I Can't Quit You Baby: Difference between revisions
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Wanting more artistic control and better pay, Willie Dixon left Chess Records for Eli Toscano's new Cobra Records, a [[Chicago]] based rival label, in 1956.<ref>{{cite book|last=Palmer|first=Robert|year=1981|title=Deep Blues: A Musical and Cultural History of the Mississippi Delta|edition=1st|location=New York|publisher=Penguin Books|pages=266|id=ISBN 0-14-006223-8}}</ref> Toscano started the label in August of that year in the West Side, to record and promote the emerging harder electric blues sounds of up and coming artists, dubbed the "West Side" sound. Written and produced by Dixon, "I Can't Quit You Baby", was his first product for Cobra and was a | Wanting more artistic control and better pay, Willie Dixon left Chess Records for Eli Toscano's new Cobra Records, a [[Chicago]] based rival label, in 1956.<ref>{{cite book|last=Palmer|first=Robert|year=1981|title=Deep Blues: A Musical and Cultural History of the Mississippi Delta|edition=1st|location=New York|publisher=Penguin Books|pages=266|id=ISBN 0-14-006223-8}}</ref> Toscano started the label in August of that year in the West Side, to record and promote the emerging harder electric blues sounds of up and coming artists, dubbed the "West Side" sound. Written and produced by Dixon, "I Can't Quit You Baby", was his first product for Cobra and was a début commercial success for artist Otis Rush, reaching Number 6 on the [[Billboard]] R&B singles chart. An adagio 12-bar blues, it broke in Chicago and then Nashville radio, before becoming a hit on influential radio station WLAC in the deep south.<ref>{{cite book|last=Broven|first=John|year=2009|title=Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll Pioneers|edition=1st|location=Urbana|publisher=University of Illinois|pages=124|id=ISBN 0-252-03290-5}}</ref> | ||
In Willie Dixon's biography ''I Am the Blues'', he explains that the song was written about a relationship that Otis was in at the time. Dixon drew from Rush's personal experience and captured an emotional performance.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dixon|first=Willie|year=1990|title=I Am the Blues: The Willie Dixon Story|edition=1st|location=Chicago|publisher=Perseus Books|pages=123|id=ISBN 0-306-80415-8}}</ref> Rush's version of the song on 1966's ''Chicago,The Blues,Today!'' (Vanguard 79217) was a little different than the original, featuring a staccato guitar and new turnaround of a tonic chord followed by a half-step above the tonic chord. However it ended up being the most covered version. This composition by Willie Dixon was the only real commercial success for Otis Rush. Another notable version is [[John Mayall's Bluesbreakers]] cover on the 1967 album ''[[Crusade (album)|Crusade]]''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Herzhaft|first=Gérard|year=1997|title=Encyclopedia of the Blues|edition=2nd|location=Fayetteville|publisher=University of Arkansas|pages=270|id=ISBN 1-55728-452-0}}</ref> | In Willie Dixon's biography ''I Am the Blues'', he explains that the song was written about a relationship that Otis was in at the time. Dixon drew from Rush's personal experience and captured an emotional performance.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dixon|first=Willie|year=1990|title=I Am the Blues: The Willie Dixon Story|edition=1st|location=Chicago|publisher=Perseus Books|pages=123|id=ISBN 0-306-80415-8}}</ref> Rush's version of the song on 1966's ''Chicago,The Blues,Today!'' (Vanguard 79217) was a little different than the original, featuring a staccato guitar and new turnaround of a tonic chord followed by a half-step above the tonic chord. However it ended up being the most covered version. This composition by Willie Dixon was the only real commercial success for Otis Rush. Another notable version is [[John Mayall's Bluesbreakers]] cover on the 1967 album ''[[Crusade (album)|Crusade]]''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Herzhaft|first=Gérard|year=1997|title=Encyclopedia of the Blues|edition=2nd|location=Fayetteville|publisher=University of Arkansas|pages=270|id=ISBN 1-55728-452-0}}</ref> The Savoy Brown Blues Band also recorded this song as a b-side to "I Tried" in August 1966, with [[Jimmy Page]] sessioning on guitar. | ||
===Led Zeppelin version=== | ===Led Zeppelin version=== | ||
The most well known cover of Dixon's composition is [[Led Zeppelin]]'s recording. The song has appeared on both their 1969 eponymous | The most well known cover of Dixon's composition is [[Led Zeppelin]]'s recording. The song has appeared on both their 1969 eponymous début album ''[[Led Zeppelin (album)|Led Zeppelin]]'' as the penultimate song, as well as the 1982 release ''[[Coda (album)|Coda]]'', albeit in a live context. This live version was recorded on 9 January 1970 at [[Royal Albert Hall]] and was included in the 2003 ''[[Led Zeppelin (DVD)|Led Zeppelin]]'' DVD. | ||
