The story behind this video is that the record company gave them $500 to make a music video, so the band spent $450 on weed and beer, and threw this party with it, and just filmed it.
Hearing an interview . . The band on the video is not the same as the one that recorded the single . . That came from a Bill Bartlett interview .. hes the lead on the video . .
@@rogerreed905 Bartlett said that they were told one morning to get their gear and go out ti shoot the video for a promoter in England. He didn't even see the final cut until 40 years later when his dentist showed it to him. The song itself is an old folk song. The best known previous recording was by the great bluesman Leadbelly (Huddie Leadbetter, whom the band thought had written it), but he probably learned it in prison, as the first recording was a Lomax field recording. The Ram Jam record is a 1977 remix of a 1973 recording by Bartlett's previous band, Starstruck. After Starstruck broke up, Bartlett was contacted by the producers he his earlier band, the Lemon Pipers, had worked with in the late 60s. Ram Jam was organized aground the song. Ram Jam lasted for two albums, mostly decent blues-rock, but this was their only hit.
@@danadnauseam Great info, but don''t forget there was also the B side to the single edit version of "Black Betty," which was not on either Ram Jam album, "I Should Have Known." Also, the professional name "Lead Belly" was two words.
@@powertothebauer296 You'd think so, but it really isn't. There are different ways to count covers/ sampled songs, but I've seen several different lists and Black Betty isn't on any of them. It's important to remember the existence of songs like White Christmas, My Way, Hallelujah!, and the libraries of the Beatles, Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Hoyt Axton.
@@cmlemmus494 This song is original from somewhere 1880 (the accurate year I don't recall) and I m to lazy to look it up again and over the years this song is from so many Artists interpreted that everybody lost count of it. so yes it is probably the most covered song in history.
@@BadderSanta WHILE THIS SONG WAS NOT BLASTING IN 1973 BARTLETT AND HIS BAND STARSTRUCK RELEASED THE SONG ON TRUCK STAR LABEL IN 1975. IT WAS EDITED AND RELEASED IN 1977 WITH THE BAND RAM JAM. SO YOU'RE BOTH WRONG.
@@theoriginalscottmalkinson6161 and the version here was ... Which is what people who pay attention are talking about ....was a. 1977 release Sop shouting.... Comment on the video... Have the counselor in your group home check your post before hitting return
Black Betty was a Civil War black powder musket. It had a child the damn thing went wild. An unexpected discharge the bullet went in an unknown direction. It was an old cadence song for chain gangs in the south.
Additionally, the Alabama gun manufacturer marketed a 2nd gun (the 'child') it did not fire straight either, this surely "...the damn thing went blind."
You can see the "glory days" starting to fade back in for Donna. 😅😅😅 It's so cool to see today's kids not only listening to but actually enjoying the music we "boomers" grew up listening to. The 60s, 70s, and 80s were an awesome time to be alive, man.
Given that there are about half a dozen semi-apocryphal interpretations of the lyrics, being ready to play ball is just as good as any other. The *nudge nudge wink wink* interpretation is actually not one of the major ones.
Very good song. Written over 100 yrs ago ( maybe 200). Black Betty was a musket used by the military. Strong reliable and very accurate. The next generation was called a Brown Bess. So black Betty had a child, brown bess. Brown Bess was junk, not accurate ( gone blind) and not reliable ( gone wild). The third verse was added by Ram Jam to make the song longer. They should have added a few more verses.
English settlers from Northumberland and Cumberland who settled the Appalachians called their Whiskey 'Black Betty' it refers to the still they used to make their whiskey with, having a child is the whiskey being born and it can send you blind, it gets you high and when she shakes that thing it really makes you sing.
I was told the blind part came because of the smoke that was made from firing the musket and if you didn’t load the weapon properly it would blow up in your face or as the song said “Go wild” and blind you.
Huddie Ledbetter was also known as Leadbelly. He was a legendary blues singer and songwriter from way back. He preceded the era of rock and roll. 😅 Leadbelly recorded his version of Black Betty in New York in 1939.
I was born in 1959 and I'm into Blues, Soul and Rock and I have looked up a lot of songs to see if there was an original artist. Little Eva, Mama Thornton, Robert Johnson just to name a few that their songs were covered and became big hits.
Black Betty was a metaphor used for a lot of different things. Whiskey to slaves. It was a song done by the blues singer Lead Belly and said to have been a slave song. However, Ram Jams version is said by its creator to be about Betty Paige, a 1950s pinup model. The last two verses are specifically about her....
