After working together for a bit, Mary Weiss ended up singing lead. In April of 1964, since the girls were still minors, their parents signed for them with Red Bird Records, with their name coming from the title of a mythical place of wonder. Mary was 15, Betty was 17, and the Ganser twins were 16. That same year, they had their first hit with "Remember (Walking in the Sand)". The song, a U.S. #5 and a U.K. #14, was created after producer George "Shadow" Morton hired the band.
Their songs with "Shadow" Morton featured lavish production with heavy orchestration and sound effects. Their biggest hit, the renowned death disc "Leader of the Pack", climaxes with the sounds of roaring motorcycles and breaking glass. A U.S. #1 and U.K. #11 hit, the tune still gets serious airplay to this day.
According to a Biography episode on various 60s 'Brill Building' songwriters, including retrospective interviews with Greenwich, Barry and Morton among others, Barry said that at the time he was suspicious of Morton's overt attention to Greenwich. Disbelieving Morton was really the songwriter he claimed to be, Barry challenged Morton to prove his legitimacy and bring in samples of his recent work (expecting never to hear again from an embarrassed Morton). Morton stated in his interview that, with an empty song portfolio at the time, he felt sufficiently challenged by Barry, whereupon he left the Brill Building and drove his automobile to a Long Island Beach.
Full of both inspiration and desperation, Morton spent the evening writing his first song, while sitting in the dark in his parked car. Entitled "Remember (Walking In The Sand)", Morton then 'rolled the dice' and recorded a demo of his song with a long-shot, unknown girl-group local club act that he admired, The Shangri-Las (according to Morton, with the then-unknown Billy Joel on piano in the demo recording), and offered the demo recording to Jerry Leiber, who was then setting up Red Bird Records. The recording "Remember (Walking In The Sand)" by the Shangri-Las reached #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. Considering the scope of this accomplishment, Morton was transformed overnight from a credential-less industry 'wannabe' into a teen recording songwriter and recording producer. According to Steve Kurutz at Allmusic, "Morton's production work, which included brilliant sound effects and inventive percussion, carried the Shangri-Las to girl-group history."
The band continued to have a string of American hit records, mainly on depressing themes such as death, loneliness, and abandonment. Songs included "Past, Present and Future", "Give Him a Great Big Kiss" and "Long Live Our Love".
In 1966, the Shangri-Las' subsequent two releases on Red Bird failed to make the top 50. That same year the band left Red Bird and Morton after the label folded. At the beginning of 1967, Marge decided to leave the group. Despite signing to Mercury Records that year, the group had no further hits. In 1968, they disbanded.
Mary Ann died of a drug overdose in 1970. Marge succumbed to breast cancer on July 28, 1996 at age 48.
The group experienced a small revival in the UK when "Leader Of The Pack" was re-issued twice, reaching #3 in 1972 and #7 in 1976.
The Shangri-La's 1966 hit "Past, Present & Future" was effectively covered in 2004 by ex ABBA singer Agnetha Fältskog on her 2004 album, "My Colouring Book".
Since the 1980's, the group has had to deal with a group calling themselves The Shangri Las, but having nothing to do with the original group. The group was put together by Dick Fox.
Discography
Standard albums
* 1964: Leader of the Pack (US #109)
* 1965: Shangri-Las-65!
Compilations
* 1966: Golden Hits of the Shangri-Las
* 1975: The Shangri-Las Sing
* 1996: The Best of the Shangri-Las
Singles
* 1964: "Remember (Walking in the Sand)" (US #5, UK #14)
* 1964: "Leader of the Pack" (US #1, UK #11)
* 1965: "Give Him a Great Big Kiss" (US #18)
* 1965: "Give Us Your Blessings" (US #29)
* 1965: "I Can Never Go Home Anymore" (US #6)
* 1965: "Maybe" (US #91)
* 1965: "Out in the Streets" (US #53)
* 1965: "Right Now and Not Later" (US #99)
* 1966: "He Cried" (US #65)
* 1966: "Long Live Our Love" (US #33)
* 1966: "Past, Present and Future" (US #59)
* 1966: "Take the Time"
* 1967: "Sweet Sounds of Summer"
References
* "Shangri-Las 77!", footnote 4, by Phil X Milstein, Spectropop
Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shangri-Las
Give Him A Great Big Kiss
The Shangri-Las Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here comes my guy walking down the street
Look how he walks with a dancing beat (da-da-da-da-da)
Thick wavy hair, a little too long (da-da-da-da-da)
All day long he's singing his song
And when I see him in the street
My heart takes a leap and skips a beat
Give him a great big kiss, mwah!
Tell him that I love him, tell him that I care
Tell him that I'll always be there
Well, what color are his eyes?
I don't know, he's always wearing shades
Is he tall?
Well, I've got to look up
Yeah? well I hear he's bad
Hmm, he's good-bad, but he's not evil
Tell me more, tell me more
Big bulky sweaters to match his eyes (tell me more)
Dirty fingernails (tell me more)
Oh boy, what a prize (tell me more)
Tight, tapered pants, high button shoes (he's so cool)
He's always looking like he's got the blues (he's so cool)
And when I see him in the street
My heart takes a leap and skips a beat
Gonna walk right up to him
Give him a great big kiss, mwah!
