Rag Mop / Sentimental Me - Ames Brothers
Why included: Best Sellers In Stores Billboard #1 hit in February 1950 for 1 week
A-Side: Rag Mop
Well, I guess this is what your average record buyer wanted in 1950 because it managed to hit number one for a whole week, which doesn't seem that impressive, but for a song this fucking idiotic, that's a huge achievement. I guess I shouldn't expect much from a stupid novelty song, but just that corny delivery and "lyrics" on top of that sterile slick exterior make this pretty annoying. It's nothing that deserves your attention and was rightfully forgotten with time, but I do question those who say this was a precursor to rock 'n' roll, how so? It's just an upbeat traditional pop song with a guitar in the background with no traces of a rebellious spirit at all. Besides, we had contemporary jump-blues heroes like Wynonie Harris, Louis Jordan, and others who were getting pretty damn close to the real thing! Whatever, just goes to show that no matter how much we cherish the groundbreaking achievements of Ruth Brown, Muddy Waters, and Fats Domino in 1950, there was still plenty of crap people were buying instead.
B-Side: Sentimental Me
Elvis recorded this song in 1961 and it was pretty damn boring, so what can be said about a vocal quartet without even a fifth of Presley's vocal prowess put together? It's unbearably boring, slick, dated pop music, and there is literally nothing else to say about that. It's more listenable than the braindead A-Side at least.
Verdict: Not recommended
This is a prime example of the dull and annoying pop material that regularly topped the charts back then (and could be argued, never ever stopped topping said charts). It's good to at times listen to songs like this to remember that much of the public was completely blind to the musical revolutions happening under their feet. We might go back and listen to Professor Longhair and Lightnin' Hopkins to educate ourselves about the era, but really, plenty of those people who lived then were unable and even afraid to mess with such visceral, dangerous music. As we progress through the series, it's best to remember that we are all viewing this stuff through a modern lens where we can properly ascertain its value, and while most great stuff did get recognition at the time, we cannot look down upon past listeners for ignoring some geniuses and cherishing plenty of disposable artists.
No comments:
Post a Comment