Storey goes, that the band was given $500.00 from the record company to produce a video, they spent about $0.00 dollars (yes, I know it cost something, but, really) on the video, as you noted, it was just filmed in their (actually) front yard, and spent the money on beer and weed, and the result was a BANGER. Mad Props to them for just making a great 'backyard' video that lasted the test of time.
Every person has their own interpretation of what the song is about. I understand that the first verse was a traditional. Interpreted to be a musket, a prison wagon, moonshine and a variety of other things. However the singer wrote the second verse in tribute to Betty Page. Betty was a pin up girl, and posed nude or other outlawed poses. There was a movie on her life several years ago. The singer reported that he had acrush on her hence the second verse. The lead s8nger was in a band before that had one big hit in the peace and love Era of the 60's. The group is the Lemon Pipers. The song Green Tamborine.
Ram Jam actually recorded two studio albums. Although they were a one hit wonder, I actually like other songs I have heard from them. By the way, this was the short made for video version. The radio version is considerably longer!
Hello John & Lulu, first Happy Valentines Day 💓and this is for you Lulu 💐 the song was first recorded by John & Alan Lomax in 1933 in a field by African American brothers but also performed in Sugar Land in Texas state prison farm by John "Iron Head" Baker when he was 63 but there's the more well known Huddy "Lead Belly" version from 1933
you laugh but have you ever had a huge hit ? And in the longer version the dude plays a mean 4 minute guitar solo. I like you guys but One Hit Wonder does have the word Hit in it. Millions have tried to write a hit. And they have missed. So I salute Ram Jam !
It’s really quite easy for people who may not as versed as you and I to react humorously and that’s a good thing because there is very few relatable things to this.
One hit wonder, Stevie Ray Vaughan Texas flood live at the el mocambo watched him play for three hours without stopping just unbelievable, Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa I'd rather go blind live 😊😊
Nice reaction, thats exactly what they were a group of guys jamming in the back yard. This is rumored to be the cheapest video ever played on MTV. If I remember correctly it was less than $500.
@@musicloverchiefsfan5410 yeah the story I've heard is that someone asked them how much it would take to record a video and they basically just gave them a receipt for the beer and weed
Black Betty was a Civil War musket type rifle. The gun misfired. It had a child. The damn thing's gone wild. It was a stray bullet. It was an old cadence song for chain gangs in the south.
"Black Betty" was Ram Jam's only big hit in 1977. But it is one of the most fun & energetic songs. Just some dudes hanging out in someone's back yard & jamming out. Love it! "Black Betty" is a 20th-century African-American work song often credited to Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter as the author, though the earliest recordings are not by him. While some may think “Black Betty” refers to a woman, others claim it’s a nickname for any number of objects, including a bottle of whiskey, a whip, or even a penitentiary transfer wagon.
Deep Purple. One of the unholy trinity of British Rock of the 70s. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd. Speed King. Don't drive and listen. Deep Purple was voted the loudest band of the 70 and the beginning of Hard Rock and Metal. Amazingly they ate still producing records with a few members changes.
This song was penned by Bill Bartlett, the guy singing and playing amazing lead guitar, when he was in a group called The Starstruck. That group disbanded, but the famous music producers Katzenburger and Katz saw Bill perform it and offered to form a new band around him if he'd move to New York. Problem was Bill didn't own the distribution rights to the song - Starstruck had formed their own indy label, TruckStar, which left him with no music to bring to his new band. So he begged until his friends sold him the rights to Black Betty for $3,000. Once in New York, Katzenburger and Katz formed the band from session musicians, which is why it's so tight. Another fun fact - Ram Jam never actually recorded Black Betty. Instead, Katzenburger and Katz remixed the Starstruck recording into a much shorter, tighter version. Unfortunately the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Congress of Racial Equality took exception to Persons of Pallor recording what was seen as a black song and called for a boycott. Thus the record got no airplay on the large stations of the time and was almost entirely shut out of the largest markets; it stalled just inside the Top Twenty. Also, the estate of Lead Belly sued for copyright infringement and won, so Bill never received any songwriter royalties. The song originated as a British marching cadence song, most probably about whiskey (a popular 17th & 18th century saying was "he's kissed Black Betty" to describe someone inebriated. As Timothy Bush points out, the first known recording is actually John "Iron Head" Baker and his fellow prisoners by the Lomaxes. However, Lead Belly copyrighted his version, and as Bartlett used one verse almost intact as well as the "bam ba lam", that cost him songwriting credit. Baker himself said Black Betty referred to the whip used to punish & motivate chain gang prisoners, although another prisoner claimed that Black Betty was actually the horse drawn wagon used to transport chain gangs (although that was more commonly called Black Maria".)
The amount of information surrounding the history of this song is prodigious. Not so that involving the actual production and release, so...thank you very much for this.
You should listen to the earlier version of this song recorded under the band name starstruck. I can't remember if all the band members were the same, but definitely some carryover.
I love you Lulu ❤️ You guy should try Stevie Ray vaughan. And if you like guitar... tins s Tchaikovsky tribute. Is Lulu maried .... If not im totally in love with you ❤🥰💞💯🔥🔥🌹💘
This song has a long long history.... to complicated for me to try and explain. This video was recorded in 1977 on Long Island, New York. The lead singer is Bill Bartlett, he was the lead singer in a band called 'Starstruck' prior to being the lead singer in this video with the band in this video. Ram Jam did not actually play this song.... they just filmed it to look like they were playing this song. The music in this video came from the band call StarStruck with Bill Bartlett. Also, the music is totally from the StarStruck album.... but they did some heavy edits to that StarStruck song to make this song/video.....and yes, Bill Bartlett was in both bands... he purchased the rights to this song from the StarStruck band members and then created a new band called Ram Jam....Bill Bartlett is NOT the lead singer for this band (Ram Jam)... actually Myke Scavone is the lead singer for the band... but obviously not in this video... Myke Scavone is the guy clapping his hands on the left side of video....(Left of Bill Bartlett) This song is actually a country music song..... check out Starstruck Black Betty.... He is singing about Betty Boop... Betty Boop is a cartoon chick that was well known in the 1930's, and was known as Black Betty back then ... he just plain ol thinks she was sexy....
according to the lead singer this was a last minute song they threw together for a promotional vid. Most of the band weren't even band members, just local talent. There was an investor interested in the band & their manager made this happen ASAP.
The 70's stoner chicks sitting on the motorcycles in the back I'm guessing may have had something to do with the breakup of the band. Also, no old lady called the cops back then. "There are these guys going crazy in their backyard! They are playing loud rock music, and girls are dancing around, there is a guy with a video camera, and they all smell like marijuana!' LOL! You could never pull this video off in 2024 without getting permission from the city.
Ram Jam wrote another verse for this but never got credit for it. They got screwed out of royalties, had to pay royalties, got a bad taste in their mouth. Bad feelings all around.
Did Ram Jam have any other good songs worth checking out?
Lulu's Fantasy Show: linktr.ee/clueless_lulu
John X Lulu Wicked Fun: linktr.ee/johnxlulu
Storey goes, that the band was given $500.00 from the record company to produce a video, they spent about $0.00 dollars (yes, I know it cost something, but, really) on the video, as you noted, it was just filmed in their (actually) front yard, and spent the money on beer and weed, and the result was a BANGER. Mad Props to them for just making a great 'backyard' video that lasted the test of time.
Every person has their own interpretation of what the song is about. I understand that the first verse was a traditional. Interpreted to be a musket, a prison wagon, moonshine and a variety of other things. However the singer wrote the second verse in tribute to Betty Page. Betty was a pin up girl, and posed nude or other outlawed poses. There was a movie on her life several years ago. The singer reported that he had acrush on her hence the second verse. The lead s8nger was in a band before that had one big hit in the peace and love Era of the 60's. The group is the Lemon Pipers. The song Green Tamborine.
Ram Jam actually recorded two studio albums. Although they were a one hit wonder, I actually like other songs I have heard from them. By the way, this was the short made for video version. The radio version is considerably longer!
