Myrmidons of Melodrama [RPM 506]

Liner Note Author: Mick Patrick.
Arrangers: Sal DiTroia; George "Shadow" Morton; Bob Bateman; Leroy Glover; Artie Butler.
The Shangri-Las were the quintessential girl group and MYRMIDONS OF MELODRAMA is the quintessential Shangri-Las collection. This 33-track set contains all of the trio's key songs-- including "Out in the Streets," "Train from Kansas City," Give Him a Great Big Kiss," and, of course, that ode to bad boys and the women who love them, "Leader of the Pack"--as well as classic radio spots and even dating tips from lead singer Mary Weiss. While the disc is certainly a showcase for Weiss's gorgeous, haunting lilt, it's also a fitting tribute to Shadow Morton, one of the most overlooked producers of the 1960s. Morton took teenage melancholy and created its sonic equivalent, making everything sound like it was recorded with the lights out so no one could see the tears. More than simply a pop confection, the Shangri-Las, in retrospect, embody a long-lost zeitgeist: these are the misunderstood bad girls who smoked in the bathroom, and the songs are their stories. Heartache and loneliness have never, ever sounded this cool.