Professor Adam, you're one of a kind! I was born in '66. Thanks SO MUCH for the daily walks down memory lane. I've early onset alzheimers, and your videos open up snapshots of my life that I've long forgotten. "Three chords and the truth, my friend." Sincerely, Scott
You're very welcome! I'm so sorry to hear that. We will continue to create videos of the soundtrack of your life. Music is the medicine...Peace to you my friend.
Scott, your message here is a true highlight in an internet full of fakes and trolls, it's very heartfelt. Take good care of yourself, I hope you get the best care there is and have many more good years! ♥️
I was just thinking about making such a comment about those two as driving songs and being potentially very expensive for the wallet when I stumbled across your comment.
I made a music Playlist for my daughter when she was little that I would play when she was in her hanging bouncy seat. Ram Jam's Black Betty was the song that really got her moving. She still gets excited when she hears it at 17. And she's literally been jamming to this song for nearly her whole life.
My 3 year old Grandson is mesmerized by this tune. As soon as it comes on the TV, he can't focus on anything but this song and dances till it's over. It is so fun to watch him rock out to this classic.
Best and most thorough deep dive I've ever heard of a fantastic rendition of a fantastic song. It's not often that anyone can totally own a song that's been recorded by the great Lead Belly, but Bill Bartlett took that song and did it so well that he forever owns it. He also gets no credit for the absolutely soaring, smokin' guitar solo which is a damned shame. The guitar, the drums, the bass line, everything about this version is absolute rock perfection. I listen to it pretty much every morning in the shower, really wakes me up the right way.
@@ProfessorofRock Ah, the classic 8 track! I remember them fondly, but I'm really glad they fell out of style. Vinyl is always great and cassettes are alright. But with all the different forms to get music on, 8 tracks are rather crappy. I seem to remember listening to the Bay City Rollers 'Saturday Night' on 8 track. Ah, the good old days! I can say that with complete honesty because I was born in September of 1967. Not the greatest year, but close enough to hear all the best rock and roll! So sad that my Boomer parents never appreciated Led Zeppelin and other classic rockers like I did. My mom only ever listened to Stairway to Heaven. I told her that Zeppelin did a lot more than that. Try using the beginning of Immigrant Song as a wake up alarm! Even more alarming than hearing Robin Williams shouting 'Good morning, Vietnam!' in your ear because your cell phone alarm went off next to your pillow! 😳😂
I had the pleasure of playing some gigs with Bill Bartlett in the 90's (as his drummer). Super nice and humble guy. Thanks for sharing this great story!
@@jakeella keeping it simple :-) Any interested parties should know a couple of those gigs were with Live Bait (with Bill on bass), the infamous Oxford, Ohio jam band.
I always think about right after this song came out. I was sitting at the kitchen table doing my homework when Black Betty started and naturally I had to crank up the radio. What really sticks in my mind is mama walking in and saying “How about turning that down bam ba lam.” And I did right after the song ended. 😁 Guess that’s my main memory for the song.
I am so grateful to this channel for giving the history behind the song. I just remember my father singing the classic rock version by Ram Jam to me when I was a kid. One of my earliest memories of hearing classic rock music. Thanks Dad!
One of the Lemon Pipers was a neighbor of mine. Had VH1 on the TV playing their video and I could see him outside in the distance mowing. Just one of those moments.
Discovered this by RamJam about 10 years ago when I was stacking music on my iPods. I was in my 60's at the time. Hadn't heard it before and this is the first I learned of its history. Any way, I'm 75 now and still like it!
@@tamuman93 I'm sure it was. I was in the Navy in the mid 1960's and every time we went to sea we missed months of music and groups even. For many years it was very normal for me to hear about music I "missed". It is less common now but still happens from time to time. Like I said I was in my 60's at that time I discovered this. Not uncommon then. I'm 77 now.
@Karl with a K Well, the "short" version is I have been a "Public Radio" listener for over 40 years. I hate commercials and commercial radio phony "hype". Most of the stations play music that the commercial stations won't or wouldn't. I discovered Noncommercial radio in the late 60's after I got out of the Navy. At sea we'd go months out of radio broadcast range, (besides I was on a submarine and submerged you heard nothing, I went years with out hearing much music that came and went while we were submerged.) I gave up on TV over 6 years ago. Most isn't worth watching and what is is hard to find that is why I watch "programs" on-line. I run 6 different ad blockers on my computer. I NEVER see an Ad or Commercials just what I want to watch.😃
5:46 I love when you recall stories about your dad. My dad was also a big music nerd and passed away two years ago this month. He was also a drummer in a sixties garage rock band who played songs by seattle band, The Sonics
Haha l literally had a home made cassette in the 80's with Black Betty, Mississippi Queen, and Blinded by the light (Manfred Mann) one after the other. I ran that tape into the ground. What a flash back.
If you ever bought a used car, and you were ecstatic to find a cool cassette tape in the glove box, or maybe even left in the stereo cassette deck, then you're really gonna love this channel.
Ha! Word... Reminds me of being a young English teacher in rural Japan in the late ´90s when I was given an old "company car" to drive to classes for 6 months. It had a cassette player, but there was a tape stuck in it though it still played... Paul Simon's "Graceland" on Side A and his greatest hits on Side B. Though Simon is not a personal favorite, I was grateful for the musical layers and solid songwriting of "Graceland" .... Sadly, I have no desire to ever hear it again. ; )
@snipe69 Radio Shack is offering some cool retro styled boom boxes through their online store for around $50 US. Check them out. I just ordered one and will pre-order my cassette of Metallica's Black Album for the 30th anniversary as well.
I have always loved this song! Seen this video of Ram Jam countless times. Them throwing down in the backyard, looking like they are just having a cookout and a jam session breaks out!! What fun!! Can only imagine how fun it would of been to be there during this session! Backyard fun at its finest. Enjoyed the video Professor! ❤️💜💚
As an Australian...Black Betty by Ram Jam fit in perfectly with the rise of "pub rock" here along side such luminaries of the art as Bon Scott and ACDC
Professor, I absolutely love your channel. Your extensive research and desire to learn all aspects of any given song is truly a gift that you share with the world. Thank you for that.