Possibly the best thumbnail of the week right here,when all 3 has an expression of laughter at the same time,you know the reaction will be really GOOD! And i was right,this might be the best reaction i have seen to this song! I have seen people with a stankface and diggin` this song alot,but this was on another level of fun reactions!
Donna's eyes widenig when the guitar kicked in was priceless. I'd think even a big country fan would recognize the fuzzy chords of Southern Fried Rock.
Ohh yeah!! Donna was ready to join that backyard party right then and there. She wanted to get up out of that chair and Jam out with Ram Jam!! Great stuff that was fun.
Even though Ram Jam had some regional success, this is their one-hit-wonder. This was used in quite a few soundtracks for action movies, so it may sound familiar to some people without knowing about it. The video does look like my kind of backyard BBQ. LOL Growing up I was lucky to have a few great garage band musicians that wound up playing as studio musicians in Nashville and played around the world with the USO, so we did a few jam sessions like it.
Led Belly recorded this song in 1939. You can find it on UA-cam. Take a look. The origins of the song go back much further. Ram Jam released this recording in 1977. It hit me like a ton of bricks. They were a one-hit wonder.
This version has been the entry music I played in my head when I walked into a room full of strangers for about two decades when I first heard Leadbelly's. The cadence is the same, but otherwise it blues and Southern Fried Rock. I should have known it came from a blues artist being a fan of George Thurogood.
Yea. I've watched this video before and it did have the guitar solo. Now it seems to have had the audio replaced with the cut down radio version. I swear, I despise I heart radio. They cut everything down except Free Bird.
This was a drinking song in pre-revolutionary English pubs and black Betty is what the English called (Scotch) Whiskey. Benjamin Frankllin refered to it in some of his letters back to the Colonies. English soldiers brought the song with them to fight the insurgence. The song subsequently underwent several/many changes over the years. It became famous in 1933 when James "Ironhead" Hayward was the first to record it but, before that, it was sung by convicts, like Huddy "Leadbelly" Ledbetter, in chain gangs, in the south. Huddy also recorded a version of it in 1939, after his release from prison . . . . . for murder.
English settlers from Northumberland and Cumberland who settled the Appalachians called their Whiskey 'Black Betty' it refers to the still they used to make their whiskey with, having a child is the whiskey being born and it can send you blind, it gets you high and when she shakes that thing it really makes you sing.
Lead Belly was a pioneer of folk/blues, and sometimes bluesmen would just string together a bunch of thoughts and words just because they sounded good and flowed well. "Black Betty" could in fact be a patchwork of the different interpretations. I know Birmingham Alabama was once a major iron/steel producing city. If Black Betty was a musket, the iron could've been from Birmingham, way down in Alabam.😁
So this is an old folk song, authorship unknown, but it was popularized by two Blues artists in the 1920s and 1930s, "Ironhead" and "Lead Belly" respectively. "Black Betty" isn't a person, it's the whip that was used to beat black prisoners on the chain gang. "Bam la Bam' is the sound of the whip... "She's so rocksteady, always ready"... pretty ominous, and when she "makes me sing" the implication is screaming in pain. There have been hundreds of versions of this song, and in typical Blues fashion, every artist has taken their own interpretation. In some versions, Black Betty is a gun, in other's it's a drug. But it is never a person, that is clear, it's an allegory for something that keeps people down. RamJam's version is the most popular recording to date, and it's the version most other bands cover now, but it's quite far from the original already.
"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. Some sources say it is one of Lead Belly's many adaptations of earlier folk material.
I watched a documentary about this song. It's a really old song, possibly revolutionary war era old. There are old recorded versions from the 1930's. Ram Jam played it faster and added a few lines. Several theories about what it means but most agree that it was about a musket rifle. Guns at that time were wildly inaccurate. The bam a lam is the sound of the gun, child gone blind is the musket ball going off target, it was not mine is saying not my fault, somebody else's shot. Ram Jam probably meant the lyrics to mean something else.
First video I've seen from you guys and Donna's *"I LIKE IT"* put a big smile on my face. This was fun! And a clever idea for a reaction series. Gotta see what else you got going on.
Bill Bartlett, the one singing, was the former Lead guitarist for The lemon Pipers. Howie Blauvelt, on the bass, was formerly in The Hassels with Billy Joel.
Another great classic, this song just wants you to stomp your feet and move along, another great for Lulu to experience. Kathy and Donna you are amazing.
Since you enjoyed this, in the same vein, I'd recommend Lynryd Skynyrd - Gimmie Three Steps, Black Foot - Train Train, Molly Hatchet - Flirtin' Disaster, UFO - Doctor Doctor I'm sure you'll like these.
