Sha Na Na - Chain Gang

Sha Na Na - Chain Gang with Denny on lead. This clip was taken from their TV show, which ran from 1978-1981.

[@meavid]

Smooth as silk. People will still love Sha Na Na for decades.

[@lesterbronson2385]

This is one of the greatest songs of all time. When a song could pull you out of reality for a couple of minutes, that’s when you know it’s something special.

[@richardbowen8059]

Brilliant never grows old.

[@bowzerbabe]

So powerful. Brings a tear to my eye. I love these boys!

[@tokenbabe]

Denny was so underrated! I had a wicked girl-crush on Chico, though...he had the greatest smile. I was devastated to find out that he died. RIP, baby.... Grease for Peace, everyone.

[@gregmurphy2020]

Denny was yes, but he was brilliant and those with brain knows it

[@lorjokr]

I've always had a great appreciation of Denny's wonderful, velvet sound. I still enjoy hearing him in all of these.

[@Daffyd23]

I contacted shout factory about releasing the show on DVD so all sha na na fans should contact them I know it would be expensive for them because of music copyrights but it doesn't hurt to contact them

[@allisonjohnson6399]

From 0:15 to 0:30 Bowzer has my full attention. That "well don't you know..." is just perfection and his moves are so smooth. And Denny's voice is just *aahhhhh*! Love this video!

[@Chuck_Hooks]

Well said. Bowzer's voice is rich, deep and powerful here especially.

[@MarkTimeNY103]

Yes, Denny (the black guy) sang lead on a lot of the songs that were sung by black artists in the 50's and 60's. He had a beautiful voice. He was one of the founding members or Sha Na Na. One of the amazing things about Sha Na Na was there were 4 or 5 members of the group that could sing lead and do it beautifully. They always picked the right lead singer for each song. After 15 years with Sha Na Na, Denny left the group in 1984 to pursue a master's degree at Harvard and eventually a law degree at Yale. Denny would later become a Columbia Pictures executive and, ultimately, a law professor. Greene taught at Florida A&M, the University of Oregon and, from 2001 until his death in Sept of 2015. Why do they wear gold spandex? It is part of the comedy. Sure, an over weight, middle aged guy shouldn't wear gold spandex. That's what makes it funny. Hey JeevesReturns, get a life. Long live Sha Na Na

[@paulwagner688]

They ALL could sing lead. Santini's specialty was Elvis, Chico, Danny, and Dirty Dan were good with stuff like Neil Sedaka and the Everly Brothers, even Screamin' Scott and Jocko got their chance to sing lead a few times during the show.

[@gerald532009]

Thank you, Marc!

[@kylethecool360northrup]

No that's Sam Cooke

[@marcrabinowitz2074]

Yes, Sam Cooke had a big hit with this song. This wonderful group, Sha Na Na specialized in re-doing oldies. I guess Denny wouldn't complain about being mistaken for Sam Cooke, would he?

[@richardbowen8059]

Thank you for what you have taken time to write, I only recently rediscovered the entertainment and pleasure that sh na na delivered. Now I’m curious about the various artists involved and it brings me pleasure to learn about there history.

[@LovesMike33]

I loved watching this show when I was a kid. I was probably 7 or 8 years old. They were awesome. I am glad there are clips out of Sha na na. Why to cool.

[@generatorx]

Sweet! As a kid, I did not fully appreciate the talent of this group. Thanks for posting and bringing back great memories.

[@EricJaffa]

They should make "Sha Na Na" episodes available to stream on demand.

[@pucketts57]

Fantastic song . Incredible singer too

[@colleenthompson1276]

What a voice Denny has. XX

[@gerald532009]

Thank you, Colleen!

[@GunBigotHater]

Wow! That really takes me back! I remember my sister playing this on her little record player; that was a not so compact disk, for all you youngsters. LOL

[@gerald532009]

Great lead by Denny Greene on Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang".

[@crow672008]

Great show . I wish somebody would put this back on.

[@digital2500]

I saw them during their run on TV at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD in 1979. Just an incredible concert!!

[@someoneelseentirely3452]

I was there too! It really was great because they sounded so good live. Some acts sound so bad in concert.

[@WWAHP]

R.I.P. Denny. You'll be missed.

[@gerald532009]

Thank you, Christian!

[@jimbamboozled]

They never try to outdo the original singer or group , they used to have most of them on the show, they tried to keep the music alive. That was Sha Na Na !

[@rogerrrubin]

great rendition of a great tune

[@zfleming44]

Wonder why Lubskni hasn't picked this up for his "oldies" shows on PBS? This group can do any oldie that ever was. Wish somebody would rebroadcast these great old shows.

[@lexavier1]

Dennis as he is known today was portrayed as the most intelligent member of Sha Na Na and for good reason. He already had a BA from Columbia University when the group was formed. He formed a group called "The Kingsmen" while at Columbia which went on to become Sha Na Na. He also has an has an M.A. Degree from Harvard and a J.D. from Yale and as of 2007 was a Professor of Law at the University of Dayton. Good looking, talented and very intelligent guy!

[@papawof4wv]

Back when music was uplifting & clean.

[@shelleyjackson4827]

Please don't laugh, but I use to get this song mixed up with Draggin the line .

[@jn300306]

@JMacGill Prof. Greene is my teacher for Torts. He's one of the best at UD law school, awesome guy who know his stuff.

[@LKaramazov]

Tv was great then becasue there we all basically watched the same things. Now they're so many shows, too many, but more choices can be good. We never would have gotten a Deadwood in the 70's. I miss being a kid in the 70's, no doubt.

[@saturnioowens6546]

Thanks again for uploading this and all the other great videos!!