I love watching young people react to this song on RUclips, their reactions are epic because the song is epic. Love that you broke down the history of this as there is a ton of mis-info being posted to this types of vids.
I'm glad I'm not the only one with this guilty pleasure. Watching Millenials hear, and especially see, Janice Joplin, SRV, The Animals, and similar artists for the first time is so entertaining! The moment when their eyes go wide....
The thought that keeps coming to me whenever I hear this song is "practice much?!?" Holy cow, this band was tight, tight, tight! And I love the fact that the Lemon Pipers' psych-pop axeman was the one making Black Betty's big riff -- that reminds me of how the Strawberry Alarm Clock's psychedelic fuzz master Ed King went on to fame and fortune playing a totally different type of music with Lynrd Synrd. Moral: It pays to be flexible!
Hi I was born in 1952 it was a time when music was slowly coming about. The 60's-70-'s was an awesome time when we were trying to find ourselves. Black Betty was a go way of getting myself ready and geared up. Hearing this first thing in the morning would really get me going. Actually, it got me really pumped up for work.
I grew up listening to Lead Belly's version starting around age 6 and I heard this one when I was almost 10. Lead Belly had been in and out of prison in early 1900s, including on a "Chain Gang".
Same here. I grew up listening to Leadbelly in the 50s and 60s. Particularly his popular songs like "Irene Goodnight", "Bring Me Little Water Sylvie" and "Rock Island Line". I loved his version of "Black Betty " and did not take kindly to the Ram Jam version !
17, 1986, The Black Horse, legendary biker pub southern UK, sun shining, bikes lined up, Newkie Brown and someone plays BB on the jukebox. The happy vibe just got even happier!! 😁
So fun, cruising in a '77 Trans Am with this song blasting. Friend took her dad's screaming chicken back in the day and we cruised Gratiot (Eastside of Detroit area) and local rock station had this song on rotation.
@@debraengdahl1980 I have to say, I favored WABX, I didn't necessarily like Athur Penhollow on RIF. Didn't hate him, he just kinda gave me the creeps. Lol.
I'm an old fart, never heard this song back in the day in '77. Then again, back then, I was still listening to WNBC, a strictly top 40 station - I had not journeyed to the dark side of album oriented rock just yet (WNEW). Even so, I absolutely recall the very first time I ever heard this song. It was while in the movie theater watching Blow, a forgettable Johnny Depp vehicle, except for the fact that Penelope Cruz was absolutely unforgettable in that movie. Black Betty came on. "W. T. F. Is. This???" Holy crap, I was blown away. I had to hear that song again. I waited to the end credits to be sure I found the info on the song. It's been an absolute favorite of mine ever since.
This is one of those songs that elicits an irresistible Pavlovian response... The song comes on and you just can't help but reach over and crank it up!
I know how you feel.... I thought Fire Lake was Tiger Lake. I loved it! Tiger Lake in Mason County, Wasington State is where I grew up. Finding out I was wrong didn't chsnge anything for me....I still sing Tiger Lake😁
My wife thought VanHalen's Panama lyric was "Had Enough", I asked her "what's the name of the song?" POR should do a segment of misheard lyrics just to straighten out all these people. Good thing there are all these lyric sites now. Settles many arguments.
It is odd what can stick in our head. The Song "Peace Train" by Cat Stevens, I have only ever heard the words "Beast Train"...it sort of freaks me out, always has! It seems to be Truth!
@@manstersr I thought my hubs was singing with the Beatles about "Desmond and MOLLY," which is our daughter's name. I thought he was being funny and putting her name in the song. Turns out, no, to my dumb millennial self, Marley is a totally normal name for a girl in the 1960s.
I love your attention-to-detailed-trivia analysis of so many great songs and their backgrounds, along with the characters involved in their release. Epic stories that always inform. Magnificent work, Professor!
I haven't been to a Boston Bruins hockey game in a while, but I know they used it a lot for them, got the crowd pumped. Still love this song, and glad I FINALLY know the history behind it... Great video as always!!
_'Black Betty'_ by Ram Jam was an instant classic rocker. Never knew it was created by Bartlett with Starstruck (or even heard of Starstruck) until this video. Never really noticed the gong at the beginning and end of the song. Didn't realize Bartlett was the voice and guitar behind Lemon Pipers either. Decades later, both _'Black Betty'_ and the psychedelic _'Green Tambourine'_ still remain among my favorite songs. Thanks for the knowledge, Professor, which enhances the music even more, while gaining the appreciation for Bill Bartlett he richly deserves.
Black Betty is a kick-ass classic rock jam, and the video is an awesome backyard jam session. Everyone I know even the Hip Hop fans love this song. Any time it comes on the radio we turn it up and sing along.
I remember listening to this on a top-40 rock station out of Little Rock about 10:00 at night soon after it was released. I was immediately wowed, but never heard it again on that station, I think because of the heat it took at the beginning. I am so glad I can now listen to this whenever I want now.
Alfred Lagarde was a Dutch D.J. who played this song on the Dutch radio called Hilversum 3 the show was called boton uur ( concrete hour ) It was the first time I did hear the song and I still like it.
Saw Ram Jam in between Mother's Finest and Styx (during their tour for "Grand Illusion") on a three act bill at my local auditorium in a small 'Burg in S.C. It all rocked, but the singular bit I remember most was Ram Jam just _killin' it_ with Black Betty. The other very memorable thing was all the kids hoppin' outta their seats to dance in the aisles to Mother's Finest's set. When the security guys asked (and they _asked,_ they weren't jerks about it) them to sit down, the kids politely ignored them, at which point they left the kids alone and let 'em dance! Great memories, I really miss those days.
This is one of the few jams that will always pump me up and get my adrenaline in overdrive. I'd like to thank my father for introducing me to this classic jam. I love the history and story behind this song. Maybe it's one of the reasons it withstands the test of time because it is truly timeless.
Here on RUclips is a guy who did a recent telephone interview with Bill Bartlett, the lead singer of the popular tune. According to Bill Bartlett, HIS version is about Bettie Page, the '50's pin-up model. Of course, she was white, but she was always in black garters, etc. You should check out that interview. Bill seems like a pretty cool guy.
I read that interview and it was great. Bartlett did say he grew up in Dayton. I had no idea. Back then most of us thought he was from Manchester, England and when he penned a song titled, "A Bit of All Right" that sealed it for us.