"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.
English settlers from Northumberland and Cumberland who settled the Appalachians called their Whiskey 'Black Betty' it refers to the still they used to make their whiskey with, having a child is the whiskey being born and it can send you blind, it gets you high and when she shakes that thing it really makes you sing.
Awesome reaction from you all and in particular Donna almost couldn't keep in her seat😅 Great tune from a bygone Era. I am 61 and remember and still listen to this timeless Jam. On another note I was sharing with my younger sister a little about Lulu's goats as we grew up on a hobby farm and that include 5 goats. Mrs. Cooper(you didn't dare turn your back on her lol not after the first time. Set of horns) then there was baby and her 3 kids Poppy, Petunia and Pansie. Of course all the othe usual suspects of horses, cows chickens and geese were present. My younger ❤ sisters were the keeper of the goats. Good memories so keep up the great reactions as this one was over the top entertaining. Bluesfingers1
They only had two albums and they both rocked but this was their only hit. Gone Wild off their second one would be interesting to see you listen to. By the way, this is a shortened version for radio and video. Listen to the full version off their first album. The solo section will knock your socks off 👍🍻🇨🇦
Wow.. man... you guys.. listen, I was kinda low when got on UA-cam today, your channel just popped up as a suggestion for me to watch and the early-mid 80´s inspired intro made me feel a little better, but hey, holy shi*t, you guys are totally awesome, I feel really good now, my mood went up in no time after watching a couple of your videos and this one just blew my mind almost. The best reaction channel I´ve ever seen. I get that you are 3 generations, all of you look pretty young so I think that's kinda cool.. thank you very much for making my evening a lot better after a hard day of work. Thanks..
I use to take my grand daughter to pre school when she was 4 years old and I would play this song to get pumped up for work after a few days of rocking out and singing it I happened to look in the rear view mirror and my grand daughter was singing every word. I almost had to pull over because I was laughing so hard.
Huddy Ledbetter is the real name of the old blues singer otherwise known as Leadbelly. This is all old song indeed. Leadbelly probably wrote it based on much older songs as well.
OhMyGosh!!! **DonnaDonnaDonna!!!** I SO freakin **LUV** your reaction to THIS!!! Ha YAY! & OMG yea i freakin **LUV** this song there was a place i used to hang out where whenever i would go into the room they would blast this song for me cuz they knew it was one of my MOST fav songs such a **FUN** song really gets ya **Hyped** & **Dancin** cept man i totally agree i WISH it was WAY longer!!! oh WoW well the song made your day & your reaction made my day! **Thank You ALL** for THAT!!! SO needed a pick me up & this did it! **PixieHugz&LuvzALL**
I loved your laughter, so real. This is how I learn this song. 1 verse is about a black powder gun that goes 0ff "wild" gun slang. 2 verse is about liquor 3 verse is about a woman.
During Covid my friends, they have a band , they did many, many backyard concerts irl and over UA-cam as well. I have always loved this song, thanks ladies.
The lead singer/Guitarist is bill Bartlett. He built his first electric guitar at 13 before teaching himself how to play. Plus he's a Ohio native like me 😁
You would think this is some guys from the South, but the band was based on Long Island New York. The video was filmed at their house in Nassau County.
Black Betty refers to a Blunderbuss manufactured in Alabama during the civil war. The child was a smaller version that had so many problem that the soldier's were afraid it would blow up in there hand's. They would say Damn thing gone wild.
I KNEW you ladies would LOVE this and have a lot of fun listening to it! 😁 Many conflicting thoughts over the years to its meaning. It’s pretty clear it’s about a lady in the first and third verse but the second verse is obviously referencing whiskey. Seems to be: Verse 1- a woman he knows, kid ain’t his Verse 2- drinking Verse 3- an…ahem!…’dancer’. It’s not about a gun as others may say. That was the “Brown Bess” not a black Betty. But, yeah, the old Leadbelly version from the 1930s is worth a listen.
Rock music nightclubs I'd go to in the early and mid and late 1980s ALWAYS played this song. The dancefloor would ALWAYS be filled. Hearing this song start always caused a lot of excitement in rock nightclubs in the 1980s (in "Ehhd-Inn-Bra"/Edinburgh, Scotland/"Sco-Lun"). 1980s: Wild times, wild people. Having "a boogie" to this rough-edged old 1977 song.
The song is a prison work song. Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter, who was an early-20th Century Blues/Folk music singer who had served time in prison for two separate murders that he did not commit (he was released both times on appeal) learned the song there, and recorded the song in 1939, and got the copyright credit for the song. In 1977, Ram Jam added two new verses to the song, but gave the full songwriting and copyright to Ledbetter’s estate.
