Leader Of The Pack by The Shangri-Las is to me the typical sound of this period in the 1960s with focus on the vocal in front. The Shangri-Las is an unusual constellation of two pairs of twins – having twins myself this is naturally a relevant knowledge….
I was introduced to the Leader Of The Pack at a party on a summer night probably in the early 1990s. The friend who played it to me was totally focuced on the sound of the motorcycle. He was going: “Hey, listen to this song, it uses the sound of a motorcycle as part of the melody”. We heard the song several times and another friends went: “That is a sad song, the guy on the motorcycle dies in the end”. The answer he got was “Ohhh. But listen, there is the sound from the bike again”. All information lost on him:-).
The Leader Of The Pack can be found on the Shargri-Las album with the same title.
Highest chart position: UK Singles Chart #11 and #1 on Billboard Hot 100.
Other 1960s music favorites are Mamas And The Papas and The Searchers.