There is a longer version of this song with more of the instruments in the middle of it.
Hello John & Lulu, first Happy Valentines Day 💓and this is for you Lulu 💐 the song was first recorded by John & Alan Lomax in 1933 in a field by African American brothers but also performed in Sugar Land in Texas state prison farm by John "Iron Head" Baker when he was 63 but there's the more well known Huddy "Lead Belly" version from 1933
Great song grew up with this on K Tel records!
you laugh but have you ever had a huge hit ? And in the longer version the dude plays a mean 4 minute guitar solo. I like you guys but One Hit Wonder does have the word Hit in it. Millions have tried to write a hit. And they have missed. So I salute Ram Jam !
It’s really quite easy for people who may not as versed as you and I to react humorously and that’s a good thing because there is very few relatable things to this.
Ram Jam did not write a hit. This is a cover.
It's an apex Southern rock one hit wonder. The guitar riff is energetic.
This was filmed in New Jersey. How is that "Southern"??
One hit wonder, Stevie Ray Vaughan Texas flood live at the el mocambo watched him play for three hours without stopping just unbelievable, Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa I'd rather go blind live 😊😊
Nice reaction, thats exactly what they were a group of guys jamming in the back yard. This is rumored to be the cheapest video ever played on MTV. If I remember correctly it was less than $500.
I believe that's correct.($500) - $25 for production costs and 475 for beer and hot dogs- lol
@@musicloverchiefsfan5410 yeah the story I've heard is that someone asked them how much it would take to record a video and they basically just gave them a receipt for the beer and weed
@@Freek314 Same here. that's the story I heard too. I don't know if it's fact or fiction, but it's a cool story!
I was at that cookout
I like this crazy song,😂
Try Gary Richraft flying turkey trot live REO Speed wagon guitar solo best ever and golden country
Good reaction. Wow Lulu. Keep it going
Black Betty was a Civil War musket type rifle. The gun misfired. It had a child. The damn thing's gone wild. It was a stray bullet. It was an old cadence song for chain gangs in the south.
They were one hit wonders with a song that sounds like it was written in 15 minutes.
"Black Betty" was Ram Jam's only big hit in 1977. But it is one of the most fun & energetic songs. Just some dudes hanging out in someone's back yard & jamming out. Love it! "Black Betty" is a 20th-century African-American work song often credited to Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter as the author, though the earliest recordings are not by him.
While some may think “Black Betty” refers to a woman, others claim it’s a nickname for any number of objects, including a bottle of whiskey, a whip, or even a penitentiary transfer wagon.
also heard it had links to the british army way back as a marching song
Ram jam............1977-1977. They were a band for just a few months.
Deep Purple. One of the unholy trinity of British Rock of the 70s. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd. Speed King. Don't drive and listen. Deep Purple was voted the loudest band of the 70 and the beginning of Hard Rock and Metal. Amazingly they ate still producing records with a few members changes.
Looking through your list and noticed you had a Acapella list, a British Acapella group the flying pickets are well worth a listen.
This song was penned by Bill Bartlett, the guy singing and playing amazing lead guitar, when he was in a group called The Starstruck. That group disbanded, but the famous music producers Katzenburger and Katz saw Bill perform it and offered to form a new band around him if he'd move to New York. Problem was Bill didn't own the distribution rights to the song - Starstruck had formed their own indy label, TruckStar, which left him with no music to bring to his new band. So he begged until his friends sold him the rights to Black Betty for $3,000. Once in New York, Katzenburger and Katz formed the band from session musicians, which is why it's so tight. Another fun fact - Ram Jam never actually recorded Black Betty. Instead, Katzenburger and Katz remixed the Starstruck recording into a much shorter, tighter version. Unfortunately the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Congress of Racial Equality took exception to Persons of Pallor recording what was seen as a black song and called for a boycott. Thus the record got no airplay on the large stations of the time and was almost entirely shut out of the largest markets; it stalled just inside the Top Twenty. Also, the estate of Lead Belly sued for copyright infringement and won, so Bill never received any songwriter royalties. The song originated as a British marching cadence song, most probably about whiskey (a popular 17th & 18th century saying was "he's kissed Black Betty" to describe someone inebriated. As Timothy Bush points out, the first known recording is actually John "Iron Head" Baker and his fellow prisoners by the Lomaxes. However, Lead Belly copyrighted his version, and as Bartlett used one verse almost intact as well as the "bam ba lam", that cost him songwriting credit. Baker himself said Black Betty referred to the whip used to punish & motivate chain gang prisoners, although another prisoner claimed that Black Betty was actually the horse drawn wagon used to transport chain gangs (although that was more commonly called Black Maria".)
