The song was recorded on 11 January 1966 at Fontana's studio in Marble Arch, London and released as a single in February 1966.

It was included on the band's debut album, issued on 24 June 1966 and is well-remembered for its particularly distorted, heavy sound.

[5] A Spanish language version, "Apriétalo", was released by the Mexican group "Los Belmonts" in 1965, achieving great success in Latin America.

[6][7] Reviewing for New Musical Express, Derek Johnson wrote that "the stamping drum opening sounds like a Dave Clark disc – then in comes a grating rasp guitar and plonking bass, to build the rhythm to a pitch before the vocals start.

[8] For Record Mirror, Peter Jones described the song as a "highly effective hit-parade follow-up with a beat based on a current clapping craze at football grounds".