Shirley (song)
{{short description|1959 song by John Fred and the Playboys}}
{{Infobox song
|name=Shirley
|cover=
|alt=
|caption=
|type=single
|artist=John Fred and the Playboys
|B-side="My Love for You"
|released={{start date|1958|12||df=yes}}
|recorded=
|studio=Cosimo Recording Studios, New Orleans
|venue=
|genre={{hlist|Rock & roll|rhythm & blues}}
|length={{duration|m=2|s=05}}
|label=Montel
|writer={{hlist|John Fred Gourrier|Tommy Bryan}}
|producer=
|next_title=Mirror, Mirror (On the Wall)
|next_year=1959
}}
"Shirley" is a song originally released by John Fred and the Playboys 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.{{Cite magazine|title=Shirley by John Fred And The Playboys {{!}} Billboard The Hot 100 Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1959-03-07?rank=82|access-date=2020-06-05|magazine=Billboard}} The song became an international hit in 1982 when it was covered by Shakin' Stevens, peaking at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.
John Fred and the Playboys version
"Shirley" was recorded at Cosimo Matassa's recording studios in New Orleans when John Fred was just 17 years old, after local dance promoter in Baton Rouge, Sam Montalbano was impressed by the band.{{Cite book|last=Broven|first=John|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s9PeKHhZIK4C&pg=PA263|title=South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous|date=1987|publisher=Pelican Publishing|isbn=978-0-88289-608-3|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=John Fred|url=https://www.museumofthegulfcoast.org/john-fred|access-date=2020-06-05|website=mogc|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|date=2005-04-18|title=John Fred|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-fred-489685.html|access-date=2020-06-05|website=The Independent|language=en}} The success of the song led Fred to appear on Alan Freed's New York show The Big Beat.{{Cite web|title=John Fred and his Playboy Band {{!}} Way Back Attack|url=https://www.waybackattack.com/fredjohnandhisplayboyband.html|access-date=2020-06-05|website=www.waybackattack.com}} The single might have been more successful had Fred not turned down the opportunity to appear on American Bandstand to instead play for his high school basketball team.{{Cite web|title=John Fred {{!}} Biography & History|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-fred-mn0000223492/biography|access-date=2020-06-05|website=AllMusic|language=en-us}}
= Charts =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1959) !Peak |
| scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100
| 82 |
|---|
Shakin' Stevens version
{{Infobox song
|name=Shirley
|cover=Shakin' Stevens Shirley.jpeg
|alt=
|caption=
|type=single
|artist=Shakin' Stevens
|album = Give Me Your Heart Tonight
|B-side="I'm for You"
|released={{start date|1982|4|16|df=yes}}
|recorded=
|studio=Eden Studios, London
|venue=
|genre=Rock and roll
|length={{duration|m=2|s=47}}
|label=Epic
|writer={{hlist|John Fred Gourrier|Tommy Bryan}}
|producer=Stuart Colman
|prev_title=Oh Julie
|prev_year=1982
|next_title=Give Me Your Heart Tonight
|next_year=1982
}}
Shakin' Stevens released a cover of the song in April 1982 under Epic Records as the second single from his album Give Me Your Heart Tonight.
= Personnel =
- Shakin' Stevens – vocals
- Mickey Gee – lead guitar
- Geraint Watkins – piano, accordion
- Stuart Colman – bass guitar, producer
- Howard Tibble – drums
- Rod Houison – engineer
= Charts =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1982) !Peak |
| {{singlechart|Austria|4|song=Shirley|artist=Shakin' Stevens|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Flanders|10|artist=Shakin' Stevens|rowheader=true|song=Shirley}} |
| scope="row"|Denmark (Hitlisten){{cite web|url= https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/chart-analysis/121831-danish-chart-archive-singles-1979-____-b-t-ifpi-dk?q=Shirley|title=Danish Chart Archive - Singles 1979 - ____ (B.T./IFPI DK)|website=www.ukmix.org|date=17 November 2018|accessdate=27 July 2020}}
|2 |
|---|
| scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{Cite web|last=Timo|date=13 August 2015|title=Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit STEP - SUE|url= http://suomenlistalevyt.blogspot.com/2015/08/step-sue.html|access-date=2020-07-27|website=Sisältää hitin}}
|23 |
| {{singlechart|Germany|7|songid=838|artist=Shakin' Stevens|song=Shirley|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Ireland2|4|song=Shirley|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|Israel (IBA){{cite web|url=https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/chart-analysis/46793-israel-singles-charts-1987-1995/page7#post8830262|title=Israel Singles Charts 1987-1995|website=www.ukmix.org|date=9 May 2017 |accessdate=27 July 2020}}
|3 |
| {{singlechart|Dutch40|12|artist=Shakin' Stevens|song=Shirley|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Dutch100|11|artist=Shakin' Stevens|song=Shirley|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Norway|3|artist=Shakin' Stevens|song=Shirley|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|South Africa (Springbok Radio){{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(S).html|accessdate=27 July 2020}}
|15 |
| {{singlechart|Sweden|3|artist=Shakin' Stevens|song=Shirley|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Switzerland|4|artist=Shakin' Stevens|song=Shirley|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|UK|6|date=1982-04-25|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 June 2020|refname="UK"}} |