A SHAGGER'S Play List Sampler Just What Is "Shag" Music? (NOTE: This article was written by David Sessoms while he was Secretary of the Association of Beach & Shag Club DJ's, and has been published in numerous newsletters and magazines.) Skip The Article and Go To The Play List Sampler There are a lot of terms that are used loosely out there to describe the music (or subsets of it) that we (Shaggers) dance to and occasionally sip a few beers to. These include "Shag Music," "Beach Music," "Smoothies," "Boogie Woogie," "Bubblegum," and even "Tourist Beach Music," which, of course, all true shaggers loathe! Since none of these terms mean the same thing to any two Shaggers, you can imagine how difficult it is for the DJ who gets a request for a "Good Shag Song," where the requester can't give a single title or artist that he can identify as the type he personally associates with "Good Shag Songs." In fact, there is such a variety of types of music out there that is enjoyed by different people or regions, although they are all legitimate Shaggers, that I am firmly convinced that if a DJ were to compile a list of 100 proven and well known Shag songs, and then ask ten well-versed Shaggers to select their ten favorite songs, that they would generally be in agreement on about 20% of their selections. And there is nothing wrong with that! That is one of the great things about Shag music, there is something out there for everybody. So just what is this thing we call "Shag Music?" Personally, after several years of enjoying it after the military transferred me back to Fayetteville in 1986, I still can't quite pin it down. Part of the reason is that the music has expanded it's R&B roots to include all types of music, as long as that special beat is there. As a DJ, this is one of the strengths, and also one of the weaknesses of trying to play "Shag Music" to the various types of people who love it. I call it a strength because no matter what your previous personal tastes in music were before you became a follower of this special dance and music, there is something there for you. R&B, Country, Big Band, and Pop (and we can even say Latin with Hansel Martinez' "Love Potion #9" and Julio Iglesias' "Moonlight Lady" and "Begin The Beguine") have been played regularly at popular Shag clubs. It is also a weakness because there are a few out there who firmly believe that "Shag Music" is one and only one style of music, THEIR kind. Now, I have no problem with anyone who enjoys this music. Where I have a small disagreement is with anyone who tries to restrict the sincere enjoyment of this dance by others by acting as a censor on the music by trying to pressure the DJ in a given club to play only a particular type of "Shag Music." Being forced to listen to something you really don't like does not ensure that you will learn to like it. More than likely, it merely means that you will find another diversion and location where you will devote your spare time and dollars. I've been told (I wasn't around back in the early days of the Shag, although I sincerely regret missing it) by some that "Shag Music" should be only old hard core "R&B" as it was "in the beginning." I've also been told by others that what the dance really began with was more of the smooth Big Band sound. Now, I'm not smart enough to determine whose memory has failed them, who has selective memory retention or who is simply misinformed, but it does seem to me that what is important is keeping the numbers who enjoy it growing and making sure that it is not going to die with our generation. So, as far as I am concerned (for what that's worth), I would like to suggest that we stop arguing among ourselves about what is a proper "Shag" song. I would propose a simple definition. That is, that a "Shag Song" is any one that makes people want to get on the dance floor and start shagging and enjoying themselves while doing so. There may be some very good Shag songs that I personally don't like, but who am I to say that it shouldn't be played if there are people out there that would like to dance to it. Besides, I can't dance to every song, so why not let those others have their time on the floor. Having said this, I never doubt for a moment that "Shag Music" will always have a heavy R&B base, and certain standards will always be heard. But at the same time, let's take advantage of those country, pop, or even Latin songs that have our type of beat. I've been to parties where through "censorship" imposed by either the DJ (certainly not one of our association members!) or one of the hosts, only one style of Shag music was played. The majority of the attendees/guests, or at least those who were heard to express an opinion, did not particularly enjoy the experience. My final bit of advice is to give the DJ a request that you would like to hear. Most of us will do our best to work it in as quickly as possible. If you don't know the names of any of your favorite songs, you only know them when you hear them, try to help the DJ our in the future. Since most of us aren't clairvoyant (who the possible exception of Mike Lewis who can do anything), when you hear a song that you really like, ask the DJ playing it what it is. He would probably even be willing to write the title and artist down for you. Then the next time you want to make a request, but once again can't remember any songs, pull this out of your wallet or purse and march up to the DJ booth and make your request. Betty B's Note: Shag music covers a broad spectrum of formats. Even Shaggers don't agree on the best songs or styles of music. I had hoped to include a variety of audio sounds here to let you actually hear some of the various types of music. However, my server informed me that I've overloaded . . . sooooooo . . . I'll just have to list the a few songs that you might recognize. You may be familar with either the artist or the song . . . perhaps by another artist. Shake, Rattle, & Roll, as example, has appeared on the Shag circuit by Lowell Fulson, Bill Haley, Billy Swan, Joe Turner, Jackie Wilson, and Huey Lewis & The News!!! It seems when a great song comes out . . . it stays around a long time! How many versions of these Rhythm & Beach Top 40 song have you heard??? Some Enchanted Evening - The Temptations (A different version, different format, different artist;) The following play list sampler is just that! The songs and artists that are included in no way shape or form represent ALL of the songs. AND, some songs may, in your humble opinion, be more suitable under a different format. But, this is only a SAMPLER -- it's not written in stone -- just the net!!!

