Shame On You (Cooley song)
Encyclopedia
"Shame on You" is a Western Swing
song written by Spade Cooley
and became his signature song.
The title comes from the refrain that starts each verse:
In the song, the singer is rebuking his straying girlfriend.
First recorded by Spade Cooley, it was released January 15, 1945 (OKeh 6731). With vocals by Tex Williams
, it reached #1 spending 31 weeks on the charts. The "b" side, "A Pair Of Broken Hearts"—also a hit—reached #8. The recording was Cooley's first after taking over the band from Jimmy Wakely
, and the first of an unbroken chain of six hits which lead to him being on the cover of Billboard in March 1946. "Shame On You" was the first song whose rights were owned by the Hill & Range
publishing company, which later grew to become a dominant force in country music
.
Later in 1945, "Shame on You" was recorded by The Lawrence Welk
Orchestra with Red Foley
. Their version also went to number one on the country charts. The B-side of the song, entitled, "At Mail Call Today" went to number three on the country charts . Coast Records, based in Los Angeles released a version by Walt Shrum and His Colorado Hillbillies.
"Shame on You" has also been recorded by several other Western swing bands.
Western swing
Western swing music is a subgenre of American country music that originated in the late 1920s in the West and South among the region's Western string bands...
song written by Spade Cooley
Spade Cooley
Donnell Clyde Cooley , better known as Spade Cooley, was an American Western swing musician, big band leader, actor, and television personality...
and became his signature song.
The title comes from the refrain that starts each verse:
- Shame, shame on you.
- Shame, shame on you.
In the song, the singer is rebuking his straying girlfriend.
First recorded by Spade Cooley, it was released January 15, 1945 (OKeh 6731). With vocals by Tex Williams
Tex Williams
Sollie Paul Williams , known professionally as Tex Williams, was an American Western swing musician from Ramsey, Illinois....
, it reached #1 spending 31 weeks on the charts. The "b" side, "A Pair Of Broken Hearts"—also a hit—reached #8. The recording was Cooley's first after taking over the band from Jimmy Wakely
Jimmy Wakely
James Clarence Wakeley , better known as Jimmy Wakely, was an American country-Western singer and actor, one of the last crooning cowpokes following World War II...
, and the first of an unbroken chain of six hits which lead to him being on the cover of Billboard in March 1946. "Shame On You" was the first song whose rights were owned by the Hill & Range
Hill & Range
Hill & Range is a music publishing company which was particularly responsible for much of the country music produced in the 1950s and 1960s, and had control over the material recorded by Elvis Presley over that period....
publishing company, which later grew to become a dominant force in country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
.
Later in 1945, "Shame on You" was recorded by The Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
Orchestra with Red Foley
Red Foley
Clyde Julian Foley , better known as Red Foley, was an American singer, musician, and radio and TV personality who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II....
. Their version also went to number one on the country charts. The B-side of the song, entitled, "At Mail Call Today" went to number three on the country charts . Coast Records, based in Los Angeles released a version by Walt Shrum and His Colorado Hillbillies.
"Shame on You" has also been recorded by several other Western swing bands.