Ram Jam album was one of six records I got as a prize for selling magazines at school to raise money for prom, I think I also received Fog Hat, Best of BTO, The Grassroots Greatest, The Best of the Guess Who and I don't remember the last one. Recorded them to a 8 track tape so I could jam to them in my 73 Plymouth Cuda'. Love this channel, keep up the fantastic work Adam.
I have been singing now since 1993, and this song is the one that gets my audiences fired up the most. I attended the funeral of R&B singer Eddie Hill, who had hits in the 1960s, and he heard me sing this song in the 2000s, and I had to sing it every night he showed up. We also would do it when something is wrong with my baby, but when he died I sang Black Betty instead of a sad song to the Celebration of Life gathering at our bar. You should have seen the reactions and the appreciation for what my man Alabama told me was one of the best versions of that song he ever heard. RIP Bama, and thank you Professor for the background work.
New subscriber here. You overlooked the 1964 version by Spider John Koerner, Dave Snaker Ray and Tony Little Sun Glover on their album Lots More Blues Rags and Hollers. Ram Jam’s version is directly taken from this version.
Fun fact: The band in the Ram Jam video is actually Starstruck, not Ram Jam. It was filmed on Long Island on a Sunday Morning at the base player's mom's house for a "British Client" according to Bill Bartlett. He said he never saw the video until years later, when at the Dentist in Ohio, they were playing it on a TV in the office. Bartlett claimed that his added lines to the song were inspired by the 50's pinup girl, Betty Page, not a black woman.
I discovered this song from a promo 45 that was given away in the Seattle area (and perhaps in the rest of the country as well). It featured other artists too but I can't remember which ones.
Ironhead Baker and Leadbelly are some cool pseudonyms. I knew about Leadbelly's version, but this is the first I've heard of Mr. Baker. Nice video Prof!
This song still KICKS ASS!!! The best rendition has to be in the movie "Blow"! Johnny Depp, white turtleneck & shades, walking thru the airport, Black Betty playing! Yeah, Baby!!! Thank you for another great memory Professor! Love you, Love your show as I'm a DIE HARD music lover!!! ❤❤❤ ✌️🤘
I saw Ram Jam when they opened for Styx in '78. The entire audience just sat there during their set because except for Black Betty nobody knew any of their songs. But when they cranked up Black Betty the place went nuts. They were really tight. Its a shame they didn't have more success.
Awesome... I live near, and dated several girls from Oxford when I was young ( Lemon Pipers) and have played music all around Cincy, and Milford area, N. KY., all very interesting and exciting to me. I knew about Starstruck, and Ram Jam, but I didn't know Lemon Pipers were from Oxford.
LOL - my mother's name is Betty, & I used to sing it to her to aggravate her. I was born, raised, & still live in Alabama, graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, so I LOVE this song.
Don't you find it interesting thought that the same people who coined this term of "cancel culture" want to deny the teaching of actual history in school and want to stop the investigation of a coup/riot staged on the US Capitol Building that left a police officer dead. I don't think anyone should "cancel" this song but I do think that there is a point about its lyrics not exactly paying homage to the original done by Leadbelly.
@@wpl8275 Whut?? Did you want the performers to stop in the middle of their jam and make an announcement about Lead Belly's role in a song that had different lyrics for crying out loud? The fact is that the new lyrics tell a sensational story of a man who can't get enough of black Betty. Lead Belly's rendition was so-so.
First heard it with Ram Jams original release,...im rather old,..and still one of my favorites to this day. Didnt know the history regarding Bartlett though so...thanks for that.
Bartlett said in an interview he didn't even see the video until years later, and the music on the video isn't recorded by the people in the video, that Ram Jam never cut a version, the audio was all Starstruck from a few years earlier. He also said he wrote the last 2 verses about Betty Page, because he thought she was hot.
The value in P.o.R.'s videos is amazing. In my book Adam, you're right there next to Live From Daryl's House as a damn national treasure to music. I'm early 50's, life long Buckeye state resident and just learned of two more groups with Ohio roots. If money were on the line I'd said Ram Jam is from Alabama and The Lemon Piper's are from England.
@@xScooterAZx Hi Sandra, perhaps there was a time when members of Ram Jam were in NY, but listen to Bill Bartlett himself in this interview, even his 105 year old dad is from Ohio having worked at Wright Field, now Wright-Patterson Air Force base named for the the Wright brothers which I'm sure you know are from Ohio as well. ruclips.net/video/m7rCvRSJjak/видео.html
@@xScooterAZx I understand, as most media outlets these days they are lazy and just parrot what they find on google. Listen to the interview, it's not even Ram Jam band that made the actual recording, Black Betty was recorded by a different band (group of people) that Bill was in at the time.
Im an aussie and i reckon the Spiderbait version is fantastic! I can remember dancing to the original at school dicoes back in the 70’s💃🏻🕺 Fabulous song still…:))
Here in Seattle our new bands still rock, hard. With 2 music collages and 50 music venues we're rolling in cool shows and great local bands...no none with enough celebrity status to hypnotize the ignorant hordes of brainless half hearted lemmings. But good music by great musicians. Because that's all that matters right. Not the trappings of fame and celebrity worship right?
Thank you Professor for that great history of this great song! I always wondered what it was all about. You're like the rock and roll historian! As you say, "3 chords and the truth".
Can't explain it!! Only 4/5 hours ago I was thinking 'why doesn't someone talk about Black Betty' definitely one of the most rocking songs and riffs ever and look what happens. Thank you Sir Professor of Rock PS Anything in the pipeline for a Thin Lizzy song? :)
I met this song playing Need For Speed Underground, the version by Spiderbait, and the version by Tom Jones came a bit afterwards and rotated quite well on some local music channel, did a bit of backtracking and found the version by Ram Jam, didn't look back beyond that, thanks prof! This video gave me a lot of Whiskey In The Jar vibes as well, I love Thin Lizzy and that song originates from about 400 years ago, that's incredible.
