B-side The Trial Genre Comedy, soul Label Chess | Released 1968 Length 2:40 | |
Writer(s) Pigmeat Markham, Bob Astor, Dick Alen, Sarah Harvey | ||
"Here Comes the Judge" is a song and single by American soul and comedy singer Pigmeat Markham first released in 1968 on the Chess label. The record entered the UK charts in July 1968, spending eight weeks on the charts and reaching 19 as its highest position. The song originated with his signature comedy routine "heyeah (here) come da judge", which made a mockery of formal courtroom etiquette. Due to its rhythmic use of boastful dialogue, it is considered a precursor to hip hop.
Other songs and cover versions
Songs with the same name have been recorded by several artists most notably, Shorty Long, whose 1968 Tamla Motown song "Here Comes the Judge" also entered the UK charts in July 1968 but only reached 30 as its highest position. Long's song is completely different from Markham's, however it was inspired by Markham's comic act involving a judge, which Markham performed on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. The Markham song was also covered, as a parody, by UK band The Barron Knights, as part of their "An Olympic Record". Peter Tosh, The Vapors and the Magistrates have recorded songs called "Here Comes the Judge" but they are different songs.