"Open Up Your Door" is the first

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

by the American band,

Richard and the Young Lions Richard and the Young Lions were an American garage rock band from Newark, New Jersey. They produced a moderately successful single with their song " Open Up Your Door". History The Young Lions originally performed under the name The Emeralds ...

, composed by professional songwriters Larry Brown, aka

L. Russell Brown Lawrence "Larry" Russell Brown (born June 29, 1940), known as L. Russell Brown, is an American lyricist and composer. He is most noted for his songs, co-written with Irwin Levine, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" and "Knock Thr ...

, Ray Bloodworth, and Neval Nader, and released on July 1966 on Philips Records (''see''

1966 in music List of notable events in music that took place in the year 1966. Specific locations * 1966 in British music *1966 in Norwegian music Specific genres * 1966 in country music *1966 in jazz Events * January 8 – ''Shindig!'' is broadcast for ...

). It was the only nationally charting recording by the group, and it also reached the top five in multiple regional markets. Brown and Bloodworth decided to record with the group in spring-1966, after they showed promise in an invitation to a jam session. The band was signed to Philips, partially completing the song, with the intention of finishing the whole process after touring and promoting in the Northeast. Richard and the Young Lions returned to provide

lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of t ...

and backing vocals. Along with singer Howie "Richard" Tepp's gritty vocals, "Open Up Your Door" was also marked by the first recorded instance of African hair drum and fuzz-toned bass guitar. "Open Up Your Door" was released as a single in July 1966, and it managed to reach number 99 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, until it dropped off in a week, as well as reaching number 91 on ''

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of the three main music industry trade magazines in the United States, along with '' Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 under the name ''Music Vendor'', but in 1964 it was changed to ''Record Wo ...

'' Top 100 Pops and number 70 on ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' magazine Top 100. The song was much more successful on a regional level, where it charted in the top five in every market where it was released. The single peaked at #1 in Detroit, Cleveland, and Salt Lake City, and #2 in Seattle and Vancouver. "Open Up Your Door" was later included in the 1998 reissue of the

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

, '' Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968''.

Cover versions

The Invaders, a punk group featuring the original singer from The Sonics, recorded a cover version of "Open up Your Door" (retitled "Open up Yer Door") in 1979. The Romantics, a hit pop group from the 1980s, recorded the same song, which appeared on their album, ''In Heat'', and on two of their live albums. "Open Up Your Door" has also been covered by; Bill Kennedy's Showtime,

The Raving Mojos ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

, The Demolition Doll Rods, The Flakes, The Goldstars, The Hunchmen, The Stance, and The Future Primitives. And their song, "You Can Make It" was covered by Las Membranas.

References

{{Reflist 1966 singles 1966 songs Philips Records singles Song recordings produced by Bob Crewe