This is the second video of yours I have seen. (The first was "Hurt" ~ Johnny Cash Version) I feel smarter for the history and the context you bring to the music, and the artists, that you have reviewed. With songs like "Black Betty" I think, there will always be some interesting things, that surprise me in our history, and in ways that make me pause. But, one thing is certain, the music will always keep flowing. And it will forever help us understand our emotions and come together as a community. I Really like the sound of this song! Thank you, Professor for creating, digging in, and bringing to light, some of the meaning behind the commercialized sounds ! I believe music is art, but Also, I believe it is a vehicle to a message. And words have meaning. Even the ones we don't quit understand. Thanks for sharing.
3 года назад+3
I still listen to Black Betty a couple times a week. I'd love to see you do some videos on Montrose, that album kicked some serious guitar work.
@@mgibby63mg This is s community of celebration and respect. Please refrain from disrespecting people. If you have some constructive criticism, I welcome it but your comment is unacceptable.
Just watched a vid by RUclipsr "Brutality in Buddah" who called and spoke to the singer and writer of the tune. Couple of cool facts: 1. He is singing about Betty Paige the pinup star. 2. The video was shot at the bass player's grandma's house, and does not feature the people that actually recorded the track (Starstruck). 3. The video was shot at the whim of a customer from the UK, and they never even saw the finished product until years later when it was on MTV. Love this song, and boy does it bring back memories. Great vid!
I'd listen to the K-Tel cut every day in the 70s, on my grade school lunch time. It was years before I heard the full version. Was never really a fan of the extra middle section, but this song is etched in my rocker heart forever, nonetheless.
Love this song. When my son was young he was introduced to this song through the TMNT movie with an awesome fight sequence. It is now one of his go to songs.
Professor Adam, you're one of a kind! I was born in '66. Thanks SO MUCH for the daily walks down memory lane. I've early onset alzheimers, and your videos open up snapshots of my life that I've long forgotten.
"Three chords and the truth, my friend."
Sincerely,
Scott
You're very welcome! I'm so sorry to hear that. We will continue to create videos of the soundtrack of your life. Music is the medicine...Peace to you my friend.
rock on man! remember, OLD HIPPIES RULE!
Music is medicine for the brain. Will pray for you, Scott.
@@rayross997 I will say a prayer for you too, Scott! Peace!
Scott, your message here is a true highlight in an internet full of fakes and trolls, it's very heartfelt. Take good care of yourself, I hope you get the best care there is and have many more good years! ♥️
Black Betty and Radar Love are the two most dangerous songs for drivers. So many speeding tickets....
I was just thinking about making such a comment about those two as driving songs and being potentially very expensive for the wallet when I stumbled across your comment.
Don't forget Sammy Hagar-" I Can't Drive 55".
Highway Star ✨ Deep Purple
and red barchetta with all that shifting and drifting mechanical music is guaranteed to get you a ticket when played loud
Don't forget "Ballroom Blitz"
I made a music Playlist for my daughter when she was little that I would play when she was in her hanging bouncy seat. Ram Jam's Black Betty was the song that really got her moving. She still gets excited when she hears it at 17. And she's literally been jamming to this song for nearly her whole life.
wow,i will try this song to my granddaughter who is 11mos old now,cant wait to see her..
It will stand the test of time..... Ram jams version is brilliant it can't be matched
A perfect 70"s setting. Old farm house, clothes without style and backyard party. Midwest at it's best in the 70's
Everything in the 70s had style. 70s style.
Absolutely!
I wish I could find a time machine and cruse back to those sweet long lost days of my youth!
It's so American.
It's the front yard, but still so awesome!
@@MerryLeafField No, take another look. Backyard! Who has access to the basement in the front of a house? No front verandah!
My 3 year old Grandson is mesmerized by this tune. As soon as it comes on the TV, he can't focus on anything but this song and dances till it's over. It is so fun to watch him rock out to this classic.
Best and most thorough deep dive I've ever heard of a fantastic rendition of a fantastic song. It's not often that anyone can totally own a song that's been recorded by the great Lead Belly, but Bill Bartlett took that song and did it so well that he forever owns it. He also gets no credit for the absolutely soaring, smokin' guitar solo which is a damned shame. The guitar, the drums, the bass line, everything about this version is absolute rock perfection. I listen to it pretty much every morning in the shower, really wakes me up the right way.
Back in 77, my family bought a house and I found a 45 of Ram Jam's Black Betty in a closet. I ended up playing it to death.
What a great discovery. I remember finding a Pink Floyd 8 track in the field behind my house and it still played!
That was a great house warming gift
@@ProfessorofRock Young people today would say what's an 8 track. My first stereo had an 8 track player and turntable. It was an old Lloyds
@@markpotemra I remember one of my mum's cars having an 8 track in it. I think that the car originally belonged to my grandfather.
@@ProfessorofRock Ah, the classic 8 track! I remember them fondly, but I'm really glad they fell out of style. Vinyl is always great and cassettes are alright. But with all the different forms to get music on, 8 tracks are rather crappy. I seem to remember listening to the Bay City Rollers 'Saturday Night' on 8 track. Ah, the good old days! I can say that with complete honesty because I was born in September of 1967. Not the greatest year, but close enough to hear all the best rock and roll! So sad that my Boomer parents never appreciated Led Zeppelin and other classic rockers like I did. My mom only ever listened to Stairway to Heaven. I told her that Zeppelin did a lot more than that. Try using the beginning of Immigrant Song as a wake up alarm! Even more alarming than hearing Robin Williams shouting 'Good morning, Vietnam!' in your ear because your cell phone alarm went off next to your pillow!
😳😂
I had the pleasure of playing some gigs with Bill Bartlett in the 90's (as his drummer). Super nice and humble guy. Thanks for sharing this great story!
Rock on!
HIS drummer ? : )
@@jakeella keeping it simple :-) Any interested parties should know a couple of those gigs were with Live Bait (with Bill on bass), the infamous Oxford, Ohio jam band.
Drummers like to hangout with musicians......so I’ve heard.....
@@pjkentucky 😂
I always think about right after this song came out. I was sitting at the kitchen table doing my homework when Black Betty started and naturally I had to crank up the radio. What really sticks in my mind is mama walking in and saying “How about turning that down bam ba lam.” And I did right after the song ended. 😁
Guess that’s my main memory for the song.
What a cool Mum.
