Robin and the Three Hoods released this spirited and crude cover of Bobby Comstock’s “I Want To Do It” four times. First in 1964, it was issued as Marrell’s Marauders on the yellow Fan Jr. label out of Madison, Wisconsin, titled “I Wanta Do It” backed with a fine surf instrumental with a good drum break, “The Marauder”. With the name of the band changed to Robin and the Three Hoods, they issued it again on Fan Jr., with the same label number, FJ-1003, using the same pressing plates.
Two years later, the band reissued “I Wanto Do It” on the green Fan Jr. label with the b-side changed to “That’s Tuff”, a neat tune by one Rob Bernhagen. New stampers were made for this release, T4KM-5680/1.
Released at the same time was another single, very rare today, “A Day You’ll Never Forget” (an original by Bernhagen and Jim Schwartz) b/w “We The Living” (Bernhagen), with RCA custom pressing number T4KM-5678/9.
Skip Nelson is credited with production on each release. The Hollywood pressing is of relatively poor quality.
Rob Bernhagen played bass, keyboards and sang lead vocals as ‘Robin’. He wrote to me about the band:
The Marauders, with Mike Warner on drums, all graduated from Madison East High in 1963. We had joined the Musicians Union that April and had played school gigs and a few actual paying gigs around Madison.
We borrowed “I Wanna Do It” from Bobby Comstock and recorded it in Dec. of 1963. Our manager, Frederick Arthur Nelson, aka Skip, did own a music store and produce all our records. We started playing around Wisconsin and Northern Illinois and found many “Marauder” bands so we changed our name and the label on the records … same recording. I found a paperback book about Merrill’s Marauders from WWII and plagiarized the name….and changed the spelling. As the leader of the band, I became “Bobby Marrell”.
I played bass and keyboards and was the lead vocalist. Dave Reed played lead guitar and Jim Schwartz played rhythm guitar. Bruce Benson was our drummer, he lives in Northern California. The only personnel change from the Marauders was at drums, Mike Warner was our first drummer and he played on the first version with “The Marauder” on the flip side.
We were all in college and playing part time within a couple of hundred miles of Madison. Mike Warner decided to drop out of college and try music full time so Bruce Benson joined us and we borrowed the costume idea from Paul Revere and the Raiders and came up with “The Hoods”. Once again, as leader and vocalist, I became Robin Hood. We all wore Robin Hood outfits….and tights…
We played the entire state of Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, and border towns in Northern Michigan, Iowa and Minnesota. Went as far south as Springfield, Il. We broke-up the band 1/31/69 when Jim and I graduated from college.
We got limited airplay because of the suggestive title which is why everyone loved the song to begin with. We got a “pick to click” from Billboard and a review in Cashbox which is why Starday got involved. They were to handle national distribution… which never happened. We stayed on Wisconsin statewide charts for over a year.
Funny story behind “The Marauder”… we went in the studio to record “I Wanna Do It” and when that was finished, we started to pack up. The engineer asked about the flip side to our 45 RPM and we were dumbfounded. In our youthful ignorance, we hadn’t even considered a flip side. Faced with the problem we jammed “The Marauder” from an instrumental “break song” that we were using during shows. One take and it was done. We never played the entire song on any gig … just enough of it to announce a break.
I’m the only member who continued to play professionally….I’m in an oldies band today, the Tom Tayback Band. Jim quit altogether, Bruce plays a little on the side, and Dave is deceased. I’m not in contact with Mike so I’m not sure about him.
We did produce a couple of other records but had nothing to do with the “green bean” thing.
Thanks to Kim D. for sending in the photo card with signatures above. Kim wrote to me “I saved this card for years which Robin and the Three Hoods signed and gave to me in the 60’s at a place they performed at called “The Illusions” in Neenah, Wisconsin. We had alot of bands frequent that place. You had to be 16 years old to enter, but I always looked older, so they let me in. Good times!”
One of the original band members, Dave Reed passed away from Cancer approximately 5 years ago. Jim Schwartz is living in Riverside, Ca. I believe Rob Bernhagen is also living in Southern California. I have shared this web-site with numberous people who have all enjoyed it immensley. Thanks so much.
