The Shangri-Las

Known primarily for "Leader of the Pack," this is maybe the most underrated of the girl groups. They made great dramatic teen music on par with Phil Spector's work.

Information: The Shangri-Las.com
Suggested first purchase/best of: Myrmidons of Melodrama
Suggested first album: Leader of the Pack

Myrmidons of Melodrama (1994) -- The first, and still best, definitive collection of Shangri-Las' singles, B-sides, album tracks, and more. Everyone knows "Leader of the Pack," which is a great song, but they have many more that are just as excellent, including "Remember (Walkin' in the Sand)," "Give Him a Great Big Kiss," "Out in the Streets," "I'm Blue," "The Dum Dum Ditty," "Sophisticated Boom Boom," and the very affecting "Past, Present, and Future." If you're into Phil Spector and 1960s girl groups, you need to pick this up. Note that there is a re-release of this collection in 2002 -- same title, different cover -- that alters some things for the worse.