zztl | American Blues Standaards (part 3)

door Jon Editor

In this column: blues standards, Let The Good Times Roll, Louis Jordan, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Fleecie Moore, Scratch My Back, Slim Harpo, Junior Wells, Phil Guy, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Shake Your Hips (Hip Shake), The Rolling Stones, Greyhound Blues Band, Doug Jay, Café Hofsteenge, Messin' With The Kid, Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, Key To The Highway, Charlie Segar, Big Bill Broonzy, Derek and The Dominos, Duane Allman, Sam Samudio.

Introduction (part 3)

The following episodes are about blues standards; songs that have been played regularly since their inception and thus represent the genre 'blues' within the music world. The songs in these episodes are 'American Blues Standards'; songs with melodies, progressions, hooks and rhythms that musicians can use all over the world without rehearsals.
In my 30 year career as a backing musician I have played many of these songs several times with many blues artists. My experience with this played a role in compiling the list.

There are websites on the Internet that provide overviews, where history is described and where texts and music progressions can be found. My goal is not to map all of this out, but I will refer to it where possible.

Let The Good Times Roll – Louis Jordan (1946

Let The Good Times Roll – Ray Charles (1960)

Let The Good Times Roll – B.B. King (1989)

Writers: Sam Thread/Fleecie Moore

Note: Louis Jordan often credited songs under his then-wife Fleecie's name, as he wanted to avoid previously published arrangements. His marriage to Fleecie was short-lived, and the strategy of crediting her as co-writer cost him a considerable amount of money. Fleecie was able to make a good living on the income.

Secondhand Songs

Baby Scratch My Back – Slim Harpo (1965)

Scratch My Back – Junior Wells & Phil Guy (Live 1975)

Scratch My Back – The Fabulous Thunderbirds (Rockpalast 1980)

More information on

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Shake Your Hips (Hip shake) – Slim Harpo (1966)

Hip Shake – The Rolling Stones (1972)

Hip Shake – Greyhound Blues Band and Doug Jay (2009, Roots on the hill,Café Hofsteenge, Grolloo)

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Messin’ With The Kid – Junior Wells (1960)

1960, version without harmonica.
Chief Records owner/songwriter/producer Mel London is credited as the songwriter.
In 1966, Wells recorded a second version of "Messin' with the Kid" with harmonica and backup by Buddy Guy on guitar.

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Messin’ With The Kid – Montreux 1974 live with Buddy Guy

Johnny Winter – Messing with the Kid (1979)

Rory Gallagher – Messing With The Kid (1987)

Key To The Highway – first recorded in 1940 by piano player Charlie Segar

Key To The Highway – in 1941 Big Bill Broonzy’s version became the standard

Key To The Highway – Derek and The Dominos (1970)

Clapton and Duane Allman heard singer Sam Samudio, better known as "Sam the Sham", performing the song in a neighboring studio and spontaneously started playing it themselves. When record producer Tom Dowd heard it, he quickly told the engineers to "hit the goddamn machine!" to start the tape recorder (that explains the long intro).

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Key to the Highway – Sam Samudio (1970)