Pigmeat Markham?

[Videoskooter]

Anybody can tell something about this track from 1968? Is this the first Rap record ever? Was it a hit? Big thx to Jill "Mia Bocca" Jones for mentioning it to me.

Pigmeat Markham: "Here Comes The Judge' & 'The Trial'"

[Disco Funk]

I think a lot of people consider it to be the first rap record, but the definition of what is 'rap' gets very foggy before the mid 70s when those MCs in NYC were rhyming over music. I mean, before this record, weren't there those beatniks in the early 60s who recited spoken poetry over jazzy music? And I remembered in the 70s Sesame Street characters or skits where there was a 'rap' over some kind of jazzy music, which I'm guessing was based on stuff going on in music already.

I'm comfortable with the notion that the first true rap record ('rap' in the manner we know it today) was from around '79, whether it was Rapper's Delight from Sugarhill Gang, or King Tim III by Fatback Band.

Disco Funk

[NickNack]

My parents were big fans of Pigmeat Markham. He was a standup comedian in the vein of Moms Mabley and Redd Foxx, though I think not as "off-color" in his routines. They went to see his shows and bought a couple of his albums. I remember "Here Comes the Judge" for a couple of reasons: The phrase had been popular in the black community for years because of Pigmeat and in the mid to late 60s because of Flip Wilson. Also, Shorty Long had a hit in 68 with a song of the same title. According the AMG, Pigmeat's song hit #19 on the pop charts. Shorty's hit #8. Both hit #4 on the black singles charts. While Pigmeat's has you LYAO, Shorty's will have you on the floor dancing.

"There's gonna be a Function At the Junction / Brother you better come on, right now" :icon_smile:

[Videoskooter]

While Pigmeat's has you LYAO, Shorty's will have you on the floor dancing

"Here comes the judge"

"Function at the junction"

[NickNack]

Hey there Videoskooter,

I like the instrumental of "Function..." but Shorty's original version was a little bit slower and he did the lead vocals. I'm sure it's out there on YouTube, but I've never linked anything from there to here.

[Videoskooter]

Hey Nicky, I think this is the version you are talking about:

YouTube - Shorty Long-Function At The Junction

There are other vids on YouTube but they can not be watched over here ("Video not available in your country").

[Jackson9]

that's none other than Minnie Riperton "rapping" on Pigmeat's version:

"Judge your honorship high Sir, did i hear you say order in the court...
.. well i take two cans of beer please!!"

[normvork]

This song is based on a comedy routine from TV, on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In.