Songfacts®:

• Here, Evelyn "Champagne" King is warned by her mama that her love interest is playing games with her, and what he does is a shame. No matter, she's consumed by passionate feelings of longing for the guy. It would be a shame if she loses his love.
• "Shame" was written by John Fitch and Reuben Cross. The original version featured on Evelyn "Champagne" King's 1977 album Smooth Talk, is a different track than the one that became a million-seller. As "Shame" started to become popular in the discos, it got an extended 12" disco mix by New York club DJs-turned-record remixers Al Garrison and David Todd. Their remix, which emphasized the beat more, gained more radio play and became a hit.
• Evelyn "Champagne" King's nickname is a variation of a nickname she had as a baby, Bubbles, because she blew spit bubbles. She was discovered at the age of 15 while singing in a washroom at Philadelphia International Records' recording base, Sigma Sound Studios, where she was helping out her mother who was a cleaning lady. It was soul producer T. Life, a former member of the band Instant Funk, who overheard her and she was immediately signed up.
• This was featured in the 1998 film The Last Days Of Disco. American R&B duo Zhané also covered it for the 1994 film A Low Down Dirty Shame.
• At the time, "Shame" was the biggest selling transatlantic 12" single. It was also the biggest UK hit not to enter the top 20. Though it only reached #39, it was on the charts for 23 weeks.
• The song peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, King's only Top 10 hit on the chart. It was certified Gold by the RIAA for selling over a million copies in the United States.
• Kim Wilde covered "Shame" in 1996, taking it to #79 on the UK singles chart.