Ration Blues
"Ration Blues" | |
---|---|
Single by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five | |
B-side | "Deacon Jones" |
Released | December 1943 |
Recorded | October 1943 |
Genre | Jump blues |
Length | 3:04 |
Label | Decca |
Songwriter(s) | Louis Jordan, Antonio Cosey, Collenane Clark |
"Ration Blues" is a song written by Louis Jordan, Antonio Cosey, and Collenane Clark.[1] It was performed by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five, recorded in October 1943, and released on the Decca label (catalog no. 8654). The "B" side of the record was "Deacon Jones".[2][3]
Lyrics
The song's lyrics describe the inconveniences resulting from the U.S. government's wartime rationing of sugar, meat, jelly, rubber, gasoline, and other consumer products.[4][5] It opens with the line: "Baby baby baby, what's wrong with Uncle Sam? He's cut down on my sugar, now he's messin' with my ham."[5]
Reception
The record found a public that related to the hardships imposed by rationing and jumped by February 1944 to No. 1 on both the country and R&B charts and No. 11 on the pop chart.[4] On the Harlem Hit Parade, the song debuted on December 18, 1943, peaked at No. 1 on the Harlem Hit Parade, and remained on the chart for 21 weeks.[6]
Short film
The song was also performed by Louis and the Tympany Five in a short film titled Ration Blues (1944).[1]
References
- ^ a b "Ration Blues Soundie". Library of Congress. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- ^ "Ration Blues". Internet Archive. 4 October 1943. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- ^ "Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five – Ration Blues / Deacon Jones". Discogs. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- ^ a b M. Paul Holsinger (1999). War and American Popular Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. Greenwood Press. p. 296. ISBN 0313299080.
- ^ a b "Lyrics.com". Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- ^ Joel Whitburn (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Record Research, Inc. p. 229. ISBN 0-89820-068-7.
- v
- t
- e
- Discography
- "Knock Me a Kiss" (1942)
- "What's the Use of Getting Sober" (1942)
- "Five Guys Named Moe" (1943)
- "Ration Blues" (1943)
- "G.I. Jive" (1944)
- "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" (1944)
- "Caldonia" (1945)
- "Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens" (1946)
- "Ain't That Just Like a Woman" (1946)
- "Beware" (1946)
- "Buzz Me" (1946)
- "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" (1946)
- "Don't Worry 'Bout That Mule"
- "Let the Good Times Roll" (1946)
- "Reconversion Blues" (1946)
- "Salt Pork, West Virginia" (1946)
- "Stone Cold Dead in the Market" (1946)
- "That Chick's Too Young to Fry" (1946)
- "Boogie Woogie Blue Plate" (1947)
- "Early in the Mornin'" (1947)
- "Jack, You're Dead" (1947)
- "Open the Door, Richard!" (1947)
- "Texas and Pacific" (1947)
- "Don't Burn the Candle at Both Ends" (1948)
- "Run Joe" (1948)
- "Beans and Corn Bread" (1949)
- "Saturday Night Fish Fry" (1949)
- "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (1949)
- "Blue Light Boogie" (1950)
- "I'll Never Be Free" (1950)
- "School Days" (1950)
- "Tear Drops from My Eyes" (1951)
- Tympany Five
- Jump blues
- Rhythm and blues
- Origins of Rock and Roll
- Five Guys Named Moe
- Let the Good Times Roll
- Caldonia