You’re digging through a dusty bin at a local record shop, your fingers hitting that familiar rhythm of flip-flip-flip. You see the usual suspects—Streisand, some scratched-up Motown compilations, maybe a warped copy of Whipped Cream & Other Delights. Then you see it. Or maybe you don't see it, but you hear it in a boutique coffee shop or a niche YouTube playlist: the smooth, almost ethereal soul vibrations of The Lady is a Friend Shai.
Wait. Who is Shai? And why does this specific track feel like a warm hug from a decade you might not even have lived through?
Honestly, the story of Shai and the track "The Lady is a Friend" is one of those classic "lost in the sauce" tales of the 1970s music industry. It’s not about a stadium-filling diva. It’s about the sheer, unadulterated quality of independent soul music that somehow slipped through the cracks of the mainstream while the Bee Gees were dominating the charts. To understand why people are still obsessed with this sound in 2026, we have to look at the textures of the era and the specific magic of 1977.
What Exactly Is the Lady Is a Friend Shai?
Let's clear the air first because the internet loves to scramble names. When we talk about The Lady is a Friend Shai, we are specifically looking at the 1977 release by the artist known simply as Shai. This isn't the 90s R&B group Shai (of "If I Ever Fall in Love" fame). Different era, different vibe.
This Shai was a product of the late 70s soul-jazz fusion movement. The track was released on the Cheri Records label, a small but influential imprint that collectors treat like holy relics today. It’s a seven-inch vinyl masterpiece that blends a bossa nova-inspired rhythm with lush, orchestral soul.
The song itself is a masterclass in subtlety. You've got these fluttering flutes, a walking bassline that feels like a heartbeat, and vocals that are so laid back they’re practically reclining. It’s the kind of music that defined the "sophisti-soul" sound before that term even existed.
Why the 1970s Independent Scene Mattered
Small labels like Cheri were the lifeblood of the industry. While the big labels were hunting for the next disco anthem to rival Saturday Night Fever, independent producers were experimenting. They had smaller budgets but more freedom. This led to a very specific sound: raw yet polished, intimate yet expansive.
The production on "The Lady is a Friend" is surprisingly complex for an indie release. If you listen closely—I mean really listen with good headphones—you can hear the layering of the percussion. It’s not just a drum kit. There’s a shaker buried in the mix that provides a constant, shimmering energy. It’s these tiny details that make record collectors go crazy.
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The Mystery of the Artist
One of the reasons this track keeps popping up in "best of" soul lists is the mystery surrounding the artist. Shai wasn't a household name. In fact, finding biographical data on the singer is like trying to find a needle in a haystack—if the haystack was made of vintage liner notes.
We know the track was written and produced by Jerline Shelton and Maurice Commander. These names are legendary in certain circles of the Chicago soul scene. They were the architects of a sound that felt more like a late-night conversation than a performance.
- The Vibe: Mid-tempo, breezy, and deeply rhythmic.
- The Lyrics: It’s a platonic anthem. In a world of heartbreak songs, it celebrates the depth of friendship.
- The Rarity: Original 7" copies have been known to fetch hundreds of dollars on sites like Discogs.
The vocal delivery on "The Lady is a Friend" is what catches most people off guard. It’s not "churchy" soul with big runs and vibrato. It’s cooler. It’s more in line with artists like Marlena Shaw or even the early Brazilian fusion of Azymuth. It’s a vibe that feels modern even though it’s decades old.
How the Digital Age Resurrected the Track
For a long time, The Lady is a Friend Shai was a "secret weapon" for rare groove DJs. You’d go to a club in London or Tokyo, and the DJ would drop this track, and the whole room would stop. People would rush the booth asking, "What is this?"
Then came the internet.
The democratization of music through platforms like YouTube and specialized streaming playlists changed everything. Channels dedicated to "Rare Soul" or "70s Jazz-Funk" started uploading these rips from vinyl. Suddenly, a song that was previously trapped in a few hundred physical copies was being heard by millions of people in Berlin, New York, and Seoul.
