Polemonium Reptans

"Sha La La" is a song written by Robert Mosely (whose name is spelled "Moseley" on the record) and Robert Taylor.^[1] The Shirelles released the original version of the song as a single in March 1964 in the US, reaching #15 on the U.S. R&B chart and #69 on the U.S. pop chart.^[2] A cover by the British pop group Manfred Mann would follow that October, being the most notable version of the song, reaching Number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and Number 12 on both the U.S. pop chart and the RPM charts in 1965.^[3] Around the same time as the release of Manfred Mann's version, the song was adapted into French by Georges Aber and performed by French pop singer Sylvie Vartan, whose version was released as a single in October 1964 and reached Number 14 on the French Belgian charts.^[4][5]

Manfred Mann recording

The most successful version was performed by British pop group Manfred Mann. It reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart and #12 on both the U.S. pop chart and the Canadian chart in 1965.^[6] It was featured on the US version of their 1965 album The Five Faces of Manfred Mann.^[7]

Cash Box described it as "a delightful rock-a-rhythmic beat refitting of the Shirelles' few-seasons-back click."^[8]

Other notable versions

In 1964, the song was adapted into French by Georges Aber and performed by French pop singer Sylvie Vartan, whose version was released as a single in October 1964 and reached Number 14 on the Ultratop Wallonia charts (French Belgium).^[9][10]

References