The Shangri-Las were an American pop music girl group of the 60s that becam… Read Full Bio ↴The Shangri-Las were an American pop music girl group of the 60s that became well known for their 'streetwise' image and popular songs about teenage angst, being massively influential among later female vocalists. The group was formed at Andrew Jackson High School, located in Queens, New York, in 1963. It consisted of two sets of sisters: Mary Weiss and Elizabeth "Liz/Betty" Weiss alongside identical twins Marguerite "Marge" and Mary Ann Ganser.
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
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
The Sweet Sounds Of Summer
The Shangri-Las Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Shangri-Las:
Boy Ey, ey, ey Oh, he a boss boy Carita mala He with the…
Bull Dog I'm in love with the pretiest boy in the USA. (Hey,…
Dressed In Black Dressed in black He walks alone, a shadow in the night Each…
Dressed In Black ! Dressed in black He walks alone, a shadow in the night Eac…
Footsteps On The Roof City down below is sleeping once again I'm waiting here so…
Give Him a Great Big Kiss When I say I'm in love, you best believe I'm…
Give Us Your Blessings Run, run, run, Mary, run, run, run, Jimmy, run, run, run, Ma…
Good Night My Love Goodnight my love, the tired old moon is descending Goodnig…
Goodnight My Love Goodnight my love, the tired old moon is descending Goodnigh…
Heaven Only Knows I dream about you all the time, yes I do And…
I Can Never Eat Home Anymore I'm gonna hide if she don't leave me alone I'm gonna…
I'll Never Learn I'll never be the same Stars have lost their meaning for…
I'M Blue I'm blue, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, doo, be, doo, be,…
Ill Never Learn I'll never be the same Stars have lost their meaning for…
Im Blue I'm blue, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, doo, be, doo, be,…
It'S Easier To Cry They said forget about him You're better off without him Go …
Las Leoder Of The Pack Mm--"Is she really going out with him? "Well, there she is,…
Leader of he pack "Is she really going out with him? "Well, there she is,…
Leader Of The Laundromat Is he really goin' out with ‘er? I don't…
Leader of the Pack "Is she really going out with him? "Well, there she is,…
Long Live Our Love (When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurray, hurrah) (Ch…
Love You More Than Yesterday I cant think straight knowing That you lied to me about Th…
Maybe Maybe Oh if I could pray and I try, dear You might…
Never Again You better stop playin' games I told you once before It'll h…
Out In The Street He don't hang around with the gang no more He don't…
Paradise There is a land I know where lover go And flowers…
Past The past, past, well now let me tell you about…
Past, Present, and Future Dressed in black He walks alone A shadow in the night Each t…
Remember Seems like the other day My baby went away He went away…
Remember (Walkin' in the Sand) (Written by George "Shadow" Morton) Seems like the other da…
Remember (Walking in the Sand) Seems like the other day My baby went away He went away…
Remember Walking In the Sand Baby oh baby I love you,love you so madly Baby oh…
Right Now And Not Later Listen to me baby and listen real good You know you're…
Shout Shout Shout Let it all out These are the things I can do…
So Much In Love As we stroll along together, Holding hands, walking all alo…
So Much Love I got more pride than a room full of Leo's Life…
Sophisticated Boom Boom I Was walkin' down the street, And it was gettin' mighty…
Take The Time Alors je prends le temps Plus le temps d'avoir Du temps et…
The Boy Ey, ey, ey Oh, he a boss boy Carita mala He with the…
The Dum Dum Take a right on Sunset, going east looking for you And…
The Dum Dum Ditty He doesn't talk much, But when he does he sayin' somethin'.…
The Leader of the Pack Mm--"Is she really going out with him? "Well, there she is,…
The Shangri-Las: Leader Of The Pack Mm--"Is she really going out with him? "Well, there she is,…
The Train From Kansas City (Baby, baby Please believe me I would never never do anythin…
Twist And Shout Well, shake it up, baby, now, (shake it up, baby) A…
Walkin' In The Sand Seems like the other day My baby went away He went away…
What Is Love You don't know what love is 'Til you've learned the meaning…
What Is Love- Please tell me, what is love? (Oh, yes, won't you tell…
What Is Love? You don't know what love is 'Til you've learned the meaning…
What's A Girl Supposed To Do walke dme to my door said he's glad he found all he…
What's A Girl Supposed To Do? walke dme to my door said he's glad he found all he…
Wishing Well Stayed for a while in the hollow sound The only water…
You Can't Sit Down Yeah pretty baby! you can't sit down Don't you hear…
You Cheated You Lied You cheated, you lied You said that you love me You cheated,…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Munster Fans
They were a unique girl group. They had a look and sound unlike the others. They were and still are great!
Scott Whitworth
Blessed
John LaStrada
This was The Shangri-Las first 45 on their new label Mercury. Was even played on WNEW-FM when it was free form. Must've believed this girl group was morphing into a great progressive band. Compared to their previous hits, the novelty ones & the angst-ridden ones this was a work of pop art. Moody, haunting & an ingenious arrangement. The instrumental break was quite intense for the time for a group like The Shangri-Las. Surprised the hell out of me. What a talented bunch these ladies were.
Scott Whitworth
Blessed
Ready-Adhesiveness40
@Jay Ham the Late Great Shadow Morton - thanks
Norman Bommarito
@Jay Ham he gave up on them to work with vinilla fodge and janis lan
Jay Ham
Produced by Shadow Morton
donald fewell
Yes. Who produced them on Mercury? It sounds very much like Phil Spector's "wall of sound".
Tony Santiago
There are songs that really capture that 'Summer' vibe and this definitely fills the bill. The Shangs and Shadow were changing with the times and this comes through as well. I just discovered them, beyond 'Leader of the Pack' about 2 months ago and I'm addicted. Did they put out an album with this single or were these thier last recordings? These girls were truly Groovy.
foxyshabazz
My favourite Shangri-Las song. Unlike a few of the posters here I love the freak-out in the middle. It's like Jim Morrison or Steppenwolf barged in and took over the studio for a minute or so.