The Shuffle Song Explained

The Shuffle Song
Cover:Margo Smith--The Shuffle Song.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Margo Smith
Album:Just Margo
B-Side:"Move Over Juanita"
Recorded:July 1979
Studio:Columbia Recording Studio
Label:Warner Bros.
Producer:Norro Wilson
Prev Title:Baby My Baby
Prev Year:1979
Next Title:He Gives Me Diamonds, You Give Me Chills
Next Year:1980

"The Shuffle Song" is a song by American country music artist Margo Smith. It was composed by Smith, along with co-writers Mack David and Norris. D. Wilson (Norro Wilson). It became a major hit on the American country music charts after reaching the top 20 in 1980. The song was later featured on Smith's album, Just Margo.

Background and content

In the late 1970s, Margo Smith had two number one hits on Warner Bros. Records with the songs "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" and "It Only Hurts for a Little While." Capitalizing on her recent success, Smith made a shift towards a "sexier image" and began recording more sexually-provocative material. With this shift, she had two more hits in 1979.[1] She then went into the studio to record her next single release titled "The Shuffle Song." The tune was composed by Smith herself, along with songwriter Mack David and her producer Norro Wilson (credited as Norro Wilson on the record's liner notes). Wilson produced the track in July 1979 at the Columbia Recording Studio, located in Nashville, Tennessee.[2] The song was backed by traditional-sounding vocals and instrumentation including a pedal steel guitar and fiddles, according to Billboard.

Release and reception

"The Shuffle Song" received positive reviews from critics. In November 1979, Billboard magazine rated it among its "Top Single Picks." In their commentary, the publication stated that Smith "strikes with a traditional sounding country tune." They concluded stating that it was a "cleverly worded number." "The Shuffle Song" was released as a single via Warner Bros. Records in November 1979. By early 1980, it had peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song ultimately became her final top 20 hit on that chart.[3] In addition, the track peaked at number 21 on the Canadian RPM Country Songs chart. It became Smith's final chart appearance in Canada.[4] "The Shuffle Song" was first included as a track on Smith's 1979 album Just Margo.[2]

Track listing

7" single[5] [6]

Charts

Chart (1979–80)Peak
position
Canada Country Songs (RPM)21
US Hot Country Singles (Billboard)13

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brennan . Sandra . Margo Smith: Biography & History . . 11 March 2021.
  2. Smith . Margo . Just Margo (LP Liner Notes & Album Information) . . October 1979.
  3. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc.. 2008. 978-0-89820-177-2.
  4. Search results for "Margo Smith" under Country Singles. RPM. 19 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20150927152356/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=j102brf1nshfamve7b80rg9cq2&q1=Margo+Smith&q2=Country+Singles&interval=20. 27 September 2015. dead.
  5. Web site: Margo Smith -- "The Shuffle Song" (1979, Single) . . 11 March 2021.
  6. Smith . Margo . "The Shuffle Song"/"Move Over Juanita" (7" vinyl single) . . November 1979 . WBS 49109.