Lawdy Miss Clawdy

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“Lawdy Miss Clawdy”
“Lawdy Miss Clawdy” cover
Single by Lloyd Price
Released April 1952
Format 7" single
Recorded March 1952
Label Specialty
Writer(s) Lloyd Price

"Lawdy Miss Clawdy" is a song by Lloyd Price.[1] It was first recorded by Price at the New Orleans recording studio of Specialty Records in March of 1952. It was released under the Specialty label in April and was number one on the Billboard rhythm and blues chart for seven weeks and stayed on the chart for six months. An 8-bar blues with a rolicking piano backup, with the words written by Price, but the melody adapted from the older Junker Blues (Champion Jack Dupree, 1941), it became the biggest rhythm and blues hit of the year and sold over one million copies by crossing over to the white record-buying market. It was the first hit from New Orleans to be accepted into rock and roll.The word lawdy means lord.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

Art Rupe, founder of Specialty Records in Los Angeles was looking for new talent in New Orleans where Price turned up at an audition. Rupe liked "Lawdy Miss Claudy" so much that he is said to have canceled his plane ticket home to stay and record Price's song.[3] Since Price did not have a band, Rupe hired the band of Dave Bartholomew which included Fats Domino to arrange the song and back him up in the recording session.[2]

[edit] Song

The recording begins with some characteristic Domino rollicking piano triplets as the drummer sets down a heavy New Orleans backbeat. Price's vocals are gritty yet relaxed as he begins:[2]

Oh now lawdy lawdy lawdy, Miss Clawdy,
girl you sho' looks good to me

The lyrics most often attributed to Lloyd Price are usually listed as:
Oh, now lawdy lawdy lawdy, Miss Clawdy,
 girl, you sure look good to me.
Well, please don't excite me, baby,
tho' it can't be me.

Because I give you all my money,
girl, you just won't treat me right.
You like to ball in the morning,
don't come back until the night.

I'm gonna tell my mama, lawd, I'm gonna
tell her what you been doing to me.
I'm gonna tell everybody that I'm
down in misery.

Well, now lawdy lawdy lawdy, Miss Clawdy,
girl, you sure look good to me.
You just wheeling and rocking, baby,
you're just as fine as you can be.

Well, so bye bye bye bye, baby,
girl, I won't be trouble no more.
Goodbye, Clawdy, oh darling,
down the road I'll go.

However, a version by Larry Williams on the Pleasantville Soundtrack is sung as:
Well, now lawdy Miss Clawdy
Girl, you sure look good to me
Well, a-reelin' and rockin' baby
Fine as you can be

Well, I gave you all of my lovin'
Gave you all my money too
(unintelligible)
Try to make a fool o' me

Gonna tell my mama
Lord I swear what you been doing to me
tellin' everybody that
I'm full of misery

Gonna tell my mama
Swear baby what you been doin' to me
Gonna tell everybody
That I'm full of misery

Well, so bye, bye bye baby
Girl, I won't be trouble no more
Goodbye now my little darlin'
Down the road I go

[edit] Cover versions

In 1956 the song was covered by Elvis Presley and stayed on the charts for ten weeks.[2].

The following list contains some of the many cover versions of this song.[4]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Shaw, Arnold (1978). Honkers and Shouters. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, p. 188-189. ISBN 0-02-061740-2. 
  2. ^ a b c d Jim Dawson, & Steve Propes (1992). What Was the First Rock'n'Roll Record. Boston & London: Faber & Faber, p. 108-111. ISBN 0-571-12939-0. 
  3. ^ Specialty Album Discography. Retrieved on 2006-11-25.
  4. ^ Lawdy Miss Clawdy by Lloyd Price. Retrieved on 2006-11-03.

[edit] External links


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