[Bertrand]

Hi !

I recently got to listen to a Shangri-Las record.

Among the tracks was a song called Give Him A Great Big Kiss.

First it starts with spoken rather than sung lines that ain't printed on the sites I checked: "when I tell you I'm in love you best believe I'm in luv, L-U-V", which surprised me, as I thought that was something that came from the New York Dolls' minds.

And it ends similarly, with half spoken half sung lines : "is he a good dancer? what do you mean is he a good dancer? well how does he dance?". To which the answer "close... very very close..." comes out with the same feeling of exhaustion I hear in Kim's voice.

It is most definitely a track inspired by them. The drumming alone is lifted wholesale from any number of Shangri Las songs.

[pokkeherrie]

it is. I have an interview in some belgian magazine from when washing machine came out where kim says the track was written for a movie situated in the 50's and that they were asked to deliver something in the style of the shangri-las.

It is not far-fetched to say that Sonic Youth, being fans of The Jesus And Mary Chain, might have been also inspired by the fact that The Shangri-Las were a big influence on them. Perhaps not, but I doubt it.

[Washing Machine]

I can see the influence, I always saw it as a quasi-ironic Phil Spector tribute.