First Time Hearing Ram Jam - Black Betty Reaction | Rere Reacts

[@SteveJonesHimself]

Don't worry about the genres. Leave that to salesman and people that like to argue.

[@The_Major_3rd]

Fun fact......Bill Bartlett, the guitarist/singer in this band, was also in a 1960's psychedelic band named "The Lemon Pipers." Their big hit was a 1967 song called "The Green Tambourine."

[@CoastalNomad]

Great Reaction...... Rumor/Urban legend is that they got a budget of $500 (?)... They Hired a cameraman, and spent the rest on Beer and Weed.... and shot it in someone's back yard...... LoL Over Time Black Betty has been used as American slang for different Items..... 1730's (Colonial) - It was a Type of Whiskey, 1860's (Civil War) - It was a Rifle/Gun, 1900's - It was a Vehicle that took you to Jail,

[@allengray5748]

DARN! I was about to poke fun at the possible high budget not knowing it was a HIGH budget 😂☮️

[@sam-wz8tu]

This song is actually very old. It was originally recorded in 1933.

[@northerngryphon6933]

When Lead Belly recorded it way back then, it was already old. It's one of those traditional African American songs whose author is lost to history. The riffs though were written by Ram himself.

[@danieldurocher9279]

I'm 63 and I still have the 45 rpm .... Love that song.

[@jamescrane2156]

This is definitely rock (blues rock/hard rock) from 1977.

[@catcvbvbbxkzjcgl]

To think that they must have been in their mid 70 right now

[@damienfallon8980]

Birmingham in America is way down in Alabam :)

[@bentipler3424]

I am from Birmingham, Alabama. Great reaction. ❤

[@dagmar.6954]

"Black Betty" was Ram Jam's only big hit in 1977. But it is one of the most fun & energetic songs. Just some dudes hanging out in someone's back yard & jamming out. Love it! "Black Betty" 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. While some may think “Black Betty” refers to a woman, others claim it’s a nickname for any number of objects, including a bottle of whiskey, a whip, or even a penitentiary transfer wagon.

[@davidw7]

A musket gun/rifle also of way back 1800s early 20th century ....

[@michaelhillmann3460]

Word is the 1st verse is about a civil war musket. The second verse is about a bottle of whiskey and the third verse is actually about a woman.

[@maggedo-x1s]

"Black Betty"'s OG is '30's 'Leadbelly', "big-M" ex-con', born in 1888, & he's an inspirational miracle-maker of "modern" hit-makers like Ram Jam, Nirvana, & CCR!

[@giffysstiffy887]

Led Belly's version sucked compared to this

[@maggedo-x1s]

@giffysstiffy8874giffytuck Too true. 👍

[@JimFlickinger]

The epitome of a back yard jam session!!

[@johnmaliskey7951]

Originally recorded in the '30's on a Chain Gang down South. Was sung slower and is available here on KZbin. These guys found it as a Blues recording and added a rock beat. ....................................... enjoy

[@randallshuck2976]

It's a song over 100 years old that made a one hit wonder for them. Fun song. Hope you like it.

[@i-klaus]

It doesn't matter what genre the music is. The main thing is that it moves you and makes you dance.

[@brettanthonypalmer2956]

It is about replacement population ..

[@mrnobody9104]

Awesome tune, don't get too hung up on genres just good music. I get you want to please people but in the end appreciate it for what it is and don't worry about people trying to pigeon hole your thoughts and feels! Keep doing what you're doing and enjoy the journey...

[@terrylandess6072]

I look at music for for the number of members used to create. From a basic 2 piece to an orchestra - what a particular mix of individuals can do with their numbers.

[@andrew348]

100% agreed! Genre is besides the point and they bleed into one another anyways

[@Brian_S_1971]

I love your British accent Rere.♥. According to Wikipedia it says it falls in the category of rock, boogie rock.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Fantastic observation about space in music. It's something that I've really embraced for a very long time, and I call it the manipulation of space. But everybody does it that really gets into creating this kind of stuff. It can be really dense, it can be really sparse it can be jaggedly back and forth, or it can have slowed transitions, the possibilities are endless.

[@clivenewman4810]

47 years on & it hasn't aged.Great song.

[@binxbolling]

This is straight rock 'n roll.