I am so grateful to this channel for giving the history behind the song. I just remember my father singing the classic rock version by Ram Jam to me when I was a kid. One of my earliest memories of hearing classic rock music. Thanks Dad!
One of the Lemon Pipers was a neighbor of mine. Had VH1 on the TV playing their video and I could see him outside in the distance mowing. Just one of those moments.
Cool.
Discovered this by RamJam about 10 years ago when I was stacking music on my iPods. I was in my 60's at the time. Hadn't heard it before and this is the first I learned of its history. Any way, I'm 75 now and still like it!
Welcome to the party.
Whaaat? You’re 60 and you never heard of this diddy? It was a very rocking tune and was played all over the radio.
@@tamuman93 I'm sure it was. I was in the Navy in the mid 1960's and every time we went to sea we missed months of music and groups even. For many years it was very normal for me to hear about music I "missed". It is less common now but still happens from time to time. Like I said I was in my 60's at that time I discovered this. Not uncommon then. I'm 77 now.
@@webbtrekker534 - That makes perfect sense brother. By the way, Thanks for your service.
@Karl with a K Well, the "short" version is I have been a "Public Radio" listener for over 40 years. I hate commercials and commercial radio phony "hype". Most of the stations play music that the commercial stations won't or wouldn't. I discovered Noncommercial radio in the late 60's after I got out of the Navy. At sea we'd go months out of radio broadcast range, (besides I was on a submarine and submerged you heard nothing, I went years with out hearing much music that came and went while we were submerged.) I gave up on TV over 6 years ago. Most isn't worth watching and what is is hard to find that is why I watch "programs" on-line. I run 6 different ad blockers on my computer. I NEVER see an Ad or Commercials just what I want to watch.😃
5:46 I love when you recall stories about your dad. My dad was also a big music nerd and passed away two years ago this month. He was also a drummer in a sixties garage rock band who played songs by seattle band, The Sonics
Loved it. Next on the list should be “Mississippi Queen” by Mountain
Great song!
Haha l literally had a home made cassette in the 80's with Black Betty, Mississippi Queen, and Blinded by the light (Manfred Mann) one after the other. I ran that tape into the ground. What a flash back.
No, Nantucket sleighride!!
OR: Gotta Keep a Runnin by The Godz... 👍
Mountain wasn't really a one-hit wonder tho
If you ever bought a used car, and you were ecstatic to find a cool cassette tape in the glove box, or maybe even left in the stereo cassette deck, then you're really gonna love this channel.
@snipe69 oh, man! I wish! Cassette tape players are readily available! Buy one pronto!
Ha! Word... Reminds me of being a young English teacher in rural Japan in the late ´90s when I was given an old "company car" to drive to classes for 6 months. It had a cassette player, but there was a tape stuck in it though it still played... Paul Simon's "Graceland" on Side A and his greatest hits on Side B. Though Simon is not a personal favorite, I was grateful for the musical layers and solid songwriting of "Graceland" .... Sadly, I have no desire to ever hear it again. ; )
@snipe69 Radio Shack is offering some cool retro styled boom boxes through their online store for around $50 US. Check them out. I just ordered one and will pre-order my cassette of Metallica's Black Album for the 30th anniversary as well.
@@amanuesis see my above commemt
Bought a car iit had 8 track in it had ac/dc back in black in it
I have always loved this song! Seen this video of Ram Jam countless times. Them throwing down in the backyard, looking like they are just having a cookout and a jam session breaks out!! What fun!! Can only imagine how fun it would of been to be there during this session! Backyard fun at its finest. Enjoyed the video Professor!
❤️💜💚
Definitely during the 70s. Look at the fashions. I grew up during the 70s.
As an Australian...Black Betty by Ram Jam fit in perfectly with the rise of "pub rock" here along side such luminaries of the art as Bon Scott and ACDC
Very true! Thanks for watching!
@Sub if you are against Antifa and BLM The common theme with both bands was that their front men used to get the ladies into a frenzy.
@Hermes Trismagistus and Spiderbait i think.
@Sub if you are against Antifa and BLM have you given Cold Chisel a try?
@@markfryer9880 make em froth. Hehe.
I love how you mix stories of your dad into the music history to add the personal touch that makes everything more interesting!
Professor, I absolutely love your channel. Your extensive research and desire to learn all aspects of any given song is truly a gift that you share with the world. Thank you for that.
I love watching young people react to this song on RUclips, their reactions are epic because the song is epic. Love that you broke down the history of this as there is a ton of mis-info being posted to this types of vids.
I'm glad I'm not the only one with this guilty pleasure. Watching Millenials hear, and especially see, Janice Joplin, SRV, The Animals, and similar artists for the first time is so entertaining! The moment when their eyes go wide....
The thought that keeps coming to me whenever I hear this song is "practice much?!?" Holy cow, this band was tight, tight, tight! And I love the fact that the Lemon Pipers' psych-pop axeman was the one making Black Betty's big riff -- that reminds me of how the Strawberry Alarm Clock's psychedelic fuzz master Ed King went on to fame and fortune playing a totally different type of music with Lynrd Synrd. Moral: It pays to be flexible!
Hi I was born in 1952 it was a time when music was slowly coming about. The 60's-70-'s was an awesome time when we were trying to find ourselves. Black Betty was a go way of getting myself ready and geared up. Hearing this first thing in the morning would really get me going. Actually, it got me really pumped up for work.
Professor, I can't believe how many songs you pull out of the hat that I don't know... And I grew up in that era for this one!
not even a particularly large hat either. amazing
I grew up listening to Lead Belly's version starting around age 6 and I heard this one when I was almost 10. Lead Belly had been in and out of prison in early 1900s, including on a "Chain Gang".
Leadbelly is a true legend. So much influence on what we hear now.
Same here. I grew up listening to Leadbelly in the 50s and 60s. Particularly his popular songs like "Irene Goodnight", "Bring Me Little Water Sylvie" and "Rock Island Line".
I loved his version of "Black Betty " and did not take kindly to the Ram Jam version !
17, 1986, The Black Horse, legendary biker pub southern UK, sun shining, bikes lined up, Newkie Brown and someone plays BB on the jukebox. The happy vibe just got even happier!! 😁
I love history. I did not know this about this song. Thank you.
