Standard of the Week: 'You Don't Have to Go'

Alcoholism and personal problems left bluesman Jimmy Reed a bit less popular than his other blues compatriots, but later his legacy has proven itself to be highly influential. 

In 1954, the bluesman he released 'You Don't Have to Go', which was a big hit. Reed was signed for Vee-Jay Records and this song led to many hits later on in his career. It features the infamous Chicago shuffle with a harp melody (that Reed played himself while playing guitar as well.)

Since then, many blues artists covered this song, and it became a standard in modern blues music. 

Some of the cover artists include:

MUDDY WATERS

FREDDY KING

ANDREW ODOM & The Gold Tops

Jerry Lee Lewis & Pinetop Perkins

Grant Dermody & John Dee Holeman (acoustic)

Standard of the Week: 'Statesboro Blues'

In 1928, country blues legend Blind Willie McTell released 'Statesboro Blues' on the Victor, referring to the town in Georgia.

The song is very much a ragstyle blues, and became one of his biggest hits.

However, it was the 1968 version by Taj Mahal and the 1971 version by the Allman Brothers that actually popularized the song, due to it's heavier beats and the electrifying slide guitars. The Allman Brothers version has seen heavy success and was chosen #9 on Rolling Stone's Top 100 Guitar Songs.

Standard of the Week - 'Walkin' Blues'

In 1936, Robert Johnson recorded the definitive version of "Walkin' Blues", which contained the classic line:

"Woke up this mornin' feelin round for my shoes
But you know by that, I got these old walkin' blues"

It contains traditional blues lines originally attributed to the legend Son House, who was a major influence on Robert Johnson. 

Since then it's been considered one of the main blues standards, and has been covered by hundreds of musicians across genres, such as:

MUDDY WATERS

ERIC CLAPTON

HOT TUNA

CEE-LO GREEN ft. KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD (wtf)

ROY ROGERS

JOE BONAMASSA

Standard of the Week: 'Key to the Highway'

In 1940, pianist Charlie Segar recorded 'Key to the Highway', originally in a 12-bar blues arrangement, which proved to be very popular:

A year later, Big Bill Broonzy recorded his version of it, but in a 8-bar arrangement instead. That version became the definitive song that became a blues standard:

The lyrical content draws images of the travelling bluesman:

I got the key to the highway, billed out and bound to go

I'm gonna leave here runnin', because walkin' is much too slow ...

Give me one more kiss mama, just before I go

'Cause when I'm leavin' here, I won't be back no more

Since then hundreds of musicians covered it, such as:

LITTLE WALTER

MUDDY WATERS

ERIC CLAPTON

ROLLING STONES

B.B. KING

Standard of the Week: 'I Can't Quit You Baby'

In 1956, blues legend, bassist, and writer Willie Dixon wrote 'I Can't Quit You Baby', for another blues great Otis Rush, for the Cobra Label. It was a success at the time, reaching #6 on the R&B charts. It also was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1994.

This standard is the subject of a huge scandal with Led Zeppelin; because they recorded it on their debut album, without giving proper credit, which led to a lawsuit by Willie Dixon in the 70's. Eventually his name was on the writing credits on later reissues.

It has been covered many times by dozens of artists, including:

LED ZEPPELIN

LITTLE MILTON

JOHN MAYALL

GARY MOORE

Standard of the Week: 'My Babe' - Little Walter

In 1955, the great blues harpist Little Walter released 'My Babe', which was written by Willie Dixon, bassist and blues songwriter extraordinaire. The song is based on old gospel songs but with lyrics changed to be about love and cheating. 

The song reached #1 on the R&B charts and was a great success for Walter and Chess Records:

Since then it's become a blues standard and was has been covered by just about everyone, including:

Elvis Presley

Sonny Boy Williamson with The Animals

Chuck Berry

George Thorogood & The Destroyers feat. Charlie Musselwhite

Ike & Tina Turner

Columbus Short as Little Walter, from Cadillac Records

Standard of the Week: 'Good Morning Little Schoolgirl'

In 1937, Sonnyboy Williamson I recorded 'Good Morning Little Schoolgirl' and it immediately became a standard.

Uptempo, with a sweet story of innocence, it quickly became popular. 

Dozens of bluesmen and other rock musicians covered it, such as:

Muddy Waters

Junior Wells

Lightnin' Hopkins 

Grateful Dead

The Yardbirds

Government Mule

Standard of the Week: 'Dust My Broom'

In 1936, blues legend Robert Johnson recorded 'I Believe I'll Dust My Broom', which had inspiration from older blues songs such as 'I Believe I'll Go Back Home' by The Sparks Brothers in 1932 and 'Old Original Kokomo Blues' by Kokomo Arnold from 1934. The song is a standard, upbeat blues shuffle:

However, the "definitive" version of this song is by Elmore James, recorded in 1951 in Mississippi. It features the classic and timeless slide guitar riff in open D tuning. The guitar is overdriven and that gave it's driving, rocking sound:

This version has been claimed as one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in history, and that simple triplet run caused a storm among musicians, and was instrumental in the rise of rock and roll.

