Album: Love Come Down: The Best of Evelyn "Champagne" King (1978)
Charted: 39 9
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Songfacts®:

  • Here, Evelyn "Champagne" King is warned by her mama that her love interest is playing games with her, and what he does is a shame. No matter, she's consumed by passionate feelings of longing for the guy. It would be a shame if she loses his love.
  • "Shame" was written by John Fitch and Reuben Cross. The original version featured on Evelyn "Champagne" King's 1977 album Smooth Talk, is a different track than the one that became a million-seller. As "Shame" started to become popular in the discos, it got an extended 12" disco mix by New York club DJs-turned-record remixers Al Garrison and David Todd. Their remix, which emphasized the beat more, gained more radio play and became a hit.
  • Evelyn "Champagne" King's nickname is a variation of a nickname she had as a baby, Bubbles, because she blew spit bubbles. She was discovered at the age of 15 while singing in a washroom at Philadelphia International Records' recording base, Sigma Sound Studios, where she was helping out her mother who was a cleaning lady. It was soul producer T. Life, a former member of the band Instant Funk, who overheard her and she was immediately signed up.
  • This was featured in the 1998 film The Last Days Of Disco. American R&B duo Zhané also covered it for the 1994 film A Low Down Dirty Shame.
  • At the time, "Shame" was the biggest selling transatlantic 12" single. It was also the biggest UK hit not to enter the top 20. Though it only reached #39, it was on the charts for 23 weeks.
  • The song peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, King's only Top 10 hit on the chart. It was certified Gold by the RIAA for selling over a million copies in the United States.
  • Kim Wilde covered "Shame" in 1996, taking it to #79 on the UK singles chart.

Comments: 2

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 26th 1978, "Shame" by Evelyn 'Champagne' King performed "Shame' on ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time of her 'Bandstand' appearance the song was at #12 on the Top 100 chart; on September 9rd it peaked at #9 {for 1 week}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 11th 1978, "Shame" by Evelyn 'Champagne' King entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #87; and on September 3rd it peaked at #9 (for 1 week) and spent 19 weeks on the Top 100...
    Between 1978 and 1985 she had eight Top 100 records; "Shame" was her debut record and biggest hit, her next highest charted record was "Love Come Down", it reached #17 in 1982...
    Ms. King will celebrate her 54th birthday next month on July 25th, 2014.
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