Gloria (Shadows of Knight album)
Gloria is the first album by the Shadows of Knight, released in 1966 on Dunwich Records 666. The Shadows of Knight are primarily known for their hit version of the Van Morrison penned Them band's "Gloria", but the band today is regarded as one of the original punk bands.
Gloria | ||||
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Studio album by Shadows of Knight | ||||
Released | April 1966 | |||
Recorded | March 1966 | |||
Studio | Universal Recording Studio, Chicago, Illinois | |||
Genre | Garage rock | |||
Length | 38:06 | |||
Label | Dunwich (original release) Radar (UK 1979 release) Sundazed (CD release) | |||
Shadows of Knight chronology | ||||
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Singles from Gloria | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic |
The band's association with "Gloria" has caused some to miscategorize them as one-hit wonders.[2] One reviewer points out that their first album, and its follow-up, Back Door Men, represent far greater diversity: "(The Gloria album) positively rocks with a raw energy of a band straight out of the teen clubs, playing with a total abandon and an energy level that seems to explode out of the speakers. Equal parts Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, Who, and snotty little Chicago-suburb bad boys, the Shadows of Knight could easily put the torch to Chess blues classics, which make up the majority of the songs included here. Their wild takes on "I Just Want to Make Love to You," "Oh Yeah," and "I Got My Mojo Working" rank right up there with any British Invasion band's version from the same time period."[3]
Background
The band released the Gloria album in the summer of 1966, after releasing "Gloria" as a single backed by "Darkside" in December 1965. The single charted at #10 according to Billboard. Later in the year, "Oh Yeah" was released from the same album as a single backed by "Light Bulb Blues", and charted as high as #39. The album liner notes credit the album as "Produced for Dunwich Records" instead of crediting a specific producer.[4]
Track listing
- "Gloria" (Van Morrison) – 2:34
- "Light Bulb Blues" (Jerry McGeorge, James Alan Sohns) – 2:32
- "I Got My Mojo Working" (McKinley Morganfield) – 3:28
- "Darkside" (Warren Rogers, James Alan Sohns) – 2:00
- "Boom Boom" (John Lee Hooker) – 2:28
- "Let It Rock" (Chuck Berry) – 1:52
- "Oh Yeah" (Ellas McDaniel) – 2:45
- "It Always Happens That Way" (Rogers, Sohns) – 1:52
- "You Can't Judge a Book by Looking at the Cover" (Willie Dixon) – 2:37
- "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man" (Dixon) – 3:52
- "I Just Want to Make Love to You" (Dixon) – 3:49
Bonus tracks on LP and CD reissue, 1998
- "Oh Yeah" (alternate version); (McDaniel) – 2:45
- "I Got My Mojo Working" (alternate version); (Morganfield) – 3:14
- "Someone Like Me" (single release not on original album); (David MacDowell, Rich Novak) – 2:18
Personnel
Musicians
- Jim Sohns – vocals
- Warren Rogers – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Jerry McGeorge – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Joe Kelley – bass guitar
- Tom Schiffour – drums
Chart performance
Album
Chart (1966) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
---|---|---|
U.S. Billboard 200 | 46[5] | 18 |
Singles
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
1966 | "Gloria" | Billboard Hot 100 | 10[6] |
1966 | "Oh Yeah!" | Billboard Hot 100 | 39[7] |
References
- Allmusic review
- They are not so categorized in the List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States.
- Cub Koda, Review of Gloria album; www.allmusic.com.
- Liner notes
- "Billboard 200 - Shadows of Knight". Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- "Billboard Hot 100 - Shadows of Knight". Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- "Billboard Hot 100 - The Shadows of Knight". Retrieved January 30, 2018.