Shame, Shame, Shame (Shirley & Company song)

"Shame, Shame, Shame" is a 1974 hit song written by Sylvia Robinson, performed by American disco band Shirley & Company and released on the Vibration label. The female vocalist is Shirley Goodman, who was one half of Shirley & Lee, who had enjoyed a major hit 18 years earlier, in 1956, with the song "Let The Good Times Roll" for Aladdin Records. The male vocalist is Jesus Alvarez.[2] The saxophone solo is by Seldon Powell, whose instrumental version, "More Shame", is the B-side.[3][4][5]

"Shame, Shame, Shame"
Single by Shirley & Company
from the album Shame, Shame, Shame
B-side
  • "More Shame" (U.K., Europe)
  • "Shame, Shame, Shame" (Instrumental) (U.S.)
ReleasedDecember 1974
Recorded1974
StudioSoul Sound Studios, Englewood, New Jersey
Genre
Length3:47
LabelVibration
Songwriter(s)Sylvia Robinson
Shirley & Company singles chronology
"Shame, Shame, Shame"
(1974)
"Cry, Cry, Cry"
(1975)
Music video
Shirley & Company - Shame, Shame, Shame • TopPop on YouTube

The track, with its prominent use of the Bo Diddley beat, was one of the first international disco hits and reached number 12 on the Billboard charts. It also made number one on the Billboard soul singles chart for one week.[6] The phrases "got my sun roof down, got my diamond in the back" appeared as "diamond in the back, sun roof top" in William DeVaughn's 1974 hit "Be Thankful for What You Got"[7] and "one monkey don't stop no show" was used as the title of Honey Cone's 1971 hit "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show (Part 1)" and several others as far back as 1950.

"Shame, Shame, Shame" also stayed at number one on the Billboard disco/dance charts for four weeks.[8] A full-length album, Shame, Shame, Shame was subsequently recorded and released in 1975.[9]

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (1974–75) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10][11] 16
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 1
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[13] 1
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[14] 2
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15] 3
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 5
Norway (VG-lista) 9
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[19] 3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 2
UK Singles (OCC)[20][21] 6
US Billboard Hot 100[22] 12
US Disco/Dance (Billboard)[8] 1
US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)[6] 1
US Cash Box Top 100[23] 8
West Germany (Media Control Charts)[24] 1

Year-end charts

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Chart (1975) Rank
Australia (Kent Music Report)[11] 82
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[25] 55
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[26] 15
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[27] 26
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 12
West Germany (Media Control Charts)[29] 11

Cover versions

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Linda Fields & the Funky Boys recorded a version, sounding nearly identical and released it as a single in 1975; it was re-released in 1983 as a 12" EP. The version appears on several disco compilation albums and is often confused with the original. Their version charted concurrently with the original in New Zealand, reaching number 24.[30]

Ike & Tina Turner recorded a version that was released on the 1980 album The Edge,[31] it reached number 27 on the Billboard Disco chart.[32] In 1982, the song was released as a single in Europe and peaked at number 47 in the Netherlands.[33]

In 1974, French singer Henri Salvador recorded a parody, titled J'aime tes genoux (I like your knees).

Izabella Scorupco version

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"Shame, Shame, Shame"
 
Single by Izabella Scorupco
from the album Iza
Released1992
Genre
Length3:50
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Sylvia Robinson
Producer(s)Christian Falk
Izabella Scorupco singles chronology
"Brando Moves"
(1991)
"Shame, Shame, Shame"
(1992)
Music video
"Shame, Shame, Shame" on YouTube

Polish-Swedish singer, actress and model Izabella Scorupco recorded a successful cover version of "Shame, Shame, Shame" in 1992, which was accompanied by a black-and-white music video directed by Swedish director Jonas Åkerlund.[34] It was produced by record producer and musician Christian Falk and became a chart hit in a number of European countries. In Norway and Sweden, it reached number two. The single was a Top 10 hit also in Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands, where it peaked at number four and six. It appears on an extended version of her 1991 album, Iza.

