I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)

Last updated

"I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)"
Imtheleaderofthegang.jpg
Single by Gary Glitter
B-side "Just Fancy That"
ReleasedJuly 1973
Genre Glam rock
Length3:25
Label Bell
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Mike Leander
Gary Glitter singles chronology
"Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again"
(1973)
"I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)"
(1973)
"I Love You Love Me Love"
(1973)

"I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and produced by Mike Leander. It was Glitter's first number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, spending four weeks at the top of the chart in July 1973. [1]

Contents

Description

The song "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" was a top hit for Gary Glitter; it reached number-one in the UK Singles Chart in July and August 1973. [1] It was written by Gary Glitter and Mike Leander and produced by Mike Leander. [1] As a result of its popularity, Glitter's nickname became "The Leader", and his 1991 autobiography was titled Leader.

A glam rock anthem typical of Glitter's early 1970s output, the melody is based on a simple mid-tempo rhythm (the so-called "Glitter Stomp") and loud chanted backing vocals such as "Hey!" and "Come on, come on!". Glitter had a backing band, The Glitter Band; however, with the exception of saxophonists Harvey Ellison and John Rossall, they did not participate in his recording sessions, and precisely who else, if anyone, helped Glitter and producer/co-writer Mike Leander in the studio remains unknown. Glitter said in interviews that he and Leander preferred to play everything themselves, since it allowed them to record the songs as they were being written.[ citation needed ]

The song became a concert favourite with the crowd chanting the "Come on, come on!" refrain before Glitter took to the stage. Although Glitter's version failed to chart in the U.S., the following year a version by Brownsville Station made the Top 30 on the Cashbox Top 100, [2] No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 38 in Canada. [3]

In 1986, still a popular live act, Glitter re-recorded the song with heavy metal band Girlschool. This version missed the UK charts but reached No.8 on the indie chart Show Heavy Metal charts.

In 1997, girl group Spice Girls covered the song for their musical comedy film Spice World . Glitter originally made a cameo appearance, but his scene was deleted after his child pornography possession arrest. [4] A bootleg of the scene surfaced some time later. [5] The Full Monty , another 1997 British comedy, used the song as well.

Track listing

  1. "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" – 3:25
  2. "Just Fancy That" – 2:36

Peter and the Test Tube Babies cover

In 1982, the Peacehaven's punk band Peter and the Test Tube Babies covered the song on their album Pissed and Proud .

Green Jellÿ cover

"I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)"
Green-Jelly-Im-The-Leader-Of-434896.jpg
Single by Green Jellÿ featuring Hulk Hogan
B-side
  • "Thing-a-Ma-Bob"
  • "Hulkamaniac"
Released1993
Genre
Length4:04
Label Arista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) C. J. Buscaglia
Green Jellÿ singles chronology
"Electric Harley House (of Love)"
(1993)
"I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)"
(1993)
"House Me Teenage Rave"
(1993)

In 1993, comedy rock band Green Jellÿ released "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)", with professional wrestler Hulk Hogan singing lead vocals. The release scored the band a second Top 40 hit in the United Kingdom, reaching no. 25 on the UK Singles Chart. [6]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."I'm the Leader of the Gang"4:04
2."I'm the Leader of the Gang" (12" Remix)3:40
3."Thing-a-Ma-Bob"3:10
4."Hulkamaniac"4:40

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock and Roll (Gary Glitter song)</span> 1972 single by Gary Glitter

"Rock and Roll" is the debut single by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter that was released in 1972, from his debut studio album Glitter. Co-written by Glitter and Mike Leander, the song is in two parts: Part 1 is a vocal track with a "Rock and Roll, Rock" chorus and some verses reflecting on the history of the genre, while Part 2 is an instrumental piece aside from the regular exclamation of the word "Hey" in different tones as the only lyric.

<i>Glitter</i> (Gary Glitter album) 1972 studio album by Gary Glitter

Glitter is the debut studio album by English singer Gary Glitter, produced by Mike Leander, and released by Bell Records. Two tracks, "I Didn't Know I Loved You " and "Rock and Roll", the latter a song in two parts, achieved success as singles; each spent time amongst the top 40 singles in both the US and UK.

<i>Touch Me</i> (Gary Glitter album) 1973 studio album by Gary Glitter

Touch Me is the second studio album by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter. It was originally released in June 1973, on the label Bell, and was produced by Mike Leander. It is Glitter's bestselling album, peaking at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart. It features the top 5 hits "Do You Wanna Touch Me" and "Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again".

<i>Silver Star</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Gary Glitter

Silver Star is Gary Glitter's fourth studio album, released in 1977. The album saw the return of Mike Leander as producer and co-writer, after being absent from Glitter's previous studio album G. G.

<i>Spice World</i> (film) 1997 film by Bob Spiers

Spice World is a 1997 British musical comedy film directed by Bob Spiers and written by Kim Fuller. The film stars pop girl group the Spice Girls, who all play themselves. The film—made in a similar vein to the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night (1964)—depicts a series of fictional events leading up to a major concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, liberally interspersed with dream sequences and flashbacks as well as surreal moments and humorous asides, whilst also including a subplot dealing with a smear campaign against the Spice Girls by an overzealous newspaper CEO in an attempt to destroy their reputation for his own benefit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remember Me This Way (song)</span> 1974 single by Gary Glitter

"Remember Me This Way" is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and produced by Mike Leander. Unlike Glitter's previous singles this was a slow ballad that surprised many at the time. Nevertheless, it went on to peak at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. The single features the non-album track, "It's Not a Lot " as its B-side, which was exclusive to the single.

