DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #64: Rag Mop

This is a funny vocal harmony song with non-lyrics, we could say. The title is the text – with some more letter games, that’s it.

The Ames Brothers were a vocal harmony quartet in the fifties. The quartet consisted of the four brothers Joe, Gene, Vic and Ed. They all were born within four years and their real surname was Urick.

After winning a few local talent contests in Malden, Massachusetts, they moved to Boston to perform in nightclubs and eventually made it to New York and Los Angeles.

They had their first number one success with Rag Mop/Sentimental Me, whereas the b-side “Sentimental Me”, a slow romantic number, eventually became the even bigger hit.

From the beginning of the Rock ‘n’ Roll era in the mid fifties, the success was fading and they finally disbanded in 1959. Ed, the youngest brother, stayed in the show business and was a successful soloist and actor.

Title: Rag Mop
Artist: The Ames Brothers
Recorded: 1950
Album: Greatest Hits
Tempo: 192 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop, Balboa