Such a Shame

"Such a Shame" was inspired by Luke Rhinehart's The Dice Man,{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Neiss |title= Talk Talk |magazine= Record Collector |date= December 1991 |issue= 148 |pages= 18–23}} one of composer Mark Hollis' favourite books. When asked what drove him to respond to Rhinehart's book, Hollis replied, "A good book, not a lifestyle I'd recommend."{{cite web|first= Henrik H. |last= Aakjaer |website= Within Without |title= Such a Shame |url= http://users.cybercity.dk/~bcc11425/IntWW0998.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 27 September 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110927003929/http://users.cybercity.dk/~bcc11425/IntWW0998.html |access-date= 8 April 2012}}

The song was released as the album's second single in early 1984, with the cover art designed by James Marsh. Some pressings of the single came with an additional 7" release The Talk Talk Demos which included three songs recorded in June 1981: "Candy", "Talk Talk" and "Mirror Man". Writing in the NME, Richard Cook slated the song, describing it as "faceless regret coaxed from lurex trashcan."{{cite magazine|first= Richard |last= Cook |author-link= Richard Cook (journalist) |title= Singles |magazine= NME |date= 31 March 1984 |page= 18}}

"Such a Shame" became a hit in continental Europe in 1984 and 1985, reaching the top 10 in several countries, including number 1 in Switzerland. It was their third number 1 single after the remixed version of the song "Talk Talk" which topped the South African charts in 1983 and the single "It's My Life" which was number 1 in the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play in 1984. In the US, "Such a Shame" entered the Billboard Hot 100, and was a top 20 hit in the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play. The single entered the top 10 in the pan-European singles airplay chart.{{cite magazine|title= European Airplay Top 50 |magazine= Eurotipsheet |location= Amsterdam |issue= 23 |page= 6 |date= 3 September 1984 |accessdate= 27 July 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/84/M&M-1984-09-03-OCR-Page-0013.pdf}} It only reached number 49 in the UK.

The song was featured in a European TV commercial for the French car Peugeot 205 in the 1980s. In November 1990, the single was re-issued to promote the compilation Natural History: The Very Best of Talk Talk.{{cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Robin |date=24 November 1990 |title=This Week – The Next Seven Days in View: Releases |magazine=Record Mirror |page=33 |issn=0144-5804}}

Following Hollis' death in early 2019, "Such a Shame" charted at number 5 on Digital Song Sales in France{{cite magazine|title= Talk Talk > French Digital Song Sales |magazine= Billboard |accessdate= 27 July 2020 |url= https://www.billboard.com/artist/talk-talk/chart-history/fra/}} and number 44 on Back Catalogue Singles in the Flemish region of Belgium.{{cite web|title= Ultratop Back Catalogue Singles: 02/03/2019 |publisher= Ultratop |accessdate= 27 July 2020 |url= https://www.ultratop.be/nl/back-catalogue/2019/20190302 |language= nl}}

• 7" single (EMI 5433)

:A. "Such a Shame" – 3:59

:B. "Again, a Game... Again" – 4:06

• 12" maxi single (12EMI 5433)

:A. "Such a Shame" (12" Mix) – 6:54

:B1. "Such a Shame" – 5:43

:B2. "Again, a Game... Again" – 4:06

• 7" single (R 6276)

:A. "Such a Shame" (Original Version) – 4:28

:B. "Dum Dum Girl" (Live from 1986 Montreux Jazz Festival) – 3:39

• 12" maxi single (12R 6276)

:A. "Such a Shame" (Remixed by Gary Miller) – 5:40

:B1. "Such a Shame" (Original Version) – 4:28

:B2. "Dum Dum Girl" (Live from 1986 Montreux Jazz Festival) – 3:39

• CD maxi single (CDR 6276)

1. "Such a Shame" (Original Version) – 4:28
2. "Such a Shame" (Remixed by Gary Miller) – 5:40
3. "Talk Talk" (Live from 1986 Montreux Jazz Festival) – 3:30
4. "Dum Dum Girl" (Live from 1986 Montreux Jazz Festival) – 3:39

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{{Infobox song

| name = Such a Shame

| cover =

| alt =

| caption =

| type = single

| artist = Sandra

| album = The Wheel of Time

| released = 25 March 2002

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 4:18

| label = Virgin

| writer = Mark Hollis

| producer = {{hlist|Michael Cretu|Jens Gad}}

| prev_title = Forever

| prev_year = 2001

| next_title = I Close My Eyes

| next_year = 2002

| misc = {{External music video|header=Licensed audio|1={{YouTube|dencYmYKkeY|"Such A Shame"}}}}

}}

German singer Sandra covered "Such a Shame" for her seventh studio album The Wheel of Time (2002). Her version was produced by Michael Cretu and Jens Gad. It was released on 25 March 2002 and reached number 76 on the official German singles chart.

• CD maxi single

1. "Such a Shame" (Radio Edit) – 4:18
2. "Such a Shame" (Straight Dance Mix) – 7:54
3. "Such a Shame" (Cool Club Mix) – 5:22
4. "Such a Shame" (Karaoke Version) – 4:18

An Pierlé recorded a cover of "Such a Shame" for her 2013 album Strange Days. The song reached number 45 in the Walloon region of Belgium.{{cite web|title= An Pierlé – Such A Shame |publisher= ultratop.be |accessdate= 27 July 2020 |url= https://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/105be0/An-Pierle-Such-A-Shame |language= fr}}

• List of number-one singles of the 1980s (Switzerland)

{{Reflist}}

{{Talk Talk}}

{{Sandra}}

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Category:1984 songs

Category:1984 singles

Category:1990 singles

Category:2002 singles

Category:Talk Talk songs

Category:EMI Records singles

Category:Parlophone singles

Category:Music videos directed by Tim Pope

Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland

Category:Sandra (singer) songs

Category:Virgin Records singles

Category:Songs written by Mark Hollis (musician)

Category:Song recordings produced by Tim Friese-Greene

Category:Music based on novels