Isley Brothers
"Shout" is a popular American song, originally recorded by the Isley Brothers. Released in 1959, it was written by the brothers themselves as a call and response answer to Jackie Wilson's "Lonely Teardrops", which they would occasionally cover in live performances.
History
While the song did not reach higher than #47 on the Billboard Hot 100, it became the brothers' first gold single on the basis of its longevity, and it became a much-covered tune, with many U.S. and international artists recording the song.
One month after the initial release, Johnny O'Keefe covered it in his Australian TV show Six O'Clock Rock and released it as a single, reaching #2 in Australia. His 1964 re-recording was only a minor hit at #49. Joey Dee and the Starliters reached #6 with their recording of the song in 1962 (The Starlighters also worked the call-and-response portion of the song into its even bigger hit, "Peppermint Twist"), while the Isley Brothers' version re-charted that same year at #94.
Scottish pop singer Lulu had a #7 UK hit with the song in 1964 (attributed to Lulu and the Luvvers), and a #8 UK hit with a re-recorded version in 1986. The Shangri-Las included a version of the song in their debut LP Leader of the Pack in 1965 as did the Kingsmen on their Volume 3 album in 1965 and 15 Great Hits album in 1966. Tommy James and the Shondells recorded a version of the song on their 1967 album, I Think We're Alone Now. The Ronettes frequently covered the song in live performances as well, including their appearance in The Big TNT Show. The Trammps released a version of the song in 1975.
The song, as performed by Otis Day and the Knights, was also prominently featured in the 1978 fraternity house film National Lampoon's Animal House. To this day, the song is regularly performed at Dartmouth College, the Ivy League institution in Hanover, New Hampshire, upon which the Animal House story was based, and at the University of Oregon, where the movie was filmed. The 1959 original by the Isley Brothers appeared in the 1982 comedy film Diner, and the Cheers fourth season episode "Suspicion". Question Mark & the Mysterians recorded a version of the song on their 1967 album, Action. Alvin and the Chipmunks covered the song for their 1996 album Club Chipmunk: The Dance Mixes with Simon providing the lead vocals. The Beatles included a live version of the song on their 1996 rarities compilation, Anthology 1. American rock group Bon Jovi has covered this song live preceded by "Bad Medicine". American punk rock band Green Day performed the song on their 2005 live album Bullet in a Bible after "King for a Day". Green Day has also regularly performed the song during their live shows since at least 2005, always after "King for a Day". Also Bruce Springsteen often performs this song live in a medley with "Twist and Shout". Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss) and Brittany Pierce (Heather Morris) performed the song in the 2013 Glee episode "Girls (and Boys) On Film". Robbie Williams performed the song as part of a "Call & Response Medley" on his Swings Both Ways tour in 2014, along with "Reet Petite" and "Hit the Road Jack".
The song was inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. It ranked #118 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
Cover versions
- Johnny O'Keefe 1959 (One month after the original release).
- Joey Dee & The Starliters November 1961
- Dion July 1962
- Carl Holmes and His Commanders 1962
- Keely Smith 1962
- Teddy Randazzo 1962
- The Legends 1963
- Lulu and the Luvvers April 1964
- Joan Baxter June 1964
- The Shangri-Las December 1964
- The Beatles recorded 1964, released 1995
- The Kingsmen February 1965
- Trini Lopez August 1965
- Peter Belli & Les Rivals September 1965
- Dinah Lee 1965
- Tommy James and The Shondells February 1967
- Cliff Richard April 1967
- The Underground 1967
- Ricardo Ray Orchestra 1968
- The Chambers Brothers 1968
- The Trammps June 1974
- Kisa 1974
- Otis Day and the Knights 1978
- Joan Jett 1980
- Garland Jeffreys 1982
- The Shillelagh Sisters 1984
- Mint Juleps 1985
- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers January 1986
- Petticoat 1989
- Scooters March 25, 1992
- Deloris & The Sisters & The Ronelles 1992
- Sugar Beats 1993
- The Forever Fabulous Chickenhawks July 6, 1999
- Alex Harvey and His Soul Band August 11, 1999
- The Rivieras September 12, 2000
- Leo Night & The Moonlighters February 5, 2002
- Connie Fisher 2006
- Choir of Hard Knocks 2007
- Lisa del Bo April 4, 2008
- Dartmouth Aires 2011
- The Brown Derbies 2011
- Winston Apple August 2012
- Garth Brooks November 28, 2013
- Boyz Nite Out 2013
- Human Nature July 22, 2016
Personnel
- Ronald Isley - lead vocals
- Rudolph Isley - background vocals
- O'Kelly Isley, Jr. - background vocals
The Shangri-Las version
- Mary Weiss ? lead vocals
- Mary Ann Ganser ? background vocals
- Margie Ganser ? background vocals
Lulu version
- Lulu ? lead vocals
The Beatles version
- John Lennon ? vocals, lead guitar
- Paul McCartney ? vocals, bass
- George Harrison ? vocals, lead guitar
- Ringo Starr ? vocals, drums
Buffalo Bills version
- Scott Kemper ? vocals, keyboards
"I Know/Shout" - Save Ferris version
- Monique Powell - vocals
In popular culture
"Shout" has woven itself into many iconic American media such as a dance song in which people progressively crouch down to the dance floor as the song gets quieter. For example, at the end of the third quarter of an Oregon Ducks game at Autzen Stadium, in recognition of National Lampoon's Animal House being filmed at the University of Oregon in 1977-78, the crowd traditionally dances to the song. The National Football League (NFL)'s Buffalo Bills currently use a one-minute version of the song as their fight song.
References
External links
- Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
- Performance of "Shout" at The Dick Clark Show on YouTube
- Performance of "Shout" live by Johnny O'Keefe on YouTube
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