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| B-side = Rita May
| B-side = Rita May
| released = November 30, 1976
| released = November 30, 1976
| format = [[gramophone record|7"]]
| recorded = July 30, 1975
| recorded = July 30, 1975
| studio = [[CBS 30th Street Studio|Columbia Recording Studio E]], New York City
| studio = [[CBS 30th Street Studio|Columbia Recording Studio E]], New York City
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| length = 3:14
| length = 3:14
| label = Columbia
| label = Columbia
| writer = music: Bob Dylan; lyrics: [[Jacques Levy]]/Bob Dylan
| writer =
* Bob Dylan
* [[Jacques Levy]] (lyrics)
| producer = [[Don DeVito]]
| producer = [[Don DeVito]]
| chronology = [[Bob Dylan discography]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Williams |first= Paul |author-link=Paul Williams (journalist) |year=2004 |title=[[Bob Dylan, Performing Artist]]: The Early Years, 1960–1973 |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |orig-date=1990 |isbn=978-1-84449-095-0 |page=289}}</ref>
| chronology = [[Bob Dylan discography]]
| prev_title = [[Mozambique (song)|Mozambique]]
| prev_title = [[Mozambique (song)|Mozambique]]
| prev_year = 1976
| prev_year = 1976
| next_title = [[Baby, Stop Crying]]
| next_title = [[Baby, Stop Crying]]
| next_year = 1977
| next_year = 1978
}}
}}


"'''Rita May'''" (sometimes spelled as "Rita Mae") is a [[song]] by [[Bob Dylan]], originally recorded during the sessions for the album [[Desire (Bob Dylan album)|Desire]], but released only as the B-side of a single and on the compilation album, ''[[Masterpieces (Bob Dylan album)|Masterpieces]]''.<ref>[http://www.bjorner.com/DSN02780%201975%20Early%20sessions.htm#DSN02860 Still on the Road: Bob Dylan Recording Sessions]</ref> The song is based on the 1957 [[rockabilly]] song "[[Bertha Lou]]". Some listeners believe that the lyrics of the song refer to writer [[Rita Mae Brown]], who had complained of the lack of opportunities for casual lesbian sex.<ref>[http://expectingrain.com/dok/who/r/ritamay.html The Bob Dylan Who's Who]</ref>
"'''Rita May'''" (sometimes spelled as "Rita Mae") is a song by [[Bob Dylan]], originally recorded during the sessions for the album ''[[Desire (Bob Dylan album)|Desire]]'', but released only as the B-side of a single and on the compilation album, ''[[Masterpieces (Bob Dylan album)|Masterpieces]]''.<ref>[http://www.bjorner.com/DSN02780%201975%20Early%20sessions.htm#DSN02860 Still on the Road: Bob Dylan Recording Sessions]</ref> The song is based on the 1957 [[rockabilly]] song "[[Bertha Lou]]". Some listeners believe that the lyrics of the song refer to writer [[Rita Mae Brown]], who had complained of the lack of opportunities for casual lesbian sex.<ref>[http://expectingrain.com/dok/who/r/ritamay.html The Bob Dylan Who's Who]</ref>


==Live version==
"Rita May" was covered by [[Jerry Lee Lewis]] on his 1979 album [[Jerry Lee Lewis (Elektra album)|Jerry Lee Lewis]].
Dylan rehearsed the song in New York City before the first leg of the [[Rolling Thunder Revue]] in 1975, a performance that was officially released on the ''[[Bob Dylan – The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings]]'' box set released in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bob Dylan – The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings {{!}} The Official Bob Dylan Site|url=http://www.bobdylan.com/albums/bob-dylan-the-rolling-thunder-revue-the-1975-live-recordings/|access-date=2021-05-13|website=www.bobdylan.com}}</ref> The only time Dylan played the song live, however, came on the second leg of the Rolling Thunder Revue in [[New Orleans|New Orleans, Louisiana]] on May 3, 1976.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Setlists {{!}} The Official Bob Dylan Site|url=http://www.bobdylan.com/setlists/?id_song=27211|access-date=2021-05-13|website=www.bobdylan.com}}</ref>

