243:
270:"Saturday Night Fish Fry" was first recorded by Eddie Williams and His Brown Buddies with spoken vocals by the song's composer, Ellis Walsh. Williams had a number 2 R&B hit with the song "Broken Hearted". "Saturday Night Fish Fry" was intended to be the band's next single, but the acetate found its way to Louis Jordan's agent instead. As Williams recalled, "They got theirs out there first."
273:
Jordan changed the song. One source provides this summary: he took "the song’s ‘hook’ and it twice after every other verse. The arrangement was also more propulsive, too; Williams’ shuffle was replaced by a raucous, rowdy jump Boogie-woogie". The expression "it was rockin'" appears four times in
321:
stated that the recording was "an early example of rap and possibly the first rock and roll recording". Another source went a step further in 2013 with this comment: "Jordan’s rapid-fire, talky delivery presaged another musical style that in 1950 was barely on the horizon—rap".
309:
One reviewer offered this comment in 2016 on the Jordan version: "Jordan’s pithy, witty vocal style, bumping jump-blues rhythms, and taste for lyrics that both wag their tongue and bite are as plainly irresistible as pop music gets".
233:
record. The song contains elements later common in rock 'n' roll such as electric guitar, a brisk tempo and "a mix of the bass," and the singer begins each chorus with the catchphrase, "It was rockin'," repeating it several times.
281:
At 5:21, the recording ran longer than a standard side of a 78 record, so it was broken into two halves, one on each side of the disc. The song's lyrics are in the first person and describe two itinerant musicians going to a
788:
332:
The guitar work, brisk tempo, "and emphasis in the recording mix of punctuating each beat" certainly influenced later artists and the recording's style went on to "characterize 1950s rock and roll".
837:
376:
677:
325:
The song had a "lively jump rhythm, call-and response chorus and double-string electric guitar riffs that Chuck Berry would later admit to copying", according to one source. In fact,
306:, which points out the use of the word "rockin'" in the chorus. The Acoustic Music organization states that the recording marked "the end of the jump blues dominance of the '40s".
1379:
893:
991:
914:
872:
692:
1562:
1084:
744:
1284:
942:
830:
816:
550:
535:
1530:
1351:
1249:
1228:
1439:
865:
254:
chart for twelve non-consecutive weeks in late 1949. It also reached number 21 on the national chart, a rare accomplishment for a "
1418:
900:
290:
in New
Orleans, Louisiana. The party turns wild and is raided by the police; the narrator subsequently spends the night in jail.
1502:
1214:
1043:
1572:
1291:
421:
607:
262:
combo was one of the most successful acts of its time, and its loose and streamlined style of play was highly influential.
1119:
589:
1557:
1474:
625:
1077:
970:
844:
795:
737:
318:
314:
1404:
650:
1516:
1312:
1277:
1030:
977:
935:
907:
886:
764:
226:
1270:
1235:
1207:
1168:
928:
1298:
998:
858:
329:
was quoted as saying, "To my recollection, Louis Jordan was the first that I heard play rock and roll."
1552:
1070:
730:
984:
396:
218:. The recording is considered to be one of the "excellent and commercially successful" examples of the
1577:
1481:
1460:
1411:
956:
921:
516:
169:
564:
1567:
1036:
230:
1523:
1495:
1432:
1425:
1337:
1154:
879:
706:
466:
1453:
1263:
1242:
43:
363:
1025:
551:"Top Popular Music of the Early 20th Century: 1900 - 1949 -- Rankings, Artists & Links"
1467:
1358:
1050:
781:
242:
1365:
1256:
1305:
1200:
1161:
1147:
287:
27:
313:
Some sources also consider it as a precursor to rock and roll, or perhaps, one of the
1546:
1175:
1133:
495:
130:
1446:
1182:
1140:
1105:
1093:
1015:
802:
753:
333:
215:
211:
207:
156:
152:
144:
125:
35:
31:
1344:
438:
258:" at that time (although Jordan had already had earlier crossover hits). Jordan's
302:
because "it literally made its listeners jump to its pulsing beat", according to
1372:
1126:
326:
275:
255:
77:
1509:
1221:
1020:
299:
259:
219:
203:
138:
82:
1319:
1112:
809:
536:"Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock and Roll Era"
823:
711:
283:
1488:
949:
851:
590:"Timeline of Musical Styles & Guitar History | Acoustic Music"
229:
are disputed, some have also suggested that the song may be the first
210:
and Ellis
Lawrence Walsh, best known through the version recorded by
251:
397:"Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #23 - All Tracks UNT Digital Library"
274:
the chorus, which is sung seven times. His version was produced by
241:
298:
Jordan's "Saturday Night Fish Fry" has been called an example of
1066:
1062:
726:
722:
303:
511:
509:
483:
It was rockin', it was rockin' You never seen such scufflin'
608:"Louis Jordan and his Tympany Band: Films and Soundies"
680:. Farrar, Straus and Giroux – via Google Books.
