Song Clearance Sheet
5 sources citedGloria
Garage Rock1960s129BPM
A majKey
More around 130 BPM → · More in A major →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriter of record (Van Morrison), no dispute found. The Shadows of Knight’s 1966 cover changed a lyric to clear a Chicago radio ban — a documented censorship-workaround story, not a rights fight. Jimmy Page’s uncredited session presence is noted factually.
Quick Facts
Released1964
GenreGarage Rock, Rock, Rhythm And Blues
LabelDecca Records
ProducerBert Berns
Recorded atLondon
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of record — Van Morrison
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — Decca; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
A garage-rock standard covered endlessly (and reimagined by Patti Smith, 1975); found its following among the same audience as “Louie Louie” (this batch).
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriter(s) of record.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Same American garage-rock audience and era (this batch)
Same band; Bert Berns production (this batch)
Van Morrison’s later solo signature; same Bert Berns thread (this batch)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Van Morrison
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
An uncredited Jimmy Page on the session
One of the uncredited session musicians on this recording was guitarist Jimmy Page — years before his fame with The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin.
Songfacts · read it →
A lyric change to beat a radio ban
The Shadows of Knight’s 1966 cover changed a suggestive line to a tamer one because Chicago’s WLS had banned Them’s original — the cleaner cover got on the playlist and reached #10 Billboard, outperforming the original in the US. No lyrics reproduced.
Wikipedia (The Shadows of Knight) · read it →
A Patti Smith reimagining
Reimagined by Patti Smith for her 1975 debut “Horses,” incorporating her own poetry — a version with lasting critical acclaim in its own right.
Wikipedia · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
A garage-rock standard; famously reworked by Patti Smith
Covers
—
First flip
Big names who used itThe Shadows of Knight · Patti Smith
Who to Contact
GL
Van Morrison (Decca)
The confirmed songwriter of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
Don't Want the Hassle?
Sample something pre-cleared insteadCheck Tracklib →
Find a similar sound that's 100% freeBrowse the catalog →
Was this page helpful?
Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 19/20)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass