I’ve read almost all comments on this post. Quite a few people are disrespecting Bills performance. Getting old comes with loads of issues like arthritis, memory and pain in the legs fingers and body. For all you negative commenters this curse will find you and open your eyes to future comments about aging musicians. I’m a 71 year old guitar player. What use to be fun and enjoying is now full of pain and frustration but I push thru it. Lay off of these wonderful seniors who blasted a path in their time.
I agree, but they must make everyone in the audience wear adult underwear, because they will all shit their pants when they witness real rock ‘n’ roll :-)
He’s actually not that good it’s jus that he sings and plays at the same time well so that’s what makes him good. I would say he has moderate guitar skills
I heard him play in the early 70s at a local Bar in Oxford Ohio and I bet you were swimming around in your father’s bag ! Let me tell you something, I don’t know you but I’ll just bet you couldn’t carry his jock strap. He was one of the fastest lead players in the world. He has some problems now. Go back and listen to the original tracks from Starstruck. When you get 80 think back about this.
Well, he did say he was a bit rusty after being away from performing for many years. so I give him credit for trying. Still great to see and hear the original
@@sonofren Bill played in a band with my dad through most of the 80's called "Southern Rain" in the greater Cincinnati area. My dad talked to Bill a couple of years ago, and bill said the day before this performance, he had a wart removed from the palm of his hand, that left him very sore. Bill stopped playing Black Betty for a long time because he got screwed out of the royalties for that song, until the movie "Blow" with Johnny Depp came out, and since then Bill gets royalty checks. My friend Jeremy delivers mail to Bill's house
@@randywoolum2648 That's really sad, Ram Jam has some of the best raw talent of any band from that time. It's like Hendrix, ZZ Top, and Grand Funk Railroad all mashed together. I wish instead of him giving up he just dug his heels in and made better music. BTW the Bass player is amazing although he looks like a total fruit in the video. The record version plays so fast and clean I can't believe he didn't end up a bass legend like Steve Harris. I can't think of anyone better in the late 70s, also the song is once again blowing up all over the place.
One thing I know about Bill is that he has never been totally satisfied and therefore never stops "practicing" whether it's the guitar or the piano. He's been blessed with this "God-given talent" that he didn't take for granted - just kept getting better.
Thanks for putting this on here. After watching the original video a thousand times, seeing this made me feel good knowing the 72 year old dude can still play and sing it. This answers the question, what would Bill look like if he were still doing this song at 72?
Well that guitar solo is a "Woodstock Special", meaning whatever dude just keep playing because we're high anyways. BTW Bill, Alice in the original video sitting by herself on the motorcycle, is a friend of mine. She plays keys in our band.
What a great song! Back in the 70's, the kids in the media club would play this over the intercom in the halls and lunchroom before first bell and during lunch. The black kids HATED it! They complained but the only thing that happened was they started playing it more frequently, lol! I think even the Principal liked it! Nowadays, people would be falling all over the place, pissing themselves and groveling as they plead "I'm not a RACIST!!!" Pathetic...
This is my most favorite song in the whole world, ever! So happy to find a live version of it, even if it's with just one of the members of the old group 🥰
they made so many better and amazing songs! I used to only listen to Black Betty, but I decided to listen to their greatest hits, and wow.....listen to "Turnpike", "Wanna Find Love", "404", "Hurricane"
Kaiser Ratte people need to listen to Blue Oyster Cult's other stuff. People only listen to "Burning for You" and Don't Fear The Reaper", but they have so many better songs that are sadistic, warped, and pure heavymetal/rock
What a great guy. I live in Alabama . I wish I could get close enough to pay him to Autograph my guitars. I would make it worth his while.. we love you Bill, you are my guitar hero 🦸♂️ !!!
I have known Bill for a lot of years growing up in College Corner. I have a blues club and Bill has come in not often and had lunch. We have talked and Bill has said he will never play out on guitar again. A great player and very humble .
@lespaul4 I remember it well ...driving to Oxford from Indiana, hoping not to get carded, drinking 3.2 beer and listening to Starstruck, The Bell Jar and all the other bands that played at The Boar's Head. Good times!!
How cute, it's angry... You started this argument princess. Yes, I'm familiar with the term "arrangement", covers frequently feature a different arrangement yet are still known as covers. Nothing you've written actually contradicts my original comment (from 2 years ago and not disrespectful in any way btw). Anyway, I'm out, learn some punctuation you fucking muppet... *Post Muted*
"Black Betty" (Roud 11668) 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.
