Today’s song of the day is the energetic “Shout” by the Isley Brothers.

Fun Facts

• Released in August 1959, “Shout” was written by the real-life sibling trio that made up the Isley Brothers:
  • O’Kelley
  • Rudolph
  • Ronald
• It was the group’s first charting hit, landing at 47 on Billboard’s Hot 100. It was also their first certified gold single.
• To create the recording’s party-like atmosphere, producers Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore encouraged the brothers to invite friends to recording sessions.
• The live version’s “call-and-response” was developed after a lively concert at the Uptown Theater in Philadelphia.
• The drawn-out “Well” at the beginning was inspired by Ray Charles’ “I Got a Woman.”
• The slower part of the song is a quote from “Lonely Teardrops” by Jackie Wilson, a song the Isley Brothers covered at concerts.
• In 1973, the Isley Brothers added three more relatives to their trio:
  • Ernie Isley
  • Marvin Isley
  • Chris Jasper (brother-in-law)
• “Shout” was famously covered in the 1978 movie Animal House by fictional band Otis Day and the Knights.
• Sung by Lloyd G. Williams, actor DeWayne Jessie lip-synched for the film.
• Jessie purchased the rights for the band’s name in the 1980s to record an album produced by funk pioneer George Clinton.

Lyrics

(LyricFind)

Shout

Shout

Let it all out

These are the things I can do without

Come on

I’m talking to you

Come on

Shout

Shout

Let it all out

These are the things I can do without

Come on

I’m talking to you

Come on

In violent times

You shouldn’t have to sell your soul

In black and white

They really really ought to know

Those one track minds

That took you for a working boy

Kiss them goodbye

You shouldn’t have to jump for joy

You shouldn’t have to shout for joy

Shout

Shout

Let it all out

These are the things I can do without

Come on

I’m talking to you

Come on

They gave you life

And in return you gave them hell

As cold as ice

I hope we live to tell the tale

I hope we live to tell the tale

Shout

Shout

Let it all out

These are the things I can do without

Come on

I’m talking to you

Come on

Shout

Shout

Let it all out

These are the things I can do without

Come on

I’m talking to you

Come on

And when you’ve taken down your guard

If I could change your mind

I’d really love to break your heart

I’d really love to break your heart

Shout

Shout

Let it all out

These are the things I can do without

Come on

I’m talking to you

Come on