Shock (The Motels song) explained

Shock
Cover:	The Motels Shock 1985 single cover.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	The Motels
Album:	Shock
B-Side:	In the Jungle (Concrete Jungle)
Released:	1985
Length:	4:09
Label:	Capitol
Producer:	Richie Zito
Prev Title:	Shame
Prev Year:	1985
Next Title:	Icy Red
Next Year:	1985

"Shock" is a song by American new wave band The Motels, which was released in 1985 as the second single from their fifth studio album Shock. The song was written by Martha Davis and Scott Thurston, and produced by Richie Zito. "Shock" peaked at number 84 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Music video

The song's music video was directed by David Fincher.^[1] It achieved light rotation on MTV.^[2]

Critical reception

On its release, Billboard noted the "clean, sharp dance sound, with Davis squarely out front".^[3] Cash Box described it as a "heavily percussive cut" which "has all the raw urgency and dynamic tension [of] this band's uptempo tunes".^[4] In a review of Shock, J. A. White of The Morning Call considered it to have "a basic, hard Pat Benatar-like sound with some Michael Jackson touches and oriental synth-funk embellishments here and there".^[5]

Track listing

7–inch single^{[6] [7] [8]}

1. "Shock" (Remix) – 4:09
2. "In the Jungle (Concrete Jungle)" – 3:59

7–inch promotional single (US)^[9]

1. "Shock" (Remix) – 4:09
2. "Shock" (Remix) – 4:09

12–inch single (France)^[10]

1. "Shock" – 6:51
2. "Shock" (Instrumental) – 5:41

12–inch promotional single (US)^[11]

1. "Shock" – 4:27
2. "Shock" – 4:27

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the Shock LP inner sleeve notes and 12-inch single sleeve notes.^{[12] [10]}

The Motels

• Martha Davis – vocals
• Marty Jourard – keyboards
• Michael Goodroe – bass
• Brian Glascock – drums
• Guy Perry – guitar
• Scott Thurston – keyboards, guitar

Production

• Richie Zito – producer (all tracks), remixer ("Shock")
• Brian Reeves – engineer on "Shock"
• Steve Thompson, Michael Barbiero - remixers (12-inch extended mix of "Shock")

Charts

Chart (1985)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100^[13]	84
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles^[14]	83

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Motels' Martha Davis talks about releasing their lost album Apocalypso, David Fincher, and love scenes with nerds . The Golden Age of Music Video . August 12, 2011 . June 7, 2022.
2. Video Music: MTV Programming . . November 23, 1985 . Billboard Publications, Inc. . 97 . 47 . 31 . 0006-2510.
3. Reviews: Singles . . October 19, 1985 . Billboard Publications, Inc. . 97 . 42 . 89 . 0006-2510.
4. Single Releases . . October 19, 1985 . 49 . 19 . 9 . 0008-7289.
5. News: White . J. A. . August 31, 1985 . Records . . 74.
6. Shock . . 1985 . US and Canada 7-inch single sleeve . . B-5529.
7. Shock . . 1985 . Australia 7-inch single sleeve . . CP-1615.
8. Shock . . 1985 . France 7-inch single sleeve . . 2010017.
9. Shock . . 1985 . US 7-inch promotional single sleeve . . P-B-5529.
10. Shock . . 1985 . France 12-inch single sleeve . . 1565186.
11. Shock . . 1985 . US 12-inch promotional single sleeve . . SPRO-9515.
12. Shock . Shock (The Motels album) . . 1985 . US vinyl LP inner sleeve notes . . SJ-12378.
13. Hot 100 Singles . . November 2, 1985 . Billboard Publications, Inc. . 97 . 44 . 71 . 0006-2510.
14. Book: Downey . Pat . Albert . George . Hoffman . Frank . Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950-1993 . 1994 . Libraries Unlimited, Inc. . Englewood, Colorado . 1563083167 . 240 . registration . June 8, 2022.