JJ
“I Wanna Do It” was originally recorded by Bobby Comstock & The Counts in ’63 not the Strangeloves, just wanted to point that out 😉 …and by the way the FAN Jr. label was owned by some guy named Fred Arthur Nelson Jr. so the labelname is kinda like his initals. Thank you for a great homepage by the way.
/Tommy “MrTeenSwe” (crestline.records@gmail.com)
This song was on the juke box at the BEACH BAR in the Town of Belgium in 1967 and
was played many times on Friday and Saturday nights.
This song was played almost constantly at Rusty’s Bar in Middleton, WI about 1965 or 66. I bought a copy of the yellow label back then. Still have it, but is about worn out from playing it so much. If I remember correctly, Skip Nelson not only promoted local groups, but had a record shop on the south end of Westgate Shopping Center in Madison, WI and that is where I bought my copy. Again, if memory serves me right, he was the man behind the counter when I bought it. For decades I have been trying to find a copy of the song/record, and have had no luck whatsoever. Then I heard it on Live365’s Jangle Radio, and the guy who runs that station steered me here. Fantastic!
Jerry
i had an lp 24 groovy greats that had thats tuff on it except it cuts out at the solo. i should have kept the lp
I Wanna Do It had all the high schools in Sheboygan buzzing because the title sounded obscene, so i went to the Armory to see them. Robin wore green tights, and I think the others did, too. He was the front man and played guitar. They place went wild when they did the song.
did Robin and the three hoods make a song named Green Beans
because i heard a song on the radio by Robin and the three hoods but i dont no the name
Saw Robin and the Three Hoods live at a bar named “The Spot” in Ripon Wisconsin about 1967. I remember the green pixie costumes, but most of all the great music. Everyone was dancing the ‘Dirty dog’ to “I Wanna Do It”. We were students at Ripon College back then. That night rocking out at “The Spot” with my girlfriend Marietta was absolutely one of my best memories from those many years ago! Rock On, Robin!
In early summer of 1967, my buddy Tim Slevin [photos] and I [words], both 20 years old, were hired by Steve Sperry of Ram Productions of Janesville to do publicity for the newfound Ram’s stable of bands–mostly Wisconsin-based groups previously managed by Ken Adamany. Among those were the Wylde Heard [Jim Croegaert, Billy Sutton, Paul Burson, Ron Bednar] whose “Stop It, Girl/ Take It on Home” was released by Philips records; the Beau Gentry [Russ Dashiell, Doug Kilmer, and Rick Jaeger, RIP], the Grim Reapers [teenage lead guitarist was Rick Neilsen later became a founder of Cheap Trick, managed by Adamany], and Robin & The Hoods. They all played the teen bar circuit in Wisconsin; at that time, counties had an option to allow beer bars [no wine or spirits] and those counties that did had a lively music scene; the nascent Steve Miller Blues Band also played on that rural route.
Robin and the Hoods, a trio in 1967, were one of the bands Slevin and I covered. They were really good, including brass intervals played by them on “Rainy Day Women”, as I recall, along with the trio line-up noted above. Of course, they had to play “I Want To Do It” at least three times a night. “Animal House” in the Cheese State. The question was, uh, how do you guys whiz wearing those tights? The answer was obvious but didn’t make, as far as I can tell, the Ram Productions publicity kit.
Ah, but I was so much etc.
Mike Foster,
Metamora, Illinois
I also saw them at the armory back when. My own band at the time, The Dimensions, covered “I Wanna Do It” and the crowds loved it, as did we. I remember at 17 being able to look down off the stage at a girl, any girl, and sing “I Wanna Do It” and feel like I was talking directly to her without having to work up the nerve to say that to any girl’s face privately. Somehow, saying it from the stage made it acceptable and naughty at the same time. Ah, to be 17 again…
Dave Reed was my father and he is greatly missed. I still pull out the cassette tape from time to time to listen to the “oldies” as I call them. Thanks for keeping the memories alive for me.
I have 2 different robin hood records, one autographed and a 14 X 24 phych poster in excellent condition, never used(bottom is blank. I am/was going to ebay these items unless someone would like to purchase. please feel free to contact me at larryroberts3@sbcglobal.net.
Kimberly, this is from Rob, aka Robin Hood. Just found your comments on this website. I have a CD (with The Marauder on it) that I could send you if you forward your address.
