The Shames

The Shames
Origin Ipswich, Massachusetts, United States
Genres Garage rock, rock and roll, protopunk
Years active 1965 (1965)-1967 (1967)
Labels RFT Music Productions

The Shames were a garage rock band from Ipswich, Massachusetts who were active in the mid-1960s.[1][2][3][4] For the first batch of pressings, which appeared displaying a red label, the printers forgot to not put the band's name on the label.[3] They are known amongst collectors for two songs which are highly regarded: "Special Ones" and especially "My World is Upside Down," which has been mentioned as a classic in the genre.[1][2][4]

The Shames formed in 1964 as the Dimensions. Later they changed their name to the Cryin' Shames, as a comment about the disparaging remarks they would receive about the length of their hair (something to the effect of "...what a cryin' shame...").[2] After the success of the Chicago band with the same, they dropped "Cryin'" from the title and became the Shames. They became a popular draw in the New England and upstate New York region, doing frequent gigs at a number of venues and played regularly at the Sillouette Club in Beverly, Massachusetts.[2] Their manager was Charles L. Larrivee. The Shames recorded a single for RFT Music Productions in 1966, featuring "My World is Upside Down," written by J. Amero and R. Beauleir, b/w "The Special Ones," by D. Trudel.[3] So, the record had to be re-pressed in a second batch—this time with a yellow label.[1][3] Both songs are now compiled on the Back From the Grave Vol. 6 LP (and Vol. 3 CD) series, released on Crypt Records.[5][6] The song "My World is Upside Down" has been noted as a garage rock classic.[1][2]

Discography

"My World is Upside Down" b/w "The Special Ones" (RFT Music Productions, 1966)[1][2][3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Markesich, Mike (2012). Teen Beat Mayhem (First ed.). Branford, Connecticut: Priceless Info Press. pp. 214, 376, 377. ISBN 978-0-9856482-5-1. - Pg. 214 mentions information about their place of origin and details of their discography. Two of their songs are mentioned in list of the top 1000 garage songs of all time decided on by a panel of garage rock experts and writers, and both are in the upper quarter of rankings. "My World Is Upside Down" is ranked in the top 200 at the position of #197 (pg. 377). "Special Ones" is in the top 220 at #220 (pg. 376)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Warrren, Tim. Liner notes to Back From the Grave Vol. 3 CD. Crypt Records. - In his liner notes, Warren writes that he considers "My World is Upside Down" to be the greatest garage rock song ever to come out of the New England region.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Bishop, Chris. "The Shames". Garage Hangover. Retrieved November 7, 2007.
  4. 1 2 "New England Spotlight: The Shames - The Special Ones and My World Is Upside Down". On the Flip Side. On the Flip Side. October 21, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  5. ↑ Phares, Heather. "AllMusic Review: Back From the Grave Vol. 3 (CD)". AllMusic, a division of All Media Network, LLC.
  6. ↑ "Back From the Grave Vol. 6 (LP)". Discogs.
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