Shock (The Motels song)

"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.^[1]

"Shock"
Single by The Motels
from the album Shock
B-side	"In the Jungle (Concrete Jungle)"
Released	1985
Length	4:09
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Martha Davis Scott Thurston
Producer(s)	Richie Zito
The Motels singles chronology
"Shame" (1985) "Shock" (1985) "Icy Red" (1985)

Music video

The song's music video was directed by David Fincher.^[2] It achieved light rotation on MTV.^[3]

Critical reception

On its release, Billboard noted the "clean, sharp dance sound, with Davis squarely out front".^[4] Cash Box described it as a "heavily percussive cut" which "has all the raw urgency and dynamic tension [of] this band's uptempo tunes".^[5] 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".^[6]

Track listing

7–inch single^[7][8][9]

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

7–inch promotional single (US)^[10]

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

12–inch single (France)^[11]

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

12–inch promotional single (US)^[12]

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.^[13][11]

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^[1]	84
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles^[14]	83

References

1. "Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 44. Billboard Publications, Inc. November 2, 1985. p. 71. ISSN 0006-2510.
2. "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. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
3. "Video Music: MTV Programming". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 47. Billboard Publications, Inc. November 23, 1985. p. 31. ISSN 0006-2510.
4. "Reviews: Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 42. Billboard Publications, Inc. October 19, 1985. p. 89. ISSN 0006-2510.
5. "Single Releases". Cash Box. Vol. 49, no. 19. October 19, 1985. p. 9. ISSN 0008-7289.
6. White, J. A. (August 31, 1985). "Records". The Morning Call. p. 74.
7. Shock (US and Canada 7-inch single sleeve). The Motels. Capitol Records. 1985. B-5529.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. Shock (Australia 7-inch single sleeve). The Motels. Capitol Records. 1985. CP-1615.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. Shock (France 7-inch single sleeve). The Motels. Capitol Records. 1985. 2010017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. Shock (US 7-inch promotional single sleeve). The Motels. Capitol Records. 1985. P-B-5529.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. Shock (France 12-inch single sleeve). The Motels. Capitol Records. 1985. 1565186.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. Shock (US 12-inch promotional single sleeve). The Motels. Capitol Records. 1985. SPRO-9515.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. Shock (US vinyl LP inner sleeve notes). The Motels. Capitol Records. 1985. SJ-12378.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffman, Frank (1994). Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950-1993. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. p. 240. ISBN 1563083167. Retrieved June 8, 2022.