The amount of information surrounding the history of this song is prodigious. Not so that involving the actual production and release, so...thank you very much for this.
You should listen to the earlier version of this song recorded under the band name starstruck. I can't remember if all the band members were the same, but definitely some carryover.
Yes they grabbed some beer, friends, and jammed in the back yard after work (Filming it on "Super 8"); that's how this video got made
I love you Lulu ❤️
You guy should try Stevie Ray vaughan. And if you like guitar... tins s Tchaikovsky tribute. Is Lulu maried ....
If not im totally in love with you ❤🥰💞💯🔥🔥🌹💘
The video is a super short cut up version of the song
Wow! A band of left handers. ;)
Bam-ba-lamm!
4:31
Hey, John and Lulu, you should've listened to the audio version of this song because this video played the shortened radio edit of this t
This song has a long long history.... to complicated for me to try and explain. This video was recorded in 1977 on Long Island, New York. The lead singer is Bill Bartlett, he was the lead singer in a band called 'Starstruck' prior to being the lead singer in this video with the band in this video. Ram Jam did not actually play this song.... they just filmed it to look like they were playing this song. The music in this video came from the band call StarStruck with Bill Bartlett. Also, the music is totally from the StarStruck album.... but they did some heavy edits to that StarStruck song to make this song/video.....and yes, Bill Bartlett was in both bands... he purchased the rights to this song from the StarStruck band members and then created a new band called Ram Jam....Bill Bartlett is NOT the lead singer for this band (Ram Jam)... actually Myke Scavone is the lead singer for the band... but obviously not in this video... Myke Scavone is the guy clapping his hands on the left side of video....(Left of Bill Bartlett)
This song is actually a country music song..... check out Starstruck Black Betty....
He is singing about Betty Boop... Betty Boop is a cartoon chick that was well known in the 1930's, and was known as Black Betty back then ... he just plain ol thinks she was sexy....
It's was called southern Rock and roll. AC)DC wasn't around yet
Many people think that they wrote this song, but Leadbelly did czcams.com/video/SJUSGuNxt-4/video.html
Black Betty's were speed!As in methamphetamines
Lower the temp of the AC please! Its good for ya =)
Shy boy David Lee Roth and talas!
Im still on that chicken attack reaction. Twas a beautiful song
OMG. Chicken attack! Love it!
There is a long live version that I like better.
according to the lead singer this was a last minute song they threw together for a promotional vid. Most of the band weren't even band members, just local talent. There was an investor interested in the band & their manager made this happen ASAP.
❤😊 They spent the music video money on weed!!
Pearl Jam Jeremy uncensored mv
They had 2 great albums, but management and label problems derailed them.
The producer gave them $500 to get studio time and record this. They spent it on beer and weed so recorded in someones back yard.
Lead singer looks like he could have turned water into weed.
The 70's stoner chicks sitting on the motorcycles in the back I'm guessing may have had something to do with the breakup of the band. Also, no old lady called the cops back then. "There are these guys going crazy in their backyard! They are playing loud rock music, and girls are dancing around, there is a guy with a video camera, and they all smell like marijuana!' LOL! You could never pull this video off in 2024 without getting permission from the city.
Bad audio glitching
Ram Jam wrote another verse for this but never got credit for it. They got screwed out of royalties, had to pay royalties, got a bad taste in their mouth. Bad feelings all around.
I hate it when reactors talk over the music.
Worst reaction to this song that I've ever seen.