Go Go Gorilla

In Episode 48, we go ape! The first in this week's troop of songs is the OG - the original "The Gorilla" - by none other than The Ideals,  who had a hominid hit with the track back in 1962 (1:09). We present some wild theories; ask who is higher in the rock-roll hierarchy: monkeys or gorillas?, while also closely examining the song's elegant rhyme scheme and prosodic structure. The next King Kong song comes from The Shandells, whose on-the-loose version of "The Gorilla" is way wild for 1964 (42:11).  A fist in the face riff! Bloodcurdling screams!! Actual gorillas in the studio?!? You decide, Clyde! The evolution of the song continues into 1966, when The Jaguars took "The Gorilla" on a tropical island vacation (1:07:05). Their version rolls, with drumfills that go Peart-shaped, and a rubber band bass line. Why didn’t Bo Diddley record this song?!?!?!