"Kon-Tiki"
Single by The Shadows
B-side"36-24-36"
Released1 September 1961 (1961-09-01)
Recorded27 January 1961[1]
StudioEMI Studios, London
GenreInstrumental surf
Length1:51
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Michael Carr[2]
Producer(s)Norrie Paramor[2]
The Shadows singles chronology
"The Frightened City"
(1961) 		"Kon-Tiki"
(1961) 		"The Savage"
(1961)

"Kon-Tiki" is an instrumental tune by British group the Shadows, released as a single in September 1961. It was the group's fifth hit and their second to top the UK Singles Chart.[3]

Background and release

"Kon-Tiki" was written by Michael Carr, who had previously written "Man of Mystery" for the group. It refers to the raft used by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl on his 1947 Kon-Tiki expedition.[4] It was released with the B-side "36-24-36", which was written by the four Shadows members.[5]

Track listing

7": Columbia / DB 4698

  1. "Kon-Tiki" – 1:51
  2. "36-24-36" – 1:42

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1961–62) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[7] 35
France[8] 7
Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 29
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[10] 5
Norway (VG-lista)[11] 7
UK Singles (OCC)[3] 1

References

  1. ^ Koers, Ivo. "Instrumentation On Shadows Recordings II: The Primary Singles" (PDF). malcolmcampbell.me.uk. p. 8. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 61. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
  3. ^ a b "Shadows: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  4. ^ "126. The Shadows - Kon-Tiki (1961)". Every UK Number 1. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  5. ^ The Shadows - Kon-Tiki, retrieved 26 November 2021
  6. ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
  7. ^ "The Shadows – Kon-Tiki" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  8. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 3 March 1962. p. 12. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  9. ^ "The Shadows – Kon-Tiki" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  10. ^ "Lever Hit Parade". flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  11. ^ "The Shadows – Kon-Tiki". VG-lista.
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