"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]
"Kon-Tiki" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by The Shadows | ||||
B-side | "36-24-36" | |||
Released | 1 September 1961 | |||
Recorded | 27 January 1961[1] | |||
Studio | EMI Studios, London | |||
Genre | Instrumental surf | |||
Length | 1:51 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Michael Carr[2] | |||
Producer(s) | Norrie Paramor[2] | |||
The Shadows singles chronology | ||||
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"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]
7": Columbia / DB 4698
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 |