Track listing

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12" single, Sweden (1992)
No.TitleLength
1."Shame, Shame, Shame" (Spicy Mix) 
2."Shame, Shame, Shame" (DSP Mix) 
3."Shame, Shame, Shame" (Extended Version) 
CD single, UK (1992)
No.TitleLength
1."Shame, Shame, Shame"3:50
2."Shame, Shame, Shame" (Karaoke Version)3:50

Charts

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Sinitta version

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"Shame, Shame, Shame"
 
Single by Sinitta
from the album Naughty Naughty
B-side"Maybe Someday"
Released1992
GenrePop, soul
Length4:00
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)Sylvia Robinson
Producer(s)Mark Taylor, Terry Adams
Sinitta singles chronology
"Love and Affection"
(1990)
"Shame, Shame, Shame"
(1992)
"Aquarius"
(1993)
Music video
"Shame, Shame, Shame" on YouTube

In 1992, the song was also covered by British-American singer Sinitta and was released as a single, which peaked at number 28 in the UK Singles Chart and was later included on her third studio album, Naughty Naughty (1995).

Critical reception

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Alan Jones from Music Week called the song "light, frothy, bouncy concentrated pop. A substantial hit."[47]

Charts

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Chart (1992) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[48] 87
Ireland (IRMA)[49] 30
UK Singles (OCC) 28
UK Dance (Music Week)[50] 58

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 295. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.
  2. ^ Joel Whitburn's *Top Pop Singles, 12th Edition, 2009
  3. ^ "maconblack - Record Collector Magazine". recordcollectormag.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Shirley & Company - Shame, Shame, Shame". Discogs. 1981. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Seldon Powell And Company- More Shame- Parts I & II". curvetube.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  6. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 523.
  7. ^ Merida, Kevin (January 1, 1999). "NEW SPIN ON A GOLDEN OLDIE" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  8. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 232.
  9. ^ Shirley & Company, Billboard
  10. ^ "Australian Chart Books". www.austchartbook.com.au. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  11. ^ a b "National Top 100 Singles for 1975". Kent Music Report. December 29, 1975. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.
  12. ^ Steffen Hung. "Shirley And Company - Shame, Shame, Shame". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  13. ^ "Shirley And Company - Shame, Shame, Shame". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  14. ^ "SHIRLEY AND COMPANY - SHAME, SHAME, SHAME". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  16. ^ Stichting Nederlandse Top 40 (22 March 1975). "Top 40-lijst van week 12, 1975". Top40.nl. Retrieved 10 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "SHIRLEY AND COMPANY - SHAME, SHAME, SHAME". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  18. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 12 May 1975. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  19. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  20. ^ "Top 100 1975". top-source.info. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  21. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 496. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  22. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  23. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MONTH DD, 19YY". Retrieved August 9, 2020.[dead link]. Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  24. ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts". Musicline.de. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  25. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  26. ^ Top 40, Stichting Nederlandse. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1975". Top40.nl.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1975 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1975-12-31. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  28. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Swiss Year-End Charts 1975 - swisscharts.com". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  29. ^ ["Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  30. ^ "flavour of new zealand - search rianz". www.flavourofnz.co.nz.
  31. ^ Shame, Shame, Shame, on YouTube
  32. ^ "Disco Top 100" (PDF). Billboard. November 1, 1980. p. 39.
  33. ^ "Ike & Tina Turner - Shame, Shame, Shame". Dutch Charts.
  34. ^ Izabella: Shame, Shame, Shame (Video 1992) - IMDb
  35. ^ "Izabella – Shame Shame Shame" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  36. ^ "Izabella – Shame Shame Shame" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  37. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. 30 May 1992. p. 29. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  38. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 30 May 1992. p. 31. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  39. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 20, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  40. ^ "Izabella – Shame Shame Shame" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  41. ^ "Izabella – Shame Shame Shame". VG-lista. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  42. ^ "Izabella – Shame Shame Shame". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  43. ^ "Izabella – Shame Shame Shame". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  44. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1992". Ultratop. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  45. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1992". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  46. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1992". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  47. ^ Jones, Alan (6 June 1992). "Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 6. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  48. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 18 July 1992. p. 17. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  49. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Shame, Shame, Shame". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  50. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 11 July 1992. p. 20. Retrieved 29 September 2020.