Uncategorized – Spinning Three Ways!

Feature Song: “Black Betty”

This installment of DUTC takes us on somewhat of an historical journey of a song. “Black Betty” (Roud 11668 – the identification number in the Roud Folk Song Index for this song) is a 20^th century African-American work song that was often and mistakenly credited to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter as the author, as the earliest recordings are by James “Iron Head” Baker and Moses “Clear Rock” Platt. Lead Belly’s cover of the song was an adaptation of earlier folk material, as is often the case with many of the songs from this era. The origin and meaning of the lyrics are subject to debate, but the original lyrics refer to Black Betty having a child, the child going “wild” or “blind,” and potentially alluding to a whip in a prison context, featuring the recurring “bam-a-lam” refrain. Historically, the “Black Betty” of the title may refer to the nickname given to a number of objects: a bottle of whiskey, a whip, or a penitentiary transfer wagon. However, in more modern versions of the song, the term alludes to a fast car or motorcycle.

The song was first recorded in the field by US musicologists, John and Alan Lomax, in December of 1933, performed a cappella by convicts “Iron Head” and “Clear Rock,” and a group at Central State Farm in Sugar Land, Texas (a state prison farm). Baker was 63 years-old at the time of recording. Both Baker (whose real name was Reuben Avery Burrage) and Platt were African American traditional folk singers. Lead Belly, who had also served time in state prison farms, recorded the song commercially, with the help of the Lomax’s, in April of 1939 for the Musicraft Records label.

While there have been other covers that stayed true to the song’s folk origins, Ram Jam’s 1977 version was a whole other story. This was the version that first introduced me to the song, as I am sure is the case for many of my generation, and the rock adaptation was a huge hit. The group used Lead Belly’s version as their inspiration, adding new verses that were apparently inspired, according to guitarist Bill Bartlett, by 1950s pin-up queen, Betty Paige, though he also acknowledged that the original meaning was open to interpretation. They also used Lead Belly’s version of the recurring refrain, “bam-ba -lam.” There was a great deal of controversy surrounding their version, as the NAACP felt their song insulted Black women, despite the historical context pointing to objects, not people.

Twenty-seven years later along comes Spiderbait, an Australian alternative rock band from Finely, New South Wales. They were formed in 1989 by bass guitarist and singer Janet English, drummer and singer Kram, and guitarist Damian Whitty. In 2004, their cover of Lead Belly’s version of “Black Betty” reached number one on the Airia Singles Charts. They have had five top 20 albums (late 90s early 2000s), and if you know the titles of any of them, go to the head of the class! After a nine year hiatus, they released Spidebait (2013). I will let you be the judge, but in my mind their cover version out rocks Ram Jam, and their official video is an absolute hoot, which is saying something as Ram Jam’s official video screams the 70s!

Finally, there is the cover by Caravan Palace, a French electro-swing band based in Paris, and about as far removed from a Texas prison camp as you can get. The band formed as a three-piece when they were recruited to compose a soundtrack for a silent adult film… just let that sink in! Loïc Barrouk took an interest in the project and booked the band for a series of gigs. Subsequent performers were added for live concerts, including current band members, Zoé Colotis and Paul-Marie Barbier, and former members Camille Chapelière and Antoine Tousto, who were all found searching on My Space. Remember that? The band became popular on the internet after releasing a number of demos and promo singles. They toured around France in 2006 to 2007, with their first festival appearance coming at the Django Reinhardt Jazz Festival in 2007. They spent the following year recording their self-titled debut studio album, which was released in 2008. Their live performances are infectious and could easily be labelled as musical theater. For a perfect example of this, check out this video from a performance of “Rock It for Me” at Le Trianon, Paris in 2012 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7JOa3dISg0) It is very difficult to remain still when listening and/or watching them perform. With that, eighty-four years after “Black Betty’s release, Caravan Palace performed the song live in 2017 at the Jools New Year’s Eve Party in 2016/17, recording it as a single in 2018. While it has never been released on one of their studio albums, it does make an appearance on Dusty House Mix (DJ Mix), remixed by Shiny Bob released in 2025.

So, from the Texas prison camps in 1933 to the stages of music venues in France in 2017, I give you “Black Betty!” Enjoy.

James “Iron Head” Baker & Moses “Clear Rock” Platt, “Black Betty” original 1933.