[@roscoebail5551]

This song has a long long history.... This video was recorded in 1977 on Long Island, New York. The lead singer is Bill Bartlett, he was the lead singer in a band called 'Starstruck' prior to being the lead singer in this video with the band in this video. Ram Jam did not actually play this song.... they just filmed it to look like they were playing this song. The music in this video came from the band call StarStruck with Bill Bartlett. Also, the music is totally from the StarStruck album.... but they did some heavy edits to that StarStruck song to make this song/video.....and yes, Bill Bartlett was in both bands... he purchased the rights to this song from the StarStruck band members and then created a new band called Ram Jam....Bill Bartlett is NOT the lead singer for this band (Ram Jam)... actually Myke Scavone is the lead singer for the band... but obviously not in this video... Myke Scavone is the guy clapping his hands on the left side of video....(Left of Bill Bartlett) This song is actually a country music song..... check out Starstruck Black Betty.... He is singing about Betty Page... Betty Page is a white chick that was well known in the 1950's, and was known as Black Betty back then ... he just plain ol thinks she was sexy.... Search KZbin for this> "The Story of Black Betty by Ram Jam" This dudes YT name is "Brutality In Buddha" He tracked down Bill Bartlett and got a phone interview with him and recorded the conversation... this happen 3 or 4 years ago, and Bill was like 78 years old.. anyway, Bill explains the backstory of how and why he choose this song to do a cover on.... The origin of the song started with Lead Belly, but Bill put his own twist on it....

[@mitkodovlevski3435]

You are a very beautiful girl from Birmingham...and that british accent -priceless.

[@vicprovost2561]

Agree with others that they are indeed a Rock Band with touches of hard rock, southern rock and blues rock. Good tune and fits right in during the 70s. Enjoy! 🔥🎵🎸🎤🎸🎶🔥

[@deoncruywagen5191]

The first part of the song is an old blues song. The second part was written by the lead singer, and it is about his favorite pinup girl, Betty Page (see was from Birmingham).

[@scott3744]

I see a lot of younger people with youtoob reaction channels who want to figure out the genre. We never even thought about it when we were kids. It was simple. If the music was from the 1960s or 1970s, it was just CLASSIC ROCK. No genres, nobody cared about that. It could be acoustic soft-rock like James Taylor, or hard-rock Led Zeppelin, or anything in between, but if it was from the 60s or 70s, it was all *Classic Rock* . Because it was all played on the same Classic Rock radio stations. So much easier than trying to figure out genres 👍😁

[@islandseeker1260]

With the exception of Disco, which was in its own genre called "sucks"...!

[@scott3744]

@@islandseeker1260 Good point... fortunately they never played disco on classic rock radio stations! 😁

[@FUBAR1986]

0:07 right now you’re saying you’ve never listen to them. You’ve never listened to any music that sounds like this. Enjoy it.🎉😂❤

[@brianwalker5937]

unfortunately more or less a one hit wonder. but what a hit. others will tell the story on the video. some people say it is a drug reference - but i just love the vibe.

[@stevecrisell108]

Great Song. Great Reaction Rere.

[@RNDReacts]

It was amazing and thank you

[@nathanfisher1826]

I have been there in the UK😊

[@swiftbird_studio]

It's well worth a read of the Wikipedia entry on Black Betty. It's super interesting. The meaning and origin of the song and lyrics are heavily up for debate is the TL:DR.

[@cowboy1165]

This can be put in the genre of "Southern Rock and Roll" If you want to hear more of this genre listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Molly Hatchet, The Marshall Tucker Band, Eagles, Doobie Bothers.

[@rayharley597]

The original 'Black Betty' was a cannon used in the English Civil Wars of the 17th Century, kerk

[@IAMisLove]

👍👍A super cool performance. 🔥🔥🔥 🖖❤

[@jeffmorrison2147]

I'm from Birmingham Alabama

[@Laura_Martin42]

Hey neighbor! I'm in Florence!!

[@Laura_Martin42]

Hey neighbor! I'm in Florence!!

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Speaking of Birmingham over there, rather than in the state of Georgia over here, I can't remember if you checked out any 10 years after before, mostly reactors will stumble across their late 60s performance at Woodstock what's really put them on the map. Doing I'm coming home. But they were a British blues rock band that was really Innovative and just phenomenal. And then they had that hit with I'd love to change the world from there A Space in Time album from around 1972 I think Going back to Birmingham. It's a simple banger. But I wonder if you might get extra meaning from it seeing as how it does really talk about the Birmingham that you are familiar with.

[@marklancaster731]

Birmingham is in Alabama, not Georgia.

