Murder Most Cool

Lloyd Price - Stagger Lee



Arriving in a flourish of female backing vocals and saxophone is Lloyd Price's tale of a gambler-turned-murderer, Stagger Lee. It's clear that Stagger Lee was a totemic figure in blues and soul music - the first song directly referencing him was recorded by Mississippi John Hurt in 1928 and direct references to him have turned up in songs by Taj Mahal, Wilson Picket ('Stag-O-Lee'), The Clash ('Wrong 'em Boyo'), Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds ('Stagger Lee') and The Black Keys ('Stack Shot Billy'). And, of course, Mr Price's opus which was, commercially at least, the most successful, charting at #1 in 1959.

That it charted at all in the conservative 1950s was a miracle - it's a song about a man welching on his gambling debts and killing his fellow gambler, despite being begged for mercy. It's violent and vicious and celebrates criminality and murder.

I love it.

Price sings with fire and passion over a bed of exhortative backing vocals and bouncy horns, continually celebrating Stagger's murderous acts. It's really upbeat - no wonder the idiot box has such an easy time desensitising its viewers to murder - when the medium is this good, it's impossible not to like the message. That said, I'm not likely to murder someone purely because I like this song. I'm far more likely to induce murder amongst people by continually playing this song until they decide to batter me to death with a blunt object. I seem to evoke that feeling in people quite a bit. In that case, I will fully condemn this song for encouraging violent behaviour.

In the meanwhile, get your Stagger on.

Pointless and obvious speculative notes: Needless to say, this song was a direct progenitor to the gangsta rap of the various flavours of Ices, Vanilla excluded, and the Death Row posse. It was also considered a celebration of the strong, violent, anti-establishment black man and celebrated by the Black Panthers - Panther leader Bobby Seale reportedly named his son Stagger Lee in tribute.

Verdict: Staggeringly cool

Tomorrow: Nirvana - All Apologies