| Oh What a Shame | |
| Cover: | https://i.discogs.com/fBWAVu2x5RxI8RIFAFZoNwFd-LP-UiqEt1sYrztj3K4/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:592/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTYwMzc2/NjgtMTU4NjEwNjMx/NS05NjIzLmpwZWc.jpeg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Roy Wood |
| B-Side: | Bengal Jig |
| Released: | May 1975 |
| Recorded: | 1975 |
| Genre: | Pop music |
| Length: | 3:51 |
| Label: | Jet Records (JET 754) (UK), United Artists Records (US) |
| Producer: | Roy Wood |
| Prev Title: | Goin' Down the Road |
| Prev Year: | 1974 |
| Next Title: | Look Thru' the Eyes of a Fool |
| Next Year: | 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]