"Sha La La" is a song written by Robert Mosely (whose name is spelled "Moseley" on the record) and Robert Taylor.[1] The Shirelles released the original version of the song as a single in March 1964 in the US, reaching #15 on the U.S. R&B chart and #69 on the U.S. pop chart.[2] A cover by the British pop group Manfred Mann would follow that October, being the most notable version of the song, reaching Number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and Number 12 on both the U.S. pop chart and the RPM charts in 1965.[3] Around the same time as the release of Manfred Mann's version, the song was adapted into French by Georges Aber and performed by French pop singer Sylvie Vartan, whose version was released as a single in October 1964 and reached Number 14 on the French Belgian charts.[4][5]
| "Sha La La" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by the Shirelles | ||||
| from the album Hear & Now | ||||
| B-side | "His Lips Get in the Way" | |||
| Released | March 1964 | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Length | 2:15 | |||
| Label | Scepter | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Robert Mosley, Robert Taylor | |||
| Producer(s) | Luther Dixon, Bob Irwin | |||
| The Shirelles singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Manfred Mann recording
edit| "Sha La La" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Manfred Mann | ||||
| from the album The Five Faces of Manfred Mann (US only) | ||||
| B-side | "John Hardy" | |||
| Released | 9 October 1964 | |||
| Recorded | 22–23 September 1964 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 2:30 | |||
| Label | Ascot, His Master's Voice | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Robert Mosley, Robert Taylor | |||
| Producer(s) | John Burgess | |||
| Manfred Mann singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The most successful version was performed by British pop group Manfred Mann. It reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart and #12 on both the U.S. pop chart and the Canadian chart in 1965.[6] It was featured on the US version of their 1965 album The Five Faces of Manfred Mann.[7]
Cash Box described it as "a delightful rock-a-rhythmic beat refitting of the Shirelles' few-seasons-back click."[8]
Other notable versions
edit| "Sha la la" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Sylvie Vartan | ||||
| Language | French | |||
| B-side | "Il n’a rien retrouvé" | |||
| Released | October 1964 | |||
| Recorded | 1964 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:14 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Robert Mosley, Robert Taylor, Georges Aber | |||
| Sylvie Vartan singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
In 1964, the song was adapted into French by Georges Aber and performed by French pop singer Sylvie Vartan, whose version was released as a single in October 1964 and reached Number 14 on the Ultratop Wallonia charts (French Belgium).[9][10]
References
edit- ^ "discogs.com". discogs.com. 1964. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
- ^ "The Shirelles, "Sha-La-La" Chart Positions". Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ "Sha La La (song by Manfred Mann) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". musicvf.com. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ "Sylvie Vartan - Sha la la - ultratop.be". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ "EP 60 – Site officiel de Sylvie Vartan" (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ "Manfred Mann, "Sha La La" Chart Positions". Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ "Manfred Mann, The Five Faces of Manfred Mann". Discogs. 1965. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. November 14, 1964. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
- ^ "Sylvie Vartan - Sha la la - ultratop.be". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ "EP 60 – Site officiel de Sylvie Vartan" (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-17.
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