So fun, cruising in a '77 Trans Am with this song blasting. Friend took her dad's screaming chicken back in the day and we cruised Gratiot (Eastside of Detroit area) and local rock station had this song on rotation.
WABX, WLLZ & WRIF back in the day! I still live at 9 1/2 (Stephens) & Gratiot Ave.
@@markmarshall7939 I still have a WABX tshirt. 😄
WRIFor wheelz?
@@debraengdahl1980 I have to say, I favored WABX, I didn't necessarily like Athur Penhollow on RIF. Didn't hate him, he just kinda gave me the creeps. Lol.
Who knew Ned Flanders could rock out like that? DOH! 🤘🤓🎸🤘
That's what I thought! He looks just like him!
Stupid, rocking Flanders
LMAO🤣👍
LMAO! 🤣😂🤣😂
🤣🧠
I'm an old fart, never heard this song back in the day in '77. Then again, back then, I was still listening to WNBC, a strictly top 40 station - I had not journeyed to the dark side of album oriented rock just yet (WNEW). Even so, I absolutely recall the very first time I ever heard this song. It was while in the movie theater watching Blow, a forgettable Johnny Depp vehicle, except for the fact that Penelope Cruz was absolutely unforgettable in that movie.
Black Betty came on. "W. T. F. Is. This???" Holy crap, I was blown away. I had to hear that song again. I waited to the end credits to be sure I found the info on the song. It's been an absolute favorite of mine ever since.
Thanks for taking the time to do the research and for loving music from our time and putting down these clips. Much appreciated.
Was about to go to bed (in Singapore), but then I saw that the Professor put this out - a song I've always been curious about!
Wow! Singapore? Very cool! Thank you for your support!
Ditto storyline, just 4 months later 😉
I was in college when Ram Jam sang this song. I love the purity of their version that is timeless.
"Green Tambourine" is still one of my favorite songs. Always thought going from pop to this was cool.
This is one of those songs that elicits an irresistible Pavlovian response... The song comes on and you just can't help but reach over and crank it up!
Oh good grief. I'm nearly 60 years old and I just found out that the "dream tambourine" was a "green tambourine". Love the channel. Thanks Prof
I know how you feel.... I thought Fire Lake was Tiger Lake. I loved it! Tiger Lake in Mason County, Wasington State is where I grew up. Finding out I was wrong didn't chsnge anything for me....I still sing Tiger Lake😁
I was 40-something when I learned that it *wasnt* “You and me and Leslie” groovin’ on a Sunday afternoon.
My wife thought VanHalen's Panama lyric was "Had Enough", I asked her "what's the name of the song?" POR should do a segment of misheard lyrics just to straighten out all these people. Good thing there are all these lyric sites now. Settles many arguments.
It is odd what can stick in our head. The Song "Peace Train" by Cat Stevens, I have only ever heard the words "Beast Train"...it sort of freaks me out, always has! It seems to be Truth!
@@manstersr I thought my hubs was singing with the Beatles about "Desmond and MOLLY," which is our daughter's name. I thought he was being funny and putting her name in the song. Turns out, no, to my dumb millennial self, Marley is a totally normal name for a girl in the 1960s.
I love your attention-to-detailed-trivia analysis of so many great songs and their backgrounds, along with the characters involved in their release. Epic stories that always inform. Magnificent work, Professor!
One of my favorites. Never fails to get me pumped and happy.
I haven't been to a Boston Bruins hockey game in a while, but I know they used it a lot for them, got the crowd pumped. Still love this song, and glad I FINALLY know the history behind it... Great video as always!!
_'Black Betty'_ by Ram Jam was an instant classic rocker. Never knew it was created by Bartlett with Starstruck (or even heard of Starstruck) until this video. Never really noticed the gong at the beginning and end of the song. Didn't realize Bartlett was the voice and guitar behind Lemon Pipers either. Decades later, both _'Black Betty'_ and the psychedelic _'Green Tambourine'_ still remain among my favorite songs. Thanks for the knowledge, Professor, which enhances the music even more, while gaining the appreciation for Bill Bartlett he richly deserves.
Excellent Excellent history of this kick azz song... 👍👍👍👍
My 4 year old will randomly belt this one out. It's simply amazing.
Black Betty is a kick-ass classic rock jam, and the video is an awesome backyard jam session. Everyone I know even the Hip Hop fans love this song. Any time it comes on the radio we turn it up and sing along.
I remember listening to this on a top-40 rock station out of Little Rock about 10:00 at night soon after it was released. I was immediately wowed, but never heard it again on that station, I think because of the heat it took at the beginning. I am so glad I can now listen to this whenever I want now.
Super video! This is how “about the music” videos should be done.
Alfred Lagarde was a Dutch D.J. who played this song on the Dutch radio called Hilversum 3 the show was called boton uur ( concrete hour ) It was the first time I did hear the song and I still like it.
Saw Ram Jam in between Mother's Finest and Styx (during their tour for "Grand Illusion") on a three act bill at my local auditorium in a small 'Burg in S.C. It all rocked, but the singular bit I remember most was Ram Jam just _killin' it_ with Black Betty. The other very memorable thing was all the kids hoppin' outta their seats to dance in the aisles to Mother's Finest's set. When the security guys asked (and they _asked,_ they weren't jerks about it) them to sit down, the kids politely ignored them, at which point they left the kids alone and let 'em dance! Great memories, I really miss those days.
Black Betty is a banger! You still see kids wildin' out to this one, gotta turn it up on a road trip!
The lemon Pipers. They were in my hometown of Cincinnati when I was a youngster. They would swing over on Calhoun Street. Green tambourine.
This is one of the few jams that will always pump me up and get my adrenaline in overdrive. I'd like to thank my father for introducing me to this classic jam. I love the history and story behind this song. Maybe it's one of the reasons it withstands the test of time because it is truly timeless.
I think you nailed it.
I didn’t know these guys were from Cincinnati. I’m proud to say I am too. 👍
I love your channel. I'm from the generation that had the best music EVER!! 60s 70s and 80s!!🎸🥁🎶🎤
Here on RUclips is a guy who did a recent telephone interview with Bill Bartlett, the lead singer of the popular tune. According to Bill Bartlett, HIS version is about Bettie Page, the '50's pin-up model. Of course, she was white, but she was always in black garters, etc. You should check out that interview. Bill seems like a pretty cool guy.
