Shangri-Las - 65!
by The Shangri-Las

This second and excellent album, unfortunately, turned out to be The Shanri-Las’ last. In 1967, the group switched record label from the small ””Red Bird to the much larger Mercury label. This should turn out to be an unfortunate choice as the group more or less disappeared in the in the big company; also at the same time trends might be beginning drift away from the group's image. There probably was a need for a renewal towards the flower-power hippie wave that was at its peak around 1967-68.
The songs at "Shangri-Las 65" are excellent and beautifully produced by Jeff Barry, George Morton, Ronald Mosely and Robert Bateman.
Songwriter couple Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich, who along with George Morton, also wrote the breakthrough song "The Leader of the Pack" contribute five songs - all excellent and catchy pop tunes. Two of these, "Give Us Your Blessings" and "Out in the Streets" did nicely on the charts and among the other three I am sure that both "The Train From Kansas City" and Heaven only Knows "could have made at the least equally well. The last "What a Girl Supposed to Do" is a fine ballad, much inspired by The Beach Boys / Brian Wilson.
Also the Motown inspired ”Right Now and Not Later” was released on single; Surprisingly and incomprehensibly, however, this did not do that well on the charts.
The album is without weak numbers and other highlights include another Beach Boys inspired song, "The Dum Dum Ditty" written by Boyce / Hart.
"Never Again" is a really nice ballad and the group gives a nice version of Ike Turner's "I’m Blue".
The Band drummer, Levon Helm, wrote the somewhat ordinary "You Cheated You Lied"
Producer George Morton wrote the jokey "Sophisticated Boom Boom" and the ballad "The Boy" - both fine album numbers.
All in all this could be the most consistent 1960’s girl group album.