Silver Wham Bam

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   Does anybody know the story behind this single being issued with two different names: I have two singles under the same Arista number (AS 0189) with different names: Wham Bam and Wham Bam Shang-a-lang.  

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rnell Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 19 September 2006 Location: Argentina Status: Offline Points: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote rnell Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Silver Wham Bam Posted: Yesterday at 2:44pm
	Does anybody know the story behind this single being issued with two different names: I have two singles under the same Arista number (AS 0189) with different names: Wham Bam and Wham Bam Shang-a-lang.

Santi Paradoa Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 17 February 2009 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 39	Post Options Post Reply Quote Santi Paradoa Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Yesterday at 3:43pm
	The early 45 pressings had the Shang-A-Lang, but eventually the later 45 pressings had the shortened title. The Bay City Rollers had a 1974 UK #2 hit with a song titled "Shang-A-Lang." Both artists were on the same Arista label. Looks like the decision was made to shorten the title on the Silver release to avoid confusion.
	Santi Paradoa Miami, Florida

rnell Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 19 September 2006 Location: Argentina Status: Offline Points: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote rnell Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 hours 29 minutes ago at 4:44pm
	Strange decision given the fact that BCR's Shang-a-lang was never a hit in the USA. I wonder if name change by Arista was made while single was climbing the chart or after it had peaked. I also have the spanish 7" with the Wham Bam Shang-a-lang name.

AndrewChouffi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 24 September 2005 Status: Offline Points: 46	Post Options Post Reply Quote AndrewChouffi Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 9 hours 31 minutes ago at 5:42am
	I seem to recall the title was shortened midstream because the 'Shang-A-Lang' in the title was too bubblegummy. The record is not a bubblegum song. It is a wuss-rock song. (The band hated the song.) Andy

Paul Haney Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 01 April 2005 Status: Offline Points: 53	Post Options Post Reply Quote Paul Haney Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 6 hours 12 minutes ago at 9:01am
	FWIW, the Billboard Hot 100 showed the full title until the chart dated August 14, 1976 (its 9th week on the Hot 100), when they shortened the title to just "Wham Bam."