Shadow Morton
Encyclopedia
George 'Shadow' Morton is an American record producer
and songwriter best known for his influential work in the 1960s and the introduction of girl group
The Shangri-Las
to the pop music world.
Growing up in Brooklyn
, New York, and then Hicksville
, Long Island, he formed a doo-wop
group, the Marquees, at school. He became friendly with Ellie Greenwich
, and did drop-in visits to her and her writing partner (later husband) Jeff Barry
when they were working at New York songwriters' 'Mecca', the Brill Building
.
According to a Biography
episode on various 1960s Brill Building pop songwriters, including retrospective interviews with Greenwich, Barry and Morton among others, Barry said that at the time he was suspicious of Morton's overt attention to Greenwich. Disbelieving Morton was really the songwriter he claimed to be, Barry challenged Morton face-to-face to prove his legitimacy and bring in samples of his recent work (expecting never to hear again from an embarrassed Morton). Morton stated in his interview that, with an empty song portfolio at the time, he felt sufficiently challenged by Barry, whereupon he left the Brill Building and angrily drove his Buick to a Long Island beach that night, and, full of inspiration and desperation, spent the evening writing his first song while sitting in the dark in his parked car. Entitled "Remember (Walking In The Sand)", Morton then 'rolled the dice' and recorded a demo of his song with a long-shot, unknown girl group
local club act that he admired, The Shangri-Las
(according to Morton, with the then-unknown Billy Joel
on piano in the demo recording) http://www.limusichalloffame.org/lirock/shadow04.html, and offered the demo recording to established industry guru Jerry Leiber who was then setting up Red Bird Records
. The recording "Remember (Walking In The Sand)" by The Shangri-Las reached #3 on the US pop charts in 1964, and was a worldwide teen recording hit that launched The Shangri-Las as a chart-topping recording group. Considering the scope of this accomplishment, Morton was transformed overnight from a credential-less industry 'wannabe' into a teen recording songwriter and recording producer sensation—a pop recording industry 'wunderkind'—one of pop recording industry's often-told, long-odds 'success stories'.
Morton signed as a staff producer for Red Bird, and was nicknamed "Shadow" by George Goldner
because his whereabouts could never be pinned down. He was a key architect in creating the girl group sound of the mid-1960s, by continuing to write and produce hit teen melodramas for the Shangri-Las, including "Leader of the Pack
", "I Can Never Go Home Anymore", and "Give Him A Great Big Kiss". These juxtaposed teen lyrics against a mixture of pop and R&B, with sound effects and inventive percussion.
In 1967, his successes continued after the collapse of Red Bird when his production of Janis Ian
's "Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking)" finally became a hit record. The same year, he discovered a group called The Pidgeons, who became Vanilla Fudge
, and produced their first three albums, which included their hit containing "You Keep Me Hangin' On," followed by a disastrous foray into docu-opera called "The Beat Goes On." "The Beat Goes On" was largely Morton's idea. and while the band recovered to make a successful third album ("Renaissance") with Morton, the stress contributed to the band's breakup.
In the 1970s he worked with Iron Butterfly
, and even though the group gave an interview to Mix Magazine crediting Morton with producing the hit track "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" that information is not widely known. He also worked with The New York Dolls, producing their second album Too Much Too Soon. Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders
would later cover his composition "Great Big Kiss" on his 1979 solo album So Alone
. In 1972, Shadow produced the Boston comedy band Gross National Productions' album P-Flaps and Low Blows.
Morton then disappeared from the music industry for several years, and was treated for alcoholism in the 1980s before attempting a comeback.
He was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame
(www.limusichalloffame.org) on Oct 15, 2006.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and songwriter best known for his influential work in the 1960s and the introduction of girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
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 :...
to the pop music world.
Growing up in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York, and then Hicksville
Hicksville, New York
Hicksville is a hamlet and census-designated place located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population of the CDP was 41,547 at the 2010 census...
, Long Island, he formed a doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
group, the Marquees, at school. He became friendly with 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...
, and did drop-in visits to her and her writing partner (later husband) Jeff Barry
Jeff Barry
Jeff Barry is an American pop music songwriter, singer, and record producer.-Early career:...
when they were working at New York songwriters' 'Mecca', the Brill Building
Brill Building
The Brill Building is an office building located at 1619 Broadway on 49th Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, just north of Times Square and further uptown from the historic musical Tin Pan Alley neighborhood...
.