[@JMacGill]

Denny now goes by Dennis and works as a professor. He also went to Harvard. My mom used to date him a few years ago. He's a cool guy.

[@disneylover751]

I love Denny!!! He was fantastic.

[@vseas3]

I Love Santini!!!

[@kinbigbird]

Sam Cookes best song, Sha-na-na Rocks Great song

[@stevegale1948]

Did you know Scott Powell aka Santini is performing again if you run a search their are 10 new songs on here.

[@catanthia]

Lucky you! I bet he will be the coolest professor!

[@alfonsogreen2722]

I didn't know Denny died last year until I googled it n also Lennie died earlier this year. R.I.P

[@cathridge]

@lexavier1 He's not the only one. Many of these guys that are still alive went on to become doctors, lawyers or college professors like Denny.

[@wesleycook7687]

❤❤❤

[@Pashasmom1]

Better than the original. They were so talented. I miss them. Loved their show, their best lineup.

[@MovieMakingMan]

Love Boozer!

[@freemanz4051]

Better act than I remember. The tv show was pretty stupid. I heard one of the band speak on an anniversary of Woodstock event along with the 1969 festival's Head Sound Engineer, Bill Hanley. I had just realized S-N-N had been a Woodstock act. Just as I began pondering how this could be... lol, gold suits! ....I got to hear the story straight from one of the singers. I forget the name. It was in Arlington, Mass about ten years ago. Good time. Charming fellow. No singing that night, just History.

[@alexanderanthony]

When music was art...

[@nymanjohn]

Sha na na could really sing when they wanted to.

[@123roschelle]

Epic

[@Fatman_egg_thou4]

the song was sung by Sam Cooke who black and wrote the song

[@ElGuzman1]

these were the good times when tv was the Sh!@@#

[@johnsmashington4546]

As a kid, I did

[@paulwagner688]

Give it up for Santini's choreo.

[@rockinron40]

That wasn't racist at all his voice and singing sounded the closest to Sam Cooke's and thats all and he sounded almost exactly like Sam Cooke too by the way.

[@gregmurphy2020]

True

[@Sally-lm1fd]

Do you guys use the song we have feel free some time Adam 12is on my TV

[@inventhead]

good ol days i got a record by them 2 osmonds sunny cher live i still say it sounds better on vinal i can also convert to mp3 or cd being i have a studio turntabel cassett had reel to reel but needs repair vhs cd dvd 32 trk audio live/recorded

[@cmt39]

Does Denny sing anymore? I know that the rest of them, although doing other things, are still involved with singing.

[@gerald532009]

Sadly, my brother passed away in 2015, however, he put out solo projects as well. More on that...Stay tuned!

[@gerald532009]

@Sweetest One I certainly am!

[@gerald532009]

@Sweetest One Thank you for your kind compliments regarding my brother, Dennis. May God continually Bless you!

[@gregmurphy2020]

@@gerald532009 God bless you and your brother

[@gregmurphy2020]

@@famososdemais880 God bless you kind soul! Nice words from you to Gerald and for your salute to the brilliant and kind Denny Greene

[@suecox907]

Is Sha na na still performing together?

[@kylethecool360northrup]

I never new Sam Cooke was in sh na na

[@razvandobos9759]

Wonder if this somewhat inspired the Pretenders to write Back On The Chain Gang.

[@sirdaveo]

First rate, no doubt

[@christieivey1311]

I will miss Linnie Baker as well

[@LKaramazov]

Its family entertainment. Of course they're serious, and they're having fun.Doo Wop isn't serious music, its not a funeral dirge.

[@barbarawilson8917]

If Sam Cooke did Chain Gang!

[@user-xf7qj6qo7x]

1111111

[@michaelt977]

that's turntable,not turntabel.

[@wutafiasco]

@scorzeny45 you're nuts, kanya, drake, jay z, and all popluar rap celebrate european culture. but you can have those jokers... it's cool, as long as you forget ALL this music is from black people! (sam cooke wrote this on)

[@MattAttack54]

Great Verison but I like Sam Cook's version better though.

[@jimbamboozled]

Not bad, can't beat Sam Cooke's by a mile.

[@deborahdouville3926]

No, he is not as good as Sam Cooke. He was one of a kind. Denny did an awesome rendition of the song. Also why is it racist to have the black guy sing it?? Sam wrote & sang the song AND Sam was black. These shows are from the 70s and were made for ENTERTAINMENT. Not to be rude, racist but to keep the music alive. Long live Sha Na Na!

[@gregmurphy2020]

Not racist at all, just pure talent and brilliant acts and singing from Denny the brilliant and the rest of this amazing cast

[@elamite66]

Sorry but they can't touch Sam not ever

[@Druffmaul]

"There was no "black guy' in the group" So, he was just very very tan?

[@aforwood1]

+Druffmaul certainly was.

[@jessiejames7492]

he meant they didnt see colour , why should you?

[@jimbamboozled]

Does a good version but doesn't have the same soul as Sam Cooke. Can't blame Denny, not too many had the smooth soul like Sam Cooke.

[@aegiswings]

I think it's racist that they made the black one sing this.

[@TJtheDJMr]

+aegiswings The only thing racist is you

[@lilliszimmerman5770]

Applaud your sense of justice but think he sang lead because he was best. Making money but don't think a political statement too.

[@beachmasterX]

"The black one" is obviously their leader, he's calling the shots....

[@gerald532009]

No one made anyone do anything. My brother simply liked the tune and therefore, he sang it.Isn't it interesting when someone of another ethnicity sings a song, no one says anything as ridiculous as this?

[@gregmurphy2020]

What a stupid comment! Racist to put White folks singing White tunes? Or? Sha na na was a brilliant team and they always had the right singer fit for every song! Always!