1950 Singles: Bad, Bad Whiskey / I'm Going to Tell My Mama - Amos Milburn

Bad, Bad Whiskey / I'm Going To Tell My Mama - Amos Milburn

Why included: Personal Pick (#60 on top singles of 1950)

A-side: Bad, Bad Whiskey

Apple Music link: https://music.apple.com/us/album/bad-bad-whiskey/723502278?i=723504344

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/track/6UI32eDarmT5xDQpD2VpEz?si=9cfa349c8a394c59

Play any of Amos Milburn's peak-era material, and you'll realize the man playing was no ordinary hackman. Undoubtedly, he was one of the greatest piano players of his generation, delivering masterful solos with a feather touch that simply couldn't be beaten. While his jump-blues peers relied on powerhouse vocals (like Wynonie Harris or Big Joe Turner) or explosively well-oiled backing bands (like Louis Jordan), Amos managed an ideal balance of artsy excursions and kickass entertainment that managed to last the test of time: even if not everybody remembers Amos specifically, you probably know him through covers (Down The Road Apiece and One Scotch have become popular standards) or through his vast influence on future piano-playing entertainers, from Little Richard to Professor Longhair. At least, Fats Domino deeply idolized the man, which means his style is deep-rooted into the DNA of all rock 'n' roll piano players.

Now, with those heaps of praise, some might find this song underwhelming in terms of virtuosic soloing, which may be justified. "Bad Bad Whiskey" topping the R&B charts is generally thought to be the end of his golden age, where Amos started to forgo impressionistic soloing and energetic rockers for slower, classier drinking-related tunes. I concur with this perspective, finding much more musical substance in the elegant "After Midnite" than in the rather simplistic "Let Me Go Home Whiskey." Yet, inspiration doesn't disappear overnight, and this song still retains quite a bit of his inventiveness and charisma. In fact, it manages to impress in the first fifteen seconds with those beautiful explosions of piano notes set to a topsy-turvy rhythm that set the tipsy mood perfectly. Even after the intro is over, the song doesn't lose any of its charm due to the freshness of the vibe, Amos's humble but charismatic voice carrying the song's friendliness throughout. At least, I can see how this sort of booze-tinged good-timey style could have strongly influenced Fats and other New Orleans players, and the fact he could influence the guys who live in this atmosphere is damn impressive.

B-side: I'm Going To Tell My Mama

Quite nice for a B-side since it features some of his fluid, proto-rock 'n' roll soloing toward the end. However, the horn section ends up drowning out most of Milburn's piano playing, and what's the point of listening to Amos Milburn if his performing chops aren't the focus of the song? Still, it's entertaining enough to be passable, so check it out of it you are a big fan of his.

Verdict: Recommended

In his prime, Amos Milburn was a performer who could make practically any song he performed delightful by spicing them up with exciting musical ideas and solos. By valuing substance and intelligent artistry over flashiness, he manages to stake his firm place in the popular music canon. Songs like "After Midnite," "Down The Road Apiece", "Amos Boogie", "Chicken Shack Boogie", "Amos Blues", "My Baby's Boogying", and so many others are not just a must for anyone interested in jump blues but also for anyone who enjoys music that satisfies both your mind and soul. The fact that "Bad Bad Whiskey" (along with his equally famous "One Scotch") happen to be mellow crowd-pleasers shouldn't turn you away from his early greatness, but even with that in mind, they happen to be so enjoyable nevertheless because of that early greatness. So, be sure to give this song a fair chance, and have a couple shots of whiskey while you're at it.