Lyrical Misunderstanding
Credit where credit is due, please. In “ ‘Pompatus’ Wrestles a World of Self-Doubt” (Calendar, July 26), John Anderson traced the title of the film “Pompatus of Love” to the Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker.”
Any fan of real rock ‘n’ roll knows that “pompatus” came from right here in Los Angeles, where a black doo-wop group called the Medallions, featuring the lead voice of Vernon Green, recorded a 1954 R&B; hit called “The Letter.” During Green’s unintentionally hilarious recitation in the middle of the song, he murmured: “Oh my darling, let me whisper sweet words of pismatality and discuss the pulpitudes of love, and put ‘em together and what do you have? Matrimony.”
Like anyone well-versed in rock ‘n’ roll lore, Steve Miller knew about Vernon Green’s nonsense “pulpitudes of love.” He simply misunderstood Green’s South-Central accent, that’s all.
Vernon’s still around and could use a little credit and recognition tossed his way.
JIM DAWSON
Hollywood
* Dawson is the author of “What Was the First Rock ‘N’ Roll Record?”
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