Shout!
Encyclopedia
"Shout" is an influential popular song
, originally recorded by The Isley Brothers
. Released in 1959
, it was written by the brothers themselves as a call-and-response
answer to Jackie Wilson
's seminal "Lonely Teardrops
" which they interpreted after performing that song during a club date.
While the song did not reach higher than #47 on the Billboard Hot 100
, it became their first gold single on the basis of its longevity and became a much-covered tune, with many U.S. and international artists recording the song. Just one month after the initial release Johnny O'Keefe
covered it in his Australian TV show Six O'Clock Rock
reaching #3 in Australia. He re-recorded the song in 1964, but it was only a minor hit. This later version is the only one of O'Keefe's
that is now commonly available. Joey Dee and the Starlighters reached #6 with their recording of the song in 1962
, while the Isley Brothers' version re-charted that same year at #94. Scottish pop singer Lulu
had a #7 UK hit with the song in 1964
(attributed to Lulu and the Luvvers
), and a #8 UK hit with a re-recorded version in 1986
. The Shangri-Las
included a version of the song in their debut LP Leader of the Pack
in 1965. The song, as performed by Otis Day and the Knights
, was also prominently featured in the 1978
comedy film National Lampoon's Animal House
. To this day, the song is regularly performed at Dartmouth College
, the Ivy League
institution in Hanover, New Hampshire
upon which the Animal House story was based. The 1959 original by the Isley Brothers appeared in the 1982 comedy film Diner
. Alvin and the Chipmunks
covered the song for their 1996 album Club Chipmunk: The Dance Mixes
with Simon providing the lead vocals. Also played by English Band, The Beatles, and put on the album released in 1996, The Beatles Anthology. American punk rock
band Green Day
has also covered this song live. It has become a favorite of their live performances, and is coupled with the song "King For A Day"
The song was inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. It ranked #118 on Rolling Stone
s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.
. The song was also used in several Elmo
toys, one of which was pulled off the market due to many people hearing "beat up Elmo and shout, rip his fur out and shout" when it was supposed to be "be like Elmo and shout, shake your fur out and shout". The song was featured heavily in the 1978 fraternity house film Animal House as performed by "Otis Day & the Knights," fronted by character actor Dewayne Jessie
as Otis. .
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
, originally recorded 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...
. Released in 1959
1959 in music
-Events:*January 5 – The first sessions for Ella Fitzgerald's George and Ira Gershwin Songbook are held.*January 12 – Tamla Records is founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in Detroit, Michigan....
, it was written by the brothers themselves as a call-and-response
Call and response (music)
In music, a call and response is a succession of two distinct phrases usually played by different musicians, where the second phrase is heard as a direct commentary on or response to the first...
answer to Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
's seminal "Lonely Teardrops
Lonely Teardrops
"Lonely Teardrops" is a song recorded and released as a single in 1958 by R&B singer Jackie Wilson on the Brunswick label. It is a 1999 Grammy Hall of Fame Inductee...
" which they interpreted after performing that song during a club date.
While the song did not reach higher than #47 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, it became their first gold single on the basis of its longevity and became a much-covered tune, with many U.S. and international artists recording the song. Just one month after the initial release Johnny O'Keefe
Johnny O'Keefe
John Michael O'Keefe, known as Johnny O'Keefe was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. Some of his hits include "Wild One" , "Shout!" and "She's My Baby"...
covered it in his Australian TV show Six O'Clock Rock
Six O'Clock Rock
Six O'Clock Rock was an Australian Rock and Roll television show which showed on ABC Television from 28 February 1959 to 1962 and was broadcast at 6PM on Saturday evenings....
reaching #3 in Australia. He re-recorded the song in 1964, but it was only a minor hit. This later version is the only one of O'Keefe's
Johnny O'Keefe
John Michael O'Keefe, known as Johnny O'Keefe was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. Some of his hits include "Wild One" , "Shout!" and "She's My Baby"...
that is now commonly available. Joey Dee and the Starlighters reached #6 with their recording of the song in 1962
1962 in music
-Events:*January 1 – The Beatles and Brian Poole and the Tremeloes both audition at Decca Records, a company which has the option of signing one group only...
