Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)
Encyclopedia
"Shake Me, Wake Me" is a 1966 hit single written and produced by Holland–Dozier–Holland and released as a single by the Four Tops
on the Motown label.
The single talks of a man who refuses to believe that his longtime love is leaving him for another man after hearing gossip
from neighbors (in this case, Four Tops members Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Abdul "Duke" Fakir and Lawrence Payton
) about the woman leaving him behind his back.
Failing to be convinced, the lead singer, Levi Stubbs
, pleads somebody to "shake him and wake him up" when, he believes, the nightmare "is over".
When he finally sees his woman with someone else, he still believes he's in a dream.
The song peaked at number eighteen on the US Pop Singles
chart adding another hit on the Motown group's lucrative catalog. It peaks at number five on the R&B singles chart
.
The Supremes
recorded a version for their 1966 hit album The Supremes A' Go-Go.
Barbra Streisand
covered Shake Me, Wake Me on her 1975 album, Lazy Afternoon
.
Amy Holland
also covered this song on her 1983 album On Your Every Word.
Four Tops
The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, hard rock, and showtunes...
on the Motown label.
The single talks of a man who refuses to believe that his longtime love is leaving him for another man after hearing gossip
Gossip
Gossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others, It is one of the oldest and most common means of sharing facts and views, but also has a reputation for the introduction of errors and variations into the information transmitted...
from neighbors (in this case, Four Tops members Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Abdul "Duke" Fakir and Lawrence Payton
Lawrence Payton
Lawrence Albert Payton was an American tenor, songwriter and record producer for the popular Motown quartet, the Four Tops....
) about the woman leaving him behind his back.
Failing to be convinced, the lead singer, Levi Stubbs
Levi Stubbs
Levi Stubbles , better known by the stage name Levi Stubbs, was an American baritone singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the Motown R&B group Four Tops...
, pleads somebody to "shake him and wake him up" when, he believes, the nightmare "is over".
When he finally sees his woman with someone else, he still believes he's in a dream.
The song peaked at number eighteen on the US Pop Singles
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart adding another hit on the Motown group's lucrative catalog. It peaks at number five on the R&B singles chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
.
The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
recorded a version for their 1966 hit album The Supremes A' Go-Go.
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
covered Shake Me, Wake Me on her 1975 album, Lazy Afternoon
Lazy Afternoon (Barbra Streisand album)
Lazy Afternoon is a pop album by Barbra Streisand released in 1975 on Columbia Records. The album peaked at number twelve on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA in April 1976.-Side one:...
.
Amy Holland
Amy Holland
Amy Holland is a pop rock singer. She is of Dutch descent and changed her name from Boersma to Holland , because she thought it would make a better stage name. Her mother was country star Esmereldy and her father was opera singer Harry Boersma...
also covered this song on her 1983 album On Your Every Word.
Credits
- Lead vocals by Levi StubbsLevi StubbsLevi Stubbles , better known by the stage name Levi Stubbs, was an American baritone singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the Motown R&B group Four Tops...
- Background vocals by Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence PaytonLawrence PaytonLawrence Albert Payton was an American tenor, songwriter and record producer for the popular Motown quartet, the Four Tops....
- Instrumentation by The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...