The doo-wop sound of the 1950s was born on the street corners of America’s cities. Groups of teenagers would harmonize creating music without instruments. its a cappella the melodies were based on nonsense words, such as the bass “boom-boom-boom,” to mimic the missing guitars and drums. Few groups took this concept beyond the Chips: Charles “Kenrod” Johnson (lead), Nathaniel Epps (baritone), Paul Fulton (bass), and tenors Sammy Strain and Shedrick Lincoln. The teens sang together on the corners of Bergen Street, Classon Avenue, and Clifton Place in Brooklyn’s rugged Bedford-Stuyvesant. However, the first song the Chips would record was written by Kenrod Johnson 60 miles north of the state … at the Warwick School for Teen Offenders.
Although Warwick’s school was a harsh and violent place, Johnson amused the other teenagers by poking fun at the army’s “hup-two-three-four” chant with his own silly verses. The rhymes formed the basis of “Rubber Biscuit,” a lyrical mix of jibberish and crazy kitchen items like cold water sandwiches and buns to go to the Sunday gathering.
After his release, Johnson and his Brooklyn vocal group, now known as Chips, recorded “Rubber Biscuit” for Josie Records in August 1956 at Belltone Studios in New York City. Released in September 1956, the record never surpassed the national top 40, but it became a favorite of East Coast DJs. The Chips toured briefly with the Dells and Cadillacs, then parted ways in late 1957; its members went on to join groups like Platters and Little Anthony and the Imperials.
In 1973, “Rubber Biscuit” received renewed attention when director Martin Scorsese included the track in his seminal film “Mean Streets,” the story of the petty hoods in Little Italy. The Chips original is heard when Charlie (Harvey Keitel) staggers drunk through a neighborhood bar.
“Rubber Biscuit” finally became a hit in 1978 when the Blues Brothers, “Saturday Night Live” comedians John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as “Joliet” singers Jake and Elwood Blues, covered the song on their LP. ” Briefcase Full of Blues “. Backed by a band of stars, Belushi and Aykroyd recorded their debut album live at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles. The LP, a reflection of Belushi and Aykroyd’s respect for rhythm and blues greats, reached number one on the Billboard charts and sold two million copies; “Briefcase” also produced another hit single, “Soul Man.” The success of the album led to the release of the 1980 film “The Blues Brothers”.
And in case you’re wondering, a cold-water sandwich is a slice of watermelon and a bun to go to Sunday’s meeting is a muffin that is removed from the kitchen table as you rush to church.