Soldier Boy (1962)

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• The Shirelles - Soldier Boy (MP3)

By: The Shirelles, formed in 1958 by high school friends Shirley Owens, Doris Coley, Addie "Micki" Harris, and Beverly Lee in Passaic, New Jersey.

They were the first girl group to have a #1 US hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Other songs by The Shirelles became hits when covered by British groups: "Sha La La" was an international hit when covered by Manfred Mann, "Boys" was covered by the Beatles (with Ringo Starr singing lead,) and "Baby It's You" (with John Lennon singing lead) on their album Please Please Me.

In 1996, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked them #76 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Chart position: #1 (US).

It was #1 in the US for 3 weeks in May 1962. It was preceded by "Good Luck Charm" (Elvis Presley) and succeeded by "Stranger on the Shore" (Mr. Acker Bilk).

The Top Ten Songs: May 12, 1962 (US Billboard Hot 100).

1. "Soldier Boy" (Shirelles)
2. "Mashed Potato Time" (Dee Dee Sharp)
3. "Stranger On The Shore" (Mr. Acker Bilk)
4. "Johnny Angel" (Shelley Fabares)
5. "Good Luck Charm" (Elvis Presley)
6. "She Cried" (Jay and the Americans)
7. "Old Rivers" (Walter Brennan)
8. "Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out" (Ernie Maresca)
9. "Dear Twist Lady" (Gary U.S. Bonds)
10. "Shout" (Joey Dee and the Starliters)

Written by: Luther Dixon and Florence Greenberg.

Dixon and Greenberg wrote or co-wrote such songs for the Shirelles as "Boys" and "Mama Said", as well as other hits such as "Sixteen Candles" (Crests,) "A Hundred Pounds of Clay" (Gene McDaniels,) "Big Boss Man" (Jimmy Reed,) and "Doncha' Think It's Time" (Elvis Presley).

Also by: Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs (1965).

Download MP3s from Amazon.com:

• The Shirelles - Soldier Boy (MP3)

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