1 Hit Wonder? SHIRLEY AND CO

[Videoskooter]

Well, is this the only hit by them? Shirley is in both vids buth the guy had a face-lift :-o But, still a supah-dupah-tune!

"Shame Shame Shame"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMSB_...elated&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtKL0dTgbM0

[disco1999]

2 other songs,
"Cry Cry Cry" and "Disco Shirley" from Shirley & Co.
had some success too but Shame Shame Shame was tha bomb, the ultimate dance floor filler of the 70's.

[Disco Funk]

I always assumed Shirley's singing partner was a black guy. I think these blokes are just stand-ins for the male part.

Disco Funk

[Simon White]

Shirley wasn't so much a 'one hit wonder'...her duets as Shirley & Lee go back as far as 1952 and in 1956 'Let The Good Times Roll' was a hit. I have a real soft spot for Shirley. Sadly, she passed away last year.
I think thats Jesus Alvarez with her on the video. Nice!
There's another video on Youtube from France with some posturing fool in a scarf with her miming to the male parts.

[marc0]

Dude, you are incredibly good at finding those vids. I laughed so much at the second twit. ;)

Thanx, first time I seen Shirley. And did I play that song! :roll: Even in 2001, it was a floorfiller.

[Disco Funk]

Shame Shame Shame is a cool track. I've come across various mixes of the track. The instrumental on the album, for example, is a different mix of the instrumental on the B side of the single. I have a CD where the outro for Shame Shame Shame pushes the song past the 5 minute mark, even longer than the original album version! And there was also a saxophonist (I forget the name) who released his version of the track as an instrumental using the same backing track (either on Stang or All Platinum).

For the record, after this track, my favorite cut by Shirley during that period is I Gotta Get Next To You. It's nice and spacey and a mid tempo groover.

Disco Funk

[tony98]

Sax instrumental of "Shame, Shame, Shame" on All Platinum i'm pretty sure it was Lonnie Youngblood who is famous for giving Jimi Hendrix his first break in Lonnie's band.

[Disco Funk]

I double checked and it might be 'More Shame' by Seldon Powell.

Disco Funk

[tony98]

Disco Funk you are right about "More shame" i've just found my 7" copy. Just come across a Lonnie Yougblood 7" as well "Sweet,sweet tootie" on Turbo.

[markydefad]

I agree that the first one is the legit record singer--Jesus Alvarez.

The second guy with the scarf looks like a lost Bee Gee twin (Maurice, especially):icon_mrgreen: I think he came from French central casting for Shirley's French TV appearance. They couldn't afford to bring Jesus over, I guess. :-P

[Simon White]

Another one to add to the list - 'I Like To Dance' on Vibration 542 is good and there's a song by Elenore Mills called 'Singing The Blues which has the same backing track.

[Mixmachine]

Yeah, this one is great, this song used to be all over the airways. Never saw any video of Shirley, is nice too see this 'promotional' videos now, who knew they made any way back then.

I never knew either the dude was white :oand Latin. ;-)

The second French video, the guy looked like a young Mick Jagger lookalike to me :lol::lol:

[Alvarez1]

Jesus Alvarez is actually cuban, and also is my father! that video is pretty funny!

[remicks]

Jesus Alvarez is actually cuban, and also is my father! that video is pretty funny!

:icon_cool: :icon_cool: :icon_exclaim:

What a pleasure to have you here! You must be so proud of your Dad!
NO DOUBT without his distinguished voice on that song , it would never have been as big . Would love to hear the story(s) behind SHAME SHAME SHAME as well as the many others I'm sure he's shared with you .....especially the times working with Sylvia Robinson.... :icon_cool:

You should encourage him to make an appearance here !!
Would love to know more and please thank him for writing
Phyliss Hyman's beautiful SOMEWHERE IN MY LIFETIME (1978)


One other thing ... still looking , but this tune remains one I've yet to find :

408.) LIVING, LAUGHING, LOVING - Jesus (Alvarez) ) (sang the male vocal on "Shame, Shame, Shame")
(Vibration) C= 3; Total points = 3
2 weeks on the chart (11/23 - 11/30/74); Peak: #25.

Surely you've heard it ..... any way to describe it .... :icon_question:
....will having it one day make my collection seem complete ! ?



Thanks !!! To you and your Dad!

remicks


*****

[Alvarez1]

Its pretty cool to hear stories of when he traveled the world with patti labelle , elton john sylvia, and many more.... i am proud of what he did then but even more honored what he does now!...
Yeah, my father left the record business in the late 70's after becoming a christian, but he did an album "just Give me Jesus" that was huge with in the christian world, and from there he changed his name to jason after becming a pastor, cause it would be wierd to have you name be jesus as a pastor.... sylvia still comes and visits our church in NJ and sings on occasion... God has really blessed us and if you wanted some of his recent music let me know....
The Love of Jesus Family Church

[Videoskooter]

Are you the pastor on that webpage?

Great to have your reaction and story here. Your dad sure can be proud to have been a part of a recording that still stands after all those years and that's still played all over the world!

And it's great to hear from people who were actually involved! I was still in school at that time and I remember many guys talking about that record and the contrast between the sweet voice of Shirley an the great raw vocals by your dad!

Thx for reacting here!

[Alvarez1]

no that is Jason (formally Known as Jesus Alvarez)

[Videoskooter]

Stupid of me as you already explained the name change!

Give him my regards!

[disco-disc]

HEY GUYS...nobody asked the BIG question (unless it's only me who doesn't know the answer) I have read two versions: it was a song about the shame of Nixon/Watergate....OR it was a song about the failure of straight white ROCK fans to dance at the new disco's etc.....probably a bit of truth in both ???

[disco-disc]

Just watched first Vid...Good song, but both seem to have been deleted from your link...can't view second one (Scarf ?)

I definately think the song refers to dancing (vertical if not horizontal)...so it was obviously used for the chorus to have a go at Nixon ??

[remicks]

******





I came upon this press photo of Shirley and Jesus Alvarez .


__________________________


Phyllis Hyman
SOMEWHERE IN MY LIFETIME
written by Jesus Alvarez



******

[ashley]

.. the song was certainly about Nixon & Watergate .. the original album cover has Shirley dancing with the former president ( .. of course, it's only a cartoon) .. "Living, laughing,Loving" by Jesus Alvarez is a superb funky soulful disco vocal from '74 .. I have the 45rpm single .. it was a big U.S. club hit back in the day .. if you like that 70s All Platinum sound & tunes like "Soul Walking" or "Who's got the monster" you will love "Living, laughing, loving" .. I'm amazed it's never appeared on CD as it's one of the better All Platinum releases from this period .. when the superb compilation "All Platinum Girls" appeared on CD last year I presumed it would be quickly followed by an "All Platinum Boys" compilation .. but so far nothing ..

[ashley]

.. and Tom Moulton remixed the tune a couple of years back for the DMC mix club .. listen to a sound-clip on the Juno site:
DJ QUICKSILVER/SNAP/C&C MUSIC FACTORY/THE JACKSONS/REAL THING/SHIRLEY & COMPANY - DMC 185/3: 3.0 Pop Mixes MP3

[remicks]

*****


Some more Jesus Alvarez disco:


BAILA Cosa Rica Band

co-written and produced by ....Jesus Alvarez



also recorded by :Afro Cuban Band



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