ABSCDJ Top 50 Of 2008

On the next page are the Association of Beach and Shag Club DeeJays’ Top 50 Shag Songs of 2008 (actually the top 51 since there was a tie for number 50). This list is compiledfrom the members who chose to rate the music of the past year, based on what they see filling the floor and requests received wherever they DJ or attend a shag event. Points are assigned based on how many DJs submitted the song on their list and where they rated it. Then a simple numerical calculation determines which songs accumulated the most points and those songs make the top 50 in order based on those points. This is not a list of the top 50 new songs of the year, but of those shag songs that people are dancing to across the region. We also do not rate slow songs or line dance songs, althoughthey may be played for shaggers to dance to.

As is tradition with our organization, this list is dedicated to the memory of Charlie Byrd (Carawan) and his syndicated radio show, the Charlie Byrd Beach Blast. Charlie Byrd, with his vast knowledge of beach and shag music, was a role model for many within our association until his death from cancer.

IN 2008 we again set several records. We again exceeded the number of DJs participating and had 47 of our members send in their list this year. This topped our record from last year of 34 participants. We also had the largest number of total songs submitted, a total of 789 different songs, indicating how many different songs are being played and are popular across thearea where our music is played.

The number one song of the year, “Mama’s Drinkin’ Liquor Again,” was listed as the top song on 17 of the 47 lists submitted by our members. The number two song “It Only Hurts Me When I Cry,” was the top selection on another 7 of our members Top 50’s. 25 of the 51 songs on the 2008 list are repeats from 2007.

Six different artists had two songs to make the top 50 this year. They included Jim Quick and the Coastline Band/King Tyrone, Lonnie Givens, The Hardway Connection, The Holiday Band, Rick Strickland and James Hunter. James Hunter probably would have had more to make it, but he had so many shag hits (a total of nine different songs of his were submitted on one or more of the 47 lists) in different areas of shagdom, that this may have weakened his chances by spreading votes over somany different songs.

The oldest song to make the list this year, once again, was “I Used to Cry Mercy Mercy” by the Lamplighters, released in 1954. Other classic songs that continue to make the list included “Come Get To This” by Marvin Gaye, “Lady Soul” by the Temptations, and “How Do You Stop“ by James Brown.

We hope you enjoy looking over this list and that you will see many of your favorites from the past year. We also hope you will support those DJs listed on the back page, who took the time to put together their list of the Top 50 Songs of the year to help make this final Top 50 of the ABSCDJs possible.

We miss you Charlie,

David Sessoms

ABSCDJ Historian, Newsletter

Editor & Webmaster

The Top 50 Shag Songs of 2008

1. Mama’s Drinkin’ Liquor King Tyrone and the Graveyard Ramblers

2. It Only Hurts Me When I Cry Raul Malo

3. Rhythm The Inmen and the Impressions

4. Stuck On You 3T

5. In This Mess Snooky Pryor

6. Hey Mr. DeeJay Lonnie Givens

7. Money Honey The Craig Woolard Band

8. Crazy Gnarls Barkley

9. My Big Sister’s Radio The Mighty Mike Schermer Band

10. There Goes My Baby Kenny Vance and the Planotones

11. Do That Thing Again Archie Bell

12. Emperor Of My Baby’s Heart Paul Craver

13. Lady Soul The Temptations

14. Dirty O Man The Hardway Connection

15. Turn Me Over The Coastline Band

16. Shadow Shaggin’ Tommy Black and Blooz

17. Come Get To This Marvin Gaye

18. Fool If You Think It’s Over The Holiday Band

19. Ain’t That The Truth Danny Brooks

20. Hold On To The Blues Lonnie Givens

21. Eyes On You The Hardway Connection

22. See See Rider Elmore James, Jr.

23. Boogie Down Bronx Angel Rissoff

24. I Used To Cry Mercy Mercy The Lamplighters

25. Over And Done Ryan Shaw

26. If You Can’t Shag The Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the Cornhole Prophets

27. Mercy Duffy

28. Carina James Hunter

29. Nine Times A Man Don Covay and Wilson Pickett

30. Most Of Those Pretty Young Girls William Dell and the Wee Jams

31. How Do You Stop James Brown

32. Walk Away From Love Sea Cruz

33. Sure Cure For The Blues Miranda Louise

34. This Little Light Of Mine Scooter Lee

35. Shame Mighty Mo Rogers

36. Why Am I Crying Rhonda McDaniel

37. Getaway Car Hall and Oates

38. I Ain’t Never Little Richard

39. Something Smooth Rick Strickland

40. Don’t You Wish It Was True John Fogerty

41. Got It Bad For You The Holiday Band

42. This Old Man Fuzzy

43. Big Fat Mama Reidar Larsen

44. Heavy Love The Fantastic Shakers

45. It’s All Right Aaron Neville

46. Why Me Reggie P

47. Heartbreaker The Butch Hargett Project

48. Back That Thang Up Tyrone Davis

49. One Step Closer Rick Strickland

50. (Tie) A Little Meat On The Side Sea Cruz

50. (Tie) I’ll Walk Away James Hunter

Thanks to the following members of the Association of Beach and Shag Club DeeJays who took part in putting this list together:

Butch Adeimy

Chris Aiken

Eddie Anderson

Gary. U.S. Barnes

Kyle Beam

Wayne Bennett

Brett Bishop

Tootie Brown

Dennis Brumble

John Campbell

Chuck Clodfelter

Steve Coley

Claude Collins

Richard Conner

Billy Cook

John Cottingham

Mike Little

Norman Mills

Jackie Pusser

Gerry Scott

Ray Scott

David Sessoms

Gene Sistare

Eddie Smith

Bobby Snyder

Paul Spaulding

Rodney Still

Joe Tutt

David Tuttle

Kevin Twohig

Bobby Vaughn

Ronnie Donald

Kitty Earles

Jerry English

Tony Gonzalez

John Graves

Jessie Griffin

Mike Hall

Mike Harrelson

David Harris

Randal Hight

Greg Howell

Fred Judge

Danny Kimrey

Randy Kinsolving

Skip Lancaster

Mike Lewis