Oh What a Shame

"Oh What a Shame"
Single by Roy Wood
B-side"Bengal Jig"
ReleasedMay 1975
Recorded1975
GenrePop music
Length3:51
LabelJet Records (JET 754) (UK), United Artists Records (US)[1]
Songwriter(s)Roy Wood
Producer(s)Roy Wood
Roy Wood singles chronology
"Goin' Down the Road"
(1974) 		"Oh What a Shame"
(1975) 		"Look Thru' the Eyes of a Fool"
(1975)

"Oh What a Shame" is a 1975 single, which was written and produced by Roy Wood.[1] Wood played all of the musical instruments on the recording, as well as supplying lead and multi-tracked backing vocals. The song was jointly globally published by Carlin Music Corp and Roy Wood Music.[2]

The track reached number 13 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] The single remained in the UK chart for seven weeks, starting in May 1975.[4] It was also released as a single in Belgium, Australia, Netherlands, Ireland and the US.[2] The single was the final solo Wood recording to reach the UK Singles Chart.[4] In 1977, two years after "Oh What A Shame" left the UK Top 20, Wood commented, "I've written something like 30 hit songs, you know? It's not easy now to accept that I'm not a success anymore".[5]

"Oh What a Shame" has appeared on numerous compilation albums, including Wood's own Singles (1993, Connoisseur Records).[6] and Exotic Mixture: Best of Singles A's & B's (1999).[7] It also appeared on the 1999 expanded CD reissue of Wood's 1975 album, Mustard.[8]

The record still commands national radio play in the UK; the most recent airing being on BBC Radio 2's Pick of the Pops on 6 July 2019.[9]

  1. ^ a b Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 674. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  2. ^ a b "Roy Wood - Oh What A Shame". Discogs.com. May 1975. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  3. ^ "ROY WOOD | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London, England: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 610. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ^ "Face The Music - Look Thru' the Eyes of Roy Wood & Wizzard - Sleeve Notes". Ftmusic.com. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Singles - Roy Wood | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Exotic Mixture: Best of Singles A's & B's - Roy Wood | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Mustard - Roy Wood | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Roy Wood - New Songs, Playlists & Latest News". BBC. Retrieved 29 August 2019.