1949 SPADE COOLEY Shame On You TEX WILLIAMS vocals - 78 RPM Record

Spade Cooley And His Orchestra – Shame On You Vocal by "Tex" and "Oakie" with Instrumental Accompaniment Written by Spade Cooley 78 RPM audio transfer from Bowness Arts' collection of vintage records Spade Cooley And His Orchestra – Sagebrush Swing Label: Columbia Album A83 (Canada) Format: 4 x Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Album Released: 1949 Genre: Folk, Country Jazz Style: Country, Western Swing Tracklist: 1. Devil's Dream 2. Yodeling Polka 3. Steel Guitar Rag 4. Cow Bell Polka 5. Oklahoma Stomp https://youtu.be/PlGwVXLDepw 6. Shame On You https://youtu.be/TbcNHVR3I-k 7. Spadella 8. Three Way Boogie "Shame on You" is a Western Swing song that was written by Spade Cooley and became his signature song. The song was first recorded by Spade Cooley and released on January 15, 1945, on the OKeh label. With vocals by Tex Williams, the song spent 31 weeks on the charts and reached number one. The song's title is derived from its refrain, "Shame, shame on you." In the song, the singer admonishes his unfaithful girlfriend. The recording was Cooley's first after he took over the band from Jimmy Wakely, and it was the first of six consecutive hits that propelled him to appear on the cover of Billboard in March 1946. In 1945, The Lawrence Welk Orchestra recorded a foxtrot version of the song with Red Foley, which also reached number one on the country charts. "Shame On You" was also the first song whose rights were owned by the Hill & Range publishing company, which later became a dominant force in country music. Donnell Clyde Cooley, better known as "Spade" Cooley, was a multi-talented artist from the United States, famous for his Western swing music, big band leadership, acting, and television presenting. He was born on December 17, 1910, in Grand, Oklahoma, and due to his Cherokee ancestry, he attended the Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Oregon during his childhood. Cooley earned his nickname "Spade" during a game of poker where he won several straight hands with spade flushes. When the Dust Bowl hit in 1930, Cooley's family relocated to California. Cooley's music career began as a fiddle player in Jimmy Wakely's big band, and after Wakely left for Universal Pictures, Cooley became the bandleader and hired Tex Williams as the vocalist. His hit song "Shame on You" topped the country charts for two months and became the first of six consecutive Top Ten singles. Apart from his musical success, Cooley also worked as a stand-in and stuntman for cowboy actor Roy Rogers and appeared in several Western films. In June 1948, Cooley began hosting his own variety show, The Spade Cooley Show, on KTLA-TV in Los Angeles. Cooley's second wife, Ella Mae Cooley, was a singer in his band whom he married in 1945. However, he suspected her of being unfaithful during their marriage. In March 1961, Ella Mae confessed to having a past affair with Roy Rogers. Cooley, who had also been unfaithful, filed for divorce on March 23, 1961, citing "incompatibility" and seeking custody of their three children. Tragically, on April 3, 1961, Ella Mae was found dead. Cooley claimed that she had slipped and fallen in the shower, but on August 21, 1961, a Kern County jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced him to life in prison. Cooley's health deteriorated during his incarceration. In August 1968, he was granted parole, effective in February of 1970, but died on November 23, 1969, aged 58, in Oakland, California, when he was allowed to leave prison temporarily to perform a benefit concert for the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Alameda County at the Oakland Auditorium. During the intermission, Cooley suffered a fatal heart attack backstage. Note: The first 78 RPM record came into existence around 1894, and in 1912, the Gramophone Company established 78 rpm as their recording standard. The production of shellac records continued throughout the 78 rpm era, with "unbreakable" 78 rpm vinyl records being introduced in the 1940s. The popularity of the 33 1/3 rpm "Long Play" record, initially released in 1948, caused the 78 rpm record to become obsolete before the end of the 1950s. As these 78 rpm recordings are quite old, they may contain derogatory language and/or negative stereotypes. It is important to evaluate such recordings within their historical context and consider them as a reflection of the attitudes prevalent at the time. These recordings form an integral part of the historical record and do not represent the views of this poster, channel, or Bowness Arts.

Added 5 Oct 2026