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.
Money Blues
LaVern Baker Lyrics
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Daddy, I need money now
All day long I hear that song
Oh, I'm pretty sure for that I go wrong
Fast as I can lend it, how you like to spend it
It just appears somehow
If you don't stop spending, I'll go insane
I need money, give it to your honey
Daddy, I need money now
Daddy, I need money now
Daddy, I need money, give it to your honey
Daddy, I need money now
All day long I hear that song
Oh, I'm pretty sure for if I go wrong
Fast as I can lend it, how you like to spend it
It just appears somehow
I've got the money, you like champagne
If you don't stop spending, I'll go insane
Daddy, I need money, give it to your honey
Daddy, I need money now
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, daddy, I need money now
LaVern Baker's song Money Blues is a fun and upbeat song with a clear message about needing money. The song is sung by a woman who is calling out to her "daddy," asking him to give her some money. She repeats this phrase throughout the song, emphasizing her need for money. The woman seems to be in a relationship with someone who enjoys spending her money, and she warns him that if he doesn't stop, she'll "go insane."
The lyrics of the song suggest that the woman is in a financially dependent relationship, where her partner spends her money without any regard for her. The song is a plea for her partner to stop spending her money and for her "daddy" to give her more so that she can take control of her finances. The phrase "give it to your honey" is a playful way of asking for money and highlights the often unequal gender dynamics in relationships when it comes to money and finances.
Overall, the song portrays the complicated relationship between love, money, and power dynamics. It highlights how women often have to fight for financial independence and how relationships can sometimes be tested because of money. Despite its lighthearted tone, the song carries a strong message about the need for women to have autonomy over their finances.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy, I need money, give it to your honey
As your beloved daughter, I am respectfully requesting financial assistance from you, my dear father.
Daddy, I need money now
Please grant my request for financial assistance as soon as possible, as the need is urgent.
All day long I hear that song
I am constantly being inundated with reminders of my lack of financial resources and the urgency of my request.
Oh, I'm pretty sure for that I go wrong
I am starting to doubt the wisdom of my decisions that led to my financial struggles, despite the constant reminders of my need for money.
Fast as I can lend it, how you like to spend it
As soon as I am able to procure some money, you have a tendency to spend it very quickly, leaving me without financial resources once again.
It just appears somehow
Money seems to magically appear and disappear, with no sense of proper budgeting or financial planning.
I've got the money, you've got champagne
Despite my efforts to secure some money, you are more focused on enjoying luxury goods and experiences with the money that I provide.
If you don't stop spending, I'll go insane
Your constant spending habits are driving me to the brink of madness, as I struggle to secure enough money to meet even our basic needs.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, daddy, I need money now
I cannot stress the urgency of my financial situation enough, and I implore you once again to provide the necessary funds as soon as possible.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVE LEADER, GM COLEMAN, HARRY ELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind