"Prior to getting together formally to launch The Shangs in 1990,members, David Byers (ex Simply Saucer),Ed O'Neill and Pat O'Neill had mutual interests in divergent musical landscapes - the gritty,sonic experimentation of the likes of the Velvet Underground and Can, the dreamy and adventurous palet of Hollywood's obscure(and not so obscure....) film soundtracks,the quiet, internal sounds of bossa/lounge greats such as Julie London and Astrud Gilberto. And too, the wealth of Girl Group pop masterpieces by The Shangri-las, et al (hence their name....). Avid record hunters, they stumbled apon the unknown and unlikely LP by the late 60's,Nashville teen girl band,The Feminine Complex in 1975 and were both smitten and more than a little taken by its spooky nature,inventing fictous names for its unidentified members and quoting the albums wild liner notes verbatim.Yet it was the music of The Feminine Complex that had the biggest impact. Some years later, when forming the Shangs, that borderline obsession was still there.Their first well received release,"A Little Bit Of Semi-Heaven", early in 1991, was dedicated to the FC and contained their moody spin on one of the group's ballads from the,"Livin' Love" LP - "Six O'Clock In The Morning", as well being sprinkled with odes and references.This tribal, searing and almost overpowering instrumental might seem the most unlikely of dedications to a singer/songwriter of Mindy Dalton's supreme stature but if certainly not "warm and fuzzy" or quietly thoughtful,never-the-less it comes from deep within The Shangs' creative heart and souls with only the upmost respect to both Mindy (now, today,Mindy Dotson) and her immense talent.For Shangs' fans, this version of, Queen Mindy" is a recently unearthed alternate take of a number that one reviewer likened to the Velvet's,"Foggy Notion" and Dutch icons,Wally Tax and The Outsiders wildly hypnotic,"Story 16".Presently recording,The Shangs look forward to a long-form release of new music mid year......Please visit their Myspace page and official website......."