1396:
1329:
1192:
1008:
773:
151:
136:
124:
88:
76:
68:
53:
41:
26:
21:
439:"Louis Jordan | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame"
16:1949 single by Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
336:re-recorded the song in 1973 for an album titled
707:"I Believe in Music - Louis Jordan | Album"
693:"Listen to the Blues! Exploring a Musical Genre"
422:"Listen to the Blues! Exploring a Musical Genre"
364:"Listen to the Blues! Exploring a Musical Genre"
651:"5 Candidates for the First Rock 'n' Roll Song"
1078:
738:
8:
1085:
1071:
1063:
745:
731:
723:
433:
431:
18:
390:
388:
357:
355:
353:
553:. p. 139 – via Google Books.
349:
25:
691:Perone, James E. (February 15, 2019).
500:Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004
461:
459:
420:Perone, James E. (February 15, 2019).
362:Perone, James E. (February 15, 2019).
250:The single was a big hit, topping the
678:"Love for Sale: Pop Music in America"
538:. Routledge – via Google Books.
49:"Saturday Night Fish Fry" (Concluded)
7:
695:. ABC-CLIO – via Google Books.
424:. ABC-CLIO – via Google Books.
366:. ABC-CLIO – via Google Books.
626:"King of the Jukebox: Louis Jordan"
1352:Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart
943:Don't Burn the Candle at Both Ends
549:Cottrell, Wayne (April 13, 2019).
22:"Saturday Night Fish Fry (Part 1)"
14:
831:Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens
817:Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby
676:Hajdu, David (October 18, 2016).
534:Pollock, Bruce (March 18, 2014).
1531:You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
467:"Saturday Night Fish Fry Lyrics"
179:Saturday Night Fish Fry (Part 1)
1503:On the Sunny Side of the Street
789:What's the Use of Getting Sober
502:. Record Research. p. 310.
1440:Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You
565:"Louis Jordan: 'Jukebox King'"
246:Old fish fry sign, New Orleans
1:
1563:Songs written by Louis Jordan
1419:Don't Get Around Much Anymore
901:That Chick's Too Young to Fry
894:Stone Cold Dead in the Market
521:Songswithearlierhistories.com
838:Ain't That Just Like a Woman
866:Don't Worry 'Bout That Mule
315:first rock and roll records
1594:
319:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
1100:
760:
517:"Saturday Night Fish Fry"
395:Gilliland, John. (197X).
163:
1517:The Way You Look Tonight
1278:Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)
1031:Origins of Rock and Roll
908:Boogie Woogie Blue Plate
887:Salt Pork, West Virginia
227:origins of rock and roll
1387:Saturday Night Fish Fry
1313:Love Potion Number Nine
1208:One Kiss Led to Another
1044:Let the Good Times Roll
999:Tear Drops from My Eyes
971:Baby, It's Cold Outside
964:Saturday Night Fish Fry
929:Open the Door, Richard!
873:Let the Good Times Roll
401:Digital.library.unt.edu
200:Saturday Night Fish Fry
1366:Besame Mucho (Part II)
247:
1573:Decca Records singles
1292:T'ain't Nothin' to Me
1257:Besame Mucho (Part I)
1169:Earl "Speedo" Carroll
245:
1475:Moonlight in Vermont
1271:Shoppin' for Clothes
957:Beans and Corn Bread
915:Early in the Mornin'
523:. December 17, 2014.
170:Beans and Corn Bread
1299:Let's Go Get Stoned
1037:Five Guys Named Moe
859:Choo Choo Ch'Boogie
796:Five Guys Named Moe
1558:Louis Jordan songs
1524:Willow Weep for Me
1433:Frosty the Snowman
985:I'll Never Be Free
880:Reconversion Blues
614:. October 9, 2006.
