Shame & Scandal

"Shame & Scandal" is a song originally performed by calypso singer Sir Lancelot.^[1] The song is a reggae classic, and was written for the movie "I Walked with a Zombie" in 1943.^[1] The song was originally titled "Fort Holland Calypso Song".^[2] Trinidadian calypsonian Lord Melody used the song as the basis of his song "Shame and Scandal", although he titled it "Wau, Wau".^[1] This version used the same chorus as the original 40s song, but with new verses.^[1]

In 1965, British comedy actor Lance Percival reached No.37 in the UK charts with the original title. Hence Jamaica's Kingston Hilton Hotel resident mento band The Hiltonaires also recorded it as Shame and Scandal in the mid sixties.

A 1965 ska cover version was recorded in Jamaica by Peter Tosh and The Wailers on vocals, backed by the Skatalites and released on the Studio One label.

In 1977, American vocal group The Stylistics released a cover version titled "Shame and Scandal in the Family" from their album, Sun & Soul. The single reached #87 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.

This arrangement of the song is that which British ska/pop band Madness later covered. Madness had previously covered several Prince Buster ska recordings, including the songs 'Madness', and 'One Step Beyond'. The band began performing the song at a series of low-key performances as "The Dangermen" in 2005. They later recorded the song for their cover album The Dangermen Sessions Vol. 1,^[3] and released it as a single later that year.^[4]

Lyrical content

The lyrical content of the cover versions are much the same as Lord Melody's 60s version, with a few word changes. The story follows a young Trinidadian man in search of a wife.^[1] In each of the verses, the young man asks his father for permission to marry a different woman, only to be told he can't marry the girl as "The girl is your sister but your mamma don't know".^[1] However, the tables are turned during the last verse, where the young man's mother tells him that "Your daddy ain't your daddy, but your daddy don't know", clearing the path for him to marry any of the girls.^[1]

Lyrics

Down in Trinidad, there was a family
With much confusion as you will see
A mama and a papa and a boy who was grown
He wanted to marry and have wife of his own
He found a girl, she suited him nice
He went to his father to ask his advice
His father said, "son, I have to say no
The girl is your sister, but your mama don't know"

Oh, misery, shame and scandal in the family, I said
Oh, misery, shame and scandal in the family

And then the weeks went by and the summer came down
Soon, the best girl on the islands he found
He went to his papa to make it a date
His papa shook his head and to this he did say
"You can't marry that girl, I have to say no
Cause the girl is your sister, but your mama don't know"

Oh, misery, shame and scandal in the family, I said
Oh, misery, shame and scandal in the family

Oh, he went to his mama, he covered his head
He told his mom, what his father had said
His mother, she laughed, she said, "go man go
Your daddy ain't your daddy, but your daddy don't know"

Oh, misery, it's shame and scandal in the family, Well
Oh, misery, shame and scandal in the family

Chart performance

The Madness release did not fare particularly well in the UK, only spending 2 weeks in the charts, peaking at number 38.^[4] However, the song performed well in France, where it peaked at number 12 and spent 19 weeks in the charts.^[4] The song also made an appearance on the Swiss Singles Top 100, spending 8 weeks in the charts and reaching a high of number 69,^[4] and just made the Dutch Singles Top 100, hitting number 100 and only remaining in the charts for a single week.^[5]

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Shame & Scandal".

• 7" Single

1. "Shame & Scandal" (Lord/Pinard) - 2:52
2. "Shame & Scandal [Dub]" (Lord/Pinard) - 2:56
3. "Shame & Scandal" (Peter Touch(Tosh) and The Wailers) - 3:03

• CD Single

1. "Shame & Scandal" (Lord/Pinard) - 2:52
2. "Skylarking" (Hinds) - 3:02
3. "Dreader Than Dread" (Galnek) - 3:04

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} ""Calypso: Shame and Scandal in the Family"". http://www.calypsoworld.org/noflash/songs-10.htm.  Retrieved on July 5, 2007.
2. ^ ""Sir Lancelot, at IMDB"". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0484240/.  Retrieved on June 22, 2009.
3. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas.""Allmusic.com The Dangermen Sessions Vol. 1 Overview"". http://www.allmusic.com/album/r783685.  Retrieved on July 5, 2007.
4. ^ ^{a b c d} ""Madness - Shame & Scandal: Charts"". http://www.musicsquare.net/charts/song/2187.  Retrieved on July 5, 2007.
5. ^ ""dutchcharts.com Chart Information"". http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Madness&titel=Shame+%26+Scandal+%28In+The+Family%29&cat=s.  Retrieved on August 26, 2007.