Ain't That a Shame

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Ain't That a Shame" is a song by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew, recorded in New Orleans, Louisiana, for Imperial Records and released in 1955. The original recording ("Ain't It a Shame") was a regional hit for Domino, eventually selling a million copies. The song gained national fame after being re-recorded by white recording artist Pat Boone. Domino's definitive version soon became more popular, bringing Domino's music to the mass market a half dozen years after his first major recording, "The Fat Man".^{[citation needed]}

After "Ain't It a Shame", mainstream artists began covering Domino's songs. Teresa Brewer, for instance, performed the Domino rewrite of a folk song called "Bo Weevil".

“Ain't That a Shame!”

Single by The Four Seasons
from the album Ain't That a Shame and 11 Others

B-side

Soon (I'll Be Home Again)

Released

April 1963

Format

Genre

Rock

Length

2:36

Label

Vee-Jay Records

Writer(s)

Antoine Domino, Dave Bartholomew

Producer

Bob Crewe

The Four Seasons singles chronology

Walk Like a Man
(1963)

Ain't That a Shame!
(1963)

Candy Girl
(1963)

According to legend, Pat Boone suggested the title and lyrics be altered to "Isn't That A Shame" to make it more appealing to a broader audience but was dissuaded by his producers.^[1] Despite his suggestion being rejected, Boone had his first Billboard number-one single in 1955. This song is played from the Jimmy Clanton show at the Boomtown Casino.

1 On the screen
2 Covers
3 See also
4 Notes and references

[edit] On the screen

Fats Domino can be seen performing this song in the 1956 film Shake, Rattle & Rock!. The song is heard in American Graffiti, and is used in the movie October Sky as well as the movie Mischief which was set during 1956. As of April 2007 the song can be heard in commercials for Dr Pepper.

[edit] Covers

Pat Boone in 1955. It hit #1 for two weeks on the Billboard Most Played in Jukeboxes charts.
Four Seasons in 1963. It was a mild hit, though a drastic rearrangement. It charted at #22.
Cheap Trick in 1979. It charted at #35 after being released on their Live At Budokan album.
John Lennon in 1975 on "Rock 'n Roll"
Paul McCartney in 1990 on Tripping the Live Fantastic. Recorded live during his Japanese tour.
The Dump in 2007. Recorded live in Provo, Utah.