Jack, You're Dead Explained

Jack, You're Dead
Cover:Jack, You're Dead.png
Type:single
Artist:Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five
Released:1947
Recorded:[1]
Genre:Jump blues
Length:2:43
Label:Decca

"Jack, You're Dead" is a song written by Dick Miles and Walter Bishop. It was performed by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five, recorded in October 1946, and released on the Decca label (catalog no. 23901-B).[2] The song describes a man's physical state if he fails to respond to romance.

The song peaked at No. 1 on Billboards race record chart and remained on the chart for 20 weeks.[3] It also reached No. 21 on the pop chart. It was ranked No. 4 on the magazine's list of the most played race records of 1947.[4]

Jordan plays alto saxophone and sings on the record. The "A" side of the record was "I Know What You're Puttin' Down". On its release, Billboard described the song as "dandy", "jivey", and "solid".[5]

Jordan and the Tympany Five also performed the song in the 1947 motion picture, "Look-Out Sister".[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Decca matrix 73718. Jack you're dead / Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five - Discography of American Historical Recordings . 2022-08-10 . adp.library.ucsb.edu.
  2. Web site: Jack, You're Dead. 10 October 1946. Internet Archive. December 13, 2020.
  3. Book: Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Joel Whitburn. 1988. Record Research, Inc. 0-89820-068-7. 229.
  4. News: Year's Most-Played Race Records on Nation's Juke Boxes. The Billboard. January 3, 1948. 88.
  5. News: Record Reviews. The Billboard. May 24, 1947. 29.
  6. Web site: Lookout Sister. Library of Congress. December 13, 2020.