It has since been selected for the Blues Foundation Blues Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, and the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry.

Here are a few of the hundreds who covered the song:

HOWLIN' WOLF

THE YARDBIRDS (of ERIC CLAPTON / JIMMY PAGE fame)

FLEETWOOD MAC

ZZ TOP

BEN HARPER

JOHNNY WINTER

Standard of the Week: 'I'm a King Bee' - Slim Harpo

Slim Harpo, real name James Moore, was an influential blues harmonica player from Louisiana. To celebrate what would have been his 91st birthday (he was born on January 11, 1924), I thought I'd visit this classic blues recording.

 In 1957, Harpo's 'I'm a King Bee' was released to much acclaim, becoming Slim's most famous song. The swamp blues style of heavy rhythms just drives it on home. In 2006, the song received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award for it's legacy. 

The call and response tune with the sexual innuendo makes it raunchy and fun.

Dozens of musicians covered it, including:

MUDDY WATERS

THE ROLLING STONES

THE DOORS

THE GRATEFUL DEAD

AEROSMITH

Standard of the Week: Smokestack Lightnin

In 1956, blues legend Howlin' Wolf (real name Chester Burnett) recorded 'Smokestack Lighting' for Chess Records. The song is a repeating E chord vamp, with hypnotic blues wailing from the Wolf, true to his name. His band for the ages backing him: Hubert Sumlin and Willie Johnson played electric guitars, Hosea Lee Kennard on piano, Willie Dixon on bass guitar and Earl Phillips on drums. Wolf  played the harmonica on the song too.

The song is in reference to trains, and early blues pioneers who coined and sang some of the same lines like Charlie Patton. Wolf said: "We used to sit out in the country and see the trains go by, watch the sparks come out of the smokestack. That was smokestack lightning."

Since then it's become a blues standard, winning a Grammy Hall of Fame award in 1999 for it's historical significance, and remains the Wolf's most famous song.

Dozens of blues and rock musicians covered it, such as:

JOHN LEE HOOKER

BOB DYLAN

AEROSMITH

SOUNDGARDEN

Standard of the Week: 'Mean Ol' Frisco'

In in 1942, Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup recorded the blues standard 'Mean Ol' Frisco'.

The "Frisco" is actually a shorter term for the St. Louis-San Francisco train line, where he sings about his baby leaving him:

Well, that mean old, mean old Frisco,
And that low down Santa Fe
Well, that mean old Frisco, and that low down Santa Fe
Well it carried my baby away, and it's blown right back on me.

Ain't nothin' subtle about this old Mississippi blues track; with it's driving rhythm:

Soon enough many musicians took the song and covered it, such as:

MUDDY WATERS

LITTLE WALTER 

LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS

ERIC CLAPTON

CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE

JOE BONAMASSA 

Standard of the Week: Driving Wheel Blues

In 1936, Roosevelt Sykes released 'Driving Wheel Blues' under the Decca label. This 12 bar blues features himself singing over a piano.

Since then it has become a blues standard, covered by many artists such as:

JUNIOR PARKER

B.B. KING

ALBERT KING

PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND

ETTA JAMES

AL GREEN

Standard of the Week: Rollin' & Tumblin'

The original 'Rollin' & Tumblin' was recorded in 1929 by Hambone Willie Newbern under the name 'Roll and Tumble Blues'. It's a great Delta blues classic that's been covered by dozens of blues and rock musicians; the most famous version is by Muddy Waters recorded in 1950.

The Original:

The song features a bottleneck slide riff, played in the key of A with open tuning. The later cover versions either feature the riff under a different name (like 'If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day - Robert Johnson) or changing the lyrics with the name song title (Rollin & Tumblin - Bob Dylan). The song is immortalized and is one of the greatest blues standards.

I mean, one the greatest lyrics ever are in this song:

Well, if the river was whiskey, and I was a divin' duck
Well, if the river was whiskey, and I was a divin' duck
Well, I would dive to the bottom, never would I come up

Here are a few versions by various musicians:

Muddy Waters

Memphis Slim with Buddy Guy

Big Joe Williams

Cream

Jeff Beck

Cyndi Lauper (great version too!)

Standard of the Week: Five Long Years

In 1952, bluesman Eddie Boyd released what would become a blues standard, 'Five Long Years' on the J.OB. label. The song is a straight up slow tempo 12-bar blues, where the singer tells us about how his woman is never satisfied with all the hard work and money he is slaving for.