, while the Isley Brothers' version re-charted that same year at #94. Scottish pop singer Lulu
Lulu (singer)
Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
had a #7 UK hit with the song in 1964
1964 in music
-Events:*January 1 – Top of the Pops is broadcast for the first time, on BBC television.*January 3 – Footage of the Beatles performing a concert in Bournemouth, England is shown on The Jack Paar Show....
(attributed to Lulu and the Luvvers
The Luvvers
The Luvvers were a Scottish rock group. They are best known as the backing group to Lulu on her debut chart single, "Shout" . They subsequently had a low-key career of their own before disbanding in March 1966.-Career:...
), and a #8 UK hit with a re-recorded version in 1986
1986 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1986.-January-June:*January 23 – The first induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame takes place...
. 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 :...
included a version of the song in their debut LP 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:...
in 1965. The song, as performed by Otis Day and the Knights
Otis Day and the Knights
Otis Day and the Knights was originally created as a fictional band to perform in the movie National Lampoon's Animal House. They are best known for their version of "Shout" and "Shama Lama Ding Dong". Otis Day was played by DeWayne Jessie. Robert Cray was one of the members of the band in the...
, was also prominently featured in the 1978
1978 in film
The year 1978 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 1 - Bob Dylan's film Renaldo and Clara, a documentary of the "Rolling Thunder Revue" tour premieres in Los Angeles, California....
comedy film National Lampoon's Animal House
National Lampoon's Animal House
National Lampoon's Animal House is a 1978 American comedy film directed by John Landis. The film was a direct spin-off of National Lampoon magazine...
. To this day, the song is regularly performed at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
institution in Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
upon which the Animal House story was based. The 1959 original by the Isley Brothers appeared in the 1982 comedy film Diner
Diner (film)
Diner is a 1982 comedy-drama film written and directed by Barry Levinson. Levinson's screen directing debut, Diner is the first in his "Baltimore films", which also include the subsequent Tin Men, Avalon and Liberty Heights.-Plot:...
. Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
covered the song for their 1996 album Club Chipmunk: The Dance Mixes
Club Chipmunk: The Dance Mixes
Club Chipmunk: The Dance Mixes is a music album by Alvin and the Chipmunks and was released by Sony Wonder. The album was released on October 6, 1996 and contains cover versions of popular pop/dance songs, oldies and a Spanish version of "Macarena"...
with Simon providing the lead vocals. Also played by English Band, The Beatles, and put on the album released in 1996, The Beatles Anthology. American punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
has also covered this song live. It has become a favorite of their live performances, and is coupled with the song "King For A Day"
The song was inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. It ranked #118 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.
In popular culture
"Shout" has woven itself into many iconic American mediums such as a wedding dance song in which people progressively crouch down to the dance floor as the song gets quieter. It has been used in commercials for the S.C. Johnson & Son Shout brand of laundry spray. A parody of the song has been adapted to victory music of the NFL's Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The song was also used in several Elmo
Elmo
Elmo is a Muppet character on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is a furry red monster and currently hosts the last full 15 minute segment on Sesame Street, Elmo's World, which is aimed at toddlers. His puppeteer, Kevin Clash, uses falsetto to produce his voice...
toys, one of which was pulled off the market due to many people hearing "beat up Elmo and shout, rip his fur out and shout" when it was supposed to be "be like Elmo and shout, shake your fur out and shout". The song was featured heavily in the 1978 fraternity house film Animal House as performed by "Otis Day & the Knights," fronted by character actor Dewayne Jessie
DeWayne Jessie
DeWayne Jessie is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Otis Day in National Lampoon's Animal House. In the movie, the songs "Shama Lama Ding Dong" and "Shout" were sung by Lloyd Williams and lip-synched by Jessie...
as Otis. .
Personnel
- Ronald IsleyRonald IsleyRonald Isley is an American singer and is known as the lead singer and founding member of the family music group The Isley Brothers.-Career:...
– lead vocal - 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:...
– background vocal - Rudolph IsleyRudolph IsleyRudolph 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:...
– background vocal