Lawdy Miss Clawdy

While still in high school, Lloyd Price was working for New Orleans radio station WBOK. He provided jingles (music for radio advertisements) for various products, including those hawked by disc jockey James "Okey Dokey" Smith. One of Smith's catchphrases was "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", which he used in ad slogans such as "Lawdy Miss Clawdy, eat Mother's Homemade Pies and drink Maxwell House coffee!" Price's accompanying tune proved popular with the radio audience and he developed it into a full-length song. According to Rupe, Price spent too much time rehearsing and Rupe threatened to leave if he did not get it together; Rupe then relented and Price turned out an emotional performance of "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", prompting Rupe to cancel his return flight and arrange for a recording session. Price remembered that he auditioned the song for Rupe and although he apparently liked it, he left for New York without arranging to record it; however, two months later Price recalled receiving a call "Art Rupe's back in town and he wants to record you". ==Recording and composition==

"Lawdy Miss Clawdy" was recorded March 13, 1952, at Cosimo Matassa's J&M Studios in New Orleans. Price's hit provided it with its greatest exposure up to that time. The song's melody is derived from Fats Domino's 1950 hit "The Fat Man", which he explained "came from an ol' blues tune called "Junkers Blues". Price's song also features most of the same backing musicians as Domino's song. Price's vocals have been described as "heartbroken wails", "expressive, wailing", and "gritty". His lyrics deal with teenage angst over a relationship. A previous take of the song opens: On the take that was released, Price confusingly uses a line from a later verse, "girl you sho' look good to me", but it stuck. ==Releases and charts==

Specialty Records released "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" in April 1952 and on May 17, 1952, it entered ''Billboard's'' R&B chart, staying there a total of 26 weeks. The song reached number one, where it spent seven weeks. ==Recognition and influence==

"Lawdy Miss Clawdy" became "R&B Record of the Year" for 1952 in both Billboard and Cashbox magazines; it also earned Price Cashbox's "Best New R&B Singer of 1952" designation. Authors Dawson and Propes discussed "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" among the first rock and roll songs. and "becom[ing] a repertoire staple of local country bands". The song is included as a full-length performance by Price and Allen Toussaint in the 2005 documentary film Make It Funky!, which presents a history of New Orleans music and its influence on rhythm and blues, rock and roll, funk and jazz. ==References==