Oh Sheila

"Oh Sheila" is a song by American R&B band Ready for the World. Released as a single in 1985, it reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, and the Billboard Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart. It was the first of two chart toppers for the band on the Billboard R&B chart, preceding their 1986 number-one R&B hit "Love You Down".

"Oh Sheila"
Artwork for US and some other territorial releases
Single by Ready for the World
from the album Ready for the World
B-side	"I'm the One Who Loves You"
Released	1985 (1985)
Genre	Synth-funk[1] electropop[2]
Length	4:00 (album version) 3:36 (single version)
Label	MCA
Songwriter(s)	Melvin Riley Jr. Gordon Strozier Gerald Valentine
Producer(s)	Ready for the World
Ready for the World singles chronology
"Deep Inside Your Love" (1985) "Oh Sheila" (1985) "Digital Display" (1985)
Music video
"Oh Sheila” on YouTube

The song is commonly misattributed to Prince, due to the similarities to his vocal and musical style, heavy use of the detuned rimshot sound of a drum machine, and the belief that the song's lyrics allude to frequent Prince collaborator Sheila E.^[3][4]

The use of a faux British accent during parts of the song was the preference of singer Melvin Riley Jr., who said "I like that kind of accent, so I thought I'd use that sound."^[5]

Track listings

7-inch vinyl version

1. "Oh Sheila" (single version) – 3:36
2. "I'm the One Who Loves You" – 3:20

12-inch vinyl version

1. "Oh Sheila" (extended version) – 6:48
2. "Oh Sheila" (Dubstramental) – 4:00
3. "Oh Sheila" (a cappella)" – 3:54

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1985) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 14 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 9 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[9] 18 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] 24 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 16 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 24 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 13 UK Singles (OCC)[14] 50 US Billboard Hot 100[15] 1 US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)[15] 6 US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)[15] 1 US Hot Dance/Disco Club Play (Billboard)[15] 1 US Cash Box[16] 3 West Germany (GfK)[17] 11

Year-end charts Chart (1985) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[18] 27 US Billboard Hot 100[19] 31 US Cash Box[20] 40

Angel City version

"Love Me Right (Oh Sheila)"
Single by Angel City featuring Lara McAllen
from the album Love Me Right
Released	1999 (1999)
Genre	Eurodance[21]
Length	3:13
Label	Data
Songwriter(s)	Melvin Riley Jr. Gordon Strozier Gerald Valentine
Angel City featuring Lara McAllen singles chronology
"Love Me Right (Oh Sheila)" (1999) ""Love Me Right (Oh Sheila)" (re-release)" (2003)

In 1999, Dutch dance duo Angel City covered the song, featuring vocals by British singer Lara McAllen. The song was first released in 1999 and again in 2003. It is the lead single from the band's 2005 debut album, Love Me Right. Angel City's version retains the verses from the original song but changes the chorus.

"Love Me Right (Oh Sheila)" reached number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and number 95 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, becoming their first charting single in the latter. The single also charted in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22]	27

Chart (2003–2004)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[23]	70
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[24]	12
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[25]	35
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26]	62
Scotland (OCC)[27]	10
UK Singles (OCC)[28]	11
UK Dance (OCC)[29]	7
US Billboard Hot 100[30]	95
US Dance Radio Airplay (Billboard)[31]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2003)	Position
UK Singles (OCC)[32]	174

Chart (2004)	Position
US Dance Radio Airplay (Billboard)[33]	9

See also

• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1985
• List of number-one dance singles of 1985 (U.S.)
• List of number-one R&B singles of 1985 (U.S.)
• List of number-one singles of 1985 (Canada)
• List of number-one dance airplay hits of 2004 (U.S.)

References

1. Breihan, Tom (28 October 2020). "The Number Ones: Ready for the World's "Oh Sheila"". Stereogum. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
2. Smith, Troy L. (13 May 2021). "Every No. 1 song of the 1980s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
3. "The Prince Hit That Wasn't a Prince Hit". Grammy.com. The Recording Academy. May 12, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
4. DeKnock, Jan (October 13, 1985). "Ready For the World on Top with Prince-like 'Oh Sheila'". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
5. Jackson, Dana (December 5, 1985). "This Group's Finally Ready for the World". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 247. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
7. "Ready For The World – Oh Sheila" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
8. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0599." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Oh Sheila". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
11. "Ready For The World – Oh Sheila" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
12. "Ready For The World – Oh Sheila". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
13. "Ready For The World – Oh Sheila". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
15. "Ready for the World – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
16. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending OCTOBER 12, 1985". Cash Box. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012.
17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Ready For The World – Oh Sheila" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
18. "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
19. "Top 100 Hits for 1985". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
20. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1985". Cash Box. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012.
21. Slomowicz, DJ Ron. "Lara McAllen/Angel City Interview". About.com. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
22. "Angel City – Love Me Right" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
23. "Issue 728" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
24. "Angel City feat. Lara McAllen – Love Me Right (Oh Sheila)" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
25. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
26. "Angel City feat. Lara McAllen – Love Me Right (Oh Sheila)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
27. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
29. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
30. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. March 27, 2004. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
31. "Dance/Mix Show Airplay". Billboard. April 3, 2004. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
32. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
33. "2004 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Airplay". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 52. December 25, 2004. p. YE-61.