ladyislingering
retired
The Shangri-Las
It was not uncommon in the 60's for entertainers to be underage. Melodramatic music driven by teenage heartache was very fashionable during this decade, as were the images of the girls behind the wheel. Many of these groups were composed of sisters, cousins, and friends; their on-stage presence full-force, united in oneness, often wearing the same outfits and hairstyles.
One of the most popular groups of this era was comprised of two sets of sisters from Queens, New York. They attended the Andrew Jackson High School in Cambria Heights, where they became popular for performing in front of their classmates; whether it be for school parties or talent shows, the girls were well-known amongst their peers and soon caught the attention of record label Kama Sutra's Andy Ripp, who acted as their window to success.
Sisters Mary and Elizabeth (Betty) Weiss, teamed up with identical sisters Margie and Mary Ann Ganser formed The Shangri-Las in 1963 and soon became an overnight sensation. Once signed to Kama Sutra, their first single was called "Simon Says", which Mary Weiss sang lead on. The girls were all under 18 years of age during this time; therefore requiring permission from their parents to be able to accomplish anything in the music world.
Unofficial Website
1964 Leader of the Pack
1965 Shangri-Las-65!
(left to right: Betty, Margie, Mary-Ann, and Mary)
Occasionally lead vocals were shared amongst the girls; however, Mary sang lead on many of The Shangri-Las' biggest tracks, including "Leader of the Pack", "Remember (Walkin' in the Sand)" and "Give Him a Great Big Kiss". Mary Ann Ganser took on lead vocals for "I'm Blue"; Betty sang lead on "Maybe", though preferred to avoid touring until 1965; the Shangri-Las often performed just as a trio because of this.
In 1964, Red Bird Records took on the Shangri-Las. During this time they would find their greatest success; Mary and Betty Weiss, then 15 and 17, and the Ganser twins, 16, were still minors; because of this, it has been said that in the end, The Shangri-Las never saw much profit from their hard work.
It is a little known fact that Billy Joel, then unknown, performed as a session musician for the demo of "Remember (Walkin' in the Sand)", which was originally recorded into a 7-minute long epic. This was something quite rare and unusual during this time; a shorter version was recorded that ultimately be the recording everyone is familiar with, simply because it would be more radio-friendly.
Record producer George "Shadow" Morton was behind the excessive orchestration of the girls' songs; he would later go on to produce the music of Janis Ian and Iron Butterfly. Early in his career he was also close friends of Ellie Greenwich; together they were avid songwriters for New York's Brill Building.
"Leader of the Pack", a song dealing with teenage death, complete with screaming tires and sound effects galore (something also quite popular during the 1960s) went straight to #1 in the United States, and #3 in the UK, despite the BBC's reluctance to play the single, and its initial ban. It has been said that to achieve the sound of a revving motorcycle, one was actually brought backstage during live performances. Sound effects were also present in "Remember (Walkin' in the Sand)" though were said by Morton to have been accomplished via a sound effects record.
"Leader of the Pack" knocked the Supremes AND the Beatles out of the way to claim its spot on the charts, just to give an idea of how popular these girls had become. It is widely believed that when Mary was in the recording studio, she put so much emotion into the songs of the Shangri-Las, that tears were literally streaming down her face while she sang. They were also very friendly to everyone, especially Mary and Margie, who had time for anyone, to greet with a warm smile and sincere affection. Never too busy for an autograph or casual conversation, the girls were even known to hand out candy to the neighbourhood kids when they were out and about.
While the girls were on the road, Mrs. Ganser became their official chaperone, despite having another son on the road as a minor-league baseball player, and two other children at home. Donned in matching outfits for many of their performances, they were marketed with a sort of "bad girl" image that would illustrate their existence in musical history for years to come.
Despite their popularity, their debut LP "Leader of the Pack" only charted at a disappointing #109 on the US album charts in 1964. 10 of its 12 tracks were composed by Morton.
Once the girls had reached a popularity earning them spots in shows featuring groups such as The Byrds, The Nashville Teens, The Beach Boys, and Del Shannon, Mrs. Ganser was overwhelmed with the amount of time needed for her to continue being their chaperone, turning over her title to the officials at Red Bird Records. The Shangri-Las had even performed with motown acts such as the Drifters and James Brown (who, according to Mary Weiss, were pleasantly surprised to find that the girls were white!) after being listed by Cashbox as "the year's no. 1 R&B group" in 1964.
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