Going For The Gold: Evelyn “Champagne” King

Evelyn "Champagne" King (RCA, 1977)

Evelyn “Champagne” King was just 16 years old when she recorded the Top 10 hit for which she is best known. She was just another year older when she scored her second biggest hit, both of which were million-sellers.

Evelyn “Champagne” King was, indeed, just 16 years old when she recorded her Top 10 hit, “Shame.” She was yet to reach voting age when it was released September 1977 but, by the time the record had reached gold, King had officially become an adult (allowing her to legally taste the bubbly after which she was named).

Now considered a disco classic, the John Fitch/Reuben Cross tune went to #9 on the pop chart, #8 on the disco chart, #7 on the R&B chart. Across the pond in the UK, it spent an amazing 23 weeks on the chart but just one of those weeks was inside the Top 40.

Aiming to capitalize on King’s success, RCA was quick to release her follow-up, another Fitch/Cross confection called “I Don’t Know If It’s Right.” Equally infectous but not quite as chart-worthy — it stalled at #23 — “I Don’t Know If It’s Right” nonetheless scored King a second gold record in early 1978.

Read about some more Going for the Gold golden oldies (and not-so-oldies).

Need even more Michael Verity? Check out MichaelVerity.com.