Joseph Amos Milburn, Jr., one of thirteen children, was playing tunes on the piano by the age of five years. He enlisted in the United States Navy when he was fifteen and earned thirteen battle stars in the Philippines, before returning to Houston and organizing a sixteen-piece band playing in Houston clubs and was Managed by William & Geneva Church. Milburn participated with the Houston jazz and blues musicians. He was a polished pianist and performer and during 1946 attracted the attention of a woman who arranged a recording session with Aladdin Records in Los Angeles, California. Milburn's relationship with Aladdin lasted eight years during which he produced more than 75 sides. His cover version of "Down the Road a Piece" (1946) was a blues song with a Texas boogie beat that was similar in many respects to rock music. However, none became popular until 1949 when seven of his singles got the attention of the R&B audience. "Hold Me Baby" and "Chicken Shack Boogie" landed numbers eight and nine on Billboard's survey of 1949's R&B Bestsellers. He became one of the main performers associated with the Central Avenue music scene in Los Angeles. He was also a popular touring artist, and won awards from both Down Beat magazine (Best Blues and Jazz Star) and Billboard magazine (Top R&B Artist). Among his best-known songs was "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer". During 1950 Milburn's "Bad, Bad, Whiskey" scored the top of the R&B record chart and began a series of drinking songs (none written by Milburn, but several composed by Rudy Toombs). However, there is not any evidence that Milburn had an alcohol problem.
Milburn continued his successful drinking songs through 1952 ("Thinking and Drinking", "Trouble in Mind") and was by now touring the country playing clubs. While touring the Midwest that summer, he announced that he would disband his combo team and continue as a solo act and that autumn he joined Charles Brown for a Southern concert tour. For the next few years each of his tours was composed of a series of one-nighters. After three years of solo performing he returned to Houston during 1956 to reform his band. During 1957 Milburn's releases with Aladdin Records did not sell well, and the record label, having its own problems, terminated. He tried to regain commercial success with a few more releases with Ace Records but his time had passed. Radio airplay was emphasizing on the teenage market.
Milburn contributed to the R&B Yuletide canon twice. The first was in 1949, with "Let's Make Christmas Merry, Baby", on Aladdin Records, and then again during 1960 with "Christmas (Comes but Once a Year)" for King Records. The song appeared as the b-side of Brown's holiday classic "Please Come Home for Christmas".
Milburn's final recording was for an album by Johnny Otis. This was during 1972 after he had been incapacitated by a stroke, so much so that Otis had to play the left-hand piano parts for his enfeebled old friend. His second stroke resulted in amputation of a leg because of circulatory problems. He died soon after at the age of 52 years from a third stroke.
The Texan boogie-woogie pianist and singer was an important performer of blues music during the years immediately after World War II. Milburn was one of the first performers to switch from sophisticated jazz arrangements to a louder "jump" blues. He began to emphasize rhythm and technical qualities of voice and instrumentation second. His energetic songs, about getting "high", were admired by fellow musicians, such as Little Willie Littlefield, Floyd Dixon and his prime disciple, Fats Domino.
He was a commercial success for eleven years and influenced many performers. Fats Domino credited Milburn consistently as an influence on his music.
One commentator noted, "Milburn excelled at good-natured, upbeat romps about booze and partying, imbued with a vibrant sense of humour and double entendre, as well as vivid, down-home imagery in his lyrics."
Chicken Shack
Amos Milburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm looking for that place they call the Chicken Shack
They say it's fine as wine
And it's really all a ball
No windows no doors
It's just a hole in the wall
Did you say it was located down by the creek
All good portions of chicken once more is a cinch
You can even get the last part that went over the fence
There's a place where the lights coming through the wall
You'd better be mighty careful, let's have a ball
Come on all you cats and take a drink from my pack
'Cause the party's ready to start down at the chicken shack
The lyrics in Amos Milburn's song "Chicken Sack Boogie" tell the story of a person who is searching for a place called the Chicken Shack. The singer is excited to find this place which is said to be as fine as wine and where it's really all a ball. The Chicken Shack is described as having no windows, no doors, and it's just a hole in the wall. The singer is asking a cat where he can find the Chicken Shack, and the cat tells him that it's located down by the creek. The Chicken Shack is a place where you can get a whole gob of good things to eat, and all good portions of chicken once more is a cinch. The singer is encouraging all the cats to come to the Chicken Shack and take a drink from his pack because the party's ready to start.
The lyrics of "Chicken Sack Boogie" describe a place where people can let loose and have fun. The Chicken Shack is a place where people come together to eat good food and have fun. The fact that there are no windows, no doors, and that it's just a hole in the wall, evokes a carefree and relaxed atmosphere. The singer is excited to find this place and is encouraging others to join him in this joyful celebration.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello cat I just got back
I have returned and greeting you
I'm looking for that place they call the Chicken Shack
I am searching for a particular place that is known as the Chicken Shack
They say it's fine as wine
People claim that it is excellent
And it's really all a ball
It is a lot of fun
No windows no doors
The establishment lacks traditional entryways or exits
It's just a hole in the wall
It is a small, unassuming establishment
Did you say it was located down by the creek
Did you mention that this place is situated near the creek?
Where you can get a whole gob of good things to eat
Where you can obtain a variety of delicious food
All good portions of chicken once more is a cinch
Receiving adequate servings of chicken is guaranteed
You can even get the last part that went over the fence
You can even request for the last part of the chicken that was hanging over the dividing barrier
There's a place where the lights coming through the wall
An establishment with luminosity shining through the structure
You'd better be mighty careful, let's have a ball
One should exercise caution, but still have a great time
Come on all you cats and take a drink from my pack
Everyone is invited to share a drink from my provisions
'Cause the party's ready to start down at the chicken shack
The festivity is about to begin at the Chicken Shack
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AMOS MILBURN, LOLA CULLUM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rtrepsas
“Chicken Shack Boogie" is a 1948 jump-boogie song by the West Coast blues artist Amos Milburn. It was the first of four number-one hits on the R&B chart by Milburn. It was the B-side of a 78-RPM single, the A-side of which, "It Took a Long, Long Time", reached number nine on the same chart.
Quick Facts Single by Amos Milburn, B-side ...
In 1956, Milburn released "Chicken Shack", a faster rock-and-roll version (subsequently included on his 1957 album Let's Have a Party). This version runs about 2:30 and is sometimes titled "Chicken Shack Boogie" on later compilation albums. Earl Palmer was the drummer on this version.” From Wikipedia
@BigMickRocks
It may just be the best Rock and Roll song ever....Rock on Amos!
@Elvislover1978
What a rockin' song! Doesn't get any better than this. I can picture people lindy hopping to this one.
@briankread
From the year I was born...used to see my folks roll up the rug and dance to this kind of boogie all the time!
@booieandpianobob
Brilliant- Amos was one of the Greats.
@boz6114
Some call it rythmn and blues...some call it rock n roll but this is a hit under any name......love it....gets your feet tappin....
@marklemon9446
I've always loved this! ; I call it solid gone man ❤️👍
@gusiyouvid3110
THE BEST RnB recording ever made bar NONE
@nnstoelting3565
this music NEVER gets old
@colindominy
Early 50s rock n roll don't get any better than this !! Sizzling boogie .. how can one possibly stand still while this one is on the turntable .. you just gotta get up & jive & shake your stuff, all over ... the further this song progresses, the better it gets ... hot-damn !!