Ain’t That a Shame – Pat Boone | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1); 1955
Story Behind The Song By Harris Sterling
In 1955, Pat Boone released Ain’t That a Shame, a cover of the song written and originally recorded by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew earlier that same year. Boone’s version became a major pop hit during a period when rhythm and blues songs were frequently re-recorded for mainstream audiences.
Produced by Randy Wood, the recording featured a smoother, more restrained arrangement than Domino’s original. Released in the summer of 1955, Boone’s version reached #1 on the Billboard Pop chart.
The lyric centers on heartbreak following the end of a relationship. Rather than elaborate storytelling, the narrator expresses disappointment and regret over lost love.
While Boone’s rendition achieved significant commercial success, Fats Domino’s original recording remains the definitive version in the history of rock and roll. Together, the two recordings reflect the crossover dynamics of mid-1950s popular music.
This content was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Harris Sterling. © 2026 Harris Sterling. All rights reserved.
Produced by:
Randy Wood
Lyrics Written by:
Fats Domino
Dave Bartholomew
Awards:
No Grammy Awards were awarded at the time of its release.
Harris Sterling
Independent music label executive Harris Sterling has worked in the music industry for most of his career.
As Executive Vice President for independent music label Madacy Entertainment, he led the strategic marketing and business development for the label, negotiating agreements with the major record labels to release custom music compilations under license with major brands, such as Ford Motor Company, Crayola, Care Bears and Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Harris also led Madacy’s strategy for the licensing of its entire music catalogue to Apple for their launch of the IPOD.
In 2011, Harris co-founded Starting Five Media, a company that specializes in recording and licensing custom renditions of popular songs as well as clearing the rights to the music composition for use by their clients in media projects.
Harris has negotiated publishing and master recording rights for many Top 40 songs for use in various media projects, TV Commercials and more.