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
Leader of the Pack
The Shangri-Las Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Well, there she is, let's ask her"
"Betty, is that Jimmy's ring you're wearing?"
"Mmm-hmm"
"Gee, it must be great riding with him"
"Is he picking you up after school today?"
"Mmm-mmm"
"By the way, where did you meet him?"
I met him at the candy store
He turned around and smiled at me
You get the picture
(Yes, we see)
That's when I fell for the leader of the pack
My folks were always putting him down (down, down)
They said he came from the wrong side of town
(What you mean when you say that he came from the wrong side of town?)
They told me he was bad, but I knew he was sad
That's why I fell for the leader of the pack
One day, my dad said, "find someone new"
I had to tell my Jimmy, "we're through"
(What you mean when you say that you better go find somebody new?)
He stood there and asked me why, but all I could do was cry
I'm sorry I hurt you, the leader of the pack
He sort of smiled, then kissed me goodbye
The tears were beginning to show
As he drove away on that rainy night
I begged him to go slow, whether he heard
I'll never know (know, know, know, know, know, know, know)
Look out, look out, look out
Remembering all the things we'd been through
In school, they all stop and stare
I can't hide the tears, but I don't care
I'll never forget him, the leader of the pack
Ooh-ooh-ooh (gone, gone-gone-gone-gone-gone)
The leader of the pack, now he's gone (gone, gone-gone-gone-gone-gone)
The leader of the pack, now he's gone (gone, gone-gone-gone-gone-gone)
the leader of the pack, now he's gone (gone, gone-gone-gone-gone-gone)
The lyrics of "Leader of the Pack" by The Shangri-Las tell the story of a girl who falls in love with a boy from the wrong side of town, who is the leader of a pack of bikers. Despite warnings from her parents and peers, she continues to date him and love him. But in the end, her parents demand that she find someone new, and she is forced to break up with him. This scene is depicted in a heartbreaking way in the song, as the leader of the pack kisses her goodbye and drives off into the night. The girl is left feeling helpless and unable to forget him.
The lyrics of "Leader of the Pack" capture the theme of young love and rebellion against authority, which was a common theme in 1960s pop music. The song is noted for its dramatic spoken-word interludes, which help to tell the story and capture the emotion of the song. The use of revving motorcycle engines in the background also adds to the rebellious, edgy feel of the song. The Shangri-Las were pioneers of the "girl group" genre of music, which aimed to empower young women and provide them with a voice in popular music.
Line by Line Meaning
Is she really going out with him?
Asking if Betty is truly dating Jimmy, whom they consider a bad boy
Well, there she is, let's ask her
Deciding to approach Betty to confirm or deny the rumors about her relationship
Betty, is that Jimmy's ring you're wearing?
Questioning Betty about the origin of the ring on her finger, hinting it belongs to Jimmy
Mmm-hmm
Betty confirms that it is Jimmy's ring she's wearing with a hum sound
Gee, it must be great riding with him
Expressing a hint of jealousy, wishing they could be in Betty's shoes to ride with Jimmy
Is he picking you up after school today?
Asking if Jimmy will be picking Betty up from school, further feeding their curiosity
Mmm-mmm
Betty confirms to the question again using a dismissive hum sound
By the way, where did you meet him?
Curiously asking where Betty first met Jimmy to get a sense of his background
I met him at the candy store
Betty met Jimmy at a place of leisure, highlighting his seemingly simple upbringing
He turned around and smiled at me
Jimmy showed a friendly response to Betty, attracting her to him
You get the picture
Conveying that the situation is evident, no further elaborations required
Yes, we see
Confirming their understanding of the situation highlighted by Betty
That's when I fell for the leader of the pack
Betty fell in love with Jimmy at that moment and accepted him as he was.
My folks were always putting him down (down, down)
Betty's parents had a negative opinion about Jimmy and never had a good thing to say about him
They said he came from the wrong side of town
Betty's parents labeled Jimmy as someone from the less privileged part of the town
(What you mean when you say that he came from the wrong side of town?)
