Baker was born in Chicago, Illinois. She is occasionally referred to as Delores Williams because of an early marriage to Eugene Williams; in the late 1940s she was identified in RCA Victor record company files as "D. L. McMurley." She was the niece of blues singer Merline Johnson and was also related to Memphis Minnie.
She began singing in Chicago clubs such as the Club DeLisa around 1946, often billed as Little Miss Sharecropper, and first recorded under that name in 1949. She changed her name briefly to Bea Baker when recording for Okeh Records in 1951, and then became LaVern Baker when singing with Todd Rhodes and his band in 1952.
In 1953 she signed for Atlantic Records as a solo artist, her first release being "Soul on Fire". Her first hit came in early 1955, with the Latin-tempo "Tweedlee Dee" reaching #4 on the R&B chart and #14 on the national US pop charts. Georgia Gibbs' note-for-note cover of Baker's "Tweedle Dee" reached #1; subsequently Baker made an unsuccessful attempt to sue her and petitioned Congress to consider such covers copyright violations.
Baker had a succession of hits on the R&B charts over the next couple of years with her backing group The Gliders, including "Bop-Ting-A-Ling" (#3 R&B), "Play It Fair" (#2 R&B), and "Still" (#4 R&B). At the end of 1956 she had another smash hit with "Jim Dandy" (#1 R&B, #17 pop). It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Further hits followed for Atlantic, including the follow-up "Jim Dandy Got Married" (#7 R&B), "I Cried a Tear" (#2 R&B, #6 pop in 1959), "I Waited Too Long" (#5 R&B, #3 pop, written by Neil Sedaka), "Saved" (#17 R&B, written by Leiber and Stoller), and "See See Rider" (#9 R&B in 1963).
In addition to singing, Baker also did some work with Ed Sullivan and Alan Freed on TV and in films, including Rock, Rock, Rock and Mr. Rock & Roll. In 1964, she recorded a Bessie Smith tribute album, before leaving Atlantic and joining Brunswick Records, where she recorded the album "Let Me Belong to You".
In 1966, Baker recorded a duet single with Jackie Wilson. The controversial song, "Think Twice", featured raunchy lyrics that were not considered appropriate for airplay at that time or even today. Three versions were recorded, one of which is the X-rated version with the raunchy lyrics.
In the late 1960s, Baker became seriously ill after a trip to Vietnam to entertain American soldiers. While recovering at the US Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines, her husband, Slappy White filed for a divorce. A friend recommended that she stay on as the entertainment director at the Marine Corps Staff NCO club there, and she remained there for 22 years.
In 1988 she returned to perform at Madison Square Garden for Atlantic Records' 40th anniversary. She then worked on the soundtracks to films such as Shag, (1989), Dick Tracy, (1990) and A Rage in Harlem (1991), which were all issued on CD.
In 1990, she made her Broadway debut replacing Ruth Brown as star of the hit musical Black and Blue. In 1991, Rhino Records released a new album Live in Hollywood recorded at the Hollywood Roosevelt Cinegrill, as well as a compilation of her greatest Atlantic hits entitled Soul on Fire. In 1992, she recorded a well-received studio album, Woke Up This Morning, for DRG Records. She continued performing after having both legs amputated from diabetes complications in 1994 and made her last recording, "Jump Into the Fire," for the 1995 Harry Nilsson tribute CD, For the Love of Harry on the Music Masters label.
She received the 1990 Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. In 1991, Baker became the second female solo artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, following Aretha Franklin in 1987. Her song "Jim Dandy" was named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and was ranked #343 on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
LaVern Baker died from cardiovascular disease on March 10, 1997, at the age of 67. Originally buried in an unmarked plot in Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, her grave received a headstone on May 4, 2008, after a fundraiser was held by local historians.
