-written and produced alongside Bert Berns at Bang Records in 1965. This hit led them to perform live shows, prompting the assembly of a touring ensemble made up of session players: bassist and vocalist John Shine, guitarist Jack Raczka, drummer Tom Kobus, and saxophonist/vocalist Richie Lauro.

By early 1966, this lineup was supplanted by a trio of FGG studio musicians—Raczka (as Giles Strange), Joe Piazza (Miles Strange), and Ken Jones (Niles Strange)—with bassist Greg Roman joining in 1968. Studio recordings continued to be handled by Feldman, Goldstein, and Gottehrer with additional session musicians as necessary.

During a 1965 tour in Ohio, they encountered Ricky Z and the Raiders led by Rick Derringer. They brought this band to New York City, re-recorded a track from I Want Candy featuring Derringer’s vocals, and released it as "Hang On Sloopy" under the name the McCoys.

The Strangeloves’ only full-length album, I Want Candy, was issued in 1965 through Bang Records; several songs from it were also released as singles. Additional singles appeared on Swan Records and Sire Records.

The group maintained modest chart presence in the U.S. through 1968 but made little impact in Australia. However, Australian act Johnny Young & Kompany successfully covered "Cara-Lin" in 1966.

FGG Productions also released charting singles using various aliases including the Beach-Nuts (1965), the Sheep (1966), Rome & Paris (1966), and Rock & Roll Dubble Bubble Trading Card Co. of Philadelphia 19141 (1969). In 1966, Goldstein issued a solo single as Giles Strange which did not enter the charts. Feldman and Gottehrer released a non-charting single under the Strange Bros. Show name in 1970.

Many records by The Strangeloves credited "arranged and conducted by Bassett Hand," a pseudonym representing the producers themselves. Two instrumental singles attributed to Bassett Hand—"In Detroit" (1964) and "The Happy Organ Shake" (1965)—failed to chart nationally but gained some regional airplay.

In December 2018, after more than five decades apart, Feldman, Goldstein, and Gottehrer reunited for an unannounced performance at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom with support from Yo La Tengo.

Careers after The Strangeloves

Numerous artists have covered their compositions, including David Bowie, Bauhaus, The J. Geils Band, The Fleshtones, Aaron Carter, George Thorogood, and Bow Wow Wow.

Gottehrer established his reputation as a record producer by working with early CBGB bands such as Richard Hell and the Voidoids, the Fleshtones, and Blondie. He co-founded Sire Records alongside Seymour Stein and was responsible for producing influential albums like those of Robert Gordon, which played a significant role in the rockabilly resurgence of the late 1970s, as well as the debut album from Marshall Crenshaw. Throughout the 1980s, he produced acclaimed records for acts including the Bongos, Richard Barone, and the Go-Go's. Eventually, he launched the prominent independent distribution firm The Orchard.

Goldstein maintained his impact on the music industry through producing and managing projects, such as facilitating Nightshift with Eric Burdon that led to the formation of War. His Far Out Productions oversaw the career of the Circle Jerks, while he also managed operations at the LAX record label.

All three members of The Strangeloves contributed to interviews featured in the documentary BANG! The Bert Berns Story, which was co-directed by Bert Berns' son Brett Berns and filmmaker Bob Sarles.

Bob Feldman passed away on August 23, 2023, shortly following his 83rd birthday.

Touring ensembles

1965 touring group

John Shine – vocals and bass guitar

Jack Raczka – guitar

Tom Kobus – drums and vocals

Richie Lauro – saxophone and vocals

1966–1968 touring group

Ken Jones (also known as Niles Strange) – vocals and keyboards

Jack Raczka (also known as Giles Strange) – guitar

Joe Piazza (also known as Miles Strange) – drums and vocals

Albums

• I Want Candy (1965 - Motown)

Singles that charted

Release Date	Song Title	Chart Rankings			Additional Information
		US Hot 100	Australia	Canada RPM 100
1964	"Love, Love"	122			Released under the name Strange Loves
1965	"I Want Candy"	11		7
1965	"Out in the Sun"	106			Issued as The Beach-Nuts. This group combined The Strangeloves and The Angels.
1965	"Cara-Lin"	39	100
1965	"Night Time"	30	98
1966	"Hide and Seek"	85			Attributed to The Sheep.
1966	"Because of You"	104			Released under Rome & Paris. Written by Bob Feldman and Jerry Goldstein.
1966	"I Feel Good"	130			Credited to The Sheep.
1966	"Hand Jive"	100
1968	"Honey Do"	120
1969	"Bubble Gum Music"	74		52	Issued under the name The Rock & Roll Dubble Bubble Trading Card Co. Of Philadelphia 19141. Created by Bob Feldman and Jerry Goldstein.