The story behind this video is that the record company gave them $500 to make a music video, so the band spent $450 on weed and beer, and threw this party with it, and just filmed it.
💯 true
Hearing an interview . . The band on the video is not the same as the one that recorded the single . . That came from a Bill Bartlett interview .. hes the lead on the video . .
If this is 1977, they may have shot this on Super 8 film. What we used to call home movie film.
@@rogerreed905 Bartlett said that they were told one morning to get their gear and go out ti shoot the video for a promoter in England. He didn't even see the final cut until 40 years later when his dentist showed it to him.
The song itself is an old folk song. The best known previous recording was by the great bluesman Leadbelly (Huddie Leadbetter, whom the band thought had written it), but he probably learned it in prison, as the first recording was a Lomax field recording.
The Ram Jam record is a 1977 remix of a 1973 recording by Bartlett's previous band, Starstruck. After Starstruck broke up, Bartlett was contacted by the producers he his earlier band, the Lemon Pipers, had worked with in the late 60s. Ram Jam was organized aground the song.
Ram Jam lasted for two albums, mostly decent blues-rock, but this was their only hit.
@@danadnauseam Great info, but don''t forget there was also the B side to the single edit version of "Black Betty," which was not on either Ram Jam album, "I Should Have Known." Also, the professional name "Lead Belly" was two words.
This is basically a rock cover of an old blues song. It's a great interpretation, with a lot of energy and musical invention.
This is probably the most covered song in History
i miss the solo section mid song on the album version...wish they included it in the video! great rendition...rock n roll at its best
@@powertothebauer296 You'd think so, but it really isn't. There are different ways to count covers/ sampled songs, but I've seen several different lists and Black Betty isn't on any of them. It's important to remember the existence of songs like White Christmas, My Way, Hallelujah!, and the libraries of the Beatles, Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Hoyt Axton.
@@cmlemmus494 This song is original from somewhere 1880 (the accurate year I don't recall) and I m to lazy to look it up again and over the years this song is from so many Artists interpreted that everybody lost count of it. so yes it is probably the most covered song in history.
@@cmlemmus494 sorry for the late reply. All I have to say look again. this song goes back to 1800s
I'm 72 yrs old I blasted this song in 1973 when I. College.
Luck as hell
It was released in 77
@@BadderSanta WHILE THIS SONG WAS NOT BLASTING IN 1973 BARTLETT AND HIS BAND STARSTRUCK RELEASED THE SONG ON TRUCK STAR LABEL IN 1975. IT WAS EDITED AND RELEASED IN 1977 WITH THE BAND RAM JAM. SO YOU'RE BOTH WRONG.
@@theoriginalscottmalkinson6161 the 75 release was only local.... So .... Yeah
@@theoriginalscottmalkinson6161 and the version here was ... Which is what people who pay attention are talking about ....was a. 1977 release
Sop shouting.... Comment on the video... Have the counselor in your group home check your post before hitting return
This look like my backyard when I grew up. This literally looks like my photo albums when I was a kid, this song been around forever
Black Betty was a Civil War black powder musket. It had a child the damn thing went wild. An unexpected discharge the bullet went in an unknown direction. It was an old cadence song for chain gangs in the south.
Hes talking about heroin.
Additionally, the Alabama gun manufacturer marketed a 2nd gun (the 'child') it did not fire straight either, this surely "...the damn thing went blind."
@@mcgee227no it's about a musket, the last line is about the iron works In Birmingham Alabama
The name Black Betty predates the American Civil War by about 150 years. The term Black Betty was later superseded by Brown Bess.
@@the_bottle_imp We all get to learn some history.
You can see the "glory days" starting to fade back in for Donna. 😅😅😅
It's so cool to see today's kids not only listening to but actually enjoying the music we "boomers" grew up listening to.
The 60s, 70s, and 80s were an awesome time to be alive, man.
Yes, Lulu, "she's always ready" to play baseball. Betty was sporty, and that's all you need to know.
She is so adorable!! I love her! (ready for what?)😁
Always dressed and ready to go out. lol
Given that there are about half a dozen semi-apocryphal interpretations of the lyrics, being ready to play ball is just as good as any other. The *nudge nudge wink wink* interpretation is actually not one of the major ones.
Baseball game, bles her heart!
LOL…!
That was some of the best reactions to this song that I've seen. Donna is a hoot.