According to a Biography
Biography (TV series)
Biography is a documentary television series. It was originally a half-hour filmed series produced for CBS by David Wolper from 1961 to 1964 and hosted by Mike Wallace. The A&E Network later re-ran it and has produced new episodes since 1987...
episode on various 1960s Brill Building pop songwriters, including retrospective interviews with Greenwich, Barry and Morton among others, Barry said that at the time he was suspicious of Morton's overt attention to Greenwich. Disbelieving Morton was really the songwriter he claimed to be, Barry challenged Morton face-to-face to prove his legitimacy and bring in samples of his recent work (expecting never to hear again from an embarrassed Morton). Morton stated in his interview that, with an empty song portfolio at the time, he felt sufficiently challenged by Barry, whereupon he left the Brill Building and angrily drove his Buick to a Long Island beach that night, and, full of inspiration and desperation, spent the evening writing his first song while sitting in the dark in his parked car. Entitled "Remember (Walking In The Sand)", Morton then 'rolled the dice' and recorded a demo of his song with a long-shot, unknown girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
local club act that he admired, 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 :...
(according to Morton, with the then-unknown Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
on piano in the demo recording) http://www.limusichalloffame.org/lirock/shadow04.html, and offered the demo recording to established industry guru Jerry Leiber who was then setting up Red Bird Records
Red Bird Records
Red Bird Records was a record label started by American pop music songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1964. Though often thought of as a "girl-group" label, female-led acts made up only 40% of the artist roster on Red Bird and its associated labels...
. The recording "Remember (Walking In The Sand)" by The Shangri-Las reached #3 on the US pop charts in 1964, and was a worldwide teen recording hit that launched The Shangri-Las as a chart-topping recording group. Considering the scope of this accomplishment, Morton was transformed overnight from a credential-less industry 'wannabe' into a teen recording songwriter and recording producer sensation—a pop recording industry 'wunderkind'—one of pop recording industry's often-told, long-odds 'success stories'.
Morton signed as a staff producer for Red Bird, and was nicknamed "Shadow" by George Goldner
George Goldner
George Goldner was an American record label owner and promoter. He worked, amongst others, with The Crows, The Flamingos, The Cleftones, The Shangri-Las, The Teenagers, The Chantels, Little Richard and Lou Christie. He had a son named Cary and a wife named Grace...
because his whereabouts could never be pinned down. He was a key architect in creating the girl group sound of the mid-1960s, by continuing to write and produce hit teen melodramas for the Shangri-Las, including "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:...
", "I Can Never Go Home Anymore", and "Give Him A Great Big Kiss". These juxtaposed teen lyrics against a mixture of pop and R&B, with sound effects and inventive percussion.
In 1967, his successes continued after the collapse of Red Bird when his production of Janis Ian
Janis Ian
Janis Ian is an American songwriter, singer, musician, columnist, and science fiction author. Ian first entered the folk music scene while still a teenager in the mid-sixties; most active musically in that decade and the 1970s, she has continued recording into the 21st century...
's "Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking)" finally became a hit record. The same year, he discovered a group called The Pidgeons, who became Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band. The band's original lineup – vocalist/organist Mark Stein, bassist/vocalist Tim Bogert, lead guitarist/vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice – recorded five albums during the years 1966–69, before disbanding in 1970...
, and produced their first three albums, which included their hit containing "You Keep Me Hangin' On," followed by a disastrous foray into docu-opera called "The Beat Goes On." "The Beat Goes On" was largely Morton's idea. and while the band recovered to make a successful third album ("Renaissance") with Morton, the stress contributed to the band's breakup.
In the 1970s he worked with Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly is a US psychedelic rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".Their heyday was the late 1960s, but the band has been reincarnated with various members. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the 31st best-selling album in the world, selling more than 25 million copies.-History:The...
, and even though the group gave an interview to Mix Magazine crediting Morton with producing the hit track "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" that information is not widely known. He also worked with The New York Dolls, producing their second album Too Much Too Soon. Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
would later cover his composition "Great Big Kiss" on his 1979 solo album So Alone
So Alone
So Alone is a 1978 album by Johnny Thunders, then leader of The Heartbreakers and formerly lead guitarist for the New York Dolls.After recording L.A.M.F. with the Heartbreakers, Thunders returned to the studio and recorded his first true solo album, So Alone...
. In 1972, Shadow produced the Boston comedy band Gross National Productions' album P-Flaps and Low Blows.
Morton then disappeared from the music industry for several years, and was treated for alcoholism in the 1980s before attempting a comeback.
He was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame
Long Island Music Hall of Fame
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame is an organization whose office is located in Port Jefferson, New York. It was incorporated in July 2005 under the New York State Board of Regents as a non profit organization and holds a provisional charter to operate as a museum in the state of New York...
(www.limusichalloffame.org) on Oct 15, 2006.