Rollin' Stone

"Rollin' Stone" is a blues song recorded by Muddy Waters in 1950. It is his interpretation of "Catfish Blues", a Delta blues that dates back to 1920s Mississippi.[3] "Still a Fool", recorded by Muddy Waters a year later using the same arrangement and melody, reached number nine on the Billboard R&B chart. "Rollin' Stone" has been recorded by a variety of artists and the name inspired rock group the Rolling Stones[4] and the magazine Rolling Stone in part.[5]

This article is about the song. For the band, see The Rolling Stones. For the magazine, see Rolling Stone. For other uses, see Rolling Stone (disambiguation).
"Rollin' Stone"
Single by Muddy Waters
B-side"Walkin' Blues"
Released1950 (1950)
RecordedChicago, February 1950[1][2]
GenreBlues, electric blues
Length3:05
LabelChess
Songwriter(s)Muddy Waters (credited)
Producer(s)Leonard Chess, Phil Chess
Muddy Waters singles chronology
"Rollin' and Tumblin'"
(1950)		 "Rollin' Stone"
(1950)		 "You're Gonna Need My Help I Said"
(1950)

Earlier songs

In 1928, Jim Jackson recorded "Kansas City Blues Parts 3 and 4", a follow-up to his highly successful "Jim Jackson's Kansas City Blues Parts 1 and 2". Jackson's lyrics included:

I wished I was a catfish swimming down in the sea
I'd have some good woman fishing after me

Several other early songs also explored variations on the catfish and/or fishing theme. In 1941, Tommy McClennan and his sometime partner Robert Petway each recorded versions of the song. Petway's was the first to be titled "Catfish Blues" and is sometimes cited as the basis for Muddy Waters' "Rollin' Stone".[6] However, according to one biographer "They'd been singing "Catfish Blues" for years in the Delta, but it never sounded like "Rollin' Stone".[7]

Muddy Waters song

"Rollin' Stone" has been identified (along with "Walkin' Blues", the single's B-side) as one of the first songs that Muddy Waters learned to play and an early favorite.[4] The words refer to the traditional proverb, "A rolling stone gathers no moss".

Called "a brooding, minor-hued drone piece",[4] "Rollin' Stone" is a mid- to slow-tempo blues notated in 4/4 time in the key of E major.[8] Although the instrumental section uses the IV and V chords, the vocal sections remain on the I chord,[8] giving the song a modal quality often found in Delta blues songs. In addition to the traditional catfish verses, Waters added:

Well my mother told my father just before I was born
'I got a boy child comin', gonna be, gonna be a rollin' stone
Sho' enough he's a rollin' stone

Unlike most of his early recordings which have bass or other instrumental accompaniment, "Rollin' Stone" is a solo performance by Muddy Waters on vocal and electric guitar. It has "much empty space ... imbued with the power of a pause, of letting a note hang in the air, the anticipation of the next one".[7]

"Rollin' Stone" was the first Muddy Waters record released on Chess Records and the second overall for the label (previous releases were on Aristocrat Records).[1][9] It did not reach the national record charts, but sold about 70,000 copies[9] and allowed Muddy Waters to quit his day job.[7]

Still a Fool

In 1951, Muddy Waters used the vocal melody and guitar figure from "Rollin' Stone" for "Still a Fool".[10] The song was more successful, reaching number nine in the Billboard R&B chart.[3] Rather than a solo piece, Little Walter on second guitar and Leonard Chess on bass drum accompanied Muddy on vocal and guitar. Subsequent versions of "Rollin' Stone" or "Catfish Blues" often use some lyrics from "Still a Fool" (sometimes called "Two Trains Running" after the opening verse).

Influence and recognition

English blues rock group the Rolling Stones and the music magazine Rolling Stone took their names from the song.[4] In 2000, the song was honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award;[11] in 2004, it was included at number 459 by Rolling Stone in its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[12] In 2019, the Blues Foundation inducted "Rollin' Stone" into the Blues Hall of Fame as a "Classic of Blues Recording".[13]

In 1967, "Rollin' Stone" (and "Still a Fool") was used as part of Jimi Hendrix's "Catfish Blues", a homage to Muddy Waters, and included on the albums BBC Sessions and Blues. Hendrix's signature songs "Voodoo Chile" and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" evolved from his "Catfish Blues".[14]

References
  1. Wight, Phil; Rothwell, Fred (1991). "The Complete Muddy Waters Discography". Blues & Rhythm. No. 200. p. 39.
  2. Palmer, Robert (1989). Muddy Waters: The Chess Box (Box set booklet). Muddy Waters. Universal City, California: MCA Records/Chess Records. p. 28. CHD3-80092.
  3. Herzhaft, Gerard (1992). "Catfish Blues". Encyclopedia of the Blues. Fayetteville, Arkansas: University of Arkansas Press. p. 442. ISBN 1-55728-252-8.
  4. Palmer, Robert (1982). Deep Blues. New York City: Penguin Books. p. 104. ISBN 0-14006-223-8.
  5. Jann Wenner (November 9, 1967). "A Letter from the Editor". Rolling Stone. No. 1. p. 2. You’re probably wondering what we are trying to do. It’s hard to say: sort of a magazine and sort of a newspaper. The name of it is Rolling Stone, which comes from an old saying: 'A Rolling Stone gathers no moss.' Muddy Waters used the name for a song he wrote; The Rolling Stones took their name from Muddy’s song, and 'Like A Rolling Stone' was the title of Bob Dylan’s first rock and roll record. cited at Richard Havers (November 9, 2018). "On the Cover of the 'Rolling Stone'". Udiscover Music. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  6. Palmer, Robert (1993). Blues Masters Volume 8: Mississippi Delta Blues (Album notes). Various Artists. Los Angeles: Rhino Records. p. 8. R2 71130.
  7. Gordon, Robert (2002). Can't Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters. New York City: Little, Brown. p. 101. ISBN 0-316-32849-9.
  8. Hal Leonard (1995). "Rollin' Stone". The Blues. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Hal Leonard. p. 176. ISBN 0-79355-259-1.}
  9. Chapple, Steve; Garofalo, Reebee (1977). Rock 'n' Roll Is Here to Pay. Chicago: Nelson Hall. p. 37. ISBN 978-0882294377.
  10. Chess 1480
  11. "Grammy Hall of Fame Awards – Past Recipients". Grammy.org. 2000. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  12. "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone (963). December 9, 2004. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  13. Blues Foundation. "2019 Hall of Fame Inductees: "Rollin' Stone" – Muddy Waters (Chess, 1950)". The Blues Foundation. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  14. Fairchild, Michael J. (1994). Jimi Hendrix: Blues (CD booklet). Jimi Hendrix. Universal City, California: MCA Records. p. 22. MCAD-11060.

See also
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