Thank you. I agree Donna is hoot. Lol
Very good song. Written over 100 yrs ago ( maybe 200). Black Betty was a musket used by the military. Strong reliable and very accurate. The next generation was called a Brown Bess. So black Betty had a child, brown bess. Brown Bess was junk, not accurate ( gone blind) and not reliable ( gone wild). The third verse was added by Ram Jam to make the song longer. They should have added a few more verses.
English settlers from Northumberland and Cumberland who settled the Appalachians called their Whiskey 'Black Betty' it refers to the still they used to make their whiskey with, having a child is the whiskey being born and it can send you blind, it gets you high and when she shakes that thing it really makes you sing.
I was told the blind part came because of the smoke that was made from firing the musket and if you didn’t load the weapon properly it would blow up in your face or as the song said “Go wild” and blind you.
UTTER NONSENSE....SMH
Huddie Ledbetter was also known as Leadbelly. He was a legendary blues singer and songwriter from way back. He preceded the era of rock and roll. 😅 Leadbelly recorded his version of Black Betty in New York in 1939.
I was born in 1959 and I'm into Blues, Soul and Rock and I have looked up a lot of songs to see if there was an original artist. Little Eva, Mama Thornton, Robert Johnson just to name a few that their songs were covered and became big hits.
This is the 70's I remember. Man we had fun.
Black Betty was a metaphor used for a lot of different things. Whiskey to slaves. It was a song done by the blues singer Lead Belly and said to have been a slave song. However, Ram Jams version is said by its creator to be about Betty Paige, a 1950s pinup model. The last two verses are specifically about her....
Possibly the best thumbnail of the week right here,when all 3 has an expression of laughter at the same time,you know the reaction will be really GOOD! And i was right,this might be the best reaction i have seen to this song!
I have seen people with a stankface and diggin` this song alot,but this was on another level of fun reactions!
Thank you.
The 70s and 80s were decades ahead of us.
HELL YH 💫😎👏👌🎵⭐️✨️
@@JayKhwaja I 2nd that emotion best of best
So cute the 550 mark all three start bobbing their heads in sync lol.
Donna's eyes widenig when the guitar kicked in was priceless. I'd think even a big country fan would recognize the fuzzy chords of Southern Fried Rock.
With fried eggs on the album cover!
Ohh yeah!! Donna was ready to join that backyard party right then and there. She wanted to get up out of that chair and Jam out with Ram Jam!! Great stuff that was fun.
Even though Ram Jam had some regional success, this is their one-hit-wonder. This was used in quite a few soundtracks for action movies, so it may sound familiar to some people without knowing about it. The video does look like my kind of backyard BBQ. LOL Growing up I was lucky to have a few great garage band musicians that wound up playing as studio musicians in Nashville and played around the world with the USO, so we did a few jam sessions like it.
Number 1 in the UK for weeks
We had so much fun back then...btw there is a longer version with a good guitar solo in it
This is my ringtone lol. It's always funny to see new people react to this absolutely insane song lol.
Led Belly recorded this song in 1939. You can find it on UA-cam. Take a look.
The origins of the song go back much further.
Ram Jam released this recording in 1977. It hit me like a ton of bricks. They were a one-hit wonder.
Leadbelly
@@bruceblackburn9423 Oops. I knew that. Huddie Ledbetter, to be precise.I guess have permanent "Led Zeppelin" on the brain.
This version has been the entry music I played in my head when I walked into a room full of strangers for about two decades when I first heard Leadbelly's. The cadence is the same, but otherwise it blues and Southern Fried Rock.
I should have known it came from a blues artist being a fan of George Thurogood.
One of the greatest one hit wonders ever!! Kathy, you hit the nail right on the head!!
Yes, it was!
Spiderbait did a great cover too and it was in the movie Miss Congeniality 2, with Sandra Bullock.
LUlu: "maybe a baseball game"
Donna: "I doubt it"
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I literally laughed out loud to that! Oh god, so good.
Thank you so much.
😂😂😂
sweet summer child
Im 60 and still here it in the MC world. Best reaction ever ladys 🤣❤️🇮🇹🇧🇪
Thanks
The studio version has a longer middle jam section! Ultimate party song!
Yea. I've watched this video before and it did have the guitar solo. Now it seems to have had the audio replaced with the cut down radio version. I swear, I despise I heart radio. They cut everything down except Free Bird.
This is the studio version. Just edited down for radio.
This was a drinking song in pre-revolutionary English pubs and black Betty is what the English called (Scotch) Whiskey. Benjamin Frankllin refered to it in some of his letters back to the Colonies. English soldiers brought the song with them to fight the insurgence. The song subsequently underwent several/many changes over the years. It became famous in 1933 when James "Ironhead" Hayward was the first to record it but, before that, it was sung by convicts, like Huddy "Leadbelly" Ledbetter, in chain gangs, in the south. Huddy also recorded a version of it in 1939, after his release from prison . . . . . for murder.