[@RickStone53]

Just feel good music!!

[@smartin807]

Back in the 70's when this came out it would have been just considered "Rock". It wasn't until later there were more varied types of Rock.

[@VinE83656]

Rock has a lot of sub genres. I would consider this song Hard Rock or Blues Rock. There so many genres or rock, there’s fold rock, southern rock, country rock, hard rock, melodic hard rock, progressive rock, heavy metal, trash metal, progressive metal, symphonic metal, pop rock, electronic rock, new wave, punk rock and I am sure there others can add additional sub genres. I couldn’t possibly list them all.

[@wpollock1]

Isn't Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra from Birmingham?

[@PhilH919]

Thanks for doing this. It rocks.

[@Falconer1128]

I'm so happy you liked this tune. It's one of my favorites from my childhood. Unfortunately, Ram Jam was a one hit wonder. Their other stuff isn't horrible but this is the only one that made the airwaves. Love your channel!

[@jamescofer3261]

Genres and subgenres . For example: the Blues...Delta Blues, Piedmont Blues, Chicago Blues, Jump Blues, Louisiana Blues, Blues Harp, Memphis Blues, and Piano Blues to name a few.

[@bradsense7431]

Best yard party ever!

[@chrissaunders4703]

It's just rock & roll chic ❤

[@islandseeker1260]

If you're from Birmingham, ya gotta shake that thing!

[@gregleblanc9357]

Yeah, it's an Excellent tune.

[@doubleubee7523]

The city name you mentioned is a state name. He says, "alabam" which is slang for Alabama.

[@nathanpark1058]

This song always reminds me of a mixed girl I was with for 2 years that everyone called Black Becky. Like me, she's also from Birmingham way down in Alabam lol.

[@blingblao16]

Way down in Alabamb

[@allengray5748]

Now that's how you use a Gibson Les Paul!! The man has spot on timing! Birmingham, Alabama!! ⁉️⁉️ Power Metal ⁉️ Been jamming to ROCK before Metal and never heard of Power Metal. You have METAL; Judas Priest, OZZY,, Iron Maiden,, METALLICA, etc and Glam Metal / Bubble Gum Pop Metal like POISON 🤮 You will pick up the general idea. Need to introduce some ROCKABILLY!! How about the Stray Cats and the STRAY CAT STRUT!! YES!! Anybody?? ❤️ Peace 🕊️☮️♾️😎🎸🤟🏼

[@thedealer777]

That's Birmingham, Alabama (simply known as "Bama"),

[@kjw1886]

Burmingham Alabama.

[@tonydelia-yj7cw]

Great reaction 😊

[@robertmysliwski7881]

This song is a chain gang song from the 1930’s turned into a rock song

[@henkebenke573]

This is one of those songs you wish was a lot longer. Like 5 minutes atleast 😊

[@rrwdhw]

Time for some Van Halen!! 🔥🔥

[@RNDReacts]

🙏🏽

[@PaulSmith-bb7lv]

Hi Rere - I recommend you watch the cover of this by "Sina Drums"

[@michaelfletcher9640]

F all those who say different; it's all Rock! Every thing else in contemporary music is just a sub-genre...

[@bigglesharrumpher4139]

IMHO Spiderbait have done a heavier, more electro bluesy version of Black Betty - check it out....

[@csedrivers2850]

Birmingham Alabama. 🙂

[@Chrystalsdad]

Ram jam the best band that never went anywhere.

[@rickwelch8464]

Followed closely by Wild Cherry

[@sweisbrod6109]

The producer gave them $500 to buy studio time to make the video. They spent the money on beer and weed so they made it in the backyard.

[@tinakeith5822]

There’s a country song called Paint me a Birmingham!!!

[@garrymoore2161]

Birmingham, Alabama, the largest city in the state was named after your Birmingham.

[@gerardcote8391]

This song is a cover of an even older song, with slightly changed lyrics.. the original version is uo for debate what it means as it was a prison song of the early 20th century.... Ram Jam's changed the lyrics slightly and said thr Betty of their version was about famous 50s pinup model Betty Page.

[@gerardcote8391]

I highly recommend checking out Lovebites Scream for Me live Daughters of the Dawn.

[@OzzybinOswald]

Sex Pistols brought Birmingham to the world with their song Bodies

[@binxbolling]

Birmingham, Alabama is pronounced Burr-meeng-ham. Ham as in pig meat.

