I first heard this song performed by the Cream. Most recently I heard it being covered by a local bluegrass band and discovered that Bill Monroe had given it a whirl. Harry Belafonte and Frank Sinatra also reworked it. I've researched this myself and come up with conflicting information. Is there anyone out there who knows who wrote this song? Here's a clue the initials of the outfits who are credited with it are MS and HW. This one's for you Jonny boy!
7 comments:
It was written by Chester Burnett aka Howling Wolf ( solicitor friend)
It was written by Chester Burnett aka Howling Wolf ( the solicitor friend). Too easy!
I'm not convinced SF. What about the Mississippi Sheiks?
They recorded it in 1930 according to my research. When did Howling Wolf record his version?
A lot of these songs are traditional. Then someone comes along, does their own arrangement and takes the writing credit. Seems to me The Mississippi Sheiks must have recorded the earlier version(without necessarily having written it as HW only took up the guitar in 1928.
So that's me told!(SF).
Seems like those good ol' Mississippi boys lost themselves a ball of dosh. Still if Howling Wolf got the credit it couldn't happen to better boy.
The song was originally done in 1928 by the Mississippi Sheiks. A gentleman named McKinley Morganfield evidently performed this song and others by them at Stovall plantation during the 1930's. I've gone through the discography that I have and could find nothing with him recording it. Mr. Morganfield became famous in Chicago, initially, and was/is better known as Muddy Waters.
Many thanks for that bluesmanchris. I have to say that I prefer the mississsippi sheikhs' version to all others
Post a Comment