Markham, Pigmeat

Band members               Related acts

- Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham (RIP 1981) - spoken word 

  

 

- none known

 

 

 

 

Rating: *** ( 3 stars)

Title:  Here Comes the Judge

Company: Chess

Catalog: LPS-1523

Year: 1968

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG-

Comments: minor ring, edge and corner wear; vinyl has some light marks but they don't impact play

Available: 1

Price: $12.00

 

 In this day and age, most folks have never heard of Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham. Given the slim chance they have heard the name, it's almost certainly a result of his career as a comedian. Few, if any know that Markham started his entertainment career as a dancer! Running away from home at the age of 13 to join the circus, Markham started his professional career on the Southern race circuit working with long time partner George Wilshire. By the 1920s graduating to the burlesque circuit where he was frequently billed with white artists such as Milton Berle, Red Buttons and Eddie Cantor. Interestingly, even though he was black, Markham insisted on appearing in black face. As a result, many fans didn't realize he was black. In case you were wondering, the name came from a song ("Sweet Papa Pigmeat") Markham featured in his act.

By the '50s Markham had built a large fan base with black Americans, regularly selling out club and theater dates across the East Coast. Several mid-'60s appearances on the Ed Sullivan show broadened his reputation, in process attracting the attention of Chess Records, which signed him to a recording contract.

For years Markham had used the catchphrase "here comes the judge" in his stage act. Picked up and repeatedly used by Rowan and Martin's Laugh In television show, Chess decided to have Markham record a song around the phrase. Released as a single, "Here Comes the Judge" b/w "The Trial" (Chess catalog number 2049), promptly when top-20. More than willing to cash in on Markham's sudden success, Chess rushed him into the studio to record a supporting album. Produced by Ralph Bass, 1968's cleverly titled "Here Comes the Judge" was essentially a comedy album. In addition to the single (with it's sneaky little anti-Vietnam lyric "Everybody near or far I'm goin' to Paris to stop this war"), the album included six other comedy sketches. Dated, but occasionally entertaining, the LP's worth a hearing. Propelled by the fluke hit, the parent album eventually hit #109.

"Here Comes the Judge" track listing:
1.) I Got the Number (Pigmeat Markham) - 1:50
2.) The News Reporter (Pigmeat Markham) - 3:30
3.) Here Comes the Judge (Billy Jean Brown - Suzanne DePasse - Frederick Long) - 2:52
4.) Fast News (Pigmeat Markham) - 1:10
5.) Frisco Kate (Pigmeat Markham) - 3:35
6.) My Wife, I Ain't Seen Her (Pigmeat Markham) - 9:25
7.) The Trial (Pigmeat Markham) - 12:55

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