Shake You Down

Album: Shake You Down (1986)
Charted: 6 1
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Songfacts®:

  • "Shake You Down" is a phrase Abbott came up with that he thought expressed the way a man feels when he sees an attractive woman - "Girl, I want to shake you down." He tried the phrase out on a female friend, and when she responded positively, it became the title for a song he was working on. After making a demo, Abbott's uncle, Mike Abbott, told employees of Charles Koppelman's production group, the Entertainment Company, about the song his nephew had written. Through Koppelman's firm, Abbott got a solo deal with Columbia Records and the song became a huge hit.
  • This received one million US radio plays faster than any other record in history, thanks in large part to its cross-format appeal.
  • This was Abbott's only big hit. Before it came out, he was an English teacher at the University of Berkeley and at age 8 was a member of St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir. He was married between 1976 and 1979 to the singer Freda Payne, who had a hit in 1970 with "Band of Gold."

    Abbott's next single, "I Got The Feelin' (It's Over)," stalled at #56 in the US and was his last entry on the Hot 100.

Comments: 11

  • Peggy Sue from Pueblo, Colorado One of my favorite songs
  • Jacqueline Burke from BarbadosOne hit wonder? Really. With 3 hits songs and numerous other r and bs. This guy is a genius, he sings reggae, folk, jazz you name it . Why would Gregory Abbott try to look like someone else, the man has everything going for him . Maybe you are just envious.
  • AnonymousThis is Themba from S.A. i like to say thanks to Mr Gregory Abbott about his song a proud him makes me feel cool always. God bless you lot.
  • Ghadi64rag from SfHe also stole the entire song Shake You Down from Isley-Jasper-Isley Caravan Of Love.. surprised I haven’t found anything about a law suit or being granted credits to Isley-Jasper-Isley for the song. The fact that your entire existence came from someone else’s work. And you didn’t even credit them.. wack
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1986 {November 15th} Gregory Abbott performed "Shake You Down"* on the nationally syndicated television program, 'Soul Train'...
    At the time "Shake You Down" was at position #31 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart, nine weeks later it would peak at #1 {for 1 week}, and it spent twenty two weeks on the Top 100...
    And on October 19th, 1986 it reached #1 {for 2 weeks} on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart...
    Gregory Joel Abbott will celebrate his 66th birthday come next April 2nd, 2020...
    May both Don Cornelius {1936 - 2012} and Dick Clark {1929 - 2012} R.I.P.
    * And on January 17th, 1987 Gregory Abbott appeared on the Dick Clark ABC-TV Saturday-afternoon program, 'American Bandstand', and he performed "Shake You Down", at the time it was at #1 on the Top 100 chart...
  • Rjh from London, United Kingdommakes me melt inside! lovely, tender song
  • Lisa from Long Island, NyA great song. He had a good voice too.
  • Dylan from Port Orange, FlThis song makes you make babies. Really one of the sexiest songs ever.
  • Serge from Berkeley, CaThis guy tried to look like "Tubbs" from Miami Vice (who later came out with this own CD..he figured if his doppleganger could make hits, why not him?). The music itself is just too similar to the Isley's "Caravan of Love" which came out a year earlier. It made a pop splash, but didn't say much about original artistic expression. The instrumentation even echoes "Sexual Healing".
  • Page from New York, NyJust a comment. You know Gregory Abbott is definitely NOT a one hit wonder. He had "Got The Feeling (Its Over)" which I loved that came right after that. He then released "I'll Prove It To You" that had two singles. I think "Shake You Down" was so big that the R&B hits couldn't compete. In my opinion he's a hell of a producer and songwriter too. He's big in the indy world now. I just got a copy of a new single "Middle of Harlem" WOW. He's really got some new sounds. You should check his site out if you want. gregoryabbott.com (no I don't work for him!)
  • Shirl from Bay Area, CaGregory Abbott is the brother of Diane Abbott who was married to Robert Deniro at the time this song came out.
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