Ram Jam » Tracks » Black Betty

Ram Jam – Black Betty (3:12)

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About This Track

“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. Some sources claim it is one of Lead Belly’s many adaptations of earlier folk material; in this case an 18th century marching cadence about a flint-lock rifle.

In 1977, the rock band Ram Jam — whose members included Bill Bartlett, formerly of Starstruck and The Lemon Pipers — rerecorded the song with producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz under Epic Records. The song became an instant hit with listeners, as it reached number 18 on the singles charts in the United States and the top ten in Australia. At the same time, the lyrics became the cause of a boycott by civil rights groups NAACP and Congress of Racial Equality, who claimed it insulted black women.

In 1990 dance remixes of Ram Jam’s version made the top twenty of the US dance charts and top thirty in Australia. Other notable artists such as Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (1986) and Tom Jones (2002) have covered the song.
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Albums featuring this track

  • The Definitive 70's
    Tony Orlando & Dawn Play
    Buy
  • The Definitive 70's
    Various Play
    Buy
  • Golden Classics
    Ram Jam Play
    Buy
  • 100 Hits Of The '70s
    Various Play
    Buy
See all 166 albums

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  • Darkmeteor

    I really need to practise more bass if I ever want to be able to play the crazy fast part in that song

    10 hours ago

  • rhornak

    she's always ready

    17 days ago

  • dewbie226

    SHE ALWAYS GETS ME HIGH...BAM A LAM!!!

    18 days ago

  • BMWPRETTY

    Spank! ;-) Whoooo! Rockin!

    25 days ago

  • oldiesfanjohn

    Yeah,still rawks!!!...gets ya motor runnin'!!!

    last month

  • abunono

    Jesus trat ins Tor,die Jünger standen abseits.

    last month

  • MikesDmusic

    This is a cover of Leadbelly - so many great rock songs are actually Blues cover songs (hell most of Zep's catalog)

    March 2012

  • spacemonkey2977

    Kicks ass!!!

    February 2012

  • mikeysrob

    who the fuck is resonsible for molesting this song

    February 2012

  • PhatBasta

    WTF is this piece of crap techno sounding remake I hear??????..Get your act together Last.fm....

    February 2012

  • JAKE7001

    Whoa Black Betty!!!! She be WILD!!!

    February 2012

  • oldiesfanjohn

    headbanger` from 1977,great tume!

    January 2012

  • brooking1404

    Air guitar !!!

    January 2012

  • dyke01

    met a DJ last week that had never heard of this CLASSIC TUNE!!!! had to give the stupid cow a slap.

    December 2011

  • KaiRidder

    moi moi

    December 2011

  • Marjo47

    It is and loving it to!

    November 2011

  • algenon50

    HA HA !!....LOVE IT !...WHAT A BLAST FROM THE PAST !...I think ZZtop, focus, & golden earing owe these boy's a good drink...

    November 2011

  • marcy50

    ONE GOOD ONE HERE SURE DO REMEMBER THIS ONE,,THANKS ALOT FOR SHARING...NEAT SONG~

    October 2011

  • derojones

    every time i hear this song i feel like playing a racing game like need for speed or forza

    September 2011

  • B-AIRLINE

    WELL DONE, BOYS

    September 2011
See all 427 shouts

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