Sophisticated Boom Boom! The Shadow Morton Story Various Artists (Producer Series)

£13.12

Genre:
Pop
Label:
Ace Records
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDTOP 1369

“Producers are quirky, conceptual people,” David Johansen of the New York Dolls once said. Few fit that description better than George “Shadow” Morton, whose career we celebrate in this latest addition to our long-running Producers series.

When news reached Shadow this collection of his productions was in development, he let it be known he would like to be involved in the project. I was provided with his email address, along with a password for use in the subject line of all communications, to guarantee a response. I fired off a quick (quite gushing) email asking for an official interview, to which he readily consented, requesting that I address him as Shadow. Over the ensuing months, I sent some leading questions, which he duly answered, although his replies were invariably a long time coming. He deserved that nickname of his, I thought. With a trip to the USA on my horizon, in hope of moving things along, I plucked up the courage to phone and ask if it would be possible to meet in person, to which he again agreed. Then nothing. My trip came and went and further emails remained unanswered. My initial disappointment turned to sadness a few months later when I heard Shadow had died.

The fruits of our unfortunately curtailed correspondence are contained in the CD’s accompanying booklet, together with excerpts from earlier interviews conducted by Richard Arfin, Bob Goodman, Lenny Kaye, Ralph M Newman and Genya Ravan, all of whom deserve commending for jobs well done. Our combined efforts enable the enigmatic producer/songwriter’s story to be told in full for the first time.

The collection covers Shadow’s career from his debut as lead vocalist with the Markeys and the Lonely Ones through to the New York Dolls’ “Too Much Too Soon” album. Also included are tracks by the Beattle-ettes, Shangri-Las, Goodies, Ellie Greenwich, Shaggy Boys, Nu-Luvs, Janis Ian, Blues Project, Vanilla Fudge, Vagrants, Iron Butterfly and Mott The Hoople – everything from 1950s doo wop to 1970s glam-punk via girl group melodramas and Long Island psychedelia. In other words, a very varied listening experience.

Along with a 12,000-word essay, the sumptuously illustrated 36-page booklet features many rare photographs, including some supplied by the Morton family. 

By Mick Patrick

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Track listing

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Side 1

  • 01 Preview Hot Rod - The Markeys featuring Georgie Morton

  • 02 Preview I Want My Girl - The Lonely Ones

  • 03 Preview Only Seventeen - The Beattle-ettes

  • 04 Preview Remember (Walkin' In The Sand) - The Shangri-Las

  • 05 Preview Give Him A Great Big Kiss - The Shangri-Las

  • 06 Preview Sophisticated Boom Boom - The Goodies

  • 07 Preview Baby - Ellie Greenwich

  • 08 Preview You Don't Know - Ellie Greenwich

  • 09 Preview Past, Present And Future - The Shangri-Las

  • 10 Preview Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking) - Janis Ian

  • 11 Preview So Soft, So Warm - The Nu-Luvs

  • 12 Preview Take My Advice - The Nu-Luvs

  • 13 Preview Lost In The Shuffle - The Blues Project

  • 14 Preview Stop The Clock - The Shaggy Boys

  • 15 Preview I'll Never Learn - The Shangri-Las

  • 16 Preview Too Old To Go 'Way Little Girl - Janis Ian

  • 17 Preview You Keep Me Hangin' On - Vanilla Fudge

  • 18 Preview And When It's Over - The Vagrants

  • 19 Preview Season Of The Witch, Pt 2 - Vanilla Fudge

  • 20 Preview In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly

  • 21 Preview Midnight Lady - Mott The Hoople

  • 22 Preview Puss 'n' Boots - The New York Dolls

  • 23 Preview Stranded In The Jungle - The New York Dolls

  • 24 Preview Dressed In Black - Shadow Morton

Delivery & Returns

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