Thanks for info
I have a version by Manfred Mann on their Mighty Garvey album called Big Betty.
Nope it was a gun ,in England
@@michaelscott8443 yeah, a lot of people say that and a lot of people are wrong . . . it's documented history.
Apparently the 'Black Betty" was a musket and the first line refers to a blind shot, which happens when damp gunpowder is used to pack a musket!
No. That's a brown bess. A British gun.
English settlers from Northumberland and Cumberland who settled the Appalachians called their Whiskey 'Black Betty' it refers to the still they used to make their whiskey with, having a child is the whiskey being born and it can send you blind, it gets you high and when she shakes that thing it really makes you sing.
Black Betty is a bullwhip used on people that were on the chain gang
@@gabreel8112 There's no evidence to support that but more impotently how would that relate to the words of the song.
Lead Belly was a pioneer of folk/blues, and sometimes bluesmen would just string together a bunch of thoughts and words just because they sounded good and flowed well. "Black Betty" could in fact be a patchwork of the different interpretations. I know Birmingham Alabama was once a major iron/steel producing city. If Black Betty was a musket, the iron could've been from Birmingham, way down in Alabam.😁
So this is an old folk song, authorship unknown, but it was popularized by two Blues artists in the 1920s and 1930s, "Ironhead" and "Lead Belly" respectively.
"Black Betty" isn't a person, it's the whip that was used to beat black prisoners on the chain gang.
"Bam la Bam' is the sound of the whip... "She's so rocksteady, always ready"... pretty ominous, and when she "makes me sing" the implication is screaming in pain.
There have been hundreds of versions of this song, and in typical Blues fashion, every artist has taken their own interpretation. In some versions, Black Betty is a gun, in other's it's a drug. But it is never a person, that is clear, it's an allegory for something that keeps people down.
RamJam's version is the most popular recording to date, and it's the version most other bands cover now, but it's quite far from the original already.
Next up for you guys should be the cautionary tale as told by THE GEORGIA SATELLITES. You will absolutely LOVE it !!!
Lead guitarist Bill Bartlett also was in the band Lemon Pipers who did 'Green Tambourine'.
"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. Some sources say it is one of Lead Belly's many adaptations of earlier folk material.
Bill Bartlett is one of the guitarists, he was in the "Lemon Pipers" band in the late 1960s, " Mr. Tamborine Man". Never stopped playing this tune.
That is worth looking up for the sheer contrast of styles. Lemon Pipers were sort part of the bubble gum scene compared to this Southern rock.
It was "Green Tamborine". Mr Tamborine Man was the Byrds.
@@BlackiePawless Yeah. "Green Tambourine" was more psychedelic.
Green Tambourine would be the title.
The Byrds did the Dylan tune you name. ✌️
I watched a documentary about this song. It's a really old song, possibly revolutionary war era old. There are old recorded versions from the 1930's. Ram Jam played it faster and added a few lines. Several theories about what it means but most agree that it was about a musket rifle. Guns at that time were wildly inaccurate. The bam a lam is the sound of the gun, child gone blind is the musket ball going off target, it was not mine is saying not my fault, somebody else's shot. Ram Jam probably meant the lyrics to mean something else.
Took miss Donna back in time . Loved her reaction
First video I've seen from you guys and Donna's *"I LIKE IT"* put a big smile on my face. This was fun! And a clever idea for a reaction series. Gotta see what else you got going on.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Bill Bartlett, the one singing, was the former Lead guitarist for The lemon Pipers. Howie Blauvelt, on the bass, was formerly in The Hassels with Billy Joel.
Wow
....also, this is the short version.
You ladies rock..I dig your individual perspective and personalities..much respect and success.
Thanks
gotta smile when you hear this
Another great classic, this song just wants you to stomp your feet and move along, another great for Lulu to experience. Kathy and Donna you are amazing.
Thanks
Since you enjoyed this, in the same vein, I'd recommend Lynryd Skynyrd - Gimmie Three Steps, Black Foot - Train Train, Molly Hatchet - Flirtin' Disaster, UFO - Doctor Doctor
I'm sure you'll like these.
Also, That Smell and Simple Man by Lynryd Skynyrd and anything by Boston!
You're better than Spotify.
For those not in the know the Lead guitarist, Bill Bartlett was a member of the Lemon Pipers known for the song Green Tambourine.
