Mix in Bob Dylan’s nonsensical lyricism, a recognizable chord progression/organ vamp (i.e. Them’s Gloria), handclaps on the one, and stir it with a funky southern swagger, and you’ve got a hit. At least, it worked for Memphis’ The Hombres and their Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out) single on Verve from 1967. It’s a pretty ridiculous song, and ridiculously catchy at that. Clocking out an inch past two minutes, Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out) was produced by Texas record cowboy, Huey Meaux, and charted the national Top 40 for a few weeks in the fall of ‘67 (peaking at #12). The Hombres attempted to follow up on their novelty approach to hit-makers with another 45 (and full-length LP), but failed to chart again and dissipated shortly thereafter in 1969. For me, this record is testament to why psychotropics and late 60s music experimentalism worked so damn well.
LISTEN: The Hombres- Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)