Leader of the Pack

1964

Leader of the Pack is the title of a pop song of the girl group The Shangri -Las from the year 1964. The piece is described by critics as " one of the largest mini- operas of pop music ," " unforgettable classic" and " absolute masterpiece of a teenage anthem". The title reached number one on the U.S. pop charts and was also included in the list of the 365 most important American songs of the 20th century; he is there space 180

Formation

With the song Remember ( Walking in the Sand ) The Shangri -Las had in September 1964 a first drive success in the UK and U.S. charts. With the subsequent recording Leader of the Pack (about: leader of the band ), the group managed to create a unique, characteristic niche in popular music. Written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and George " Shadow" Morton, this was a to 2:48 minutes and thus " compressed single soon, archetypal rocker melodrama from a female perspective ": " a girl meets a boy who falls in love with him the boy died in a motorcycle accident. "

On the origin of the song told the author Ellie Greenwich:

"The piece was meant entirely seriously. There was always this bad boy, with every girl wanted to go out, but no - Mum and Dad would never have allowed that. And then there was the motorcycle. If you started in the 60s to make money, you bought a motorbike. So we took on this trend, tinkered to a love story and then a slightly macabre element. And so was a little soap opera. "

Her husband and co-writer Jeff Barry added about the recording sessions:

" The 16 - year-old Mary White should let their emotions run wild - and she cried when recording. You can hear it on the plate. "

Content

The song begins with a spoken, only minimal instrumental singsong conversation between friends:

" Is it really him? Oh, here she comes - let us ask them. Betty, is your ring of Jimmy? [ affirmative ] ahm God, it must be great to go with him! He picks you up after school? [ negative one ] m- mm Where did you actually meet him? "

At this point, the protagonist falls into an orchestral accompanied singing:

"I met him at the candy store; he turned around and smiled at me - can you imagine? [ Chorus responds: ] Yes, we see before us. Since I am in love with the leader of the motorcycle gang. "

The last sentence is highlighted as a sound effect, the multiple on and Crackin a motorcycle gas handle. It follows in the central part of the delimitation of the young girl from her parents ( "They always say that he was bad, but I know he is only sad. " ), Who forbade her to deal with Jimmy. The third verse describes the situation immediately after it has informed him the forced end of their friendship: in front of her wailing background vocals can be heard again the sound of a motorcycle, this time with screeching brakes to which she screams repeatedly " Look out! " What in the booming noise of a vehicle collision goes down.

Success

On 28 November 1964, had managed the single to # 1 in the United States; in Australia, the song occupied the first place. In January 1965, the piece also reached the British charts and climbed to number eleven there. 1972 and 1976 made ​​it the title again in the British charts; He reached both times this time the top ten. He has sold 1.2 million units worldwide.

2004 was chosen by the Rolling Stone the title at No. 447 in its list of the 500 best songs of all time.

Further use

1984 Broadway musical Leader of the Pack was first performed, based on the songs of Ellie Greenwich. The song is also heard in the opening scene of the first Duisburg Tatort episode with Götz George. In 1990, the title was used in the soundtrack for Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas.

The song has been covered many times, including by Bette Midler and the hard rock band Twisted Sister. By the end of 1964, The Detergents (Eng. The detergent ) under the title "Leader of the Laundromat " (Eng.: Leader of the launderette ), a parody of this hit released that 1965 also make it into the U.S. top ten. As the fire chair brought the Crazy Girls 1965, a German -language version on the market. Another text presented later Udo Lindenberg ( The boss of the gang, 1978).