Alimony	Womack & Womack
Alligator Walk	Mojo Blues Band with A.C. Reed
Baby What You Want Me To Do	Etta James
Caldonia	Muddy Waters
Footprints on the Ceiling	Ruby Andrews
I Ain't Drunk	Albert Collins
I Want A Big Fat Woman	Chick Willis
Laying In The Alley	Big Joe Turner & The Dynaflows
Lil' Brown Eyes	Theodis Ealey
Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On	Gloria Hardeman
Middle Age Blues	Saffire
Shanty	Jonathan Edwards
She Can't Fix Grits	Rick Strickland
Something You Got	Luther Johnson
Sweet Home Chicago	Ebs Allstar Blues Band

39-21-46	Showmen
Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy	The Tams
Carolina Girls	Gen. Johnson & The Chairman of The Board
Girl Watcher	The O'Kaysions
Hey, Hey Baby	Swinging Medallions
I Love Beach Music	The Embers
Miss Grace	The Tymes
My Girl	The Temptations
My Guy	Mary Wells
My Little Red Book	The Drifters
Rainy Day Bells	The Globetrotters
Stay	Maurice Williams
Under The Boardwalk	The Drifters
What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am	The Tams
With This Ring	The Platters

Club Savoy	Rockin' Louie & Mamma Jammers
Green Eyes	The Ravens
Honky Tonk	Bill Doggett
I Use To Cry Mercy, Mercy	The Lamplighters
Just A Gigolo	Louis Prima & Keely Smith
Lovey Dovey	The Clovers
Monkey Hips & Rice	The Five Royales
Nip Sip	The Clovers
Quiet Place	Garnett Mimms
Saturday Night Fish Fry	Duane Evans
Six to Eight	Sticks McGhee
Sixty Minute Man	The Dominoes
Thank You John	Willie Tee
White Cliffs of Dover	The Checkers
Zing! Went The Strings of My Heart	The Coasters

City Full of Memories	The Spinners
Do You Love Me	The Contours
Integrity	Aretha Franklin
Loving By The Pound	Otis Redding
Old Fashion Love	Smokey Robinson
Pull Myself Together	Marv Johnson
Release This Love	Edwin Starr
Respect	Aretha Franklin
Saturday Night, Sunday Morning	Thelma Houston
Sexual Healing	Marvin Gaye
Stoned Love	The Supremes
Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)	Edwin Starr
Take Me In Your Arms	Kim Weston
This Old Heart of Mine	The Isley Brothers
When She Was My Girl	The Four Tops

60 Seconds	The Mills Brothers
Flamingo	Earl Bostic
Happy Ever After	The Bee Gees
How Do You Stop	James Brown
In The Still of The Night	Neville Brothers
Lady Soul	The Temptations
Lazy River	Bobby Darin
Misty	Lloyd Price
Moonlight Lady	Julio Iglesias
Night & Day	Earl Bostic
September In The Rain	Dinah Washington
Slow Boat To China	Ronnie Dove
Some Enchanted Evening	The Temptations
Wind Beneath My Wings	Lou Rawls
Witchcraft	Frank Sinatra & Anita Baker

