TONY VALENTINO of The Standells is back with a new single revisiting his legendary band's glory days, and it's the one you've been waiting for. Tony's newly-recorded version of the absolute classic “Dirty Water” will see release May 20 on Big Stir Records, up for preorder now at
bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com and streaming everywhere on the release date. Yes, it's that tune, and that riff, from the man who invented it... and with Tony out front on guitar with his new band – Duane Waider on drums and vocals and Gary Kaluza on bass – kicking up a storm behind him, it's more than worthy followup to the hit version of “Barracuda” that topped independent radio charts early this year and introduced the Standells sound to a new generation, while reminding longtime devotees of where it all started.
For fans of '60s garage rock, Tony and The Standells need no introduction, and for anyone seeking an introduction to the genre, “Dirty Water” is the place to start. A chart hit in 1966 (peaking at #8 on Cash Box and #11 with Billboard), the cornerstone of the Nuggets compilation that inspired a thousand punk rock covers, an anthem to this day for the Boston Red Sox, and a mainstay on any list of the greatest guitar riffs of all time, it is quite simply a rock and roll classic. It was founding member Tony Valentino who crafted that riff, and this new version shows that he still owns it. Delivered as on the original via a vintage Telecaster and with Tony himself producing the new track, the riff, and everything about the performance, blazes with all the rock and roll energy the young Standells brought to their recordings and live shows. It's as if the decades between then and now never happened.
“Dirty Water” is the second track from the forthcoming album from Tony, Dirty Water Revisited. It's an all-new and fresh reimagining of the celebrated Dirty Water album, including a few surprise tracks like “Barracuda” from later Standells albums and even a few brand new tracks penned by Valentino. As Tony and the band plot live shows and tours, garage rock fanatics of all ages can expect more singles from the sessions throughout 2022 in advance of the new album early next year... on vinyl, of course, as well as digital formats and CD. Big Stir Records is proud to be part of this new chapter in garage rock history, brought to you by TONY VALENTINO, who was there when it all started and is still an undisputed master of the form.
released January 1, 2016