Definition "Rubber Biscuit" is a novelty doo-wop song, originally released in 1956 by the American vocal group The Chips. It is widely recognized for its distinctive, largely nonsensical vocalizations and scat singing.
Overview The song gained significant popularity and broader recognition through its inclusion in the 1978 album Briefcase Full of Blues by The Blues Brothers, a musical act formed by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. The Blues Brothers' rendition was subsequently featured in their 1980 film, The Blues Brothers, further cementing its status as a notable piece of rhythm and blues and doo-wop revival. Its enduring appeal lies in its unique vocal style, comedic elements, and its place within the history of doo-wop and early rock and roll.
Etymology/Origin "Rubber Biscuit" was written by the members of The Chips, specifically attributed to Richard Barrett, Ronald Lapread, Nathaniel Epps, Charles Johnson, and Ellis Marsh. It was released as a single on Josie Records in 1956. The song's composition emerged from the vocal-group traditions of the 1950s, characterized by close harmonies and often experimental vocal arrangements. The title itself, "Rubber Biscuit," appears to be a whimsical and nonsensical phrase that sets the tone for the song's eccentric vocal delivery. The Blues Brothers' decision to cover the song was part of their broader mission to pay homage to classic rhythm and blues, soul, and doo-wop artists.
Characteristics
- Genre: Primarily doo-wop and rhythm and blues, with strong elements of a novelty song due to its unconventional structure and content.
- Vocal Style: The most defining characteristic is its heavy reliance on scat singing, call-and-response patterns, and a series of repetitive, often humorous, and seemingly random vocal sounds and syllables. Examples include extended repetitions of "b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-biscuit" and various "hooba-dooba" or "rub-a-rub-a" sequences.
- Lyrical Content: The song largely foregoes a traditional narrative or meaningful lyrical content in favor of rhythmic vocalizations that serve as both melodic and percussive elements.
- Instrumentation: While the original Chips version featured a relatively sparse arrangement typical of 1950s doo-wop, emphasizing the vocal harmonies, The Blues Brothers' cover incorporated a fuller, more robust big-band R&B sound, with prominent brass and a tighter rhythm section.
Related Topics
- The Chips: The original recording artists of "Rubber Biscuit."
- The Blues Brothers: The musical group that popularized the song with their cover version.
- Doo-wop: The musical genre to which "Rubber Biscuit" belongs, known for vocal group harmonies.
- Novelty song: A category of songs that are comedic, whimsical, or unusual in theme or style.
- Scat singing: A form of vocal improvisation using nonsense syllables, a prominent feature of the song.
- Briefcase Full of Blues: The 1978 album by The Blues Brothers featuring their rendition of "Rubber Biscuit."
- The Blues Brothers (film): The 1980 musical comedy film where The Blues Brothers' performance of the song is featured.