Billy is the son of my mother's bfriend way back in the 70s. In 1978 the rage was wearing a bullet on a neck chain. He offered(I asked)to make one for me. Using his father's drill in the garage, he didn't get far before the bullet went off(it wasn't a used one)and he injured his hand. Every time I see him play I'm looking at his hands. I don't know/remember which hand, but it was bad. I wonder if he still remembers.
the song is ace, and full respect to the man for writing such a classic song in rock history...and respect is given here as he is much older and still playing.....but my god is he murdering this song!!!!!! i hope this message is not misunderstood.
RESPECT... TWO GREAT ALBUMS AND HIS PRESENCE IN A FANTASTIC BAND, (NOT ONLY A BUBBLEGUM ),THE LEMON PIPERS......LOVE YOU 56dinosaur)!! CHECK THE BAND THE HASSLES ( A MEMBER OF RAM JAM,WITH BILLY JOEL), CHECK THEM!!! FROM GREECE, WITH LOVE AND RESPECT TO BILL BARTLETT !!!!
Great great musician, he is today 72 and was 63 that day, I wish all guitarist could play as he does at that age. Respect and Rock n' Roll
he was look like 85 ._.
he might look 85 but he's playing like a 35 year old.@@patrykolszewski593
@@patrykolszewski593 that's like a 136 years in rock and roll years....
he's ahead of it lol
@@patrykolszewski593 Maybe look 85 but playing like a 93 year old.
@@ascoop22 Arthritis will definitely affect your guitar playing
After Bills wife of many years passed away, he went into seclusion, he is truly a great talent
Very underrated.
@@stvo2009 yes he is, alive and well, I spoke with him not long ago
@Kevin Smith will do, I remember Starstruck....on Truckstar label....
RIP Betty.
@@annbeeker9999 Definitely one of music's most underrated and forgotten talents.
Still has the same haircut and glasses lol
😂😂
"if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
maybe has no money to buy new one
He still is damn good looking.
@@donaldbanks1989 you guys kinda look alike, I think Bill has more hair though...is that the reason for your comment?
Still rocking and rolling for a gentleman his age. Awesome performance, Bill.
Bill's voice held up like fine wine here. Might even be better.
Wish we could have a 2024 update. Best Black Betty ever recorded. Sorry Leadbelly.
I love bill Bartlett, he has the same everything, he even dresses the same way. I am 63 old woman
I hope you won't stop listening to music, and thanks for your sincere🌹🌹🌹Compliment and love towards my music❤️❤️, can't wait to hear from you 😍😍
I’ve read almost all comments on this post. Quite a few people are disrespecting Bills performance. Getting old comes with loads of issues like arthritis, memory and pain in the legs fingers and body. For all you negative commenters this curse will find you and open your eyes to future comments about aging musicians. I’m a 71 year old guitar player. What use to be fun and enjoying is now full of pain and frustration but I push thru it. Lay off of these wonderful seniors who blasted a path in their time.
Old Bill has still got it- rock on Billy boy!!! Blessings to ya man!
Then and now, this is a badass song!
He should come out and play this at the grammy's so they can learn what real music is.
Ain't that the truth!!!
From Steve. I AGREE TO AGREE 👍 💯.
I agree, but they must make everyone in the audience wear adult underwear, because they will all shit their pants when they witness real rock ‘n’ roll :-)
That's what I'm talkin about.
That would be a National Treasure!
I wish I had 10% of Bill's guitar talent and I'd be very satisfied.
man i know iam late but by this time you should be a pretty good guitar player and there si litteraly 5% talent and 95% practicing
Try to practicing...its not that difficult
Spend the time practicing then.
He’s actually not that good it’s jus that he sings and plays at the same time well so that’s what makes him good. I would say he has moderate guitar skills
I heard him play in the early 70s at a local Bar in Oxford Ohio and I bet you were swimming around in your father’s bag ! Let me tell you something, I don’t know you but I’ll just bet you couldn’t carry his jock strap. He was one of the fastest lead players in the world. He has some problems now. Go back and listen to the original tracks from Starstruck. When you get 80 think back about this.
Thank you Bill for making music that helped get me through life! God bless you brother! 🤘BAM-A-LAM!!
Still killing it after all them years
WOW, very cool! Great, timeless, classic song and a joy to see Bill Bartlett still jamming! Thank you sir!
born in 73...but hell man...this song really stuck in my head for a week...when I 1st heard it like 2 years ago!! briliant !
in 1979 I was a DJ in a small local radio in a little town in south Italy, Black Betty was the opening song of my Morning programm.
He anit lost a thing to time.
Still rocking hard......
Long live ROCK.
Genius, rocks your socks off
More talent in one finger than in the top 100 today
Fuckin rock on man. Ive always loved ram jam and forever will. This man is amazing
Well, he did say he was a bit rusty after being away from performing for many years. so I give him credit for trying. Still great to see and hear the original
Wow it’s like he hasn’t played since the 70s and was like sure I’ll do the gig
yeah he sounded way out of practice. I cried 1/2 way into his solo, it was so sloppy.
