Geronimo (The Shadows song)

"Geronimo"
Single by The Shadows
B-side"Shazam"
Released29 November 1963 (1963-11-29)
Recorded13 December 1962[1]
StudioEMI Studios, London
GenreInstrumental rock
Length2:19
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Hank Marvin
Producer(s)Norrie Paramor
The Shadows singles chronology
"Shindig"
(1963) 		"Geronimo"
(1963) 		"Theme for Young Lovers"
(1964)

"Geronimo" is an instrumental by British group the Shadows, released as a single in November 1963. It peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

Release and reception

"Geronimo" was written by the Shadows' Hank Marvin and was released with the B-side "Shazam", originally recorded by Duane Eddy in 1960.[3] "Geronimo" was recorded at EMI Studios (later renamed Abbey Road) in December 1962; "Shazam" was recorded at the Jubilee Theatre in Blackpool in August 1963 whilst the group were on tour.[1]

Reviewed in Record Mirror, "Geronimo" was described as having "an "Apache" beat in the background, and the whole thing moves along smoothly. Maybe not up to the standard of some of their previous hits, but cleverly played, and with a driving beat. Norrie Paramor string and choral backing. But we don't reckon this'll do so well as most of theirs".[4] For Disc, Don Nicholl wrote that it "gallops along well in the spirit of its Red Indian title" and that it is "a good production that ought to do at least as well as "Shindig".[5]

Track listing

7": Columbia / DB 7163

  1. "Geronimo" – 2:19
  2. "Shazam" – 2:18

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1963–64) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 8
Canada (Vancouver CFUN)[7] 28
Hong Kong[8] 4
Ireland (Evening Herald) 8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 29
Norway (VG-lista)[10] 10
Spain (Promusicae)[11] 18
UK Singles (OCC)[2] 11

References

  1. ^ a b Koers, Ivo. "Instrumentation On Shadows Recordings II: The Primary Singles" (PDF). malcolmcampbell.me.uk. p. 16. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Shadows: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  3. ^ The Shadows - Geronimo, retrieved 30 November 2021
  4. ^ "Pop Disc Jury" (PDF). Record Mirror. 30 November 1963. p. 9. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Disc Date" (PDF). Disc. 30 November 1963. p. 10. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  6. ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
  7. ^ "C-Funtastic Fifty Week of March 14, 1964". 14 March 1964. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 18 January 1964. p. 61. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  9. ^ van Slooten, Johan (2005). Top 40 Hitdossier 1965-2005 (inclusief alle 'prehistorische' hits van 1956 to 1965)" (in Dutch) (9th ed.). Haarlem: J.H. Gottmer / H.J.W. Becht BV. ISBN 90-230-1144-9.
  10. ^ "The Shadows – Geronimo". VG-lista.
  11. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 1971). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.