Louis Jordan was born in Arkansas and was playing the sax by the age of seven. He would form a band called The Elks Rendezvous Band, which, over time, became known as the Tympany Five.
He may well be the most famous artist that has been featured in this blog to date. He was inducted into the Rock and roll Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1942 he went on an eight year tear where 57 of his songs made the R & B charts, 18 of them hitting number one. He would have hits that would crossover into the pop charts which was unusual in a segregated age.Jordan was always proud of the fact that the Tympany Five's music was just as popular with whites as it was with black people. But like so many songs that are memorable, you have to work hard to hear this one.
"Saturday Night Fish Fry" was just such a crossover hit. Written by Louis Jordan, it features a rollicking blues boogie tempo that is infectious. The song tells the story of some musicians who attend a spectacular party only to find themselves waking up in jail the next morning. The piano licks are worth mentioning as well as the nonstop lyrics.
This song was longer in duration (five minutes plus) than a 78 rpm record could handle so it was split in half. I remember "American Pie" (1972) by Don Mclean being split on a 45, as well as "MacAuthur Park" (1968) by Richard Harris. Know of any others?
Some (like Chuck Berry) believe that this is the first rock and roll song. That topic continues to be debated, although I favor Rocket 88 by Jackie Brenston (It was really Ike Turner). That song is worth it's own entry on this blog.
Now my buddy and me was on the main stem
Foolin' around just me and him
We decided we could use a little something to eat
So we went to a house on rampart street
We knocked on the door and it opened up with ease
And a lush little miss said, "come in, please"
And before we could even bat an eye
We were right in the middle of a big fish fry
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