@@TheOneAboveAll It was like he never played Black Betty since the 70s. Muscle memory fails after 40 years, so it would seem.
Thats because he quite literally has not. He quit the music business in the late 70s and hasn't been playing much at all if any since
@@sonofren Bill played in a band with my dad through most of the 80's called "Southern Rain" in the greater Cincinnati area. My dad talked to Bill a couple of years ago, and bill said the day before this performance, he had a wart removed from the palm of his hand, that left him very sore. Bill stopped playing Black Betty for a long time because he got screwed out of the royalties for that song, until the movie "Blow" with Johnny Depp came out, and since then Bill gets royalty checks. My friend Jeremy delivers mail to Bill's house
@@randywoolum2648 That's really sad, Ram Jam has some of the best raw talent of any band from that time. It's like Hendrix, ZZ Top, and Grand Funk Railroad all mashed together. I wish instead of him giving up he just dug his heels in and made better music. BTW the Bass player is amazing although he looks like a total fruit in the video. The record version plays so fast and clean I can't believe he didn't end up a bass legend like Steve Harris. I can't think of anyone better in the late 70s, also the song is once again blowing up all over the place.
Killer Song from High School days. Now at 60 it is still my top fun song to play on Pandora Radio.
I don’t care what time of the year is appropriate , I’ll don the white jeans and dance to Mr. Bartlett’s singing of this iconic song.
One thing I know about Bill is that he has never been totally satisfied and therefore never stops "practicing" whether it's the guitar or the piano. He's been blessed with this "God-given talent" that he didn't take for granted - just kept getting better.
It sounds like he stopped practising 30 years ago.
ascoop22 .... yep. Out maybe just a few years ago..
I'm so happy that you were in the direct path of his amp to capture the tonal magic!!!!
Unfortunately, his songs are not as famous as they should be. His music should be world famous.
Yeah
I just love this song!
Utterly fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously great musician.
That was the way rock and roll should sound
This song is a masterpiece. I wish there were more live performances by him.
God Bless you Bill!!!
Thanks for putting this on here. After watching the original video a thousand times, seeing this made me feel good knowing the 72 year old dude can still play and sing it. This answers the question, what would Bill look like if he were still doing this song at 72?
This dude was born to play the guitar, there's no doubt about it. It's funny certain people are born to do something and others aren't.
Bill was also a member of The Lemon Pipers, known for the bubblegum hit "Green Tambourine"
did not know that.........
Are you kidding me this is amazing
Still bad ass to this day
What a beautiful Tele.
So f**ken awesome after all that water passed under the bridge. Legend Bill
Truly special to watch. What an amazing song. Long live rock man.
Dang this boy can ROCK 💫🎉
Man, he still got it.
Ah,somewhat.
Pure gold!
You won’t see many bands cover this. That’s because it’s not a two chord Beatles song. It takes real skill. Originality.
Well that guitar solo is a "Woodstock Special", meaning whatever dude just keep playing because we're high anyways. BTW Bill, Alice in the original video sitting by herself on the motorcycle, is a friend of mine. She plays keys in our band.
the solo is in the original song
Guy plays it better and closer than anyone else I’ve seen. Some of these other peoples had huge stadiums sold out Couldn’t hold a candle to this gent
He did write it after all
One of my favourite songs EVER.
Holy shot it actually him. I freaking love this .
Plz keep rockn till u cant anymore bill...you are awesome & u rock buddy.
Epic, i was searching for anything of Ram jam and i found this great video!
I saw The Lemon Pipers at high school dances around 1967. They were one of the best bands in south-west Ohio, rivaled only by The Sacred Mushroom.
What a great song!
Back in the 70's, the kids in the media club would play this over the intercom in the halls and lunchroom before first bell and during lunch.
The black kids HATED it! They complained but the only thing that happened was they started playing it more frequently, lol! I think even the Principal liked it!
Nowadays, people would be falling all over the place, pissing themselves and groveling as they plead "I'm not a RACIST!!!"
Pathetic...
This is my most favorite song in the whole world, ever! So happy to find a live version of it, even if it's with just one of the members of the old group 🥰
Kinda rare to see musicians live up to this age, especially when rock is surrounded by drugs if you know what I mean..
DAMN
Props to HIM ❤️
It's rare that dead musicians live up to this age you mean. There are hundreds of musicians older than this that are still rockin and not as rusty.
I hope you won't stop listening to music, and thanks for your sincere🌹🌹🌹Compliment and love towards my music❤️❤️, can't wait to hear from you 😍😍
Imagine how cool it would be to have this guy come over on a hot summer day for a couple of cool beers and cool jams....