381:Repertoire.bmi.com
377:BMI entry for song
338:I Believe in Music
248:
159:singles chronology
106:(Part 2/concluded)
1540:
1539:
1454:If I Had a Hammer
1285:Girls Girls Girls
1264:Wake Me, Shake Me
1060:
1059:
978:Blue Light Boogie
936:Texas and Pacific
922:Jack, You're Dead
594:Acousticmusic.org
196:
195:
192:
191:
1585:
1236:Along Came Jones
1155:Will "Dub" Jones
1087:
1080:
1073:
1064:
1026:Rhythm and blues
747:
740:
733:
724:
717:
716:
703:
697:
696:
688:
682:
681:
673:
667:
666:
664:
662:
657:. March 23, 2012
647:
641:
640:
638:
637:
622:
616:
615:
604:
598:
597:
586:
580:
579:
577:
575:
561:
555:
554:
546:
540:
539:
531:
525:
524:
513:
504:
503:
492:
486:
485:
480:
478:
463:
454:
453:
451:
449:
435:
426:
425:
417:
411:
410:
408:
407:
392:
383:
374:
368:
367:
359:
266:First recordings
206:song written by
165:
164:
141:
117:
116:
112:
105:
104:
100:
64:
62:
46:
19:
1593:
1592:
1588:
1587:
1586:
1584:
1583:
1582:
1543:
1542:
1541:
1536:
1392:
1359:Three Cool Cats
1325:
1188:
1096:
1091:
1061:
1056:
1004:
782:Knock Me a Kiss
769:
756:
751:
721:
720:
705:
704:
700:
690:
689:
685:
675:
674:
670:
660:
658:
655:Mentalfloss.com
649:
648:
644:
635:
633:
624:
623:
619:
606:
605:
601:
588:
587:
583:
573:
571:
563:
562:
558:
548:
547:
543:
533:
532:
528:
515:
514:
507:
494:
493:
489:
476:
474:
465:
464:
457:
447:
445:
437:
436:
429:
419:
418:
414:
405:
403:
394:
393:
386:
375:
371:
361:
360:
351:
346:
296:
268:
240:
187:
182:
173:
137:
114:
110:
109:
102:
98:
97:
60:
58:
42:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1591:
1589:
1581:
1580:
1575:
1570:
1565:
1560:
1555:
1545:
1544:
1538:
1537:
1535:
1534:
1527:
1520:
1513:
1506:
1499:
1492:
1485:
1478:
1471:
1464:
1461:The 'In' Crowd
1457:
1450:
1443:
1436:
1429:
1422:
1415:
1408:
1400:
1398:
1394:
1393:
1391:
1390:
1383:
1376:
1369:
1362:
1355:
1348:
1341:
1333:
1331:
1327:
1326:
1324:
1323:
1316:
1309:
1306:D. W. Washburn
1302:
1295:
1288:
1281:
1274:
1267:
1260:
1253:
1246:
1239:
1232:
1225:
1218:
1211:
1204:
1201:Down in Mexico
1196:
1194:
1190:
1189:
1187:
1186:
1179:
1172:
1165:
1162:Vernon Harrell
1158:
1151:
1148:Cornell Gunter
1144:
1137:
1130:
1123:
1116:
1109:
1101:
1098:
1097:
1092:
1090:
1089:
1082:
1075:
1067:
1058:
1057:
1055:
1054:
1047:
1040:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1018:
1012:
1010:
1009:Related topics
1006:
1005:
1003:
1002:
995:
988:
981:
974:
967:
960:
953:
946:
939:
932:
925:
918:
911:
904:
897:
890:
883:
876:
869:
862:
855:
848:
841:
834:
827:
820:
813:
806:
799:
792:
785:
777:
775:
771:
770:
768:
767:
761:
758:
757:
752:
750:
749:
742:
735:
727:
719:
718:
698:
683:
668:
642:
617:
612:Seattle Weekly
599:
581:
556:
541:
526:
505:
496:Whitburn, Joel
487:
473:. 30 June 2010
455:
427:
412:
384:
369:
348:
347:
345:
342:
295:
292:
288:Rampart Street
267:
264:
239:
236:
194:
193:
190:
189:
186:"School Days"
184:
175:
161:
160:
149:
148:
142:
134:
133:
128:
122:
121:
120:
119:
118:(full version)
107:
95:
90:
86:
