Rag Mama Rag

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"Rag Mama Rag"
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"Rag Mama Rag" is a song by

UK Singles Chart, the highest position for any single by the group.[1] The single was less successful in the US, reaching only #57 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2]

Music and lyrics

"Rag Mama Rag" is credited solely to

lead vocals.[8][9][10]

Although a favorite with fans, the band didn't originally think that highly of the song, recording it almost as an afterthought.[5] Robertson claims that, "It didn't have very much importance until we recorded it, but it showed something else we could do, in a style that didn't exist."[5] In The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, Matt Kemp described the song as a "rural dance tune."[11] According to Goldmine critic Rob Bowman, the lyrics are "about a rather curious mind-twisting woman."[9] AllMusic critic Thomas Ward views the lyrics as "almost nonsensical."[8] The Band biographer Barney Hoskyns describes the lyrics as "lusty tomcat lyrics," noting that both the lyrics and the instrumentation, particularly the ragtime piano, make the song seem like "Storyville 'brothel music.'"[5] Something Else! critic Nick DeRiso described the lyrics as "randy" stating that the song "becomes a moment of boozy, brothel-shaking joy."[12] Steve Millward interprets "Rag Mama Rag" as a "gently satirical" song about "a hapless country bumpkin" who "can't control his girlfriend."[13]

Reception

AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes "Rag Mama Rag" as a "rollicking uptempo number."[10] Hoskyns claims that the song sounds like it "came straight out of turn-of-the-century New Orleans."[5] Musician Dr. John claimed that the song sounded "like a cross between Memphis and New Orleans."[14] Ward describes the song as a "wonderful, swinging song with some of the Band's most perfect playing (which is saying something)..."[8] According to Ward, unlike most Band songs, "Rag Mama Rag" owes its success more to the music than the lyrics.[8] DeRiso rated "Rag Mama Rag" as one of the five essential Levon Helm songs with The Band.[12] DeRiso commented on how the song sounds improvised at first but on closer listen the "song rambles along with a focused, air-tight groove" with the group in "complete control" even while making the song sound like "a goof."[12]

Cash Box said that it "has the rhythmic enthusiasm and sound appeal of ['Up on Cripple Creek']."[15] Record World said that "the best rock band in the country sounds magnificent."[16] Billboard called it a "down-home entry" with "first rate" performance and production.[17]

Performers

with:

Other versions

"Rag Mama Rag" has appeared on a number of The Band

The Last Waltz (2002 album), the 2002 re-release of the 1978 album.[8]

Little Feat covered "Rag Mama Rag" on their 2000 album Chinese Work Songs.[18] Musicians such as Bruce Springsteen, Phil Lesh, and Steve Earle & The Dukes have also covered the song in concert.[19][20]

References

  1. ^ "Band". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
  2. ^ "The Band Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
  3. ISBN 978-1556524059
    .
  4. ^ DeRiso, N. (19 September 2013). "The Band, "Rag Mama Rag" from The Band (1969): Across the Great Divide". Something Else!. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
  5. ^
    ISBN 9781423414421
    .
  6. ISBN 9781847676436
    .
  7. ^ Shand, T. & Kerripin, G. (1997). The Band. Eagle Rock.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Ward, T. "Rag Mama Rag". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
  9. ^ a b Bowman, R. (July 26, 1991). "The Masterpiece". Goldmine. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
  10. ^ a b Erlewine, S.T. "The Band". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
  11. ISBN 9780743201698
    .
  12. ^ a b c DeRiso, Nick (May 26, 2015). "Levon Helm's essential Band songs: Gimme Five". Something Else. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
  13. ISBN 9781783064762
    .
  14. ISBN 9781740664585
    .
  15. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. January 31, 1970. p. 36. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  16. ^ "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. February 7, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  17. ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. January 31, 1970. p. 79. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  18. ^ Henderson, A. "Chinese Work Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
  19. ^ Beech, M. (April 24, 2006). "Bruce Springsteen Resurrects Pete Seeger Hootenanny Classics". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  20. ^ Bermant, C. (June 21, 2000). "Dylan, Lesh Offer Few Surprises". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
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