Originally titled “69 Tears”, but changed as they feared it would be too dirty for radio, “96 Tears” was recorded in their manager’s living room and released as their debut single. 500 copies were printed on a record label producer Lilly Gonzales created for the group, as her primary label featured Mexican music artists.

The band approached radio stations to air the song, and WKNX and WTAC in Michigan both agreed to play it in return for the band performing at their events. As the song became popular, Detroit station DTFW eventually began playing the song and it became “number one all over the state”, leading to an appearance on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand.

“96 Tears” topped the pop charts in the US and Canada, and was a top 40 hit in the UK, in the fall of 1966. Despite following it up with the top 30 hit “I Need Somebody”, ? and the Mysterians are still often regarded as a one-hit wonder.