Ration Blues

"Ration Blues" is a song written by Louis Jordan, Antonio Cosey, and Collenane Clark.[1] It was performed by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five, recorded in October 1943, and released on the Decca label (catalog no. 8654). The "B" side of the record was "Deacon Jones".[2][3]

"Ration Blues"
Single by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five
B-side"Deacon Jones"
ReleasedDecember 1943
RecordedOctober 1943
GenreJump blues
Length3:04
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)Louis Jordan, Antonio Cosey, Collenane Clark

Lyrics

The song's lyrics describe the inconveniences resulting from the U.S. government's wartime rationing of sugar, meat, jelly, rubber, gasoline, and other consumer products.[4][5] It opens with the line: "Baby baby baby, what's wrong with Uncle Sam? He's cut down on my sugar, now he's messin' with my ham."[5]

Reception

The record found a public that related to the hardships imposed by rationing and jumped by February 1944 to No. 1 on both the country and R&B charts and No. 11 on the pop chart.[4] On the Harlem Hit Parade, the song debuted on December 18, 1943, peaked at No. 1 on the Harlem Hit Parade, and remained on the chart for 21 weeks.[6]

Short film

The song was also performed by Louis and the Tympany Five in a short film titled Ration Blues (1944).[1]

References
  1. "Ration Blues Soundie". Library of Congress. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  2. "Ration Blues". Internet Archive. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  3. "Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five – Ration Blues / Deacon Jones". Discogs. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  4. M. Paul Holsinger (1999). War and American Popular Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. Greenwood Press. p. 296. ISBN 0313299080.
  5. "Lyrics.com". Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  6. Joel Whitburn (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Record Research, Inc. p. 229. ISBN 0-89820-068-7.
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