Also, Huddy Leadbetter was blues musician from 1930s and 1940s better known as Lead Belly. This is a cover of his original song.
The 70's were great!!! Just look at how they dressed and how they were acting during this video🤣🤣🤣
Yes, it was great.
Awesome song!! It's so catchy you can't forget this song! Came out when I was young and you still hear people playing it in bars!
This is a version of an old southern blues song often credited to Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter as the author, but it is way older.
"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.
English settlers from Northumberland and Cumberland who settled the Appalachians called their Whiskey 'Black Betty' it refers to the still they used to make their whiskey with, having a child is the whiskey being born and it can send you blind, it gets you high and when she shakes that thing it really makes you sing.
Black Betty is a Blunderbuss
FINALLY! Somebody's accent I understand.. Y'all are great.
Awesome reaction from you all and in particular Donna almost couldn't keep in her seat😅 Great tune from a bygone Era. I am 61 and remember and still listen to this timeless Jam. On another note I was sharing with my younger sister a little about Lulu's goats as we grew up on a hobby farm and that include 5 goats. Mrs. Cooper(you didn't dare turn your back on her lol not after the first time. Set of horns) then there was baby and her 3 kids Poppy, Petunia and Pansie. Of course all the othe usual suspects of horses, cows chickens and geese were present. My younger ❤ sisters were the keeper of the goats. Good memories so keep up the great reactions as this one was over the top entertaining.
Bluesfingers1
Thank you so much. Donna did love this video. Those were some cute names for goats.
perfect reaction to a perfect video aaaaa++++ great job this was pure magic
They only had two albums and they both rocked but this was their only hit. Gone Wild off their second one would be interesting to see you listen to. By the way, this is a shortened version for radio and video. Listen to the full version off their first album. The solo section will knock your socks off 👍🍻🇨🇦
Thanks
Brilliant to see how happy music can make people.
Donna's face lit up when the singing started, this song speaks to my old memories too. This video is a whole vibe.
Yes, it is.
Glad you all loved it! Best video ever of the 70's. Such a banger!
Ram Jam formed in 1977, and they had split before the end of the year.
Wow.. man... you guys.. listen, I was kinda low when got on UA-cam today, your channel just popped up as a suggestion for me to watch and the early-mid 80´s inspired intro made me feel a little better, but hey, holy shi*t, you guys are totally awesome, I feel really good now, my mood went up in no time after watching a couple of your videos and this one just blew my mind almost. The best reaction channel I´ve ever seen. I get that you are 3 generations, all of you look pretty young so I think that's kinda cool.. thank you very much for making my evening a lot better after a hard day of work. Thanks..
Thank you so much
This is the radio cut..the album version has a wild jamming interlude .. loved y'all's reaction 😁
Thanks
This might just be my newest favorite reaction. Not just to this song but all time. Subscribing now
Thank you for subbing.
The lead guitar player and singer was in the Band The Lemon Pipers and had a hit called Green Tambourine.
I thought he lookd familier. The video is much older than it appears.
I use to take my grand daughter to pre school when she was 4 years old and I would play this song to get pumped up for work after a few days of rocking out and singing it I happened to look in the rear view mirror and my grand daughter was singing every word. I almost had to pull over because I was laughing so hard.
"What was she ready for? I don't know. A baseball game? I doubt it." Classic guys.
Lol
Heehee, I love your reactions to this. It's a favourite from way back in '73!! I bought the record, but it was their only big hit!
Ladies, the reaction of the 3 of you to that has made me chuckle. Keep picking bangers
Will do
Huddy Ledbetter is the real name of the old blues singer otherwise known as Leadbelly. This is all old song indeed. Leadbelly probably wrote it based on much older songs as well.
Thanks for info
Thats the only version I own. Jim
LOVED Donna's reaction!! It just brought back so many memories of that song back in the day I'd bet!!
LOL YOU ALL ARE SO FUNNY. "BLACK BETTY IS A REAL CLASSIC SONG . GLAD YOU ALL FINALLY GOT TO HEAR IT.
Typing in UPPER CASE = 'Shouting'. Could you maybe type in a LARGER typeface? We didn't quite hear you.
@@Drahculia IT SHOWS YOUR SMALL MIND SET. EXPAND YOUR MIND, AND STOP BEING A SHEEP. BAAAAAAAA AAAAAAA
brilliant, this song is a classic! can't wait for more reactions!
This song slaps so hard, you need a safe word.