<i>Remember Me This Way</i> (album) 1974 live album by Gary Glitter

Remember Me This Way is a 1974 album by Rock singer Gary Glitter. It features live concert performances from Glitter's 1973 Christmas show at The Rainbow in London and was released in conjunction with the movie/documentary of the same name that showed Glitter preparing for the tour. The album ends with a one-minute and 39-seconds edit of the studio recording of the title song, which follows on at the end of the live recording. It was Glitter's third top ten album, reaching a peak of #5 in his native UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Another Rock and Roll Christmas</span> 1984 single by Gary Glitter

"Another Rock and Roll Christmas" is a 1984 Christmas song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and Eddie Seago and produced by Leander. It was one of the most played and popular Christmas hits on UK radio from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, prior to Glitter's 1997 arrest, and 1999 conviction for possession of child pornography. Released as a single in November 1984, the song was taken from Glitter's fifth studio album, Boys Will Be Boys (1984).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again</span>

"Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again" is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and produced by Mike Leander. The precise title of the song is only said twice during the song, and as a result other more frequent sung lines have become alternative titles, these include "Hello, Hello, It's Good to Be Back", "It's Good to Be Back" and "Did You Miss Me?". Sometimes the title is shortened to simply "Hello, Hello".

Michael George Farr, known professionally as Mike Leander, was a British arranger, songwriter and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Love You Love Me Love</span> 1973 single by Gary Glitter

"I Love You Love Me Love" is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter. Written by Glitter with Mike Leander and produced by Leander, "I Love You Love Me Love" was Glitter's second number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, spending four weeks at the top of the chart in November 1973, and establishing itself as one of the top 10 best-selling singles of 1973 in the UK. It reached No. 2 in both Ireland and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Always Yours</span> 1974 single by Gary Glitter

"Always Yours" is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and produced by Mike Leander. It was released as a standalone single in the UK in 1974, and was Glitter's third and final number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, spending a week at the top of the chart in June 1974. It also spent two weeks at number-one in Ireland, and peaked at No. 11 in Australia and No. 14 in Germany. The single features the non-album track, "I'm Right, You're Wrong, I Win!" as its B-side, which was exclusive to the single.

The Glitter Band are a glam rock band from England, who initially worked as Gary Glitter's backing band under that name from 1973, when they then began releasing records of their own. They were unofficially known as the Glittermen on the first four hit singles by Gary Glitter from 1972 to 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Glitter</span> English musician and child sex offender (born 1944)

Paul Francis Gadd, better known by his stage name Gary Glitter, is an English former singer who achieved fame and success during the 1970s and 1980s. His career ended after he was convicted for downloading child pornography in 1999. He was also convicted of child sexual abuse in 2006 and a series of sexual offences in 2015.

The Glittermen were a glam rock band from England, who backed Gary Glitter, un-credited, on his first four hit singles, from June 1972 until the summer of 1973, when they then officially became known as The Glitter Band. Continuing to back Gary Glitter on some of his further hit singles, but now as 'The Glitter Band', they began releasing records of their own under their new name. As The Glitter Band, they had seven UK Top 20 hit singles between March 1974 through to April 1976, and three hit albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Glitter discography</span>

English glam rock singer Gary Glitter released seven studio albums, four live albums, 13 compilation albums, one extended play (EP) and 42 singles, including three UK number-one singles. He became known for his energetic live performances and extremely glam rock image of glitter suits, make-up, and platform boots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance Me Up</span> 1984 single by Gary Glitter

"Dance Me Up" is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and Eddie Seago and produced by Mike Leander. It was released as the second single from his fifth studio album, Boys Will Be Boys (1984). The single features the non-album track, "Too Young to Dance" as its B-side, which was exclusive to the single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Didn't Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock and Roll)</span> 1972 single by Gary Glitter

"I Didn't Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock and Roll)" is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and produced by Mike Leander. It was released as the second single from his debut studio album, Glitter (1972) and peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. It was also Glitter's second and last charted record in the US, peaking at #35. Rock Goddess and Planet Patrol both recorded cover versions in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Takes All Night Long</span> 1976 single by Gary Glitter

"It Takes All Night Long" is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and Eddie Seago and produced by Mike Leander. It was released as the second single from his fourth studio album, Silver Star (1977), peaking at No. 25 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh Yes! You're Beautiful</span> 1974 single by Gary Glitter

"Oh Yes! You're Beautiful" is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and produced by Mike Leander. It was released as a standalone single in the UK in 1974, and peaked at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The single features the non-album track, "Thank You, Baby, for Myself" as its B-side, which was exclusive to the single.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 289. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  2. [ dead link ]
  3. "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 6, 1974" (PDF).
  4. The Truth Behind The Deleted Gary Glitter Cameo In The Spice Girls Movie
  5. Gary Glitter cameo in Spice World
  6. "GREEN JELLY | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 17 April 2022.