Hi, Neighbor! Welcome to "New England Classics" a new, weekly column covering the history of New England's rich musical heritage. Narragansett's been here (in one form or another) for at least as long as most of the songs we're gonna talk about so it's safe to say that many a Gansett have been consumed while listening to these songs.
If one thing is certain, Gansett's Legacy shares a huge history with Fenway Park (it was THE beer of the Red Sox!) and this song, the first in the series, is right up there with US in it's importance to the Sox.
----- The Standells - "Dirty Water"
Everytime I think about Boston this song starts playing in my mind and I'd be willing to wager that I'm not alone on this. Released on June 11th, 1966 this Standell's masterpiece has not only endured the test of time but has become a staple of NE, and Boston in particular. Anyone that's been to a Sox game in the past decade can attest to that: When the classic refrain of "I Love That Dirty Water" comes blasting fron Fenway's massive speakers it means we've won another game! And it's not just the Sox: The Celtics, Bruins and Huskies are all known to throw on this classic when we win a game at home.
A funny thing though... By the time this little nugget started rocketing skyward on the charts absolutely NONE of the Standells had ever even been to Boston! Yea, that's right, they were from California. The band's producer penned the tune after a trip to Boston where he did, infact, get mugged atop the Mass Ave Bridge!
The thing is, it doesn't matter where the band was from. This song sums up Boston in so many ways it's ridiculous and that's why it's remained the musical soul of the city.
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