A haunting melody of a lover’s betrayal and the bittersweet end of a one-sided fight.
The year 1966 was a transitional one for pop music. The innocence of the early ‘60s was giving way to something more complex, more experimental, and in many ways, more emotional. As the psychedelic sounds of rock and roll began to swirl and the R&B scene deepened its grooves, there existed a sweet spot for a particular kind of sound: the classic girl group. But even within that polished and often saccharine genre, there were songs that stood out, imbued with a darker, more mature sensibility. One such song, a haunting and unforgettable track, was “Attack!” by the Brooklyn trio The Toys.
Just a year after their breakout hit, the Bach-inspired masterpiece “A Lover’s Concerto,” which soared to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, The Toys returned with something completely different. It was a bold move, a stark departure from the delicate and romantic sound that had made them famous. Yet, it was this very daring that made “Attack!” so compelling. The song, which peaked at #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and a respectable #14 on the Record World chart in 1966, was a testament to the songwriting prowess of Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell. The duo, who had also penned their previous hit, crafted a narrative that felt less like a teenage romance and more like a Greek tragedy, set to a backdrop of orchestral grandeur and a powerful, pounding rhythm.
The song’s story is a raw and emotional one, a tale of a love triangle that has reached its bitter conclusion. Through the soulful, soaring voice of lead singer Barbara Harris, we hear the lament of a woman who has given everything to a man only to see him stolen by another. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of betrayal and heartache, capturing that moment of clarity when you realize the fight is over. It’s a bittersweet farewell, a defiant surrender. The title itself, “Attack!,” speaks to the emotional onslaught of the situation—the attack of a rival for one’s lover’s affection, the “attack” of the realization that it’s over, and the inevitable “attack” on one’s heart.
What makes “Attack!” so special, even all these decades later, is the genius of its musical arrangement. The track opens with an ominous, almost cinematic orchestral swell, as if a storm is gathering on the horizon. This isn’t the playful sound of teen pop; this is the sound of serious drama. The arrangement, with its lush strings, dramatic horns, and that distinctive, driving beat, creates a sense of building tension and inevitable climax. It’s a sonic journey that perfectly mirrors the emotional arc of the lyrics, from the initial shock to the final, tear-filled resolution. As Harris belts out lines like, “He knows how much I want him now / He knows I love him / But there’s a new girl on the prowl,” you can feel the raw, unfiltered pain and frustration. It’s a performance of staggering sincerity, one that holds up a mirror to anyone who has ever had their heart broken by a third party.
In a musical landscape often dominated by boy-next-door charm and fluffy love songs, “Attack!” stands as a rare example of a girl group single that explored the darker, more complicated aspects of love. It’s a poignant and powerful reminder of the sophisticated artistry that defined the best of the era, and a song that still has the power to stir the soul and evoke a flood of memories for those who first heard it echo from their AM radios all those years ago. It’s not just a song; it’s a feeling, a moment in time when a three-minute track could tell a story so complete and so heartbreakingly true.