“The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane”

A James Bond theme with a big dopey punchline: that’s “The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane”, a comical song from Ray Charles’ “the lighter side of…” 1964 LP Have A Smile With Me. With big sharp brass blasts and slinky minor-key melodies that intertwine, the song tells the story of a new female who arrives in a quiet suburban neighborhood and quickly upends the order. Guys are seen visiting her all the time; she’s the subject of everyone’s gossip and “never says no” to “liquid refreshments”. The payoff of “The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane” comes at the end of the song, after the broadest and most drawn-out set-up imaginable: she’s on…ly… nine…. days…. old!

Listen to “The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane”

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