MYSTAR CARTUNES: GLORIA- SHADOWS OF KNIGHT RELEASED DECEMBER 1965

"Gloria” is a song best associated with a young Van Morrison and his band Them. The Van version hit North America in 1964 and quickly established itself as a rock and roll classic, complete with a scream- along chorus with easy to remember lyrics: ”Her name was G! L! O! .....etc.

The lovely Gloria was immortalized forever in a catchy and lively anthem to love and lust and the whole damn thing.

One minor problem with Van’s lyrics: “She comes to my room, just about midnight”. This was a strong indication of pre-marital sex and 1964-65 AM radio was not quite ready for that concept. Enter The Shadows of Knight and a slightly laundered 1965 version of “Gloria”: “She comes around here, just about midnight”.

The result was stronger airplay on mainstream radio for The Knights’ version of the song and a Top 10 position on the North American music charts.

After all, Gloria could have been at an all-night library or 7-11 in the non-specific Shadows of Knight version and that slight lyrical modification made all the difference in radio play. It would take a couple of more years for radio to catch up to the sexual revolution of the 60s that was in full post- birth control pill availability overdrive.

Either way, “Gloria” is a legendary classic that will stand the test of time as a simple three chord anthem with some of the catchiest lyrics ever made for shouting out loud and proud.