Shake a Hand

Album: Shake a Hand (1953)
Charted: 22
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • American vocalist Faye Adams was the daughter of gospel singer David Tuell. Her music career started at the age of five when she joined her siblings to sing spirituals as the Tuell Sisters. After marrying future manager Tommy Scruggs in 1942, Tuell slowly drifted toward secular music. This gospel-inspired song was her first single after signing to Herald Records and changing her name to Faye Adams. Written by trumpeter and bandleader Joe Morris, it hit #1 on the R&B chart for ten weeks in 1953.

    Faye had two more R&B chart toppers with "I'll Be True" and "It Hurts Me to My Heart" in 1954 and was referred to by Alan Freed the "little gal with the big voice." However her commercial success subsequently diminished and by 1963 she had walked away from secular music and returned to gospel.
  • The song has been redone by Red Foley (#6 country, 1953), Johnnie Ray (1956), Little Richard (#71 pop, 1958), LaVern Baker (#13 R&B, 1960), Jackie Wilson (#21 R&B, #42 pop, 1963), Elvis Presley (on the 1975 album Today) and Paul McCartney (on the 1999 album Run Devil Run); but none was as moving or soulful as Faye Adam's version. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jim - Longmont, CO, for above 2

Comments: 3

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 19th 1963, Jackie Wilson and Linda Hopkins' covered version of "Shake a Hand" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #89; four weeks later on June 16th, 1963 it would peak at #42 {for 2 weeks} and it stayed on the chart for 7 weeks...
    It reached #21 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    The duo had one other Top 100 record, "I Found Love", it stayed on the chart for one week at position #93...
    R.I.P. Jack Leroy Wilson, Jr. {1934 - 1984} and Ms. Hopkins, born Melinda Helen Matthews, will celebrate her 91st birthday this coming December 14th {2015}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 25th 1957, the Mike Pedicin Quartet performed "Shake a Hand" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    And one month and one day later on January 26th, 1958 it entered Billboard's Top 100 at position #81; the following week it jumped to #71 but that was its second and final week on the chart...
    The quartet had one other Top 100 record, "The Large Large House", it entered the chart at position #79 on March 1st, 1956, and that was its one and only week on the chart...
    Mike Pedicin was born on October 24th, 1917; and I've checked a number of sites and could not find if he has passed away, let's hope not.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 8th 1962, Ruth Brown performed "Shake A Hand" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    One month earlier on June 17th, 1962 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #100, the following week it peaked at #97 and then fell of the chart...
    Nine years earlier on September 13th, 1953 Faye Adams' original version reached #1 (for 10 weeks) on Billboard's R&B National Best Sellers chart...
    Jackie Wilson & Linda Hopkins covered it in 1963, the duo's version peaked at #42 on the Top 100...
    The Mike Pedicin Quintet released their version in 1958, their version peaked at #71.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.