"One Mint Julep" is a rhythm and blues song written by Rudy Toombs that became a hit for The Clovers. It was recorded by Atlantic Records in New York City on December 19, 1951 and released in March 1952. It was one of the first "drinking songs" to become a hit and one of the first to feature a tenor sax solo. It was an important step in the history of Ahmet Ertegün and Atlantic Records in its quest to become a hot rhythm and blues label.[1] Stylistically the Clovers were moving away from the sentimental lyrics of the romantic doo-wop group songs and adapting a cooler group style, emphasizing rhythm more, nearing the style of a jump blues combo.[2]
Toombs was hired by Atlantic to write humorous up-tempo rhythm and blues novelty songs. Atlantic wanted material that was true to life but also funny. The humor in this song comes in part from the idea of a young black man getting drunk on mint juleps, thought of as an aristocratic southern white woman's drink.[1]
Contents |
The story line is a classic one of a man who falls for the charms of a young woman only to realize a few years later that he has a ring on his finger. He remembers that it all started with "One Mint Julep".[2]
The last verse outlines the trap.
This is one of many popular R&B drinking songs to come out of the 1940s and 1950s.[3] It was the first of several successful up tempo drinking songs by Toombs, who went on to write "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer" for Amos Milburn, "Fat Back and Corn Likker" for Louis Jordan and "Nip Sip" for The Clovers.[2]
In 1961 "One Mint Julep" finally reached a mass audience when Ray Charles's instrumental version reached No. 1 on the R&B charts and also No. 8 on the pop chart.[1] Among the many who covered or remade this song are the following:[3]
| Preceded by "Blue Moon" by The Marcels |
Billboard Hot R&B Sides number-one single (Ray Charles version) April 17, 1961 |
Succeeded by "Mother-in-Law" by Ernie K. Doe |