[@stoneoutdooradventures2286]

Classic 👍

[@terrylandess6072]

How many bands would give anything to have one song that stays 'relevant' among all the noise we produce?

[@philshorten3221]

if you don't smile watching this video..... GET HELP! 😂😂😂

[@george217]

Ironically enough, both Birmingham Alabama and Birmingham, England are both known for being industrial cities...

[@stevetanner3019]

Birmingham Alabama in the southern U.S.. Yours is probably better. 😉

[@RCTPatriot75]

Way down in Alabam.

[@JackStraw1961]

The "Black Betty" was probably from Birmingham UK, it was the name of an 18th century British musket. Followed by the Brown Bess (Black Betty's child) that wasn't very accurate, hence "The damn things gone blind."

[@RadioJammor]

Utter rock classic. Dunno what song you were talking about being called "power metal", but that sounds like someone was messing with you, or applying their own label. Genres you will find can be a personal take, so yes, don't get too hung up on it, especially sub-genres. You can't go wrong calling this a rock track. Your problems come from tracks that are soft rock with a twangy guitar which you might think is country, but isn't (i.e. Eagles), or where other genres might mix and overlap, like rock and blues and soul. You'll get there. It's just experience. You'll be hard-pressed to hear any more Ram Jam songs. Their other release didn't chart, effectively making them a one-hit wonder (but not the proper kind - this didn't make No 1). BTW KT Tunstall when she sings Black Horse and the Cherry Tree live will often mix it up with Black Betty in the middle before going back to the end of her song.

[@stevegardenhire5698]

Keep on smiling by Wet Willy you will enjoy this song

[@lindybeaumont4476]

I only found out this year that this song is about a gun, not a woman!

[@michaelmcnamara879]

One of the covers I actually like is Spiderbait's version of this track...

[@alanjones4358]

The genre is Dingledork Rock.

[@cletushouse906]

It’s just Rock.

[@SuperKevin57]

I think black Betty is a musket and child gone wild is the bullet.

[@kevin982]

Not bad for a one hit wonder. I love watching guitarist who play with passion.

[@randabeast]

It's about a woman and clearly not a gun or anything else

[@tmcmurdo826]

Inevitably, someone is going to tell you that this song is about a gun. That is just internet bull being repeated one too many times. When this song was released in 77, it was pure rock.

[@kevin982]

If you love guitars then you should listen to the guitar duel in the movie Crossroads.

[@robertcarvey1832]

Believe 'Black Betty' was their only hit. For something with a similar goofy sort of vain may I suggest 'Hocus Pocus' by Focus. It's a hoot.

[@Henry-eg2fp]

Check out Black Betty cover from Spiderbait

[@philshorten3221]

For a slightly more local one try PORTISHEAD - "Glory Box" live and yes that's Portishead is near Bristol UK😉

[@grahambatchelor3576]

Yeahhh.... a 'fellow' Brummie! I don't think you'll findmuch, if anything from Ram Jam as I think they were a one hit wonder.... but what a hit!

[@rodney-m7g]

It REALLY is not necessary to pigeonhole music into " genres" . So much good music is actually a synthesis of different types of music .

[@DarrenBrown-d1q]

Hi Rea, could you react to Madness Baggy Trouser's. thnx you for all your reaction's it's been really entertaining.

[@markbaumgardt2868]

Old slave song sang in the cotton fields how good does this sound sped up

[@The.Magnificent.one.2025]

Aston Villa or Birmingham City?

[@scottbaxtrom4324]

Would you review a band called Rush.3 guys from Toronto Canada. One of the best bands in the world 🌎. Watch Rush song YYZ live in Rio Brazil. Enjoy the experience. They are Progressive Rock.

[@PUNKinDRUBLIC72]

Saw them twice, fucking great!

[@gordona2820]

You sound nice but there was never any doubt in my mind that you are from Birmingham!

[@binxbolling]

The song is much older than this band.

[@philhartley678]

An Australian band called Spiderbait who covered this and usually I am not to interested in covers but it is so much better than Ramjam.

[@rodneyfrazer2424]

If I'm wrong, please somebody correct me. But I think they did and got paid with weed

[@AlexanderCalderon-kd6mh]

Banger! Too bad they're just a one hit wonder. Bunch of cities get their name from somewhere else: Memphis, Tennessee from Memphis, Egypt is one example

[@richardrocha1096]

This ia an old led belly song

[@bmp72]

Have you heard Mississipi queen by Mountain ?