@chi sam He did state that he never lived in Alabama. He had no reason to lie. Clearly, you're an incompetent man with no common sense.
@chi sam Perhaps you should look at the interview before lookin like a damn fool.
@chi sam It doesn't matter that Page never lived in Alabama. That's who Bill Bartlett was referring to in his version of the song, moron.
I read that interview and it was great. Bartlett did say he grew up in Dayton. I had no idea. Back then most of us thought he was from Manchester, England and when he penned a song titled, "A Bit of All Right" that sealed it for us.
Ram Jam album was one of six records I got as a prize for selling magazines at school to raise money for prom, I think I also received Fog Hat, Best of BTO, The Grassroots Greatest, The Best of the Guess Who and I don't remember the last one. Recorded them to a 8 track tape so I could jam to them in my 73 Plymouth Cuda'. Love this channel, keep up the fantastic work Adam.
To put oil on the waters, Bill Bartlett said that the song was about Betty Page and her black leather costume (and her black whip)
Sitting here learning about Black Betty, watching with my Zenni glasses, and having a ball! Love PoR and the passion about the music of my generation.
What a great time! Thanks for hanging out
Looking forward to this episode. Love this song.
It's a great one!
I have been singing now since 1993, and this song is the one that gets my audiences fired up the most. I attended the funeral of R&B singer Eddie Hill, who had hits in the 1960s, and he heard me sing this song in the 2000s, and I had to sing it every night he showed up. We also would do it when something is wrong with my baby, but when he died I sang Black Betty instead of a sad song to the Celebration of Life gathering at our bar. You should have seen the reactions and the appreciation for what my man Alabama told me was one of the best versions of that song he ever heard. RIP Bama, and thank you Professor for the background work.
Great information today! I don't know anyone who does not like this Southern Boogie Blues classic!
New subscriber here. You overlooked the 1964 version by Spider John Koerner, Dave Snaker Ray and Tony Little Sun Glover on their album Lots More Blues Rags and Hollers. Ram Jam’s version is directly taken from this version.
Fun fact: The band in the Ram Jam video is actually Starstruck, not Ram Jam. It was filmed on Long Island on a Sunday Morning at the base player's mom's house for a "British Client" according to Bill Bartlett. He said he never saw the video until years later, when at the Dentist in Ohio, they were playing it on a TV in the office. Bartlett claimed that his added lines to the song were inspired by the 50's pinup girl, Betty Page, not a black woman.
I discovered this song from a promo 45 that was given away in the Seattle area (and perhaps in the rest of the country as well). It featured other artists too but I can't remember which ones.
Ram Jam Black Betty video is epic!!!!
love that song always will, learned alot off this video, did not know the origin of the song, i watch the ram jam video offen
The Boston Bruins use Black Betty often to pump up the fans. Love this song!
Ironhead Baker and Leadbelly are some cool pseudonyms. I knew about Leadbelly's version, but this is the first I've heard of Mr. Baker. Nice video Prof!
I had no damn idea of the history of this song, amazing.
This song still KICKS ASS!!! The best rendition has to be in the movie "Blow"! Johnny Depp, white turtleneck & shades, walking thru the airport, Black Betty playing! Yeah, Baby!!! Thank you for another great memory Professor! Love you, Love your show as I'm a DIE HARD music lover!!! ❤❤❤ ✌️🤘
I saw Ram Jam when they opened for Styx in '78. The entire audience just sat there during their set because except for Black Betty nobody knew any of their songs. But when they cranked up Black Betty the place went nuts. They were really tight. Its a shame they didn't have more success.
Awesome... I live near, and dated several girls from Oxford when I was young ( Lemon Pipers) and have played music all around Cincy, and Milford area, N. KY., all very interesting and exciting to me. I knew about Starstruck, and Ram Jam, but I didn't know Lemon Pipers were from Oxford.
I’ve always been curious of the story of the Ram Jam and Black Betty! Thank you for this video!
LOL - my mother's name is Betty, & I used to sing it to her to aggravate her. I was born, raised, & still live in Alabama, graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, so I LOVE this song.
An amazing song.
The singer took a lot of heat for this song his entire life, even today people are trying to "cancel" this song.
A person is smart. People are stupid....
Don't you find it interesting thought that the same people who coined this term of "cancel culture" want to deny the teaching of actual history in school and want to stop the investigation of a coup/riot staged on the US Capitol Building that left a police officer dead. I don't think anyone should "cancel" this song but I do think that there is a point about its lyrics not exactly paying homage to the original done by Leadbelly.
@@wpl8275 The police officer's death was unrelated to that incident.
@@wpl8275 The only person that died was an unarmed Trump supporter that was murdered by a DC cop.
@@wpl8275
Whut?? Did you want the performers to stop in the middle of their jam and make an announcement about Lead Belly's role in a song that had different lyrics for crying out loud? The fact is that the new lyrics tell a sensational story of a man who can't get enough of black Betty. Lead Belly's rendition was so-so.
First heard it with Ram Jams original release,...im rather old,..and still one of my favorites to this day. Didnt know the history regarding Bartlett though so...thanks for that.
You should do “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. That’s got quite a story.
I'll second that.
Whim-o-weh gets lost in Translation from Zulu
@@satanslittlehelper3 But sounds so cool.
A very, very sad story.
At least Pete Seeger turned over all the royalties from his version when he found out who the original writer was.
Bartlett said in an interview he didn't even see the video until years later, and the music on the video isn't recorded by the people in the video, that Ram Jam never cut a version, the audio was all Starstruck from a few years earlier. He also said he wrote the last 2 verses about Betty Page, because he thought she was hot.
The value in P.o.R.'s videos is amazing. In my book Adam, you're right there next to Live From Daryl's House as a damn national treasure to music. I'm early 50's, life long Buckeye state resident and just learned of two more groups with Ohio roots. If money were on the line I'd said Ram Jam is from Alabama and The Lemon Piper's are from England.
Nope. Ram Jam is from New York, NY.