You can E-mail me from my website, grasshopperflatssedona.com
Dave and Jim and I were inseparable friends in high school and for years later in the band. I was very sorry to hear of his passing.
I came across your site by accident during a genealogy search – and what a treat 🙂 Skip Nelson is my brother and it was really cool for me to see the pictures of his old label here on your site.
How is Skip doing? I recorded for him back in ’62, saw him again in ’63 and then found him a few decades later (’95) while researching my 2nd Wisconsin music book. After the book came out (’06) I was unable to contact him again, so I don’t know if he’s ever seen the book.
Gary E. Myers / MusicGem
http://home.earthlink.net/~gem777
Gary this is Skip Nelson. Thanks for inquiring on how I am. I sure do miss the good old days. Can’t really say I like much of todays rock n roll. How & what are you doing these days. I am living in Rancho Cucamonga CA and retired. Yes, I have seen the book.
Skip Nelson
Skip, great to hear from you; glad you are well. I still average a couple of gigs/week; just played in Claremont last month. Besides the 2 WI books, I’ve also written 2 instructional books and I keep working on other music & writing projects. Took a trip to AZ in late ’07 and stopped to see Rob Bernhagen in Sedona. I hear from Jim Kirchstein fairly often and I’m STILL finding 50’s-60’s WI bands! (And I still want a hit record!)
Gary E. Myers / MusicGem
http://home.earthlink.net/~gem777
Howdy Skip…have great memories of the old recording days. Do hope this note finds you well!
Summer of 66′ in Green Bay Wi. WDUZ AM played “I Want To Do It” quite a bit. The song was heard more on juke boxes and every band that played in the local Beer Bars, or Teen Clubs* had to learn the song fast and play it by demand. It was a sure bet to get girls dancing.
*Beer Bars as we called them were huge in Wisconsin in the 60’s. The target clientele was 18-20 yr olds. Strong beer was served as opposed to “Near Beer” and 3.2 in other states. You had to be 21 for liquor and wine.
Hi – My dad owned the ILLUSION, where Robin & the Three Hoods often played. I’m seeking any copies of photographs of the posters announcing them coming to the ILLUSION.
My cousin is Bruce the drummer , I remember visiting from Hawaii and his x wife was making the costumes at my aunts house, this site is great . I haven’t seen Bruce in yrs but think about him often.
My Dad is Bruce the Drummer 🙂 We are celebrating his 80th birthday on Saturday :)he still drums for 2 different bands 🙂
I was wondering if this was the same band I saw at the Whiskey ago go in Chicago in the summer of 1965 ? You can contact me on Facebook.
Where can I hear I Wanna Do It?
“I Wanna Do It” and “That’s Tuff” were included back-to-back on the 1985 compilation L.P.: “The Garage Zone, Volume 2” (Moxie MLP 17). “That’s Tuff” was issued on the compilation L.P.: “25 Hit Tunes” (Starday HT-25). It was track 13 on side 1 of the Starday L.P., and, as was pointed out in an earlier post, faded at the lead break…BUMMER! I love the lead on that song. I’d never heard of Robin and the Hoods until 1985 when I bought the “Garage Zone” album. I was 22. A number of my older siblings were record buying teenagers in the 1960s, but I doubt that they were ever heard in Pennsylvania. Great record!!
In the mid 60’s, Robin and the 3 Hoods, played at the “Cow Palace” in Fond du Lac, Wi. We went to see them with a group of friends. The next day, I found that a friend of mine, Janice Bender ,(a very attractive blond girl), invited the entire band over to her parents house. And they went. Don’t know how that party went, but I’m sure they all had a good time.
Hi. My name is Dean. I live in oshkosh. I have a question. I was asked to lay down some vocal tracks for a band I think was Robin and the three hoods. I remember singing the song over and over and thnk it was recorded above the movie theather in Ripon wis. Only did it one time and can’t quite remember why . Did this band ever record above the theather in Ripon wi ? I was asked because I think the original singer was sick or something of the sort. Just wondering if anybody else remembers this. Orhas dimentia set in already !!! LOL Here’s my email…. wiscman1960@yahoo.com
We were aground from Oshkosh Wi. And go see remember when ever they were in the area . They also came over to our friends house after a gig one night.