THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

411-Diana Ross & the Supremes-I’m Livin’ in Shame.

1969-Number 14 single.

Best Bit-At 2.23. Thankfully not all Pop songs are about boy meets girl, they fall in love, and live happily ever after. Some have much deeper meanings.

‘I’m Livin’ in Shame’ was the first of three singles released from ‘Let the Sunshine In,’ the 16th studio Album by Diana Ross & the Supremes, from May 1969, there would be two more studio Albums before Diana Ross would depart for her solo career in 1970. In total the Supremes under various line ups released 29 studio Albums between 1962-1976. There were also 66 singles released, of which 12 became American Billboard Number 1 songs, for the full discography of the Supremes see best songs 148. ‘I’m Livin’ in Shame’ was written and produced by the team of writers assembled by Motown supremo Berry Gordy to replace the recently departed Holland Dozier Holland (see also best songs 969-823-650-553-411 and 212.) The four writers of this song were known as ‘The Clan’ and were active as a unit between 1967-1969. They consisted of Frank Wilson, (1940-2012) (see also best songs 1001-491 and 97) Pam Sawyer, (see also best songs 519) R. Dean Taylor, (1939-2022) (see also best songs 911) and Deke Richards (1944-2013.) (see also best songs 365 and 137.)

By 1969 the Supremes line up was now Diana Ross, (see also best songs (900-519-183 and 28) Mary Wilson, (1944-2021) and Cindy Birdsong, but like many of the Supremes (see also best songs 1001-212 and 148) recordings from around that period Wilson, and Birdsong did not perform on record, because Berry Gordy chose to use Motown’s in house female session singers ‘The Andantes’ instead. The songs instrumentation was provided by Motown’s in house group of session musicians ‘The Funk Brothers.’ Here is the list of songs in this countdown that The Andantes, (see best songs 1001-823-650-114 and 28) and The Funk Brothers (see best songs 948-650-569-382-212-148 and 28) can by heard on.

Mary Wilson was born on March 6th, 1944, in Greenville, Mississippi, United States, she died in her sleep from hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, on February 8th, 2021, at the age of 76. Mary Wilson was the Supremes one constant, being a founding member in 1959, until 1977, when the group were retired, due to Wilson leaving to pursue a solo career. She sang backing vocals on 10 of the 12 Supremes American Billboard Number 1 singles, and in 1988 was inducted along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard (1943-1976) as members of the Supremes, into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.’ As a solo artist Mary Wilson released three studio Albums between 1979-2021, and 16 singles between 1979-2023, there are also two extended plays, (EP’s) two official compilation Albums, and one live Album available. In 1986 Mary Wilson became a ‘New York Times’ best selling author, with the release of her first autobiography, ‘Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme,’ which set records for sales in its genre, and then in 1990 for the autobiography ‘Supreme Faith: Someday We’ll Be Together.’ Mary Wilson also worked in activism, fighting to pass the ‘Truth in Music Advertising’ bill, which is legislation, adopted into state law by most U.S. states, that aims to protect the trademark of musical recording artists. The legislation provides that the name of a famous musical group cannot be used by a group of performers unless they include at least one member of the original group. The intent of the legislation is to prevent unfair or deceptive trade practices, and to protect the livelihood of musicians who were in famous musical groups.

‘I’m Livin’ in Shame’ was inspired by the plot of the 1959 American drama film ‘Imitation of Life.’ The song was also written as a sequel to the Supremes 1968 Billboard Number 1 single ‘Love Child,’ which was also written by ‘The Clan.’ ‘I’m Livin’ in Shame’ tells the story of a woman who was born into poverty, and being ashamed of her hard working mother since being a child. She grows up and leaves home, and lies about her past in order to move up in to higher society. She marries a man who is well off, and tells him that her mother died in Spain. After giving birth to her first child, she doesn’t tell her mother that she is now a grandmother. One day she receives a telegram saying that her mother has died, and now she feels extremely sad and guilty.

‘Mom was cooking bread, she wore a dirty raggerty scarf around her head. Always had her stockings low, rolled to her feet, she just didn’t know.’