👍😹😹😹
😂😂oh dang, excellent description 😂❤
OhMyGosh!!! **DonnaDonnaDonna!!!** I SO freakin **LUV** your reaction to THIS!!! Ha YAY! & OMG yea i freakin **LUV** this song there was a place i used to hang out where whenever i would go into the room they would blast this song for me cuz they knew it was one of my MOST fav songs such a **FUN** song really gets ya **Hyped** & **Dancin** cept man i totally agree i WISH it was WAY longer!!! oh WoW well the song made your day & your reaction made my day! **Thank You ALL** for THAT!!! SO needed a pick me up & this did it! **PixieHugz&LuvzALL**
Thank you so much
I loved your laughter, so real. This is how I learn this song.
1 verse is about a black powder gun that goes 0ff "wild" gun slang.
2 verse is about liquor
3 verse is about a woman.
During Covid my friends, they have a band , they did many, many backyard concerts irl and over UA-cam as well. I have always loved this song, thanks ladies.
Donna's reaction is priceless 😊
You'all made my night. I always have liked this since I was 14 years old. I'm 61 and I still like me some Ram Jam.
Thanks for watching
Lol knew they would all have fun with this one. Such a great song.
I have watched a lot of reactions, this is by far the best one I’ve ever seen! I know and love the song. This made my day! Thank y’all!
Thank you for watching.
The lead singer/Guitarist is bill Bartlett. He built his first electric guitar at 13 before teaching himself how to play. Plus he's a Ohio native like me 😁
Thanks for the info
@@KathyLuluandDonna no problem ! 💯
Donna looked so very happy! 😂 It's a joy seeing your joy.
They were essentially one-hit-wonders. But what a hit!! 👍👍
If you liked that one you’ll love their song “Keep Your Hands On the Wheel”. 😂
Most underrated band in USA!
Best Black Betty review ever! ❤
Thanks
You would think this is some guys from the South, but the band was based on Long Island New York. The video was filmed at their house in Nassau County.
Wow
This was so fun to watch, y'all. I just noticed Donna finally got her acknowledgement in the channel name. It's been long overdue. She's my favorite!
Thank you
Black Betty refers to a Blunderbuss manufactured in Alabama during the civil war.
The child was a smaller version that had so many problem that the soldier's were afraid it would blow up in there hand's.
They would say Damn thing gone wild.
Well, that was a Great Reaction Ladies, really made me smile!!!
Some of the greatest were recorded back in the 70's!!!
Glad you enjoyed it
The album version has a longer guitar solo. It is their only good song but definitely worth putting on your playlist.
You ladies reactions made me smile from ear to ear! Awesome! :)
Yes RAM JAM never made it big but this song was as their one big hit.
This version is the short version. There is an awesome guitar break near the end of the long version.
It's a 1970's remake of an old 1920's chain gang song.
One of my all time favorite songs. Their reactions are so great! AND...now I know what the song is actually about!!
I KNEW you ladies would LOVE this and have a lot of fun listening to it! 😁
Many conflicting thoughts over the years to its meaning. It’s pretty clear it’s about a lady in the first and third verse but the second verse is obviously referencing whiskey.
Seems to be:
Verse 1- a woman he knows, kid ain’t his
Verse 2- drinking
Verse 3- an…ahem!…’dancer’.
It’s not about a gun as others may say. That was the “Brown Bess” not a black Betty.
But, yeah, the old Leadbelly version from the 1930s is worth a listen.
I love the excitement from the lady to the right! 😄
A blast from the past!🤘🎸
Rock music nightclubs I'd go to in the early and mid and late 1980s ALWAYS played this song. The dancefloor would ALWAYS be filled. Hearing this song start always caused a lot of excitement in rock nightclubs in the 1980s (in "Ehhd-Inn-Bra"/Edinburgh, Scotland/"Sco-Lun"). 1980s: Wild times, wild people. Having "a boogie" to this rough-edged old 1977 song.
Black Betty was why they called the flint type pistols in the 1700's and pirates times.
Of All the reactions on youtube, THIS ONE IS the BEST. Love you Ladies. Bravo Zulu ( job well done)
Wow, thank you!
LuLu was feelin' it! Rock~n~Roll will never die!
Loved dancing to this song in the 70s .
Interesting history behind this song: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Betty
The song is a prison work song. Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter, who was an early-20th Century Blues/Folk music singer who had served time in prison for two separate murders that he did not commit (he was released both times on appeal) learned the song there, and recorded the song in 1939, and got the copyright credit for the song.
In 1977, Ram Jam added two new verses to the song, but gave the full songwriting and copyright to Ledbetter’s estate.
those were the days.
The way grandma perked up on the first beat made my day!