The Charles River is known for its undrinkable water, but apparently that’s exactly what some people love about it.
Speaking of their experiences in writing Love That Dirty Water: The Standells and the Improbable Red Sox Victory Anthem, authors Chuck Burgess and Bill Nowlin last night detailed the history of the notable song that plays at the end of every Boston Red Sox baseball game at Fenway Park.
Nowlin and Burgess said they met Dick Dodd, head singer of the Standells, the group that sings “Dirty Water,” at Avalon in 2004.
“We talked to him and found that the history behind the band and the song ‘Dirty Water’ was pretty interesting,” Burgess said at Barnes ‘ Noble at Boston University.
The history behind why the song is played at Sox games is not well known, Nowlin said.
“A lot of people think the connection between the song and the Red Sox goes way back . . . but it’s only been the anthem for 10 years,” Nowlin said.
Burgess said the song was popular in the 1960s and had its “rebirth” in 1998, when it was played after the Red Sox won their home opener.
“It has been the victory anthem of the Red Sox ever since,” Burgess said.
Nowlin said the people became connected with the song, and it has become a staple ever since.
“If you try to write a song about a team, it seems forced,” he said.
The authors are avid Red Sox followers, but Nowlin, who has written other books about the Sox, claims he is the bigger fan.
“When I was a kid, I used to hop on the bus and see a game for 50 cents,” he said.
The book also addresses the history of the rise and fall of the rock and roll band The Standells.
“We talk about how The Standells became popular, the obstacles they went through and why Dirty Water was their only big hit,” Nowlin said.
Event organizer Jeanne Haight said she expected a big crowd, but there were few attendees aside from a group of journalism students working on projects.
“Music plus baseball is a perfect combination,” said. “I’ve seen a lot of people looking at the book.”
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