Complete List Of ? and the Mysterians Songs From A to Z

Feature Photo: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

? and the Mysterians were a group of young musicians from Bay City and Saginaw, Michigan, who unknowingly helped shape the sound of future generations. Their raw, organ-driven garage rock and mysterious persona, inspired by a 1957 Japanese science fiction film, made them one of the most unusual and influential American rock acts of the 1960s. Led by Rudy “Question Mark” Martínez, whose enigmatic stage name and claims of being from Mars became part of the group’s mythology, they created a sound that bridged rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and the earliest edges of what would later be called punk rock.

The band’s beginnings were humble. Most of the members were children of Mexican migrant workers, and their early influences came from surf rock icons like Link Wray and Duane Eddy. Formed in 1962 by Larry Borjas, Robert Martínez, and Bobby Balderrama, the band evolved quickly after the British Invasion, which brought an emphasis on vocals and personality. Rudy Martínez joined soon after, bringing both showmanship and songwriting ambition. Their new lineup, solidified by the addition of keyboardist Frank Rodriguez, set the stage for the creation of “96 Tears,” one of the most defining singles of the decade.

“96 Tears” was first recorded in Bay City, Michigan, at the Pa-Go-Go label under the direction of producer Lilly Gonzales. The song’s hypnotic Vox Continental organ riff and Question Mark’s urgent vocals gave it an unforgettable sound. When the record was released in 1966, radio DJs flipped the single to the B-side, realizing that “96 Tears” was the real hit. The song caught fire, eventually reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1966 and selling over one million copies. It earned the band a gold record and a place on national television programs like American Bandstand and Where the Action Is. Their debut album, 96 Tears, soon followed, cementing their legacy as garage rock pioneers.

The band’s follow-up singles “I Need Somebody” and “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby” both charted but failed to reach the same heights. Their second album, Action, released in 1967, showcased a tighter band but met limited commercial success. Over time, lineup changes disrupted their momentum, with bassist Mel Schacher, who later joined Grand Funk Railroad, briefly playing in the group. By 1969, ? and the Mysterians disbanded, but their music continued to inspire a generation of musicians who would go on to define punk and new wave.

During the 1970s and 1980s, the band’s legend grew. The rock critic Dave Marsh famously used the term “punk rock” in a 1971 Creem magazine article describing their sound, helping link ? and the Mysterians to a musical movement that would explode years later. The group reunited several times, including a notable 1984 concert in Dallas that featured the original members and was released as 96 Tears Forever: The Dallas ReUnion Tapes. In the 1990s, they enjoyed renewed interest when the rights to their early recordings were restored and reissued, along with new projects such as the 1997 re-recording of their debut album and the 1999 release of More Action.

Question Mark continued to perform under various lineups in the 2000s, sometimes billed as Question Mark and the Mysterymen or the New Mysterians. They remained active on the live circuit, appearing at festivals and in benefit shows after a devastating 2007 house fire that destroyed Question Mark’s home and memorabilia. Despite personal loss, he continued performing, collaborating with musicians such as Gary Fury and members of Monster Magnet and Mondo Topless.

In 2006, the original lineup was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame, a fitting recognition for a band that not only produced one of the defining singles of its era but also influenced artists across genres. “96 Tears” became a standard, covered by Aretha Franklin, Iggy Pop, Todd Rundgren, and The Stranglers among others, proving that its simple, driving rhythm and haunted lyric could transcend generations.

Into the 2010s and 2020s, the band’s story continued with both triumph and loss. Original drummer Eddie Serrato passed away in 2011, and guitarist Robert Balderrama faced health battles in 2017, yet the group carried on performing together. In November 2023, all five original members reunited for a concert in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, proving that the music still had life and that ? and the Mysterians remained connected to their roots.

Across six decades, the legacy of ? and the Mysterians endures as one of rock’s most unusual success stories. They were outsiders who broke into the mainstream with a song recorded in a small-town studio that went on to define an era. Their mystery, both literal and musical, continues to fascinate music fans and historians, reminding everyone that sometimes, the most lasting revolutions start with a simple organ riff and a question mark.

Complete List Of ? and the Mysterians Songs From A to Z

8 Teen – 1966 – 96 Tears – 1966
8 Teen – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
96 Tears – 1966 – 96 Tears – 1966
96 Tears – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
96 Tears – More Action – 1999
96 Tears (in Spanish) – More Action – 1999
Ain’t It a Shame – More Action – 1999
Are You for Real? – More Action – 1999
Beachcomber – More Action – 1999
Can’t Get Enough of You Baby – Action – 1997
Can’t Get Enough of You, Baby – More Action – 1999
Cheree – More Action – 1999
Do Something to Me – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
Do You Feel It – Action – 1997
Do You Feel It – More Action – 1999
Don’t Break This Heart of Mine – 1966 – 96 Tears – 1966
Don’t Break This Heart of Mine – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
Don’t Give It Up Now – More Action – 1999
Don’t Hold It Against Me – Action – 1997
Don’t Hold It Against Me – More Action – 1999
Don’t Tease Me – 1966 – 96 Tears – 1966
Don’t Tease Me – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
Feel It – More Action – 1999
Girl (You Captivate Me) – Action – 1997
Girl (You Captivate Me) – More Action – 1999
Got To – Action – 1997
Got To – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
Hangin’ on a String – Action – 1997
Hangin’ on a String – More Action – 1999
I Can’t Get No Satisfaction – More Action – 1999
I Need Somebody – 1966 – 96 Tears – 1966
I Need Somebody – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
I’ll Be Back – Action – 1997
I’ll Be Back – More Action – 1999 (Disc one)
I’ll Be Back – More Action – 1999 (Disc two)
It’s Not Easy – Action – 1997
It’s Not Easy – More Action – 1999
Just Like a Rose – Action – 1997
Love Me Baby (Cherry July) – More Action – 1999
Make You Mine – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
Midnight Hour – 1966 – 96 Tears – 1966
Midnight Hour – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
Sally Go Round the Roses – More Action – 1999
Set Aside – 1966 – 96 Tears – 1966
Set Aside – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
Shout (Parts 1 & 2) – Action – 1997
Smokes – Action – 1997
Smokes – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
Stormy Monday – 1966 – 96 Tears – 1966
Stormy Monday – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
Strollin’ with the Mysterians – More Action – 1999
Ten O’Clock – 1966 – 96 Tears – 1966
Ten O’Clock – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
That’s How Strong My Love Is – More Action – 1999
Up Side – 1966 – 96 Tears – 1966
Up Side – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
Why Me – 1966 – 96 Tears – 1966
Why Me – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967
You’re Telling Me Lies – 1966 – 96 Tears – 1966
You’re Telling Me Lies – Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 – 1967

Albums

1966 – 96 Tears (1966): 12 songs

Action (1997): 11 songs

Question Mark & the Mysterians 1967 (1967): 16 songs

More Action (1999): 21 songs

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