Is You Is or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby) is a lively jump blues tune written by Louis Jordan and Billy Austin and recorded by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. It was first recorded on October 4, 1943 and released as a single in April 1944, and it was featured in the Universal wartime musical Follow the Boys. The song is in English and blends humor with a playful call-and-response about a lover’s loyalty, showcasing Jordan’s upbeat rhythm and blues style. It has been widely covered over the years, including a 1944 version by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters, and it appears on various Louis Jordan compilations. The track helped popularize the jump blues/R&B sound in the 1940s and remains a notable early example of Jordan’s influential work.
