You most likely know the classic 1978 rock song “Black Betty,” as performed by the one-hit wonder group Ram Jam. You can hear it now as you’re reading this blog post.
But what if I told you that the Ram Jam version not only isn’t the most unique version of the classic blues song … it’s not even the original Ram Jam version of the blues song?
Follow along with me.
The earliest recorded audio transcription of “Black Betty” came from the Library of Congress field recordings of John and Alan Lomax, with this short 90-second rendition from James “Iron Head” Baker, an inmate in a Texas penitentiary.
We now move to 1939, when Hubert Ledbetter (also known as “Lead Belly”) performed an a cappella version of the prison song.
We now move to an incredible 1964 recording by Odetta, titled “Looky Yonder,” where the “Black Betty” cadence swaps out hand claps for guitar strums.
Moving to the 1960’s, we now have our first rock and roll version of “Black Betty,” as performed by Manfred Mann – although their version has the title “Big Betty,” and also incorporates a Bo Diddley rhythm to the mix.
We’re now going metaphysical for this one.
This track is from 1973. It’s credited to a Cincinnati-based rock band called Starstruck. Now if you listen to this track, you’re going to think … wow, this sounds a LOT like the Ram Jam version I know of from the oldies stations.” And you’d be right. See, this WAS the Ram Jam version. Sorta.
This version got commandeered by bubblegum pop producers Kasenetz and Katz, who chopped the Starstruck version up, repeated the intro, surgically removed some lyrics, and compressed the 4:25 track down to a 2:32 pop smash.
We now spin way forward to 2004. An Australian rock band, Spiderbait, releases their own version of “Black Betty,” and essentially crank up the drums and guitar and vocals to ear-splitting decibels. Brace yourself.
So if you’ve only known of “Black Betty” as a quick two-minute pop song from the mid-1970’s – congratulations, your mind just exploded. 😀
Courtesy of K-Chuck Radio.
Chuck The Writer 
Hmm, I knew it from the Leadbelly and Odetta albums my father had. But I knew the Lomaxes had recorded a ton of songs. I only barely remember the Ram Jam version which went Top 20.
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Ram Jam actually shot a video for “Black Betty” , which I have on The Land of Whatever.
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