Hailing from Dagenham, Sandie Shaw had her first Number One single at just aged 17 and was the first ever British winner of the Eurovision Song Contest. A contemporary of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Sandie Shaw was an iconic ‘Brit Girl’ of the ‘Swinging Sixties’, inspiring people the world over from future Eurovision winners to The Smiths. 

Beginnings

Sandie Shaw was born as Sandra Ann Goodrich on the 26th February 1947 in Dagenham. She grew up in the area, attending the Robert Clack Technical School and working at the Ford Dagenham automotive factory as well as part-time modelling.

Aged 16, Shaw sang in a local competition which led to her performing a charity concert where she was discovered by singer Adam Faith who put her in contact with manager Eve Taylor. In 1964, she signed with Pye Records as ‘Sandie Shaw’.

Early success

After the first release ‘As Long as You're Happy Baby’ did not chart, Shaw released a cover of a Lou Johnson song, ‘(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me’. The song went to No. 1 in the UK charts in November 1964, selling 65,000 copies in just the first week. It reached top position in 3 countries and made it onto the American Billboard Hot 100 music chart, peaking at No. 52. At just age 17, Sandie Shaw was a worldwide star. 

After the success of ‘(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me’, Shaw released ‘I'd Be Far Better Off Without You’ with a B-side track of ‘Girl Don’t Come’, the latter reached No. 3 in the UK and was her highest track in the US at No. 42.

A string of hits followed, ‘I’ll Stop at Nothing’ and her next No.1 single, ‘Long Live Love’. She released many of her singles in multiple languages and helped to produce the songs, however she was not credited. 

She released 2 studio albums in 1965, the self-titled ‘Sandie’ and ‘Me’. By 1966 she already had enough hits for a compilation album, ‘The Golden Hits of Sandie Shaw’.

Eurovision

Already a regular face on TV, appearing on popular shows such as Top of the Pops, Sandie Shaw was invited by the BBC to represent the UK at the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest. Shaw reportedly was initially hesitant about entering and didn’t like the song, ‘Puppet on a String’, which was voted for by the British public.

Shaw went to Vienna to perform at the Hofburg Palace. Dazzling in a pink sequin covered dress (now conserved at the V&A Museum in London) and performing barefooted, she epitomised the youth culture of the time and won over the European audience. 

Sandie Shaw’s ‘Puppet on a String’ won the Eurovision Song Contest 1967 with a total of 47 points, over double that of second place (Ireland - 22 points). It was one of the biggest winning margins seen in the contest and the UK’s first ever win!

‘Puppet on a String’ became Shaw's third UK No. 1 record. It was also the biggest selling single in Germany that year and sold over 4 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the most successful winning Eurovision songs of all time.

Following on from her win she became the first British artist to perform behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia which was broadcast across the USSR. 

Swinging sixties

Fresh from her Eurovision success, Shaw released a third studio album, ‘Love Me, Please Love Me’, in 1967 which included both covers and original songs.

Already a fashion icon, in 1968, Shaw launched her own eponymous fashion label where she designed and modelled the collection of clothes, accessories and shoes.

Also that year, she hosted her own BBC television show, ‘The Sandie Shaw Supplement’, where she performed songs from her fourth studio album of the same name. 

In 1969, Shaw released her fifth studio album, ‘Reviewing the Situation’. She produced the album herself, covering songs from other popular artists such as Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan.

Nearing the end of the 1960’s, she appeared on the BBC production, ‘Pop Go The Sixties’, a television tribute to the music of the decade that she had helped define. Other guests included The Who, Lulu and The Beatles.

1970s

Still only in her 20’s, Sandie Shaw had achieved worldwide stardom and success. She semi-retired from public life, welcoming a daughter in 1971. 

Although she had taken a step back, Shaw was still active in the music industry, continuing to write and establishing a song publishing company, Tatham Music, in 1972.

As well as writing music, the multitalented Shaw wrote and painted children’s books and in the years 1975-1976, Shaw took to the stage, playing the roles of Ophelia in Hamlet and Joan of Arc in St. Joan. 

The Smiths

In  1982, Shaw released her sixth studio album, her first since 1969. ‘Choose Life’ coincided with the World Peace Exposition in London. Shortly after she received a letter from some fans that would inspire her next release.

Morrisey and Johnny Marr, of the popular 1980’s band The Smiths, were the fans who had written to Sandie Shaw, expressing how she had been influential to their work. This began a collaboration and Shaw performed with The Smiths in the UK and across Europe. 

Shaw released a cover version of The Smiths first single, ‘Hand in Glove’, in 1984, which after years away, saw her return into the UK Charts Top 40, peaking at No. 27. She performed it on Top Of The Pops with The Smiths, who in homage to Shaw, appeared barefoot on stage.

Later career

Shaw had a new generation of fans, performing across universities and having further chart successes with singles ‘Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken’ and ‘Frederick’ (both 1986). In 1988 she released her seventh studio album, ‘Hey Angel’. 

After a career spanning decades, Shaw released a bestselling autobiography, ‘The World At My Feet’, in 1991.

In the early 90’s she studied at university, becoming a qualified psychotherapist in 1994 and in 1997 she founded the Arts Clinic which provides psychological healthcare in the entertainment industry.

After being asked by Lord March, in 2010 she performed live for the first time in 25 years at Goodwood Vintage Festival, introduced by the Minister of State for Culture, Media, Sport and Digital Industries.

Sandie Shaw always remained a Dagenham girl and in 2010 she got to represent her home by singing the theme tune for the film Made In Dagenham. The film tells the story of women going on strike for equal pay from the Ford factory in Dagenham in 1968, this was particularly relevant to Shaw who herself had previously worked at the factory. 

2011-2012 Shaw joined Jools Holland’s band The Rhythm and Blues Orchestra on tour.

Legacy

Sandie Shaw’s impact on the music industry can be seen in the many artists she inspired. As well as The Smiths, another legendary band of the 1980’s, The Pretenders, were fans of Sandie Shaw and they invited her to join them on stage in 1981. She was also the first artist to perform barefoot at Eurovision, an act that has since been copied by other contestants such as winners Dima Bilan (Russia, 2008) and Emmelie de Forest (Denmark, 2013).

She has also left a lasting legacy from her campaigning for artists rights, including copyright term extensions, against internet piracy and lobbying for creative rights as part of the Featured Artist Coalition. She successfully won her case on retrieving ownership rights to her record catalogue. Her work with the Featured Artist Coalition has seen her speak at the EU Parliament and in Westminster, campaigning on behalf of recording artists which eventually lead to the forming of the International Artist Organisation.

Shaw has also been involved with many charitable causes including concerts/fundraisers for AIDS causes, being a UN Ambassador for Women Aid and joining Amnesty International campaigns. 

Honours achieved by Shaw include, Patron of alumni at Robert Clack in Dagenham, Honorary doctorate from Essex University, Honorary Professor of Music by the Royal Society of Musicians and in 2017, Shaw became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to music.

About the Author

Elizabeth Barrett is a History student at the Open University currently living in Rotherhithe and previous resident of the East End area of Wapping.

Sources

https://www.sandieshaw.com/ 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9984281/Sandie-Shaw-has-retired-from-music.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandie_Shaw_discography