Tell him that I love him, tell him that I care
Tell him that I'll always be there
Is he a good dancer?
Whaddayamean, is he a good dancer?
Well, how does he dance?
Close, very, very close!
The Shangri-Las's Give Him a Great Big Kiss is a love song where the singer is very much in love and infatuated with a man she sees on the street. The song starts with the singer proclaiming her love and the confidence that comes with it; when she says she's in love, she means it. The singer describes her love interest's appearance in detail, but she doesn't know the color of his eyes because he's always wearing shades. She's head over heels in love, and her heart skips a beat when she sees him on the street. The singer then goes on to express her intention to approach him, give him a kiss and express her love for him. The song ends with the singer being asked if her love interest is a good dancer, and she responds by saying that he dances very close.
The lyrics of Give Him a Great Big Kiss portray the singer's infatuation and hint at her desire to be close to her love interest. She wants to express her love to him and be with him, and she doesn't care much about his physical features or even his dancing skills. The song's upbeat and catchy melody add to the sense of excitement and joy in the singer's emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
When I say I'm in love, you best believe I'm in love, L-U-V!
I'm not just saying it, I mean it; I'm in love with all of my heart.
Here comes my guy walking down the street
My boyfriend is walking towards me in public.
Look how he walks with a dancing beat (da-da-da-da-da)
His walk is rhythmic and musical.
Thick wavy hair, a little too long (da-da-da-da-da)
He has thick wavy hair that is a little long.
All day long he's singing his song
He sings all day long.
And when I see him in the street
When I catch a glimpse of him in public.
My heart takes a leap and skips a beat
I get an excited feeling in my chest.
Gonna walk right up to him
I'll approach him immediately.
Give him a great big kiss, mwah!
I'll give him a passionate kiss.
Tell him that I love him, tell him that I care
I'll express my love and concern to him.
Tell him that I'll always be there
I'll always be available for him.
Big bulky sweaters to match his eyes (tell me more)
He wears bulky sweaters that match his eye color.
Dirty fingernails (tell me more)
His nails are not clean.
Oh boy, what a prize (tell me more)
What a treasure he is!
Tight, tapered pants, high button shoes (he's so cool)
He is very stylish, wearing tight, tapered pants and high button shoes.
He's always looking like he's got the blues (he's so cool)
He looks cool and aloof, like he's a little sad.
Is he a good dancer?
Is his dancing skillful?
Whaddayamean, is he a good dancer?
What exactly do you mean by asking me that?
Well, how does he dance?
What is his dance style or signature moves?
Close, very, very close!
He dances in a way that involves being in close proximity to his partner.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEORGE MORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tifanieann6469
THE SHANGRI-LAS
Give Him A Great Big Kiss Lyrics
When I say I'm in love, you best believe I'm in love, L-U-V!
Here comes my guy walking down the street
Look how he walks with a dancing beat (da-da-da-da-da)
Thick wavy hair, (da-da-da-da-da) a little too long
All day long he's singing his song
And when I see him in the street
My heart takes a leap and skips a beat
Gonna walk right up to him
Give him a great big kiss, mwah!
Tell him that I love him, tell him that I care
Tell him that I'll always be there
Well, what color are his eyes?
I don't know, he's always wearing shades
Is he tall?
Well, I've got to look up
Yeah? well I hear he's bad
Hmm, he's good-bad, but he's not evil
Tell me more, tell me more
Big bulky sweaters to match his eyes (tell me more)
Dirty fingernails (tell me more)
Oh boy, what a prize (tell me more)
Tight, tapered pants, high button shoes (he's so cool)
He's always looking like he's got the blues (he's so cool)
And when I see him in the street
My heart takes a leap and skips a beat
Gonna walk right up to him
Give him a great big kiss, mwah!
Tell him that I love him, tell him that I care
Tell him that I'll always be there
SONGWRITERS
GEORGE MORTON
PUBLISHED BY
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Song Discussions is protected by U.S. Patent 9401941. Other patents pending.
Read more: The Shangri-Las - Give Him A Great Big Kiss Lyrics | MetroLyrics
@moogie242x
“He’s good bad, but he’s not evil “is one of my favorite lyrics of all time
@Philliben1991
The Black Lips have an album called "Good, Bad not Evil'. Never made the connection before.
@gumballthechewy
Ahh yes, we call that chaotic neutral!
@MondoTrashoCa
Its the perfect description for that guy/girl we all wanted in secret lol
@msromo
My favorite Shangri-Las song. RIP Mary Weiss.
@francesfarmer736
Mine too! I have the single and sing it with all the body movements 🎶🎤
@politicoinutil
Es clavada y no conocía hasta ahora la de las Shangri-Las
@roseyc.5846
RIP, beautiful Mary. I'm so sad..😪💔
@EuphoniaPooch
that drum fill coming out of "great big big kiss" is awesome
@leahflower9924
If it wasnt for the Shangri Las would Blondie exist? lol