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We had a Blues Roots post on “Rock Me, Baby” a little while ago. It’s just one of the many, many songs B.B. King made famous but didn’t compose. When he played a song in his style, people responded. There are some here that I think “famous” isn’t the best description, as they weren’t hits. Nevertheless, anything recorded by B.B. King was listened to by quite a few people.
Thanks to Jontavious Willis, here are a list of those songs and their originals. He started this topic on his Facebook page.
Jontavious Willis just released his debut album, Blue Metamorphosis (available at his website). I’ll be posting a review of his record pretty soon. If you like the blues, order his record and don’t like it, I’ll buy your copy from you. Yes, I will.
I often drop in the Wikipedia link (unless, as in the case of Robert Nighthawk, I know the website I’m connecting you with is better), but there are often related official or fan links at the bottom of the Wikipedia page that have lots of supplementary info.
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Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers, “How Blue Can You Get?” (1949)
B.B. King originally released this in 1964. This is from 1971 and Live In Cook County Jail.
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Lucille Bogan recorded the first “Black Angel Blues” in 1930. Don’t miss her “Shave ’Em Dry” if you want to hear a song with explicit lyrics (the photo there is the only known photo of her). Lucille Bogan was one of the “big three,” along with Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey, she was one of the first stars of the blues.
My man Robert Nighthawk recorded it for the first time in 1949.
Earl Hooker recorded it several times. In 1969, he released an album named for the song, but this is an one from April 1953.
B.B. King called it “Sweet Little Angel” when he released it in 1956.
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Tampa Red, “She’s Dynamite” (1951). Relative to his talent, Tampa Red is the most overlooked blues musician that I’ve ever mentioned here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9eiuW5FPtcB.B. King recorded it not long after.
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“The Thrill Is Gone,” Roy Hawkins (1951)
Here it is in the key of B.B. King (1969).
And live in Africa (1974).
With Bobby Blue Bland (1977).
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Pinetop Sparks and Henry Townsend produced the original “Everyday I Have the Blues” (1935).
Memphis Slim rewrote it and released it in 1949. His version is the one the others follow. Here’s live footage from 1963.
Sound familiar? See the Blues Roots from September 1, 2016, for many other versions.
Here’s B.B. King’s version (1955).
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Tampa Red, “Crying Won’t Help You” (1946)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEF__yRG5ikRobert Nighthawk, “Crying Won’t Help You” (August 1951). Robert Nighthawk also released this in 1964, but this one is from 1951.
B.B. King, “Crying Won’t Help You” (December 1955)
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Lowell Fulson “Three O’Clock Blues” (1946)
B.B. King, “Three O’Clock Blues” (1951)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNfMhEa2Jsg:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Louis Jordan, “Early in the Morning” (1947)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFWIomPxPooB.B. King, “Early in the Morning” (I think this is early ’50s but I can’t find the date). This is so nice!!!!!!!
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Victoria Spivey, “You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now!” Part 1 (about 1928)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQKdmftsDlQVictoria Spivey, “You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now!” Part 2 (about 1928)
B.B. King, “You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now” (1961). His intro on here is one for the ages.
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Big Joe Turner, “Sweet Sixteen” (1952)
B.B. King recorded “Sweet Sixteen” for the first time in 1960. Here he is performing it live on TV ten years after that.
And again 14 years after, live in Africa.
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Sonny Boy Williamson I (John Lee Curtis Williamson, the original Sonny Boy Williamson) “Million Years Blues” (recorded July 2, 1941)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IAcKd9bodK0B.B. King’s “Heart Beats Like a Hammer” (June 1958)
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Memphis Minnie, “Looking the World Over” (1941). Memphis Minnie is another person who’s way underappreciated.
https://youtu.be/Lv22PVqLOPEB.B. King’s “Looking the World Over” from 30 years later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKHkDPY4a5E:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
There’s a 1991 B.B. King album named for this Howard Tate song, which he originally covered on B.B. King in London . He must have been thrilled to have his song covered by B.B. King.
Howard Tate, “Ain’t Nobody Home” (1966)
B.B. King, “Ain’t Nobody Home,” live in Africa (1974)
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I’m not at all familiar with this song and wouldn’t be surprised to find that maybe B.B. King played it first. B.B. King’s version and the playlist it heads up are so great, I don’t need much reason to include them.
Smokey Hogg, “Walking Dr. Bill”
It’s the first song on this tasty B.B. King “The Complete Singles As & Bs 1949-62, Vol. 3” playlist. And it’s followed immediately by “You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now” and 21 other songs from B.B. King’s most fertile period, including his version of St. Louis Jimmy Oden’s “Going Down Slow” (while he recorded this and other covers, I wouldn’t say he made them famous, they were already well-known.)
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Lil’ Son Jackson “Rockin’ and Rollin’” (1950)
Lil’ Son Jackson “Rockin’ and Rollin’” (number 2, 1950 or 1951)
Muddy Waters recorded “Rock Me Baby” for the first time in 1956.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOSemBw0mykThis version is live at Carnegie Hall (1959).
B.B. King, “Rock Me, Baby” (recorded between 1958 and January 14, 1962)
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Songs made famous by B.B. King, kicking it off with Albert Collins’ “How Blue Can You Get?” (1969). The playlist isn’t finished yet! I’m still adding songs, and will probably still be adding them tomorrow.
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Things got all kinds of bizzy today so, without further ado, here are some additional playlists from a few of the people mentioned above. Each song shown leads to a playlist; in the case of Tampa Red, it’s a playlist shared with Big Bill Bronzy and a few others.
How blue can you get?
Shout the boogie!
Tight like that!
Don D.
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Don,
The history or genealogy of blues songs is really interesting. So many variations on the same theme. Saw your comment on Tampa Red. I first encountered him when I was trying (unsuccessfully) to learn some slide. I always thought of him as a soloist playing a resonator guitar. That jump version of “She’s Dynamite” was really unexpected!
Bob
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