Along with the Shirelles and the Ronettes, the Shangri-Las were among the greatest girl groups; if judged solely on the basis of attitude, they were the greatest of them all. They combined an innocent adolescent charm with more than a hint of darkness, singing about dead bikers, teenage runaways, and doomed love affairs as well as ebullient high-school crushes. These could be delivered with either infectious, handclapping harmonies or melodramatic, almost operatic recitatives that were contrived but utterly effective. Tying it all together in the studio was George 'Shadow' Morton, a mad genius of a producer who may have been second in eccentric imagination only to Phil Spector in the mid-'60s.
The quality of Morton's work with the Shangri-Las on Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's Red Bird label (with assistance from Jeff Barry and Artie Butler) was remarkable considering that he had virtually no prior experience in the music business. With his 'Remember (Walkin' in the Sand)' the Shangri-Las made the Top Five in late 1964. The group's material, so over-the-top emotionally that it sometimes bordered on camp, was lightened by the first-class production, which embroidered the tracks with punchy brass, weeping strings, and plenty of imaginative sound effects. Nowhere was this more apparent than on 'Leader of the Pack,' with its periodic motorcycle roars and crescendo of crashing glass. The death-rock classic became the Shangri-Las' signature tune, reaching number one.
This is the tracklisting for the 2006 compilation which has since gone out of print. Sob.
Remember (Walkin' In The Sand) [stereo] (1964 US#5)
It's Easier To Cry
Leader Of The Pack [stereo] (1964 US#1)
What Is Love
Give Him A Great Big Kiss [stereo] (1965 US#18)
Out In The Streets (1965 US#53)
The Boy
Give Us Your Blessings
Heaven Only Knows [stereo]
Right Now And Not Later (1965 US#99)
The Train From Kansas City [stereo]
Never Again
I'm Blue
What's A Girl Supposed To Do
The Dum Dum Ditty
You Cheated, You Lied
I Can Never Go Home Anymore [stereo] (1965 US#6)
Bull Dog
Long Live Our Love (1966 US#33)
Sophisticated Boom Boom
He Cried (1966 US#65)
Dressed In Black
Past, Present And Future (1966 US#59)
Love You More Than Yesterday
Paradise
Give Him A Great Big Kiss (alt. version) [stereo]
Simon Says
Simon Speaks
Radio spot #1 Revlon: How pretty can you get?
Radio spot #2 Revlon: Natural wonder
Radio spot #3 Good taste tip: Gift receiving
Radio spot #4 Good taste tip: Dating courtesy
http://rapidshare.com/files/53623004/0709SHANGRILAS.zip