@@xScooterAZx Hi Sandra, perhaps there was a time when members of Ram Jam were in NY, but listen to Bill Bartlett himself in this interview, even his 105 year old dad is from Ohio having worked at Wright Field, now Wright-Patterson Air Force base named for the the Wright brothers which I'm sure you know are from Ohio as well.
ruclips.net/video/m7rCvRSJjak/видео.html
@@chestrockwell8328 Interesting because when I search where the band is from,it says NY.
@@xScooterAZx I understand, as most media outlets these days they are lazy and just parrot what they find on google. Listen to the interview, it's not even Ram Jam band that made the actual recording, Black Betty was recorded by a different band (group of people) that Bill was in at the time.
@@chestrockwell8328 Yeah,I know. Bill was in two earlier bands.Their names were The Lemon Pipers,then Starstruck.
Good god, man, you do the most amazing deep dives.
@Professor of Rock - In honor of The GoGo's finally making it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame please do episode on them. :-)
We've been trying to nail down an interview.
@@ProfessorofRock How is Pat Benetar not in the R&R HoF??
@@ZebraActual Because it's rigged.
I agree POR!
@@ZebraActual Agree!
Awesome episode Professor! Another one of my favorites! Thanks for sharing the story of this awesome song with us!
Glad you enjoyed it! We appreciate your support!
I miss real bands. No fuss. Just great musicians playing in the yard. Imagine that.
Im an aussie and i reckon the Spiderbait version is fantastic! I can remember dancing to the original at school dicoes back in the 70’s💃🏻🕺
Fabulous song still…:))
"Music/shows" suck today..you know what I'm saying..
i love when Kansas comes on, always kick ass music
What do you mean "no fuzz"?
Look, solist have a fuzz
Here in Seattle our new bands still rock, hard. With 2 music collages and 50 music venues we're rolling in cool shows and great local bands...no none with enough celebrity status to hypnotize the ignorant hordes of brainless half hearted lemmings. But good music by great musicians. Because that's all that matters right. Not the trappings of fame and celebrity worship right?
There IS an album version of Black Betty..Very intricate arrangement!
Thank you Professor for that great history of this great song! I always wondered what it was all about. You're like the rock and roll historian! As you say, "3 chords and the truth".
Can't explain it!! Only 4/5 hours ago I was thinking 'why doesn't someone talk about Black Betty' definitely one of the most rocking songs and riffs ever and look what happens.
Thank you Sir Professor of Rock
PS Anything in the pipeline for a Thin Lizzy song? :)
For sure. Love Thin Lizzy.
WOW!! Heard this song a zillion times and never imagined it had such a long following. Thanks Professor!!
I met this song playing Need For Speed Underground, the version by Spiderbait, and the version by Tom Jones came a bit afterwards and rotated quite well on some local music channel, did a bit of backtracking and found the version by Ram Jam, didn't look back beyond that, thanks prof!
This video gave me a lot of Whiskey In The Jar vibes as well, I love Thin Lizzy and that song originates from about 400 years ago, that's incredible.
200 years from now people will be saying the same thing and rediscovering a lot of the 70s and 80s classics.
This is the second video of yours I have seen. (The first was "Hurt" ~ Johnny Cash Version) I feel smarter for the history and the context you bring to the music, and the artists, that you have reviewed. With songs like "Black Betty" I think, there will always be some interesting things, that surprise me in our history, and in ways that make me pause. But, one thing is certain, the music will always keep flowing. And it will forever help us understand our emotions and come together as a community. I Really like the sound of this song! Thank you, Professor for creating, digging in, and bringing to light, some of the meaning behind the commercialized sounds ! I believe music is art, but Also, I believe it is a vehicle to a message. And words have meaning. Even the ones we don't quit understand. Thanks for sharing.
I still listen to Black Betty a couple times a week. I'd love to see you do some videos on Montrose, that album kicked some serious guitar work.
Get on that bad motoskoooter.
The late great Ronnie Montrose rocked. I am glad I got to see him play a few years before his passing.
@@mightymikethebear Yes he and Sammy just went effects crazy on Bad Motor 🛵
Video is amazing. Totally agree with you about wishing it was longer
I think you're about the only one to hit all points and get it right. nice one.
True grace in a musician: go outside your comfort zone and make a beautiful cover true to both your style and the original!
I remember back in the day the DJ played it three times in a row because he was getting fed up with people requesting it (dam I'm getting old)
Aren't we all. Down here in New Orleans a D.j. did that too. I was 17 I really miss those days. Old enough to know better but to young to care!
One of the best examples of shaking in your boots, ROCK!!!
As a drummer, "Black Betty" is one of the hardest songs for me to play on drums 😬
Isn't the music video so cool how he goes after it? Thanks for commenting!
Then you suck ! Horrible song !!
@@mgibby63mg This is s community of celebration and respect. Please refrain from disrespecting people. If you have some constructive criticism, I welcome it but your comment is unacceptable.
@@ProfessorofRock can you block people like this? It's your channel and I hate to see this also.
@@mgibby63mg what do you know .?teach us something if you know anything at all should try and articulate it or be quite troll
Just watched a vid by RUclipsr "Brutality in Buddah" who called and spoke to the singer and writer of the tune. Couple of cool facts: 1. He is singing about Betty Paige the pinup star. 2. The video was shot at the bass player's grandma's house, and does not feature the people that actually recorded the track (Starstruck). 3. The video was shot at the whim of a customer from the UK, and they never even saw the finished product until years later when it was on MTV.
Love this song, and boy does it bring back memories. Great vid!
The Lemon Pipers were and still are very underrated
It’s great how so many wonderful memories of music are also memories of your dad. That’s cool 😎!
I'd listen to the K-Tel cut every day in the 70s, on my grade school lunch time.
It was years before I heard the full version.
Was never really a fan of the extra middle section, but this song is etched in my rocker heart forever, nonetheless.
Songs that pump u up At sporting events RAM JAM ,, WE, WILL ROCK YOU , ,WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS , All 3 songs from the 1970s , 1977 BABY
@@theodoreritola9758 Yeah, but you can only play "We Are the Champions" at the appropriate time.
Love this song. When my son was young he was introduced to this song through the TMNT movie with an awesome fight sequence. It is now one of his go to songs.
Have you covered "Children of the Sun" by Billy Thorpe? GREAT song!!
Changed my life.