The band | The band consistently performed "I Can't Quit You Baby" live at [[Led Zeppelin concerts]] from 1968 to early 1970.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2004|title=Led Zeppelin: The Complete Guide to Their Music|edition=1st Edition|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=12|id=ISBN 1-84449-141-2}}</ref> In 1970, the song was discontinued from Led Zeppelin's typical concert setlist as they infused material from ''[[Led Zeppelin III]]'' into their performances, with "I Can't Quit You Baby" essentially being supplanted by the song "[[Since I've Been Loving You]]". It was however revived as part of the "[[Whole Lotta Love]]" medley during some Led Zeppelin concerts in 1972 and 1973, as can be heard on ''[[How the West Was Won (album)|How the West Was Won]]''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2004|title=Led Zeppelin: The Complete Guide to Their Music|edition=1st Edition|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=79|id=ISBN 1-84449-141-2}}</ref> | ||
This song was rehearsed by the surviving members of Led Zeppelin for the [[Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary|Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary reunion]] in May 1988, but it was not included on the night.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2004|title=Led Zeppelin: The Complete Guide to Their Music|edition=1st Edition|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=12|id=ISBN 1-84449-141-2}}</ref> | This song was rehearsed by the surviving members of Led Zeppelin for the [[Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary|Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary reunion]] in May 1988, but it was not included on the night.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2004|title=Led Zeppelin: The Complete Guide to Their Music|edition=1st Edition|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=12|id=ISBN 1-84449-141-2}}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 21:57, 17 June 2009
"I Can't Quit You Baby" is a slow 12-bar blues written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Otis Rush in 1956, and covered by many artists since. It was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1994.[1]
Overview
Wanting more artistic control and better pay, Willie Dixon left Chess Records for Eli Toscano's new Cobra Records, a Chicago based rival label, in 1956.[2] Toscano started the label in August of that year in the West Side, to record and promote the emerging harder electric blues sounds of up and coming artists, dubbed the "West Side" sound. Written and produced by Dixon, "I Can't Quit You Baby", was his first product for Cobra and was a début commercial success for artist Otis Rush, reaching Number 6 on the Billboard R&B singles chart. An adagio 12-bar blues, it broke in Chicago and then Nashville radio, before becoming a hit on influential radio station WLAC in the deep south.[3]
In Willie Dixon's biography I Am the Blues, he explains that the song was written about a relationship that Otis was in at the time. Dixon drew from Rush's personal experience and captured an emotional performance.[4] Rush's version of the song on 1966's Chicago,The Blues,Today! (Vanguard 79217) was a little different than the original, featuring a staccato guitar and new turnaround of a tonic chord followed by a half-step above the tonic chord. However it ended up being the most covered version. This composition by Willie Dixon was the only real commercial success for Otis Rush. Another notable version is John Mayall's Bluesbreakers cover on the 1967 album Crusade.[5] The Savoy Brown Blues Band also recorded this song as a b-side to "I Tried" in August 1966, with Jimmy Page sessioning on guitar.
Led Zeppelin version
The most well known cover of Dixon's composition is Led Zeppelin's recording. The song has appeared on both their 1969 eponymous début album Led Zeppelin as the penultimate song, as well as the 1982 release Coda, albeit in a live context. This live version was recorded on 9 January 1970 at Royal Albert Hall and was included in the 2003 Led Zeppelin DVD.
The band consistently performed "I Can't Quit You Baby" live at Led Zeppelin concerts from 1968 to early 1970.[6] In 1970, the song was discontinued from Led Zeppelin's typical concert setlist as they infused material from Led Zeppelin III into their performances, with "I Can't Quit You Baby" essentially being supplanted by the song "Since I've Been Loving You". It was however revived as part of the "Whole Lotta Love" medley during some Led Zeppelin concerts in 1972 and 1973, as can be heard on How the West Was Won.[7]
This song was rehearsed by the surviving members of Led Zeppelin for the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary reunion in May 1988, but it was not included on the night.[8]
Notes
- ↑ Blues Hall of Fame Inductees - Classics of Blues Recordings - Single or Album Tracks. Blues Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2009-04-20.
- ↑ Palmer, Robert (1981). Deep Blues: A Musical and Cultural History of the Mississippi Delta, 1st. New York: Penguin Books, 266. ISBN 0-14-006223-8.
- ↑ Broven, John (2009). Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll Pioneers, 1st. Urbana: University of Illinois, 124. ISBN 0-252-03290-5.
- ↑ Dixon, Willie (1990). I Am the Blues: The Willie Dixon Story, 1st. Chicago: Perseus Books, 123. ISBN 0-306-80415-8.
- ↑ Herzhaft, Gérard (1997). Encyclopedia of the Blues, 2nd. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas, 270. ISBN 1-55728-452-0.
- ↑ Lewis, Dave (2004). Led Zeppelin: The Complete Guide to Their Music, 1st Edition. London: Omnibus Press, 12. ISBN 1-84449-141-2.
- ↑ Lewis, Dave (2004). Led Zeppelin: The Complete Guide to Their Music, 1st Edition. London: Omnibus Press, 79. ISBN 1-84449-141-2.
- ↑ Lewis, Dave (2004). Led Zeppelin: The Complete Guide to Their Music, 1st Edition. London: Omnibus Press, 12. ISBN 1-84449-141-2.