Betty questions the criteria used by her parents to determine that Jimmy is from the wrong side of town
They told me he was bad, but I knew he was sad
Betty's parents perceived Jimmy as a bad influence while she saw him as someone with a troubled past
That's why I fell for the leader of the pack
Betty chose to love Jimmy despite what her family thought of him
One day, my dad said, "find someone new"
Betty's father asked her to end things with Jimmy and look for a new partner
I had to tell my Jimmy, "we're through"
Betty had to end things with Jimmy against her will
(What you mean when you say that you better go find somebody new?)
Jimmy seeks an explanation from Betty as to the reason she's breaking up with him
He stood there and asked me why, but all I could do was cry
Betty couldn't give an explanation to Jimmy, leading to tears and emotional outburst
I'm sorry I hurt you, the leader of the pack
Betty apologizes to Jimmy for breaking his heart, acknowledging him as the group leader
He sort of smiled, then kissed me goodbye
Jimmy, despite being hurt, still gives Betty a smile and a goodbye kiss as he leaves, showing kindness in his heart
The tears were beginning to show
Betty couldn't hold back her emotions and started to cry
As he drove away on that rainy night
The scene was set with Jimmy driving away during a rainy night
I begged him to go slow, whether he heard
Betty pleaded with Jimmy to reduce his speed, unknown if he heard her
I'll never know (know, know, know, know, know, know, know)
Betty couldn't tell if Jimmy heard her or not, leading to regret and confusion
Look out, look out, look out
A quick warning to Jim from Betty to take care on his way out
I felt so helpless, what could I do?
Betty was powerless to stop Jimmy leaving
Remembering all the things we'd been through
Betty recollects all the happy times they had spent together
In school, they all stop and stare
Betty is now an object of gossip by others in school because of her breakup with Jimmy
I can't hide the tears, but I don't care
Betty is unable to hide her emotions as it was her true feelings for Jimmy all along
I'll never forget him, the leader of the pack
Betty will always remember Jimmy as the leader of the pack in her heart
Ooh-ooh-ooh (gone, gone-gone-gone-gone-gone)
Sadness and realization of loss are expressed through moans of pain
The leader of the pack, now he's gone (gone, gone-gone-gone-gone-gone)
The leader of the pack refers to Jimmy, and Betty describes the finality of his departure from her life
The leader of the pack, now he's gone (gone, gone-gone-gone-gone-gone)
The loss of Jimmy as the group leader is emphasized further
the leader of the pack, now he's gone (gone, gone-gone-gone-gone-gone)
The chorus is repetitively used to mark the end of an era in Betty's life and mourning over Jimmy's loss.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ellie Greenwich, George Morton, Jeff Barry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anthonyboerio4955
Lyrics:
My folks were always putting him down
They said he came from the wrong side of town
They told me he was bad
But I knew he was sad
That's why I fell for...
One day my dad said find someone new
I had to tell my Jim we were through
He stood there and asked me why
But all I could do was cry
I'm sorry I hurt you...
He sort of smiled and kissed me goodbye
The tears were beginning to show
And as he left me on that rainy night
I begged him to go slow
But whether he heard, I'll never know.
I felt so helpless what could I do?
Remembering all the things we'd been through
At school they all stop and stare
I can't hide the tears, but I don't care
I'll never forget you...
The leader of the pack, now he's gone
The leader of the pack, now he's gone
The leader of the pack, now he's gone
Copyright: Writer(s): Ellie Greenwich, George Francis Morton, Jeff Barry
@OldMusicGuy
RIP Mary Weiss. Thank you for all your music!
@nova-b6x
I thought gurls were black american singers. still gr8 singers. Love 😊 RIP MARY WEISS 💖
@brucejackson4219
Amen to that my friend.
@andrewthejester9782
I love the rythem of the piano... wouldn't be the same without
@johnevans9751
"Out in the streets' performed LIVE on Shindig
@Lee-kf9tq
@@nova-b6xwhy? They don't even sound like Africans lol. Actually most of soulful songs back then( which this isnt) were by European voices. If I'm listening to songs from back then sung by males and the voice is deep I assume they're Caucasian and it's usually right, if they're high pitched voices then I assume they're african, which they usually are.
@kyliekehoe8711
I’ve been listening to this song on repeat for like two days
@freddyloks4203
🤣😂😎
@kaylaarmstrong4110
Me to im just depressed 😂😔😳
@yuritzilopez1105
Kayla Armstrong hehehehe