Ram Jam

Although Ram Jam's career only lasted for two years, the band stamped its name into the classic-rock history books with its driving cover of Lead Belly's "Black Betty." Released in 1977 as part of the band's self-titled debut, the song peaked at Number 18 in America and cracked the Top 10 in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK. Bill Barlett, the band's guitarist and co-founder, had previously enjoyed similar success as a member of the Lemon Pipers, whose bubblegum pop single "Green Tambourine" topped the charts in February 1968. Ram Jam's heyday proved to be short-lived, with the band releasing one final album, 1978's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Ram, before splitting up.