Baby Doll
LaVern Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's bound to drive your mama wild
It must be something they call the Cuban Doll1,
It weren't your mama's angel child
I went to see the doctor the other day, he said I's well as well could be
But I said, "Doctor, you don't know really what's worrying me"
I want to be somebody's baby doll so I can get my loving all the time
I want to be somebody's baby doll to ease my mind
He can be ugly, he can be black, so long as he can eagle rock and ball the jack
I want to be somebody's baby doll so I can get my lovin' all the time,
I mean to get my lovin' all the time
Lord, I went to the gypsy to get my fortune told,
She said you in hard luck, Bessie, doggone your bad luck soul
I want to be somebody's baby doll so I can get my lovin' all the time,
I mean to get my lovin' all the time
The song Baby Doll by LaVern Baker is a classic blues number with suggestive lyrics that give insight into the singer's desire for a lover who will make her feel wanted and desired. The first verse includes the lines, "Honey, there's a funny feeling 'round my heart, and it's bound to drive your mama wild. It must be something they call the Cuban Doll, it weren't your mama's angel child." In this verse, Baker is describing a sensation in her heart that is driving her wild, and she attributes it to something called the Cuban Doll, which could be a euphemism for a sexually transmitted disease, or simply an allusion to the heat and passion associated with Cuban culture. By saying "it weren't your mama's angel child," Baker is indicating that she is not the traditional, demure woman that her lover's mother might prefer.
The second verse of the song suggests that Baker has been going to the doctor to address her concerns about this feeling in her heart, but the doctor does not seem to understand the depth of her need for love and affection. She sings, "I want to be somebody's baby doll so I can get my loving all the time. I want to be somebody's baby doll to ease my mind. He can be ugly, he can be black, so long as he can eagle rock and ball the jack." In this verse, Baker is expressing her desire for a partner who will give her consistent attention and affection. She doesn't care about his appearance or background, as long as he can dance and make her happy. By singing "I want to be somebody's baby doll," Baker is asserting her agency and independence. She wants to be more than just a passive recipient of someone else's love - she wants to choose who she gives her heart to.
Overall, Baby Doll is a song that celebrates female desire and agency, while also acknowledging the societal expectations that women faced in the 1950s. By expressing her need for love and affection, Baker is pushing back against the idea that women should be passive and submissive in romantic relationships. At the same time, her playful yet suggestive lyrics remind listeners that there were certain norms and expectations around sex and relationships that could not be ignored.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey, there's a funny feeling 'round my heart,
I feel a strange sensation in my heart.
And it's bound to drive your mama wild
It could be driving your mother crazy.
It must be something they call the Cuban Doll,
It may be a condition called the Cuban Doll.
It weren't your mama's angel child
It is different from your mother's child.
I went to see the doctor the other day, he said I's well as well could be
The doctor told me that I'm healthy.
But I said, "Doctor, you don't know really what's worrying me"
But I explained to him the real reason of my worries.
I want to be somebody's baby doll so I can get my loving all the time
I desire to be a loved and cared for by someone all the time.
I want to be somebody's baby doll to ease my mind
It would soothe my restless mind to be someone's darling.
He can be ugly, he can be black, so long as he can eagle rock and ball the jack
As long as he can dance and have fun, he can be any appearance or race.
I want to be somebody's baby doll so I can get my lovin' all the time,
I long to be cherished affectionately all the time.
I mean to get my lovin' all the time
I really mean it to be loved always.
Lord, I went to the gypsy to get my fortune told,
I visited the fortune teller to learn the future.
She said you in hard luck, Bessie, doggone your bad luck soul
She revealed to me that I'm unlucky.
I want to be somebody's baby doll so I can get my lovin' all the time,
I wish to be cherished by someone permanently.
I mean to get my lovin' all the time
It's important for me to experience love all the time.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bessie Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Discoloquio
Exelente el disco de Lavern Baker, yo tengo el long play. Tiene mucha fuerza y un gran calor interpretativo.
Najponk Jazz
Great stuff!!!! Awesome mrs.Baker!!!! 🎵
Jahlaune K
She sang the heck out of this I know Miss Bessie smiled
jean john
💗💗💗
Jennifer Rossi
looooove.
Jeremiah Markus Media
I'm vibin to this :)
Tully Thibeau
music to peel to