Here's a live version from 1965:

It went on to become a number one hit on the Billboard R & B charts, and has been covered by many artists, such as:

Muddy Waters

Buddy Guy

Eric Clapton

B. B. King

Freddie King

Standard of the Week: 'Boom Boom'

John Lee Hooker's classic blues standard 'Boom Boom' entered the Billboard charts in the Pop and  R&B sections today in 1962. To celebrate it's 52 years of release, I thought I'd make in this weeks standard. 

The song's appeal is in the repeated riff in stop time, and the boogie jam in the middle. In live situations, the boogie jam would extend almost forever with each musician taking extensive solos and John Lee Hooker wailing with his raspy voice. 

What makes it also a bit unusual too is that unlike other bluesmen such as Muddy Waters or Albert King, is that Hooker is primarily known as a solo artist; with this song he is accompanied by a backup band and it led to great sounding jams. 

Here's the original studio recording:

And here's a live video version:

The song was inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame's list "The Songs That Shaped Rock n' Roll" as well as the Blues Hall of Fame in the "Classic Blues Recording" section.

The song was covered was dozens of artists, including:

The Animals:

Bruce Springsteen: 

Eric Clapton:

ZZ Top (with John Lee Hooker)

and... there's a German Metal version:

Standard of the Week: 'Crawling King Snake'

via ArtLetter

'Crawling King Snake' is a blues standard that has been covered by many artists. It's origins go back to the old Mississippi Delta blues of the 1920's. It is thought to be inspired by 'Black Snake Moan' by Blind Lemon Jefferson.

The heavy riff and the lyrics immediately became a favorite. The original version is disputed to be between Big Joe Williams and Tony Hollins (though I could not find the latter's version).

Big Joe Williams (1941)

Since then, some of the bluesmen who covered it were: 

John Lee Hooker (1949)

The Doors (1970)

Muddy Waters (1971)

George Thorogood (1985)

Buddy Guy (2003)

Standard of the Week: 'The Sky is Crying'

In 1959, electric slide master Elmore James recorded an impromptu track in Chicago. Influenced by the rainy day, he picked up the guitar and wailed the blues, starting with the now famous line:

The sky is cryin' 
Can't you see the tears roll down the street 
The sky is cryin' 
Can't you see the tears roll down the street 
I've been looking for my baby 
And I wonder where can she be 

And  the rest is history; the song reached number #15 on the Billboard charts, and listed in the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame as a Classic of Blues Recording. It has since been covered by dozens of artists, such as:


Albert King:

Gary Moore:

Stevie Ray Vaughan:

Eric Clapton:

Standard of the Week: 'Born Under a Bad Sign'

This week, we will delve into one of blues most famous standards, 'Born Under a Bad Sign', by Albert King.

Recorded and released by the legendary Stax record label, 'Born Under a Bad Sign' is considered the quintessential Albert King song. It was recorded with the Booker T & The MG's as the backup band; which is a winning combination.

It's listed in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame as one of the '500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll', and is was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in the "Classic of Blues Recording, Singles or Album Tracks" category . 

The original 1967 album version.

The riff is what gives the song wide appeal to both blues and rock fans. Dozens of musicians covered it, 

such as Cream:

Jimi Hendrix (as an instrumental)

Robben Ford: 

and.... HOMER SIMPSON (seriously)

Stay tuned for more standards, hope you liked the little tidbits for this song this week!

Standard of the Week - 'Sweet Home Chicago'

This week, I'm jumping into one of the most famous and covered blues standards ever, called 'Sweet Home Chicago'. It was written in 1936 by Robert Johnson, which was a combination of several older songs, such as 'Kokomo Blues' by Scrapper Blackwell in the late 20's.

It features a straight 12 bar blues shuffle rhythm, and features a homage to Chicago, but also to California. This still is a bit controversial, as many were wondering why he asked his lady to go "back to the land of California". In most new versions, "California" is replaced with "that same old place". When played with amplified, this song gets pretty powerful.

This is the original Robert Johnson recording:

One of the earliest well received covers was by Junior Parker in 1958, where it reached #13 on the Billboard R&B charts:

The late great Magic Sam covered this song in 1967 on his album 'West Side Soul' : 

From 1980, this sweet version with extensive solo sections was recorded by The Blues Brothers, and is featured in the movie: 

A more recent, kick-ass version was performed live in the 2004 Crossroads Guitar Festival, featuring Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray and Hubert Sumlin:

And finally,

PRESIDENT BARACK FREAKING OBAMA:





This is just a handful of the hundred and thousands of aspiring artists, and the best musicians perform.