"Shirley" is a song originally released by
John Fred and the Playboys
John Fred Gourrier (May 8, 1941 – April 15, 2005), known by his stage name John Fred, was an American blue-eyed soul, swamp pop, rock and roll, and R&B performer from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, best known for the 1967 hit song "Judy in Disguise ...
in December 1958 by Montel Records. It was the band's debut single and reached number 82 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 in March 1959.
The song became an international hit in 1982 when it was covered by
Shakin' Stevens, peaking at number 6 on the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
.
John Fred and the Playboys version
"Shirley" was recorded at
Cosimo Matassa's recording studios in
when
John Fred was just 17 years old, after local dance promoter in
Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge ( ; ) is a city in and the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-sma ...
, Sam Montalbano was impressed by the band.
Fats Domino's backing band helped out on the recording as Domino recorded "
Whole Lotta Lovin'" prior to John Fred and the Playboys' recording session. The success of the song led Fred to appear on
Alan Freed's New York show ''
The Big Beat''. The single might have been more successful had Fred not turned down the opportunity to appear on ''
American Bandstand
''American Bandstand'', abbreviated ''AB'', is an American music-performance and dance television program that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989, and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as the pro ...
'' to instead play for his high school
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
team.
Charts
Shakin' Stevens version
Shakin' Stevens released a cover of the song in April 1982 under
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America
Sony Corporation of America (SONAM, also known as SCA), is the American arm of the Japanese conglomerate Sony Group ...
as the second single from his album ''
Give Me Your Heart Tonight
''Give Me Your Heart Tonight'' is an album by Welsh rock and roll singer Shakin' Stevens, released in October 1982 by Epic Records. To date, it is his last studio album to reach the Top-Ten in the UK, peaking at number 3 on the Album Chart.
...
''.
Personnel
*
Shakin' Stevens – vocals
*
Mickey Gee
Michael Richard Gee (3 July 1944 – 21 January 2009) was a rock and roll guitarist who played alongside some of the most prominent Welsh musicians of the last forty years.
He died on 21 January 2009 in Cardiff, Wales, from emphysema.
Career
...
– lead guitar
*
Geraint Watkins – piano, accordion
*
Stuart Colman
Ian Stuart Colman (19 December 1944 – 19 April 2018) was an English musician, record producer and broadcaster. Allmusic noted that he "has an impressive catalogue as a record producer and much of Shakin' Stevens success can be attributed to ...
– bass guitar, producer
* Howard Tibble – drums
*
Rod Houison
Rodney Houison (born ), is a British musician, producer, and sound engineer who has worked with The Who, Pete Townshend, Cliff Richard, Shakin' Stevens, Judge Dread, and Echo & the Bunnymen.
He has also worked with, and is married to, Miria ...
– engineer
Charts
References
{{Shakin' Stevens
1958 singles
1958 songs
1982 singles
1982 songs
Shakin' Stevens songs
Epic Records singles
Songs written by John Fred