Proud to say I also have that Sun Studios t-shirt!
they made so many better and amazing songs! I used to only listen to Black Betty, but I decided to listen to their greatest hits, and wow.....listen to "Turnpike", "Wanna Find Love", "404", "Hurricane"
yeah its good not to just look at a bands one very known song
Kaiser Ratte people need to listen to Blue Oyster Cult's other stuff. People only listen to "Burning for You" and Don't Fear The Reaper", but they have so many better songs that are sadistic, warped, and pure heavymetal/rock
@@RigorArts but don't fear the reaper is epic. I love it.
Gone wild, that song rips my head off, that's their best song to me
Black betty still good after all these years
A
Fter
I really enjoyed this.
Nice tele and playing. Just learnt this g8 song today..thanks
What a great guy. I live in Alabama . I wish I could get close enough to pay him to Autograph my guitars. I would make it worth his while.. we love you Bill, you are my guitar hero 🦸♂️ !!!
Sad that there aren’t enough kids to replicate it! That is with sincerity!
I like how the solo has folk sounds to it instead of just shredding. It’s interesting.
So annoying when you watch a live video and some drunk woman in the crowd sings louder than the person youre trying to hear.
Screw the naysayers... still rockin'
I have known Bill for a lot of years growing up in College Corner. I have a blues club and Bill has come in not often and had lunch. We have talked and Bill has said he will never play out on guitar again. A great player and very humble .
Telecaster so versatile. Does nearly everything well
@lespaul4 I remember it well ...driving to Oxford from Indiana, hoping not to get carded, drinking 3.2 beer and listening to Starstruck, The Bell Jar and all the other bands that played at The Boar's Head. Good times!!
ram jam rules:)
Damn still sound good!!! 👍
Yes I love these guys
Blowin' in the wind !!!
Sure hope Sir Bill, gets the Rick 381 V6 set to his liking and fires it up w/a video in action!!
Awesome. Still playing a mean guitar too
3:54 falsetto, awesome
Just sold a Rickenbacker 381 V6 a 1996 Flame Top, hand carved by Roger Reissmeil before he died!
wow fucking amasing to hear original singer to sing black betty....love you bill!!!!!
Leadbelly is the original singer..
How cute, it's angry... You started this argument princess. Yes, I'm familiar with the term "arrangement", covers frequently feature a different arrangement yet are still known as covers. Nothing you've written actually contradicts my original comment (from 2 years ago and not disrespectful in any way btw). Anyway, I'm out, learn some punctuation you fucking muppet... *Post Muted*
"Black Betty" (Roud 11668) 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.
He's still got that badass voice!
Absolute QUALITY...
Hard rock 🤘🖤
Thank god the original is on UA-cam :P
Not sure if he is still alive, but he goes way back to the 60's!
Listen to this song in Italy when I was 17 still super beautiful now and very rock and roll instead of rap and other sleeping kind of music
The only "off" thing I see/hear is the mix. Bill still smokes! (Loved this record when new - still do.)
World's coolest granddad
Amazing song ..
Billy is the son of my mother's bfriend way back in the 70s. In 1978 the rage was wearing a bullet on a neck chain. He offered(I asked)to make one for me. Using his father's drill in the garage, he didn't get far before the bullet went off(it wasn't a used one)and he injured his hand. Every time I see him play I'm looking at his hands. I don't know/remember which hand, but it was bad.
I wonder if he still remembers.
I just came here to see if Bill Bartlett was still kicking; such a great song with a controversial history, I heard he never got paid for it...
Bill looks good!
back in the 70s this guy looked awesome........ this is how fast drugs will make you age
Dude, the 70's were 40 years ago. AGE makes you age.
Roy Ross Over 30 years ago fuckin tard
Michael Ehrlich
1977 to 2018. That's not 40 ?
Best Rock song 🎵 ever..
the song is ace, and full respect to the man for writing such a classic song in rock history...and respect is given here as he is much older and still playing.....but my god is he murdering this song!!!!!! i hope this message is not misunderstood.
RESPECT... TWO GREAT ALBUMS AND HIS PRESENCE IN A FANTASTIC BAND, (NOT ONLY A BUBBLEGUM ),THE LEMON PIPERS......LOVE YOU 56dinosaur)!! CHECK THE BAND THE HASSLES ( A MEMBER OF RAM JAM,WITH BILLY JOEL), CHECK THEM!!! FROM GREECE, WITH LOVE AND RESPECT TO BILL BARTLETT !!!!
HELL YEAH
pretty bloody impressive
Still the boss!
Oh Damn Black Betty way down in Alabam!
best song ever
Hard to find information on this great artist. I was looking for more songs by him .
What a legend
Forgot to practice before showing up at this gig. Doh....