| Leader of the Pack | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 1965 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 28:18 | |||
| Label | Red Bird | |||
| Producer | George "Shadow" Morton | |||
| The Shangri-Las chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Leader of the Pack | ||||
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Leader of the Pack is the debut album by girl group the Shangri-Las, released in 1965 by Red Bird Records. The album was produced to capitalize on the group's breakthrough hits "Remember (Walking in the Sand)" and "Leader of the Pack", the latter of which had been co-written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich in addition to George "Shadow" Morton.[1] After the album's focal track went to number one, the Shangri-Las' style and image had evolved into something tougher and earthier.[2]
Much of the material for Leader of the Pack such as "Bull Dog" and "It's Easier to Cry" emphasized their new style. Other songs on the album include cover versions of "Maybe" originally by the Chantels with Betty Weiss on lead vocals, along with "Shout" by the Isley Brothers and "Twist and Shout" by the Top Notes.[1] Also on the album is "Give Him a Great Big Kiss", which the Shangri-Las had released as a single in December 1964.[3] Although the group had scored two major hits, the album only charted at 109 on the U.S. albums chart.[4]
The songs "Leader of the Pack", "Give Him a Great Big Kiss" and "Remember (Walking in the Sand)" have been cited as important influences on musicians such as the New York Dolls, the Damned, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Sonic Youth and Amy Winehouse.[5][6][7][8]
- ^ a b Warner, Jay (2006). American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard. pp. 447–448. ISBN 9780634099786.
- ^ Grecco, John C. (2002). "Out In The Streets: The Story of the Shangri-Las". Red Bird Entertainment. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012.
- ^ Patrick, Mick (February 2002). Myrmidons of Melodrama (album liner notes). The Shangri-Las. RPM Records (United States).
- ^ Rees, Dafydd; Crampton, Luke (1999). Rock Stars Encyclopedia (2nd ed.). DK. p. 898. ISBN 0-7894-4613-8.
- ^ "Mary Weiss obituary". The Times. 22 January 2024. Archived from the original on 20 January 2025.
- ^ Mejía, Paula (27 January 2024). "Mary Weiss, the Flinty Voice of Heartbreak". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024.
- ^ Marcus, Greil (29 August 2014). "How Amy Winehouse Made 'To Know Him Is to Love Him' Her Own". The Guardian.
- ^ "How The Shangri-Las shaped Amy Winehouse". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2025.