85:
80:
74:
73:
72:August 9, 1949
70:
66:
65:
55:
51:
50:
47:
39:
38:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1590:
1579:
1576:
1574:
1571:
1569:
1566:
1564:
1561:
1559:
1556:
1554:
1551:
1550:
1548:
1532:
1528:
1525:
1521:
1518:
1514:
1511:
1507:
1504:
1500:
1497:
1493:
1490:
1486:
1483:
1482:Mustang Sally
1479:
1476:
1472:
1469:
1465:
1462:
1458:
1455:
1451:
1448:
1444:
1441:
1437:
1434:
1430:
1427:
1423:
1420:
1416:
1413:
1412:But Beautiful
1409:
1406:
1405:Autumn Leaves
1402:
1401:
1399:
1395:
1388:
1384:
1381:
1377:
1374:
1370:
1367:
1363:
1360:
1356:
1353:
1349:
1346:
1342:
1339:
1335:
1334:
1332:
1328:
1321:
1317:
1314:
1310:
1307:
1303:
1300:
1296:
1293:
1289:
1286:
1282:
1279:
1275:
1272:
1268:
1265:
1261:
1258:
1254:
1251:
1250:What About Us
1247:
1244:
1240:
1237:
1233:
1230:
1229:Charlie Brown
1226:
1223:
1219:
1216:
1212:
1209:
1205:
1202:
1198:
1197:
1195:
1191:
1185:
1184:
1180:
1178:
1177:
1176:Ronnie Bright
1173:
1171:
1170:
1166:
1164:
1163:
1159:
1157:
1156:
1152:
1150:
1149:
1145:
1143:
1142:
1138:
1136:
1135:
1134:Adolph Jacobs
1131:
1129:
1128:
1124:
1122:
1121:
1117:
1115:
1114:
1110:
1108:
1107:
1103:
1102:
1099:
1095:
1088:
1083:
1081:
1076:
1074:
1069:
1068:
1065:
1053:
1052:
1048:
1046:
1045:
1041:
1039:
1038:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1013:
1011:
1007:
1000:
996:
993:
989:
986:
982:
979:
975:
972:
968:
965:
961:
958:
954:
951:
947:
944:
940:
937:
933:
930:
926:
923:
919:
916:
912:
909:
905:
902:
898:
895:
891:
888:
884:
881:
877:
874:
870:
867:
863:
860:
856:
853:
849:
846:
842:
839:
835:
832:
828:
825:
821:
818:
814:
811:
807:
804:
800:
797:
793:
790:
786:
783:
779:
778:
776:
772:
766:
763:
762:
759:
755:
748:
743:
741:
736:
734:
729:
728:
725:
714:
713:
708:
702:
699:
694:
687:
684:
679:
672:
669:
656:
652:
646:
643:
631:
627:
621:
618:
613:
609:
603:
600:
595:
591:
585:
582:
570:
566:
560:
557:
552:
545:
542:
537:
530:
527:
522:
518:
512:
510:
506:
501:
497:
491:
488:
484:
472:
468:
462:
460:
456:
444:
440:
434:
432:
428:
423:
416:
413:
402:
398:
391:
389:
385:
382:
378:
373:
370:
365:
358:
356:
354:
350:
343:
341:
339:
335:
330:
328:
323:
320:
316:
311:
307:
305:
301:
293:
291:
289:
285:
279:
277:
271:
265:
263:
261:
257:
253:
244:
237:
235:
232:
231:rock 'n' roll
228:
223:
221:
217:
213:
209:
205:
201:
185:
180:
176:
171:
167:
166:
162:
158:
154:
150:
147:, Ellis Walsh
146:
143:
140:
139:Songwriter(s)
135:
132:
129:
127:
123:
108:
96:
94:3:12 (Part 1)
93:
92:
91:
87:
84:
81:
79:
75:
71:
67:
56:
52:
48:
45:
40:
37:
33:
29:
20:
1553:1949 singles
1447:I Love Paris
1386:
1183:Jimmy Norman
1181:
1174:
1167:
1160:
1153:
1146:
1141:Young Jessie
1139:
1132:
1125:
1118:
1111:
1106:Carl Gardner
1104:
1094:The Coasters
1049:
1042:
1035:
1016:Tympany Five
963:
803:Ration Blues
754:Louis Jordan
710:
701:
686:
671:
659:. Retrieved
654:
645:
634:. Retrieved
632:. 2013-07-08
629:
620:
611:
602:
593:
584:
572:. Retrieved
568:
559:
544:
529:
520:
499:
490:
482:
