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.
Jim Dandy
LaVern Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Go, Jim Dandy! Go, Jim Dandy!
Jim Dandy on a mountain top.
Thirty thousand feet to drop.
Spied a lady on a runaway horse
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Go, Jim Dandy! Go, Jim Dandy!
Jim Dandy met a girl named Sue.
She was feeling kind of blue.
Jim Dandy he's the kind of guy
Never liked to see a little girl cry.
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Go, Jim Dandy! Go, Jim Dandy!
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Go, Jim Dandy! Go!
Jim Dandy in a submarine
Got a message from a mermaid queen.
She was hanging from a fishing line.
Jim Dandy didn't waste no time!
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Go, Jim Dandy! Go, Jim Dandy!
Jim Dandy wanted to go to Maine.
Got a ticket on a DC plane.
Mr. Dandy didn't need no chute!
He was hip and ready to boot!
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Go, Jim Dandy! Go, Jim Dandy!
Go, go go Jim Dandy
Go, go go Jim Dandy
Go, go go Jim Dandy
So long Jim!
Jim Dandy's gone
The song "Jim Dandy" talks about a hero who comes to the rescue of those in need. The song portrays Jim Dandy with the characteristics of a true superhero who can accomplish anything that comes his way. He rises to the occasion and saves a lady who is about to fall from her horse, comforts Sue when she is feeling blue, gets a message from a mermaid queen hanging on a fishing line, and is even willing to jump out of a plane without a parachute. The repetition of the phrase "Jim Dandy to the rescue" throughout the song emphasizes his heroism and reinforces his image as a savior.
The song's upbeat tempo, enthusiastic lyrics, and catchy melody make it an enjoyable and lively song. The song gained massive popularity and played a significant role in LaVern Baker's career in the music industry. It was her biggest hit, reaching No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and remained on the charts for twelve weeks.
Line by Line Meaning
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Praising the presence of Jim Dandy to save someone in trouble or distress
Jim Dandy on a mountain top.
Jim Dandy is on a mountaintop and sees a lady on a runaway horse
Thirty thousand feet to drop.
The height Jim Dandy is at and the danger if he was to fall
Spied a lady on a runaway horse
Jim Dandy sees a woman struggling while on her horse
Uh huh, that's right, of course.
Affirming the situation he is in and what he must do to help the woman
Jim Dandy met a girl named Sue.
Jim Dandy encounters a girl named Sue who was upset
She was feeling kind of blue.
Sue was down and sad about something
Jim Dandy he's the kind of guy
Jim Dandy is the type of person who helps others in need
Never liked to see a little girl cry.
It pains Jim Dandy to see a young woman upset to the point of tears
Jim Dandy in a submarine
Jim Dandy is in a submarine transporting a message from a mermaid queen
Got a message from a mermaid queen.
There's a need to rescue someone hanging from a fishing line, and he's the only one who can save them
She was hanging from a fishing line.
A woman is suspended from a fishing line and needs help from Jim Dandy
Jim Dandy didn't waste no time!
Jim Dandy springs into action immediately after receiving the message.
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Jim Dandy is the only one who can step up and save the woman hanging from the fishing line.
Jim Dandy wanted to go to Maine.
Jim Dandy had a desire to go to Maine
Got a ticket on a DC plane.
Jim Dandy secured a seat on a DC plane.
Mr. Dandy didn't need no chute!
Jim Dandy is confident that he does not require a parachute.
He was hip and ready to boot!
Jim Dandy is ready and cool about the plane journey.
Jim Dandy's gone
Jim Dandy has left after all the rescues he had done.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: LINCOLN CHASE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@damsonelvira1212
Jim Dandy to the rescue,
Jim Dandy to the rescue,
Jim Dandy to the rescue,
Go, Jim Dandy!
Go, Jim Dandy!
Jim Dandy on a mountain top,
Thirty-five hundred feet to drop,
Spied a lady on a runaway horse,
Uh-huh, that's right, of course--
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Go, Jim Dandy!
Go, Jim Dandy!
Jim Dandy met a girl named Sue,
She was feelin' kinda blue.
Jim Dandy, he's the kinda guy
Never liked to see a little girl cry.
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Go, Jim Dandy!
Go, Jim Dandy!
Jim Dandy to the rescue,
Jim Dandy to the rescue,
Jim Dandy to the rescue,
Go, Jim Dandy,
GO!
Jim Dandy in a submarine
Got a message from a mermaid queen.
She was hangin' from a fishin' line--
Jim Dandy didn't waste no time.
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Go, Jim Dandy!
Go, Jim Dandy!
Jim Dandy wanted to go to Maine,
Got a ticket on a DC plane.
Jim Dandy didn't need no suit--
He was hip, and ready to boot.
Jim Dandy to the rescue!
Go, Jim Dandy!
Go, Jim Dandy!
Go, go, go, Jim Dandy,
Go, go, go, Jim Dandy,
Go, go, go, Jim Dandy,
Go on, Jim Dandy!
Jim Dandy's goin'!
@ivanmay7890
I finally heard the original version of Jim Dandy after being familiar with only the Black Oak Arkansas cover. And let me tell you, Lavern Baker’s original version of Jim Dandy is a lot more interesting.
@JimmyChishlom
Love this
@hurricanefury439
Jim Dandy isn't the hero we need
but he is the hero we deserve
@johnthrussell1377
One of her best records
@lindaeasley5606
She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991
She was a favorite singer of Elvis Presley's
@shelianicholson5257
Love this song
@spideraxis
An oldie and a real, real, real goodie.
@johnjames4591
Boy you could really break out a sweat jitterbugging to this song - lifting your girl over your shoulders- the song really moves!
@michaelmcgarry7701
Fabulous!
@seamusmacdonald9841
I still remember seeing LaVern Baker, along with a host of others-Little Richard, the Everley Brothers, Clyde McPhatter, Buddy Holly etc etc etc at the Denman Auditorium in Vancouver BC. I guess it must have been !957 or 58. I loved that song.
Some friends of mine had a rock band called the Jim Dandy's, plaid suits and all.