Music Metrics Vault

Ram Jam

Data updated on 2025-09-18 15:00:18 UTC
The members of Ram Jam were Bill Bartlett (former lead guitarist of the Lemon Pipers), Peter Charles (drummer), Myke Scavone (lead singer), and Howie Arthur Blauvett, who sang with Billy Joel in two earlier groups (the Hassles and El Primo). Ram Jam's only hit, "Black Betty," created quite a stir when Epic released it. The recording session was the brainstorm of Bartlett and bubblegum producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz. Two Civil Rights groups, the N.A.A.C.P. and C.O.R.E., called for a boycott of the song, claiming it insulted Black women. Despite the controversy, it still reached the number 18 spot on Billboard's pop chart in September 1977. The Cincinnati band Starstruck had released a more driving, riveting version of "Black Betty" on the Truckstar label before Ram Jam's version came out. Starstruck's version received little airplay or recognition; ironically, future Ram Jam member Bartlett had been a member of Starstruck when they recorded "Black Betty."

In the early '90s the producers remixed "Black Betty" and got an international hit for their efforts. The band released two LPs: Ram Jam (1977) and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Ram (1978). Epic issued three singles by the rockers. Blauvelt joined Spitball, a funky blues-type band, in the '90s, and performed with them until he died of a heart attack. Billy Joel often dedicates "We Didn't Start the Fire" to Blauvelt when he performs live. ~ Andrew Hamilton, Rovi

Genres

: southern rock

Total plays

560.3 million
Updated on 2025-09-18

Monthly listeners

4,069,577

Followers

229,892

Top Cities

  1. Australia
    59,940 listeners
  2. Australia
    52,148 listeners
  3. Australia
    57,187 listeners
  4. Canada
    46,905 listeners
  5. United Kingdom
    74,391 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Black Betty
Black Betty
544,695,615 3:58 1970-01-01
Black Betty
Black Betty
3,421,585 2:29 1996-01-01
Keep Your Hands on the Wheel
Keep Your Hands on the Wheel
2,563,968 3:43 1977-06-20
Hey Boogie Woman
Hey Boogie Woman
1,618,777 3:10 1977-06-20
Let It All Out
Let It All Out
1,116,375 4:00 1977-06-20
Right on the Money
Right on the Money
835,343 3:12 1977-06-20
404
404
805,419 3:44 1977-06-20
All for the Love of Rock N' Roll
All for the Love of Rock N' Roll
648,525 3:02 1977-06-20
Overloaded
Overloaded
637,083 2:56 1977-06-20
High Steppin'
High Steppin'
600,164 3:41 1977-06-20
Too Bad on Your Birthday
Too Bad on Your Birthday
519,931 3:09 1977-06-20
Pretty Poison
Pretty Poison
400,791 4:28 1978-06-01
Wanna Find Love
Wanna Find Love
276,790 3:44 1978-06-01
Turnpike
Turnpike
260,898 5:42 1978-06-01
Hurricane Ride
Hurricane Ride
252,701 4:04 1978-06-01
Gone Wild
Gone Wild
240,774 3:16 1978-06-01
Runway Runaway
Runway Runaway
220,674 4:47 1978-06-01
The Kid Next Door
The Kid Next Door
218,049 3:22 1978-06-01
Please, Please, Please (Please Me)
Please, Please, Please (Please Me)
211,966 2:54 1978-06-01
Just Like Me
Just Like Me
190,718 4:14 1978-06-01
Saturday Night
Saturday Night
163,530 3:32 1978-06-01
Black Betty
Black Betty
162,210 5:29 1972-01-01
Let It All Out
Let It All Out
121,824 3:60 1990-02-27
All for the Love of Rock n' Roll
All for the Love of Rock n' Roll
54,319 3:01 1990-02-27
Black Betty - Ben Liebrand Remix
Black Betty - Ben Liebrand Remix
7,690 5:28 2010-07-30
Black Betty - Version A
Black Betty - Version A
4,149 4:44 2025-04-18
Black Betty - Version B
Black Betty - Version B
2,329 7:17 2025-04-18

New releases

The Very Best Of Ram Jam
The Very Best Of Ram Jam
1990-11-07
[Epic]
The Very Best Of Ram Jam
The Very Best Of Ram Jam
1990-02-27
[Epic/Legacy]
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Ram
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Ram
1978-06-01
[Epic/Legacy]
Ram Jam
Ram Jam
1977-06-20
[Epic]