475:. Retrieved
470:
448:February 22,
446:. Retrieved
443:Rockhall.com
442:
415:
404:. Retrieved
400:
380:
372:
337:
331:
324:
312:
308:
297:
280:
272:
269:
249:
238:National hit
224:
216:Tympany Five
212:Louis Jordan
208:Louis Jordan
199:
197:
178:
157:Tympany Five
153:Louis Jordan
145:Louis Jordan
36:Tympany Five
32:Louis Jordan
1578:Blues songs
1496:On Broadway
1426:Easy Living
1397:Other songs
1380:Money Honey
1373:Lovey Dovey
1215:Young Blood
1127:Leon Hughes
992:School Days
765:Discography
327:Chuck Berry
294:Composition
276:Milt Gabler
256:race record
1568:1949 songs
1547:Categories
1510:Satin Doll
1243:Poison Ivy
1222:Yakety Yak
1120:Bobby Nunn
1021:Jump blues
636:2021-03-01
630:Legacy.com
477:August 10,
471:Genius.com
406:2021-03-01
344:References
300:jump blues
260:jump blues
225:While the
220:jump blues
204:jump blues
155:& His
83:Jump blues
34:& His
1345:Searchin'
1320:Cool Jerk
1113:Billy Guy
810:G.I. Jive
661:August 2,
1468:Moonglow
1051:Caldonia
1001:" (1951)
994:" (1950)
987:" (1950)
980:" (1950)
973:" (1949)
966:" (1949)
959:" (1949)
952:" (1948)
945:" (1948)
938:" (1947)
931:" (1947)
924:" (1947)
917:" (1947)
910:" (1947)
903:" (1946)
896:" (1946)
889:" (1946)
882:" (1946)
875:" (1946)
861:" (1946)
854:" (1946)
847:" (1946)
840:" (1946)
833:" (1946)
826:" (1945)
824:Caldonia
819:" (1944)
812:" (1944)
805:" (1943)
798:" (1943)
791:" (1942)
784:" (1942)
712:AllMusic
498:(2004).
284:fish fry
214:and His
69:Recorded
54:Released
1489:My Babe
1330:B-sides
1193:Singles
950:Run Joe
852:Buzz Me
774:Singles
569:Npr.org
252:R&B
222:genre.
202:" is a
188:(1950)
183:(1949)
174:(1949)
59: (
1338:Brazil
845:Beware
574:May 2,
334:Jordan
317:. The
89:Length
44:B-side
28:Single
131:Decca
126:Label
78:Genre
663:2020
576:2024
479:2020
450:2021
61:1949
57:1949
304:NPR
286:on
30:by
1549::
709:.
653:.
628:.
610:.
592:.
567:.
519:.
508:^
481:.
469:.
458:^
441:.
430:^
399:.
387:^
379:,
352:^
340:.
278:.
181:"
172:"
115:21
103:48
1533:"
1529:"
1526:"
1522:"
1519:"
1515:"
1512:"
1508:"
1505:"
1501:"
1498:"
1494:"
1491:"
1487:"
1484:"
1480:"
1477:"
1473:"
1470:"
1466:"
1463:"
1459:"
1456:"
1452:"
1449:"
1445:"
1442:"
1438:"
1435:"
1431:"
1428:"
1424:"
1421:"
1417:"
1414:"
1410:"
1407:"
1403:"
1389:"
1385:"
1382:"
1378:"
1375:"
1371:"
1368:"
1364:"
1361:"
1357:"
1354:"
1350:"
1347:"
1343:"
1340:"
1336:"
1322:"
1318:"
1315:"
1311:"
1308:"
1304:"
1301:"
1297:"
1294:"
1290:"
1287:"
1283:"
1280:"
1276:"
1273:"
1269:"
1266:"
1262:"
1259:"
1255:"
1252:"
1248:"
1245:"
1241:"
1238:"
1234:"
1231:"
1227:"
1224:"
1220:"
1217:"
1213:"
1210:"
1206:"
1203:"
1199:"
1086:e
1079:t
1072:v
997:"
990:"
983:"
976:"
969:"
962:"
955:"
948:"
941:"
934:"
927:"
920:"
913:"
906:"
899:"
892:"
885:"
878:"
871:"
868:"
864:"
857:"
850:"
843:"
836:"
829:"
822:"
815:"
808:"
801:"
794:"
787:"
780:"
746:e
739:t
732:v
715:.
665:.
639:.
596:.
578:.
452:.
409:.
198:"
177:"
168:"
113::
111:5
101::
99:2
63:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
