Shirley & Company ~ Shame Shame Shame 1975 Disco Purrfection Version

This was an instant hit! Who didn't like this song right off? Even Mick Jagger was all over this one, word had it he was considering adding to the concert repertoire. While that never happened, he did write a song with Keith Richards called "Hot Stuff" that used this song as inspiration. Disco was coming unto itself, judging by the wild assortment of sounds that were popular in the clubs and on radio. That incessantly tribal 4/4 beat married with the sound of sunshine! At the same time on the disco charts were Carol Douglas ~ Doctor's Orders, Barry White ~ You're The First, The Last, My Everything, Fire ~ Ohio Players....all were being played in the clubs, but the music was distilling into what are disco hallmarks, the open hi hat between the kick drum beats and that sonorous bassline that made you shake your booty...no strings on this one though, the real last qualifier for classic disco. The garage band feel, rough and tough and the screaming vocals turned this song into a pop disco classic. All of this courtesy of Sylvia "Pillow Talk" Robinson, a writer, singer, producer...a pillar of a woman who was about to thrust hip hop on an unsuspecting public with her signing of the Sugarhill Gang doing Rapper's Delight. Back in 1957 Mickey & Sylvia's "Love Is Strange" hit the pop charts and came to the attention of the public again when the song was used in a very memorable sequence in "Dirty Dancing". So you see, Sylvia is a driven woman. She and her husband set up Vibration Records as an outlet for the talent they signed. There had to be magic afoot when this one was written, I mean, Sylvia sure had her finger on the pulse of America at the time. She gave the song to Shirley Goodman, another 50's survivor who recorded as one half of Shirley & Lee with the classic "Let The Good Times Roll" and had split up in 1963. Sylvia though Shirley could do better and brought "Shame Shame Shame" to her. The original line up of that band was: Jesus Alvarez, Walter Morris, Bernadette Randle, Seldon Powell, Jonathan Williams and Clarence Oliver. That magic voice that answers Shirley's is Jesus Alvarez, a singer songwriter, who had just recently joined Vibration. The song, already had a history in that Donnie Elbert, who had worked with Clarence Oliver and Walter Morris to put down the instrumental track for "Shame". Donnie moved on to other projects and while in England recorded "You're Gonna Cry When I'm Gone" a shamefully similar song in 1975. Since Donnie was an integral part of creating the sound of the "Shame", instead of Vibration suing him for copyrights, they bought out his master and everyone lived happily ever after. This was giving everyone a truly fair shake. If you look at the cover of the LP, there is definitely some socio-political statement being made to then President Richard Nixon, who had fallen from grace. The artwork of "Shame Shame Shame" was not the only song to register displeasure of the errant President, Stevie Wonder had hit #1 with "You Haven't Done Nothing". Shame on you! (if you can't dance too)

[rosischmid]

Shame shame shame on you if you never danced to this great song 💥💥💥💥💥

[johnmcgloson]

I WISH IT WAS A TIME MACHINE TO TAKE ALL US BACK TO THE 1970S

[dawnpaige]

1975 I was 15 years old when this song was out. My mother definitely love this song as well. This was her favorite song shame shame shame by Shirley and company. She would play this song and start dancing on the floor. We had the 45rpm as well. To my mom rest in peace!!! Your daughter Dawn miss you!!!

[sarahbiddle]

This music beats the crap they have today....hands down

[rideandsmile]

Born 69, hearing it 2023. Greetings from a portuguese/german

[heliconius]

Late seventies at the Dial Tone Lounge, Hatfield Massachusetts. Still in high school, 18 yrs old and yes we drank a lot. And we all drove home really drunk. Our whole soccer team would get up and dance to this song. Crazy Times, Crazy Song, Wow we had fun!!!

[brianjohnson]

This was big hit in 74 at the dance we tore up the dance floor when this song came on I still love it. On the radio 📻 all day.

[thomastarwater]

SHAME SHAME SHAME ON YOU IF YOU CAN'T DANCE Wow, this song takes me back to the 1970s when I was still in my teens. Thank you DiscoCat for working up this extended jam. Takes me back to the day when AM radio played this disco jam between the Rolling Stones, ABBA, Bob Seger and the O'Jays. Except for a few radio stations here and there, these days am gone forever. Until you listen to DiscoCat's masterwork, then those days are back.

[EileenPCarryEPC]

Happy B’day Shirley! Your music is always on the playlist! 🎶💃🏻🎵*•

[markmurphy]

Could mix this purrfectly with ‘rock your baby’ 👍😎

[AHC]

I was 12 when this came out - I still have the 45.

[Ken-bjce]

What a great dance song, you just can't sit this one out, extended version just adds to the dance fun.

[tracibradley]

I was 14yrs old when this song came out it was one of my favorite songs to dance to. Times were so fun and care-free back then.

[radamik]

Dancing to this in painters pants and a pullover shirt with a design of a shooting star on it, with clear ribbed plastic belt and tan canvas and rubber shoes - platform shoes and polyester “dress” pants were too uncomfortable. Everything about the 70s, fashion, music, style, were far more varied than people today think.

[jacquelineiona]

Shirley....a musical force...I was 11 years old and loved this ...thanks Mom...she always brought records home ❤️

[mylesken]

Even babies like to dance. One afternoon, years ago, I was holding my baby cousin, he was about 5 months old. A dance tune was playing and I held him in a stand position. Baby Bryant began to jump up and down. His mother was near by and I said to her, Loretta look ---- Bryant is dancing. She looked and smiled. Dancing is a pleasureable non-violent activity. Thanks for the posting.

[terrystroud]

Just think.this mixed with Rock Your Baby.also Rock the Boat.!!DAmn miss this stuff!!

[janicechaudhury]

Remembering doing "the bump" when this was playing back then.

[centellas]

Buenííísimooo como 47 años que no escuchaba esta canción !!!!....yo era una niña de 7 u 8 años, cuando estaba de moda esta canción !!!...y disfrutaba mucho escuchándola, mientras daba vueltas y vueltas al compás de su ritmo !!!!...Millones de gracias a quien la compartió con el mundo...!!!!....saludos desde el Peru...!!!!

[WupWup]

I was 7 when this came out. Loved it then, still love it now, so many years later. One of the true epic 70's songs!