# "Black Betty" Cover/Mancow's Morning Madhouse **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 13, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-betty-cover-mancows-morning-madhouse/194813 "2003-08-13T03:11:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dead\_Pirate\_LeChuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dead\_Pirate\_LeChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Pirate_LeChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-betty-cover-mancows-morning-madhouse/194813/1 "2003-08-13T03:11:26Z")
For the Chicagoland dopers, or those who catch Mancow in syndication; Inbetween bits, Mancow has been playing parts of a cover of Ram Jam’s “Black Betty.” Sort of soulful and it sounds new. Google and Bearshare searches are not yeilding the name of the artist. Anyone out there know who this is? Much thanks, LeChuck ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-betty-cover-mancows-morning-madhouse/194813/2 "2003-08-13T07:10:02Z")
IIRC - "Black Betty was written by Huddie Leadbetter (b. 1888) and this song has been covered over the years by Tom Jones, Nick Cave and of course, Ram Jam. I think Ram Jam covered this song in **1977.** They were a one hit wonder kind of band. So, no, not a new song. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Pirate\_LeChuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dead\_Pirate\_LeChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Pirate_LeChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-betty-cover-mancows-morning-madhouse/194813/3 "2003-08-13T23:56:11Z")
I understand “Black Betty” is not a new song. Let me try again. Is anyone aware of a new(ish) cover of “Black Betty?” Not one of those listed above. The guitar and drums are much the same as Ram Jam’s version, but it’s a more soulful vocal as opposed to Ram Jam’s more “70’s rock” wound. (IMHO) ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Pirate\_LeChuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dead\_Pirate\_LeChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Pirate_LeChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-betty-cover-mancows-morning-madhouse/194813/4 "2003-08-13T23:57:34Z")
SOUND. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Agentakbar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Agentakbar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agentakbar)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-betty-cover-mancows-morning-madhouse/194813/5 "2003-08-14T01:57:33Z")
I’ve heard it on the radio here in New York, but don’t know what it is. Small bump. I’d really like to find out what it is! B. ---
**Author:** ![Agentakbar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Agentakbar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agentakbar)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-betty-cover-mancows-morning-madhouse/194813/6 "2003-08-14T02:02:51Z")
one thought… are you sure it’s Black Betty, and not Blinded by the Light? I have a strong feeling that it’s the latter, now that I think about it. B. ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-betty-cover-mancows-morning-madhouse/194813/7 "2003-08-14T03:56:15Z")
I really don’t see how one can sing “Oh oh Black Betty Bam a lam Oh oh Black Betty Bam a lam Black Betty had a child Bam a lam Damn thing went wild” sort of soulfully. Do the above lyrics sound familiar? If not, can you give us some lyrics (what you can remember, anyway) Otherwise ///Keneau Reeves/// Then I have no idea ///Keneau Reeves/// ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Pirate\_LeChuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dead\_Pirate\_LeChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Pirate_LeChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-betty-cover-mancows-morning-madhouse/194813/8 "2003-08-15T00:13:03Z")
Okay, let me try this one more time. YES I know the song “Black Betty.” Admittedly, only knew it vaguely until it was used in the Blow soundtrack. YES, the sample in question is 100% without a doubt a cover of Black Betty. If you want to see how those lyrics can be souldful, find yourself a copy of the Leadbelly original. The vocal in this cover isn’t really done that way, but it will at least give you an idea. Perhaps my choice of the word “soulful” is poor, but I don’t have another adjective coming to mind. I’m guessing nobody else has heard this. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Pirate\_LeChuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dead\_Pirate\_LeChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Pirate_LeChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-betty-cover-mancows-morning-madhouse/194813/9 "2003-08-15T00:16:20Z")
By the way… Do you think “Blinded by the Light” and "Black Betty: are really that easy to confuse?? ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-betty-cover-mancows-morning-madhouse/194813/10 "2003-08-15T00:31:35Z")
Well I hope to hell you all figure this one out because I’m a “Black Betty” fan and would like to hear a more soulful version. It’s one of those songs that I can’t seem to get out of my head. Blinded by the Light? They are sooo not similar…well, they both start with “B”… Blinded by the light _Wrapped up like a douche_ in the middle of the night 😃