Bad, Bad Whiskey

Last updated
"Bad, Bad Whiskey"
Single by Amos Milburn and his Aladdin Chickenshackers
B-side "I’m Going to Tell My Mama"
ReleasedOctober 1950
Genre R&B
Label Aladdin Records
Songwriter(s) Maxwell Davis

"Bad, Bad Whiskey" is a song by Maxwell Davis that was released in 1950 by Amos Milburn. The single was the last time Milburn reached the number one position on the US Billboard R&B Chart. [1]

Contents

Song Background

The song is usually credited to Maxwell Davis alone, but some sources say it was initially an instrumental titled Bristol Drive, which Milburn adapted by blending in some alcohol-based lyrics. [2]

Cover Versions

Bad, Bad Whiskey became one of the most enduring “blues in a bottle” songs. [3] The song has been covered many times, most recently by Colin James in October 2016 on his album Blue Highways. [4]

Other uses

Bob Dylan played the song in the episode “Spring Cleaning” (Episode 50) of his series Theme Time Radio Hour in April 2007. [5]

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References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 400.
  2. "Adaptations of Bad Bad Whiskey written by Amos Milburn". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  3. "Amos Milburn". LivinBlues. 3 January 1980. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  4. "Cover versions of Bad Bad Whiskey written by Amos Milburn". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  5. "Episode 50: Spring Cleaning". Theme Time Radio Hour Archive. Retrieved 12 November 2017.