==Notable cover==
"Rita May" was covered by [[Jerry Lee Lewis]] on his 1979 [[Jerry Lee Lewis (Elektra album)|self-titled album]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cover versions of Rita May by Jerry Lee Lewis {{!}} SecondHandSongs|url=https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/97373/versions|access-date=2021-05-13|website=secondhandsongs.com}}</ref>


==Other songs with the same title==
==Other songs with the same title==
[[Eric Clapton]] wrote a song titled "Rita Mae" which appears on his 1981 album ''[[Another Ticket]]'' and was also released as a single, reaching #10 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
[[Eric Clapton]] wrote a song titled "Rita Mae" which appears on his 1981 album ''[[Another Ticket]]'' and was also released as a single, reaching No. 18 on the Mainstream Rock chart.


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
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*[[Bob Dylan]] – guitar, vocal, harmonica
*[[Bob Dylan]] – guitar, vocal, harmonica
*[[Emmylou Harris]] – vocal
*[[Emmylou Harris]] – vocal
*Rob Rothstein – bass
*[[Rob Stoner]] – bass
*[[Howard Wyeth]] – drums
*[[Howard Wyeth]] – drums
*[[Scarlet Rivera]] – violin
*[[Scarlet Rivera]] – violin
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==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/rita-may/ Lyrics] at Bob Dylan's official site
*[http://dylanchords.com/18_desire/rita_may Chords] at Dylanchords


{{Bob Dylan}}
{{Bob Dylan}}

Latest revision as of 00:18, 28 August 2024

This article is about the Bob Dylan song. For the writer Rita Mae Brown, see Rita Mae Brown. For the British actress, see Rita May (actress).
"Rita May"
Single by Bob Dylan
from the album Masterpieces
A-side"Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again"
B-side"Rita May"
ReleasedNovember 30, 1976
RecordedJuly 30, 1975
StudioColumbia Recording Studio E, New York City
GenreBlues
Length3:14
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Don DeVito
Bob Dylan discography[1] singles chronology
"Mozambique"
(1976) 		"Rita May"
(1976) 		"Baby, Stop Crying"
(1978)

"Rita May" (sometimes spelled as "Rita Mae") is a song by Bob Dylan, originally recorded during the sessions for the album Desire, but released only as the B-side of a single and on the compilation album, Masterpieces.[2] The song is based on the 1957 rockabilly song "Bertha Lou". Some listeners believe that the lyrics of the song refer to writer Rita Mae Brown, who had complained of the lack of opportunities for casual lesbian sex.[3]

Live version

[edit]

Dylan rehearsed the song in New York City before the first leg of the Rolling Thunder Revue in 1975, a performance that was officially released on the Bob Dylan – The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings box set released in 2019.[4] The only time Dylan played the song live, however, came on the second leg of the Rolling Thunder Revue in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 3, 1976.[5]

Notable cover

[edit]

"Rita May" was covered by Jerry Lee Lewis on his 1979 self-titled album.[6]

Other songs with the same title

[edit]

Eric Clapton wrote a song titled "Rita Mae" which appears on his 1981 album Another Ticket and was also released as a single, reaching No. 18 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

Personnel

[edit]

Original Dylan version

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Williams, Paul (2004) [1990]. Bob Dylan, Performing Artist: The Early Years, 1960–1973. Omnibus Press. p. 289. ISBN 978-1-84449-095-0.
  2. ^ Still on the Road: Bob Dylan Recording Sessions
  3. ^ The Bob Dylan Who's Who
  4. ^ "Bob Dylan – The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings | The Official Bob Dylan Site". www.bobdylan.com. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  5. ^ "Setlists | The Official Bob Dylan Site". www.bobdylan.com. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  6. ^ "Cover versions of Rita May by Jerry Lee Lewis | SecondHandSongs". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
[edit]
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