Leader of the Pack is the 1965 debut LP by girl group The Shangri-Las

The Shangri-Las

The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966 they charted with often heartbreaking teen melodramas, and remain best known for "Leader of the Pack" and "Remember ".- Early career :...

. The album was produced to capitialize on the group's breakthrough hits "Remember (Walking in the Sand)" and "Leader of the Pack

Leader of the Pack

"Leader of the Pack" is a 1964 pop song recorded by girl group The Shangri-Las. It became number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 28, 1964.-Original Shangri-Las recording:...

" which had been co-written by Jeff Barry

Jeff Barry

Jeff Barry is an American pop music songwriter, singer, and record producer.-Early career:...

 and Ellie Greenwich

Ellie Greenwich

Eleanor Louise "Ellie" Greenwich was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Be My Baby", "Christmas ", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Leader of the Pack", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", and "River Deep, Mountain High", among many others...

. After the album's focal track went to number one, The Shangri Las' style and image had evolved into something tougher and earthier.

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

The Chantels

The Chantels were the second African-American girl group to have nationwide success in the United States, preceded by The Bobbettes. The group was established in the early 1950s and attended St. Anthony of Padua school in The Bronx...

 with Betty Weiss on lead vocals, along with " Shout" and "Twist and Shout

Twist and Shout

"Twist and Shout" is a song written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell. It was originally titled "Shake It Up, Baby" and recorded by the Top Notes and then covered by The Isley Brothers. It was covered by The Beatles with John Lennon on the lead vocals and originally released on their first album...

" both originally by The Isley Brothers

The Isley Brothers

The Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper...

. Also on the album is "Give Him A Great Big Kiss" which The Shangri-Las would release as a single later in the year. Although the group had scored two major hits, the album only charted at 109 on the U.S. albums chart.

Side 1

1. "Give Him A Great Big Kiss"
2. "Leader of the Pack
   Leader of the Pack
   "Leader of the Pack" is a 1964 pop song recorded by girl group The Shangri-Las. It became number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 28, 1964.-Original Shangri-Las recording:...
   
   " (Morton, Jeff Barry
   Jeff Barry
   Jeff Barry is an American pop music songwriter, singer, and record producer.-Early career:...
   
   , Ellie Greenwich
   Ellie Greenwich
   Eleanor Louise "Ellie" Greenwich was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Be My Baby", "Christmas ", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Leader of the Pack", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", and "River Deep, Mountain High", among many others...
   
   )
3. "Bull Dog"
4. "It's Easier To Cry
5. "What Is Love?"
6. "Remember (Walking in the Sand)"

Side 2

1. "Twist And Shout
   Twist and Shout
   "Twist and Shout" is a song written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell. It was originally titled "Shake It Up, Baby" and recorded by the Top Notes and then covered by The Isley Brothers. It was covered by The Beatles with John Lennon on the lead vocals and originally released on their first album...
   
   " (Phil Medley
   Phil Medley
   Philip "Phil" Medley was an American songwriter notable for his composition "Twist & Shout", which he wrote along with Bert Russell. The song was made famous by both The Isley Brothers and The Beatles. Medley also co-wrote "If I Didn't Have a Dime" for Gene Pitney with Russell...
   
   , Bert Russell)
2. "Maybe" (Arlene Smith, George Goldner)
3. "So Much In Love"
4. "Shout" (Rudolph Isley
   Rudolph Isley
   Rudolph Bernard Isley , better known as Rudy Isley, is an American singer-songwriter and is one of the founding members of the legendary family group, The Isley Brothers.-Biography:...
   
   , Ronald Isley
   Ronald Isley
   Ronald Isley is an American singer and is known as the lead singer and founding member of the family music group The Isley Brothers.-Career:...
   
   , O'Kelly Isley, Jr.
   O'Kelly Isley, Jr.
   O'Kelly Isley, Jr. , better known as Kelly Isley, was an American singer and one of the founding members of the legendary family group, The Isley Brothers.-Biography:...
   
   )
5. "Goodnight My Love (Pleasant Dreams)"
6. "You Can't Sit Down"

Personnel

• Mary Weiss
  Mary Weiss
  Mary Weiss, born on December 28 in Queens, New York, found fame in the 1960s as the lead singer of The Shangri-Las. She then vanished from the music scene for decades, returning in 2007 to record her first solo album with Norton Records....
  
   - Lead and backing vocals
• Betty Weiss - Lead and backing vocals
• Marge Ganser - Backing vocals
• Mary Ann Ganser - Backing vocals

Singles history

• "Remember (Walking in the Sand)" b/w "It's Easier To Cry" (U.S. #5, UK #14)
• "Leader of the Pack
  Leader of the Pack
  "Leader of the Pack" is a 1964 pop song recorded by girl group The Shangri-Las. It became number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 28, 1964.-Original Shangri-Las recording:...
  
  " b/w "What Is Love?" (U.S. #1, UK #11 (1965), UK #3 (1972), UK #7 (1976)
• "Give Him a Great Big Kiss" b/w "Twist and Shout" (U.S. #18)