Blowing In The Wind	Etta James
Great Gosh A'Mighty	Little Richard
Jesus Is Your Ticket	The Tams
King's Highway	Louise Davis
Operator	Manhattan Transfer
Rough Side of The Mountain	F. C. Barnes & Janice Brown
Save Me	Mary Love
Sisters & Brothers	Maria & Shaw
Take Me To The River	Al Green

All I Wanna Do	Sheryl Crow
Baby Likes To Rock It	The Tractors
Dumas Walker	Kentucky Headhunters
Earthquake	Ronnie Millsaps
Everytime I Roll The Dice	Delbert McClinton
Good Man, Good Woman	Bonnie Raitt & Delbert McClinton
Heartbreak Radio	Delbert McClinton
I Feel Lucky	Mary-Chapin Carpenter
Sexy Ways	Hank Ballard
Something To Talk About	Bonnie Raitt
That'll Work	Johnnie Johnson & The Kentucky Headhunters
Walkin' After Midnight	Oak Ridge Boys
Four O'Clock In The Morning	Roy Clark & Gatemouth Brown
Chain of Fools	Clint Black & The Pointer Sisters

A Rockin' Good Way	Dinah Washington & Brook Benton
And The Night Stook Still	Dion
Club At The End of The Street	Elton John
Don't Leave Me This Way	Thelma Houston
Fannie Mae	Buster Brown
Gotta Hold On To This Feeling	Junior Walker & The All Stars
Green Onions	Booker T & The MG's
Hot Legs	Rod Stewart
Little Bitty Pretty One	Thurston Harris
Love I Lost	Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Love Is A Wonderful Thing	Michael Bolton
Never Gonna Give You Up	Rick Astley
The Motown Song	Rod Stewart & The Temptations
The Wanderer	Dion
We're Having A Party	Sam Cooke / Rod Stewart

A Brand New Me	Aretha Franklin
Brenda	O. C. Smith
Don't Take Away My Heaven	Aaron Neville
Fallen	Johnny Mathis
How Long Have You Been Loving Me	Chuck Jackson
I Just Called To Say	Teddy Pendergrass
Lady Love	Lou Rawls
Let's Stay Together	Peter White
Love Is Here Tonight	George Benson
Lovin' Proof	Celine Dion
Show You The Way To Go	The Jacksons
Simple	Johnny Mathis
Since I've Been Lovin You	Alexander O'Neal
Talk It Over	Grayson Hugh
You'll Never find A Love Like Mine	Lou Rawls

Ain't Got No Home	Clarence "Frogman" Henry
Can't Play the Blues	The Blues Brothers Band
Can't Stop Rockin'	The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Don't Mess With My Man	Irma Thomas
Fine and Fancy Free	Dana Gillespie
Good Rockin' Daddy	Ball, Barton, Strehli
I Thank You	Sam & Dave
I'm Good	Bonnie Lee
Lucille	B. B. King
Mama Talk To Your Daughter	Ray Sharpe
Something You Got	Luther Johnson
Start It Up	Robben Ford
Tangueray	Johnnie Johnson
Way She Shakes That Thing	Earl Thomas
You and Me, Me and You	B. B. King

All Shook Up	Billy Joel
Baby Workout	Jackie Wilson
Drinking Wine Spo-Dee O-Dee	Jerry Lee Lewis
It's Better To Have	Don Convoy
Johnny B. Good	Elton John
Midnight Special	Paul McCartney
Mother-In-Law	Joe Hughes
My Blue Heaven	Fats Domino
Old Time Rock & Roll	Bob Seger
Return To Sender	Elvis Presley
Shake, Rattle, and Roll	Bill Haley
Stagger Lee	Lloyd Price
Sweet Little Sixteen	Chuck Berry
Twistin' The Night Away	Rod Stewart
You're Sixteen	Ringo Starr

	1st Officers of the DJ's that set the standards!
Sid Pruitt, Gene Petty, Harold Beaver, Butch Metcalf, Phil Wells, Mike Lewis, and Steve Baker