The Power of Sampling
Producers in the lo-fi hip-hop community and the neo-soul world have a sixth sense for tracks like this. The drum breaks and the melodic loops in Shai’s work are perfect for sampling. While there isn't one "mega-hit" that samples it (like how everyone sampled James Brown), its influence is felt in the aesthetic of modern bedroom pop.
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Think about the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" style of quirky, melodic instrumentation or the smooth jazz-rap of the early 2000s. It all traces back to this specific 1977-1981 window where soul music got smart, quiet, and incredibly stylish.
Breaking Down the Musicality
If you're a musician, you'll appreciate the chord progression. It’s not your standard I-IV-V blues structure. It leans heavily into major 7th and minor 9th chords. These are "rich" chords. They have a bit of tension and a lot of beauty.
The bassline is the real hero here. It doesn't just sit on the root notes. It dances. It’s syncopated in a way that makes you want to move your head, but not necessarily jump on a dance floor. It’s "sitting on the porch with a drink" music.
People often confuse this track with various disco-funk songs from the same era because of the year it was released. But The Lady is a Friend Shai is the antithesis of disco. It’s not about the flash; it’s about the feeling. It’s organic. You can hear the room. You can hear the instruments interacting in a way that digital MIDI tracks just can't replicate.
Why We Still Care in 2026
We live in a world of high-definition, over-processed audio. Everything is tuned. Everything is "perfect."
Records like "The Lady is a Friend" offer an escape from that perfection. There’s a certain hiss, a certain warmth, and a human imperfection that feels grounded. It’s authentic. When the singer hits a note that’s just a tiny bit breathy, it feels like they’re in the room with you.
Also, the "friendship" theme is weirdly refreshing. Most songs are about "I love you" or "I hate you because you left me." Shai’s track is about the value of a person who is just there for you. It’s a wholesome, sophisticated take on human connection.
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What Collectors Look For
If you’re actually looking to buy a copy, you need to be careful. Because of the song's cult status, there have been bootlegs and various "unofficial" represses over the years.
- Check the Label: Look for the Cheri Records logo.
- Matrix Numbers: Serious collectors check the etchings in the run-out groove to ensure it's a first pressing.
- Condition: Because these were often played in clubs or on cheap 70s record players, finding a "Near Mint" copy is a Herculean task.
Actionable Steps for the Soul Searcher
If you've just discovered this track and you want to dive deeper into the world of The Lady is a Friend Shai, don't just stop at the one song. The entire ecosystem of late-70s independent soul is a goldmine.
Start with the Producers: Look up other work by Jerline Shelton. She was a powerhouse in a male-dominated industry, and her touch is visible across several Chicago-based projects. Her ability to arrange strings without making them sound "cheesy" is a lost art.
Explore the "Sister" Tracks: If you like Shai, you’ll probably love artists like Patti Austin (her CTI years), Sylvia Striplin, or Gloria Ann Taylor. These artists occupied that same space between jazz, soul, and the very early beginnings of house music.
Support Local Record Stores: Seriously. Instead of just streaming, go to a physical store. Ask the person behind the counter about "Chicago Soul" or "Cheri Records." These shops are often the only reason this history hasn't been completely erased.
Check Out Modern Compilations: Labels like Numero Group or Soul Jazz Records do incredible work digitizing these rarities. They often include booklets with the "real" stories of the artists, which are often more fascinating than the music itself.
The hunt for music like Shai's isn't just about the sound. It's about the connection to a moment in time when a small group of people in a studio could create something so timeless that it’s still being discussed and debated fifty years later. It’s a reminder that great art doesn’t always need a million-dollar marketing budget; sometimes, it just needs a flute, a great bassline, and a friend.
Next Steps to Deepen Your Soul Collection:
- Audit Your Playlist: Search for "Chicago Soul 1970-1979" on your preferred streaming service to find Shai's contemporaries.
- Verify the Catalog: Visit Discogs to see the full discography of Cheri Records to understand the label's short but impactful run.
- Listen Critically: Pay attention to the percussion in "The Lady is a Friend"—specifically the use of the triangle and woodblocks—to understand how 70s engineers created "space" in a mono or early stereo mix.